Umbrellas are Raining on my Commute
The one thing I like less than rain is umbrellas. And yes, I see the irony. Before I moved to sunny Dubai I usually relied on hooded sweatshirts and newspapers to avoid the rain. Now I am perhaps one of the only people in Dubai who is thrilled that we barely see any rainfall. However, while the amount of rain is scarce, I cannot say the same for umbrellas. In fact, the sunnier the sky, the more likelihood there is of seeing umbrellas. That’s because in Dubai umbrellas are more likely to be used to shield oneself from the sun rather than the rain.
Usually I don’t bother with other people’s accessories. However in the case of umbrellas I am bothered simply because they get in the way of my morning commute. Literally and figuratively. My morning commute includes a 1.5km walk from the metro station to my office, in an area that is densely populated with offices, connected by wide roads with speeding cars and narrow sidewalks. The large volume of offices served by one metro station means that there are hoards of people sharing these narrow sidewalks, rushing to get to work on time.
Many of these people do not like the sun or its ability to darken skin. Just walk into any supermarket or pharmacy and it won’t be long before you spot skin whitening products like ‘Fair & Lovely’ and their male ego-friendly equivalents like ‘Fair & Handsome’. To summarise, Dubai is a sunny city filled with people who don’t really like the sun or its effects.
Back to the umbrellas that interfere with my sunny commute. What is worse than being trapped in a crowd? Being trapped in a crowd where a fair amount of people are holding sharp, pointy objects aka umbrellas. Waiting for traffic lights to change colours gives umbrellas holders the opportunity to stand right next to you and continuously poke your hair, shoulders and occasionally face. Trying to overtake an umbrella holder on an especially narrow path will result in the same amount of scratches you would get from an angry cat. I can’t help but wonder if it is time to get over my dislike of umbrellas and use one for protection during my commute, both outside and inside the metro.
Haha! I loved that narration! Having too many umbrellas on commute especially when you are in a hurry can be a tough experience!!
Though i havent had to face the umbrellas on a sunny day here in uae, i have had those days during rains as well as sun back in my home land Kerala..
Luv,
Bilna
🙂 I hadn’t really noticed them at previous jobs either but they seem to be the done thing in the area where I currently work. Which Emirate are you in?
I am in Abu Dhabi!
🙂 Perhaps I will do a post on Abu Dhabi drivers in Dubai soon
Following!! We totally get messed up while visiting Dubai even when GPS is ON 🙂
It’s a running joke in Dubai that you are supposed steer clear of all AUH drivers.
True! We are one bunch of confused lot trying to find our destination! Phew!
Ugh, I hate umbrellas! Easiest way to lose an eye – people just don’t pay any attention to what’s going on outside their umbrella! I never use one – my coat has a big hood 🙂
Plus you don’t have to worry about where to leave your hood when you enter someone’s house
Hahaha that’s funny! I bet most of the umbrella users are desis… we really, really love us some ‘fairness’. Don’t even get me started on those creams and their god awful ads! ‘Unmarried? Unemployed? Unhappy? Here, slap on our fairness cream and you will be married/employed/happy in no time!’ The worst part is that now, even all the international brands — nivea, loreal, garnier — have jumped on the ‘fairness cream’ bandwagon in India now. Yech.
Oh the Filipino community seems quite fond of umbrellas too but you are right it is primarily South Asians who are fans of the skin lightening cream.
If you can’ t beat ’em, join ’em. Open up your own umbrella to keep the others at bay!
Yeah why a pissed off person when I can just piss off other people 😉
I live on the rainy West Coast of Canada and there must be 5 umbrella’s in my house, I’ve never used one and probably never will Because, I”M WATER PROOF!!and wear a cap in the summer!!
“I’m waterproof” Haha love that statement!