<p>I personally don't see the big deal, but apparently, your Lady's Lacross team (2004-2005 NCs) have made quite the stir in DC! LOL</p>
<p>Keep your hands off those ladies, Alexandre. :P</p>
<p>I am spoken for Sam, but I must admit, a couple of those girls, although a few years to young for my taste, did look rather appetizing! hehe It would appear that the families of those girls were petrified when they saw the pictures of their daughters next to the President! LOL</p>
<p>Dating in the UAE is actually very easy. There are many single women and many single men and they have the freedom to interact socially both in public and in private. Of course, that is not inclusive of the natives, who do not usually mix with expatriates. But since expats make up 80% of the population, that's not much of an issue. The UAE is nothing like Saudi Arabia. The beaches are mixed, women and men wear the same bathing suits you would see on American beaches etc... On the streets, men and women alike wear comfortable beach clothes for the summer heat. Expatriates with alcohol licenses (given out to all non-muslims upon request) are also allowed to buy alcohol for their private use. In short, living in the UAE is not much unlike living in any Westernized society.</p>
<p>Wow, at first I thought why people all of a sudden talked about UAE. Then, I just realized you are in UAE. I read a National Geographic article about Saudi Arabia and how kids/young adults there are spoiled and just live off the rich oil. How about UAE?</p>
<p>It is difficult to pass judgement on a culture other than my own because I am bound to be biased. Let me start by saying that Saudi children are not spoiled. That is a misconception. 80% of Saudis are poor and do not have the means to spoil their children. People always assume that simply because Saudi is a large oil producing country, it is automatically going to be rich. But that is not the case. The wealth is limited (given the population of the Kingdom) and very unevenly distributed.</p>
<p>As for the UAE, I would say that the way children are raised varries. Some children are spoiled, but for the most part, UAE parents (mothers in particular) are quite strict. Furthermore, the UAE is not all oil-rich. Only the Emirate of Abu Dhabi is oil-rich. The remaining 6 Emirates are well off, but not rich, so I would say the other Emirates, including Dubai, have had to learn the value of hard work and self-reliance a long time ago.</p>
<p>ridiculously uneven distribution of wealth?
stuck-in-the-stone-age attitudes towards women and/or sexuality?
Run by crazy oil-rich fundies?</p>
<p>wait, is this UAE or USA that we are talking about?</p>
<p>TheCity, I'd be happy to buy you a plane ticket out of the US, as long as you promise to not come back</p>
<p>haha that's good TheCity</p>
<p>indeed, you are far too cool to live in the usa. get out while you can before you succeed to much in america.</p>
<p>TheCity, the UAE is none of the above. Wealth is pretty evenly distributed and women have an increasingly important role in society. Of course, they are not where Western societies are at, but they are moving at their own pace...in their own way and they are doing a good job. </p>
<p>As for the US, I agree that it has an unacceptably uneven distribution of wealth (by far the most extreme of all high developped nations) and that it is run by "oil fundies". That is why I left the US. But the US is obviously one of the top countries in the World. I love the US and I visit it once a year. </p>
<p>KRK, be careful what you wish for. What has made the US such a powerful country is the fact that for a long time, you attracted the World's best and brightest. However, there is alarming evidence that this trend is now reversing, in part because of your politicians and the way Americans are reverting to conservatism and bigotry. I left the US because I saw a negative and irreversable move to a more conservative and racist society. Some of my best friends have already left too. Among them, an Egyptian American who got his PhD from MIT in Mechanical Engineering and was working for McKinsey in NYC. He recently decided to settle in Paris. Another one is a Bangladeshi American who got her BS and MS in Chemical Engineering from MIT and her MBA at Harvard. She recently left Bain in Boston to work in London. Another friend of mine, a Palestinian American, got his BS and MS in Electrical Engineering from Stanford and his MBA from Wharton has recently left Cisco in the Bay area to move to Sweden. Both my sisters also left the US in 2003 and 2004. The eldest, Jennifer, was born in the US (Georgetown University Hospital). She got her BA from the Georgetown University SFS and her MA from Cornell. The other sister, Karen, got her BA from McGill and her MA from Cornell. None of us would have thought of leaving the US in 1999. In addition, I know far too many very talented people currently in living in the US (American and non-American) who are seriously considering moving to Europe. Obviously, that's just a handful of people and we will not make an impact, but we are not a unique group. I am sure if you ask most non-Americans or first generation Americans if they intend to stay in the US, an alarming number would answer negative. The US is headed in the wrong direction, and many people who wish to live in an enlightened society want out. At least theCity is recognizing that trend. It is time that concerned Americans realize that there is a trend and that it must be reversed if the US wishes to remain a great society.</p>
<p>Ah, another doomsday theorist. For every one person that leaves there are two or three that are coming into the country. We have the best universities and job market in the world; therefore, we certainly aren't worrying about attracting the 'best and brightest.'</p>
<p>UC_Benz, I am not a doomsday theorist. I am not saying the US is going to collapse. It will remain a power to be reckoned with. But you are wrong when you say for every one that leaves, two wants to come in. That may have been the case in the the past, but today, I would say for every 2 than wants in, a dozen want out. If you do not believe me, just wait and see. There is a trend that cannot be denied and will be very difficult to overturn.</p>
<p>KRK, you raise a very good point... why DO i hate america?</p>
<p>UC... you might want to avoid pulling facts out of your ass when speaking with Alexandre, as i've learned the hard way, he's usually got the facts on his side.
Case in Point - stem cell research... all of america's top researchers are going oversees to GB, Korea, and other places, so they can do the research there... this has been pretty well documented. If we continue to elect leaders who frown on scientific research like this, or who disregard the results of scientific studies on things like the environment... theres no reason why any scientist would stay here.
Sometimes you must wonder why Einstein didn't move to Germany, you know, as a matter of pride for his country of birth, after being persecuted.</p>
<p>Never underestimate the stupidity of other countries. Twenty years ago Japan was predicted to take over the United States as the economic super-power of the world. Has it happened? Far from it. They have continually faltered while the U.S. has continued to blow them away in terms of GDP.</p>
<p>China certainly isn't going to over take the U.S. any time soon. Japan's GDP is still triple what China's is. Not to mention, China has a host of domestic problems that will certainly hinder their growth. The disparity between the have and the have-nots in China puts the U.S.'s to shame. It is only a matter of time until the peasants of China seek to bring down the wealthy.</p>
<p>The EU was also predicted to gain strength against the U.S. But hell, they can't even pass a Constitution. Not to mention the Euro is retreating from its over-inflated price against the dollar.</p>
<p>History has repeated itself once again: the party who does not control U.S. politics turns into a group of doomsdayers. Republicans certainly aren't immune from this, but it's the Democrats turn for the next 4 years, and they are certainly spewing out a lot of garbage. Yet through all the "failures" of the U.S. they are still the pre-eminent super power of the world.</p>
<p>Way to pack em up Uc Benz, if those people think America is so bad let them leave to those plays that they think will over power america such as Korea and China, lets see if they would have the same liberties and civil rights as they do hear in the USA (which they seem to think is so bad). And to add to the argument on China, The City and Primitive future should check out the facts on American patents in comparison to chinese patents per year, America crushes China in that crucial aspect. PRimitive future seems to have a primitive understanding of the world.</p>
<p>UC_Benz stated:</p>
<p>"Never underestimate the stupidity of other countries." ... ???</p>
<p>The only reason why I read this thread originally was because Alexandre started the thread and was posting in it, and I knew (based right off of the title of it) that it would be a lighthearted discussion. (Yes Alexandre, you're getting even more props from me. What can I say? You can gloat all you want about it. ;)) </p>
<p>However, when I read the last post, I actually got a little annoyed and offended when UC_Benz hinted that other countries were "stupid." I wouldn't be so sure about that statement (especially sice it's a hasty generalization), and this forum has posters from other countries so I'd be a little cautious with words like that. </p>
<p>Plus, that post seemed to even be attacking Alexandre personally (in some odd way) which annoyed me even more. I wouldn't mess with him. He always wins his debates.</p>
<p>(BTW, I personally love the United States and wouldn't want to live elsewhere so don't start attacking me. ;))</p>
<p>Don't have time to type out a reply yet, but anyways, as the saying goes:</p>
<p>Arguing on the internet is like competing in the Special Olympics, even if you win, you're still retarded...</p>
<p>Hey reeses, pull your nose out of Alexandre's ass</p>
<p>I didn't say other countries were stupid. I said they make stupid decisions. This is not exclusive to other countries as the United States makes plenty of stupid decisions itself. However, the decisions turn out positive far outweigh the negative decisions, whereas other countries are continually haunted by their lack of wisdom. Whether you believe me or not I could really care less; the United States will continue to be the dominant nation for many years to go, and maybe some day you will see through the smoke and mirrors.</p>
<p>P.S.- No reeses I don't want to be your friend on facebook. Quit trying to add me.</p>