Great post xhamster. You obviously haven't been out long enough to wear some of the more bitter edges off
but it'll come...I cannot argue with a word you say.
A word about the Ramadan/fasting thing...there are plenty of Muslim countries that don't make it a crime for non-Muslims to eat/drink publicly during Ramadan. It's got nothing to do with religion in the UAE, it's all about
control...
to 5star, I hope you are able to escape while it is still by your own choice, and not in a box. You are absolutely right, that it is (by design) very difficult to exfiltrate cleanly. Just getting the required time off to pursue other opportunities is exceedingly hard, not to mention the lack of energy. I wish you well. All I can say is that there very much is a life beyond EK and the others.