Well, I don’t know about you, but this week I’m positively glowing with pride for this wonderful country that I have called home for the past six years.
With National Day celebrations in full swing, I’ve been swept up into something of a patriotic frenzy – buying baskets of UAE memorabilia, making lists of all the things I love about living in Abu Dhabi and even getting my nails painted in national colours!
Everywhere we’ve visited in the city this week, we’ve been confronted with lights and flags galore. There is a real party atmosphere building day by day.
Last night, on the way to my gym at Zayed Sports City, I drove past the park next to Al Noor Hospital and found I barely had space to manoeuvre in between the rows of parked cars. As I peeked into the park to see what all the excitement was about I was greeted with a nose full of wonderful aromas – barbecued meat, oud and notes of shisha filled the air – and a pre-National Day party was in full swing.
While I dragged myself up and down the rugby pitch I listened to performers practice their routines for the UAE National Day Committee’s celebrations at Zayed Sports City on 2nd December.
I can’t wait to get down to the Corniche Festival this weekend and watch as the skyline is lit up with fireworks and the whole city comes out to celebrate 40 years of outstanding achievement in this wonderful, multicultural city that we call home. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else!
Happy National Day!
