Whenever New Year’s Eve arrives, I keep having these flashbacks of the good and funny moments that I’ve had with my family.
Most of my family members, in general, don’t treat it as a “celebration”, but they definitely don’t mind saying “Happy New Year”, or as we say in Arabic, “Kul’am wa antom bekhair”, which translates as “wishing you well every year”.
I remember how my parents really wouldn’t mind hearing me or my sisters saying “Happy New Year” to our maids, our expat friends or even to them, and it was never a problem when we had New Year cards signed by us and -presented to some of our friends.
In fact, my parents always encouraged us to add a few more words to the cards, such as a good prayer or two.
I never realised the importance of this advice until one day when my father asked me if I would be writing a New Year’s message to our Filipino maid, who was like a family member since she lived with us for more than 18 years.
I used to call her auntie, because that’s what we called our maids at home when we were young, which is part of how we show respect to any lady who is older than us.
So I asked my father: “Why should I write more than Happy New Year?”
He replied: “You should write something she would like to read for many years to come.”
I said: “So what should I write, then?”
He explained: “Auntie Corra will leave us and maybe never come back because she is about to return to the Philippines to take care of her family.”
I remember telling Dad: “OK, I’ll write ‘Don’t leave us’, and that I wish in the new year she will bring her family to stay with us.”
Dad smiled at me and said: “Perfect! Write that,” and then left me on my own to think of what else to write in the card. But I remember writing nothing more, and I got all the cards ready quickly because I had to hand them out to some of my friends.
Soon it was New Year’s Eve, and my parents, as usual, didn’t take it very seriously so neither did we. However, I remember how Auntie Corra surprised us with an idea to celebrate the moment without making a big deal of it, but simply to enjoy the moments of the 10--second countdown in our living room at our home.
In the evenings, we tend to chill in our living room and watch television. That evening, we were switching channels as usual and watching people all around the world ringing in the new year.
When the clock struck 11:59pm, Auntie Corra surprised us by turning off the lights in the living room. The television began showing the countdown to New Year’s Day, and at midnight she turned the lights back on and gently called: “Happy New Year, everyone, mabrook!”
And of course, being children, we were quite surprised, then -began laughing and felt very happy, because this was probably the first time we actually saw Auntie Corra in such a mood.
But at the same time, we appreciated the chance to live the moment of darkness as we said goodbye to the old year, turning the lights on to indicate our welcome of a brighter future and, of course, a brand new year.
Such a simple gesture – turning a light on and off – shows us how a seemingly small action or thought can bring lots of happiness and joy into our lives.
Auntie Corra left for her country later that year but she did return to visit us with her husband a few years later.
Wishes can come true if they come from your heart. God bless you all, and Happy New Year.
Marathon results
Men:
1. Titus Ekiru(KEN) 2:06:13
2. Alphonce Simbu(TAN) 2:07:50
3. Reuben Kipyego(KEN) 2:08:25
4. Abel Kirui(KEN) 2:08:46
5. Felix Kemutai(KEN) 2:10:48
Women:
1. Judith Korir(KEN) 2:22:30
2. Eunice Chumba(BHR) 2:26:01
3. Immaculate Chemutai(UGA) 2:28:30
4. Abebech Bekele(ETH) 2:29:43
5. Aleksandra Morozova(RUS) 2:33:01
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Ms Yang's top tips for parents new to the UAE
- Join parent networks
- Look beyond school fees
- Keep an open mind
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Results
6.30pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round-2 Group 1 (PA) US$75,000 (Dirt) 1,900m
Winner: Ziyadd, Richard Mullen (jockey), Jean de Roualle (trainer).
7.05pm: Al Rashidiya Group 2 (TB) $250,000 (Turf) 1,800m
Winner: Barney Roy, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
7.40pm: Meydan Cup Listed Handicap (TB) $175,000 (T) 2,810m
Winner: Secret Advisor, Tadhg O’Shea, Charlie Appleby.
8.15pm: Handicap (TB) $175,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner: Plata O Plomo, Carlos Lopez, Susanne Berneklint.
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) $135,000 (T) 1,600m
Winner: Salute The Soldier, Adrie de Vries, Fawzi Nass.
9.25pm: Al Shindagha Sprint Group 3 (TB) $200,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner: Gladiator King, Mickael Barzalona, Satish Seemar.
The rules on fostering in the UAE
A foster couple or family must:
- be Muslim, Emirati and be residing in the UAE
- not be younger than 25 years old
- not have been convicted of offences or crimes involving moral turpitude
- be free of infectious diseases or psychological and mental disorders
- have the ability to support its members and the foster child financially
- undertake to treat and raise the child in a proper manner and take care of his or her health and well-being
- A single, divorced or widowed Muslim Emirati female, residing in the UAE may apply to foster a child if she is at least 30 years old and able to support the child financially