Not our average method of acquisition

A few weeks ago, Christie's auction house of Dubai contacted us at the NYUAD Library, asking if we'd like to acquire some of their old catalogs. My boss thought they'd be good additions to the collection because they can contain beautiful images and hold research value.

So yesterday afternoon a Christie's employee, Osama, was passing through Abu Dhabi anyway, so the plan was that he'd drop the catalogs off at our campus. Easy? Not quite. Here's what transpired:

~ 2 pm : Osama calls from the car asking for directions. I pass him off to my colleague Ron, who knows the city street names better than I do.

~4 pm: Osama calls me again, having lost Ron's phone number. I do my best to give directions, but he's still several miles away, so he plans to call when closer to the city

~4:15 pm: I go online trying to figure out best directions to give him. Truth is, the campus isn't that hard to find, but it's really hard to explain when there are three street names for the main road you need to turn onto: 2nd Street, Old Airport Rd, or Sheik Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum Street. And I couldn't remember what name is listed on the signs!

~4:25 pm: Osmama calls me again. I try to give directions, but he's hesitant to follow them because he has to get to the palace for a 5 pm appointment. He asks if I can meet him somewhere...

~4:30: I hop in a cab and get to the Hilton quickly. Cab takes off.

~4:38: Try calling Osama but get a "cannot connect" message.  See a large SUV parked in front of me with an Arab man inside. Smile hesitantly. He rolls down the window and I say, "Are you Osama?"

~4:40: Thankfully I'm correct and haven't sent an unintended message to a stranger. We shake hands and he says, "Where's your car?" I explain that I took a taxi, while he opens up the back of his SUV to reveal five piles of catalogs! I'd envisioned a small bag full that I could carry easily, but there are about fifty catalogs I need to get back to campus...

~4:42: Run out to the Corniche Road and try to hail a taxi, even though there's not a taxi stand there. Several cars honk while they pass by-- either because they want to make sure I don't cross the street or because my skirt is a little too short. Finally, after about five minutes, find a taxi.

~4:46: Osama, the taxi driver, and I load catalogs into taxi trunk. Osama will make his appointment at the palace after all.

~4:55: Return to campus and unload catalogs with the help of our mailroom attendant. Tip the taxi driver nearly 100% for his help.

I sure hope someone uses those catalogs sometime!