Yemen!


We are moving to Yemen! I was initially very apprehensive but we went there on a pre-assignment visit a few weeks ago and it ain't half bad...

Some plusses:

- Yemeni food is goooood (fab breads, rotisserie chicken, soups, meat dishes) - wonder why I haven't seen a Yemeni restaurant abroad???

- There is a KFC and Pizza Hut (not yet in Angola - there was a Nando's a few years ago but it closed down)

- Temperate climate (it might be in the Middle East but Sana'a is 2,300m above sea level)

- English-speaking! (but will learn Arabic)

- In Sana'a there is the Old Town, which is beautiful and has a great souk, hotels and restaurants

- Well-stocked supermarkets (trust me, it makes a difference when you can't get ginger/minced meat/etc for 3 months)

- No traffic jams (everything in Sana'a is 10 mins away)

- I don't have to drive (although women can drive)

- Found a lovely house with a big garden and courtyard

- Direct flights home twice a week and good connections to Dubai, Doha, Cairo, etc.

- Really helpful and friendly people

But security is an issue in Yemen - street/petty crime is low in Sana'a but there is fighting in other parts of Yemen. More on Yemen from Wikipedia.

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