These are my thoughts on spending 10 days in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It was the first time I had taken a trip this long and never ran across another American. In 10 days of no Americanism, getting a different perspective on the world was refreshing. Sort of a vacation from hubris. 
All people are basically the same; we all want the same things in life, to love and be loved. That our children have a better life in security, free from turmoil and worry. Whether it be the Arab Sheikh I met at the Sheraton Bar in Dubai or the laundry turn-in worker in Afghanistan whom I'd discovered never seen an aspirin.
I met the coolest people on this trip. The Fabric buyer from Canada, The Arab Beer distributor, told me about his trip to the Budweiser Headquarters in St. Louis. The Dutch couple stopped for a couple days to shop in Dubai before heading to South Africa on Holiday. A group of Harley Riders in the western desert at their club convention. They could have been bikers you'd meet at Sturgis, except they were Arabs and Muslims. The Arab Sheikh from Saudi Arabia came to Dubai while his wife and Daughter were visiting his son, who was attending the University of Southern California. I will remember his stories of him hunting with his $400K Falcon in Pakistan for the rest of my life. He was getting ready to tear up the town Vegas Style with his boys. 
People are People wherever you go. They're proud and like to boast about their things, the accomplishments of their children. We all share the same humanity regardless of religion. It is an amazing world that we live in.
After spending 5 days in Dubai, we rented a car and drove through the eastern desert to the Indian Ocean. Our hotel was full of Russian, none that spoke English. But they were fun to be with; you never saw whiter people in the desert. This was a great eye-opening trip. I recommend this trip to any American wishing to see a completely different part of the world.
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