Myra Munyal arrived in this world after 39 hours of labour – and 39 weeks of gestation, nearly half of which were spent living and growing under the shadow of the novel coronavirus. It was declared a pandemic in January, the same month in which the UAE registered its first case.
Lockdowns and curfews ensued, sterilisation programmes were put in place, makeshift hospitals and quarantine units were built, and masks and gloves became part of regular attire. Dubai’s lifeline – the ubiquitous mall – was cut off for a bit, while travel restrictions in Abu Dhabi are still in place.
Baby Myra may not have seen too many other humans or much of the outside world yet, but her parents are both thankful for this time and hopeful that this, too, shall pass
Amid all the heart-warming and breaking stories, the socialising component – arguably, the essence of what makes us human – was turned on its head. Movie nights and milestone celebrations alike were put on hold as people began to self-isolate for fear of catching the highly contagious bug that had affected so many.
Oblivious to the situation, baby Myra wailed her way into this world in the protected wing of a private hospital in Dubai. Neither her father nor I were allowed to leave the room assigned to us under any pretext. Upon being discharged, we were guided through a labyrinthine path of empty corridors and emergency exits through the back of the building, to ensure we did not come into contact with any Covid-19 patients also being treated in the same hospital.
Relieved at being under the open sky after nearly a week of being shuttered between four walls, I breathed in the last of the open fresh air I was going to get for a while – pacing the length of my tiny balcony notwithstanding.
Upon reaching home, my husband and I dutifully disposed of our masks and gloves, popped our clothes into the machine and ourselves into the shower. We got busy settling and swaddling our delicate newborn, even while reminding one another to reply to the dozens of demands for photographs made via WhatsApp from friends, families and colleagues. After all, it was the only way they would get to see the new entrant for who knew how may days, weeks or months.
The fear of the unknown is a debilitating one. Obviously, then, no parent would risk exposing their newborn to people who may have been in contact with others, who in turn may be unwitting carriers of the virus. These are strange times, under any circumstances. But with a baby, they are truly the best of times and the worst of times.
On the one hand, the situation has given us the headspace needed to settle into the feed-clean-sleep-repeat routine. It’s given me the leeway to get used to the triumphs and tribulations of breastfeeding without any well-meaning intrusion or advice. Plus, with the husband working at home, I am thankful for an extra pair of shoulders to burp the baby.
We have also skipped the fomo (fear of missing out) phase that many erstwhile party-animal parents go through. None of our friends are doing any of the fun weekend activities that were such a regular part of our pre-baby life. Zoom calls are the new normal and those are something we are still able to jump in and out of.
On the other hand, we have had no audience for our proudest production, including my stuck-and-hyperventilating-in-Mumbai mum. Nobody to sit down with and share philosophical musings about the fears and joys of raising a child. Almost seven weeks later, the number of people to have seen the human being I already can’t wait to show off is limited to single digits.
The lockdown has since eased and friends gingerly inquire when they might come by to visit, but that debilitating fear raises its ugly head each time and we apologetically make our excuses. Baby Myra may not have seen too many other humans or much of the outside world yet, but her parents are both thankful for this time and hopeful that this, too, shall pass.
Growing up, I remember haranguing my parents to repeatedly regale me with stories of my birth. Can you imagine the tales we will have to tell our Covid-19 babies about the circumstances surrounding theirs?
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?
Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
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Barbie
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Abu Dhabi card
5pm: Handicap (TB) Dh100,000 2,400m
5.30pm: Wathba Stallions Cup Handicap (PA) Dh 70,000 2,200m
6pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic Prestige (PA) Dh110,000 1,400m
7pm: Handicap (PA) Dh85,000 1,600m
7.30pm: Maiden (PA) Dh80,000 1,600m
The National selections:
5pm: Valcartier
5.30pm: AF Taraha
6pm: Dhafra
6.30pm: Maqam
7pm: AF Mekhbat
7.30pm: Ezz Al Rawasi
Dates for the diary
To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:
- September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
- October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
- October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
- November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
- December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
- February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
Where to donate in the UAE
The Emirates Charity Portal
You can donate to several registered charities through a “donation catalogue”. The use of the donation is quite specific, such as buying a fan for a poor family in Niger for Dh130.
The General Authority of Islamic Affairs & Endowments
The site has an e-donation service accepting debit card, credit card or e-Dirham, an electronic payment tool developed by the Ministry of Finance and First Abu Dhabi Bank.
Al Noor Special Needs Centre
You can donate online or order Smiles n’ Stuff products handcrafted by Al Noor students. The centre publishes a wish list of extras needed, starting at Dh500.
Beit Al Khair Society
Beit Al Khair Society has the motto “From – and to – the UAE,” with donations going towards the neediest in the country. Its website has a list of physical donation sites, but people can also contribute money by SMS, bank transfer and through the hotline 800-22554.
Dar Al Ber Society
Dar Al Ber Society, which has charity projects in 39 countries, accept cash payments, money transfers or SMS donations. Its donation hotline is 800-79.
Dubai Cares
Dubai Cares provides several options for individuals and companies to donate, including online, through banks, at retail outlets, via phone and by purchasing Dubai Cares branded merchandise. It is currently running a campaign called Bookings 2030, which allows people to help change the future of six underprivileged children and young people.
Emirates Airline Foundation
Those who travel on Emirates have undoubtedly seen the little donation envelopes in the seat pockets. But the foundation also accepts donations online and in the form of Skywards Miles. Donated miles are used to sponsor travel for doctors, surgeons, engineers and other professionals volunteering on humanitarian missions around the world.
Emirates Red Crescent
On the Emirates Red Crescent website you can choose between 35 different purposes for your donation, such as providing food for fasters, supporting debtors and contributing to a refugee women fund. It also has a list of bank accounts for each donation type.
Gulf for Good
Gulf for Good raises funds for partner charity projects through challenges, like climbing Kilimanjaro and cycling through Thailand. This year’s projects are in partnership with Street Child Nepal, Larchfield Kids, the Foundation for African Empowerment and SOS Children's Villages. Since 2001, the organisation has raised more than $3.5 million (Dh12.8m) in support of over 50 children’s charities.
Noor Dubai Foundation
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Noor Dubai Foundation a decade ago with the aim of eliminating all forms of preventable blindness globally. You can donate Dh50 to support mobile eye camps by texting the word “Noor” to 4565 (Etisalat) or 4849 (du).
Lampedusa: Gateway to Europe
Pietro Bartolo and Lidia Tilotta
Quercus
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
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Getting there
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly to Johannesburg or Cape Town daily. Flights cost from about Dh3,325, with a flying time of 8hours and 15 minutes. From there, fly South African Airlines or Air Namibia to Namibia’s Windhoek Hosea Kutako International Airport, for about Dh850. Flying time is 2 hours.
The stay
Wilderness Little Kulala offers stays from £460 (Dh2,135) per person, per night. It is one of seven Wilderness Safari lodges in Namibia; www.wilderness-safaris.com.
Skeleton Coast Safaris’ four-day adventure involves joining a very small group in a private plane, flying to some of the remotest areas in the world, with each night spent at a different camp. It costs from US$8,335.30 (Dh30,611); www.skeletoncoastsafaris.com
