Not Superman

Submitted by Macabea on Wed, 02/22/2012 - 14:33
A Marathon a Day in Abu Dhabi
Every day here in Abu Dhabi I make a list of all of the things that I need to do.  As the day progresses things get added, accomplished and crossed out, and if any are left at the end of the day I delegate them to other times in the week.  I usually do the same thing in New York and I would consider a busy day to be 10 or more items.  Today the list had 23.  Needless to say, my life in Abu Dhabi is hectic.  But I love it.
 
In general, I wake up at 7:45 to grab a quick breakfast before I have class for a couple of hours.  When my courses end I head straight to hail a cab so that I can be punctual to my new internship at a high-level consulting firm. I stay there for five or so hours doing tons of research and sitting in on incredible meetings, learning constantly.  I then head back to NYU and go straight to either the gym to lift weights and run, or to a nearby hotel to play squash.  I’m training for a ten-person 242km relay race that NYU-AD is sending a team to next weekend in Jordan.  We are running all of the way from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea- in under 24 hours.  I honestly don’t know if I will make it back alive.  When I’m finished working out I head to dinner with some friends and usually hang around a bit to talk with various people.  My nights are then filled with readings for school, research for my second internship I go to once a week at the German Government office, writing grant proposals for my NGO, applying to summer internships or preparing case studies for the interviews, and emailing teachers and family back in the states.  Sometimes I throw in a friend or two- just to insure I’m not a hermit.  I try to get to bed, with the entire list finished, by 2:00am and look forward to the next day where I’ll do it all again!
 
Obviously this intensity can be exhausting, but I really thrive off of it and it has all enabled me to gain so many interesting insights on Abu Dhabi and the UAE- Academically, politically, economically, and occasionally the culture will sneak in.  The weekends also tend to be more relaxed, but with a fieldtrip to Oman this weekend for my Anthropology class and then the race in Jordan next weekend, I don’t think I’ll be able to take a breath until the second week of March.  Luckily, Spring Break will come soon after that and I think my itinerary in Thailand and Sri Lanka will be the perfect combination of craziness and relaxation to allow me to rejuvenate. 
 
This morning in one of my classes a friend looked at my list and asked me about my plans for that day.  After my exasperated explanation she asked, “Are you Superman?”     I wish.
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To do, to don't

Submitted by HaleyWho on Mon, 02/27/2012 - 07:24.
I am so familair with this system; it was all of high school and the past few semesters of college.  Epically long to do lists and oveloaded days that make you feel like you've conquered the world when you drop into bed at the end of the day.  My days in Accra are so much slower than this, both the pleasure and curse of the developing world. Sometimes things just don't work out and waiting is the only thing to do.  I've learned to bring a small notebook with me everywhere- to do lists and musings to keep me busy when my boss is four hours late for our lunch meeting, when food takes an hour to get to the table, when the internet is down.  Right now my to-do list is 15 items strong, with plans to Spring Break in India cooking in the back of my mind and grocery shopping looming large as I near lunch.  Remember to give yourself five minutes for a cup of coffee and a empty mind once in a while, to drink it all it.  And when you leave AD, it will be your friends that will be your strong ties to the things you  miss and your time here, so give them some love!