Global Village welcomes elderly
dubai — As a renowned radio presenter in his home country, Pak expat Nasim Durrani nurtured a deep desire to travel and experience different cultures. However, caught up with responsibilities during his younger days, 75-year-old Durrani couldn’t explore much until he came to Dubai in 2012. Now, he had all the time and resources to explore the world, but the debilitating effects of ageing and a spine injury restricted his movement.
And just when he lost all hope of experiencing global cultures, his son took him to the Global Village. “I felt the world was shrunk and brought before my eyes. I never imagined that I would get a chance to see cultures of China, Africa, America, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan or Syria in my lifetime.”
Summing up his experience in a phrase, her husband Nasim Durrani said: “I would love to sum up my experience as ‘Around the world in nine hours’. I’ve seen movies and documentaries of how people would set world records by travelling across the globe in few months but at the Global Village, I managed to get an in-depth knowledge of different countries in just nine hours (4pm to 1am). I had never thought I would ever get to try the authentic cuisines of places like Bosnia, Uzbekistan, or Afghanistan.”
Durrani’s wife, also sharing the same name as her husband, but with a different spelling — Naseem — said: “We were received warmly by the staff who first offered us Arabic coffee and dates. We don’t get so much respect and welcome in our own countries but here the government takes care of these small things to bring us immense happiness. We feel valued and loved.”
She added: “I’ve always been fond of Turkish crockery but never got a chance to travel and buy it. To my delight, the first pavilion we entered was the Turkish pavilion and it was a visual treat.”
The Durranis had migrated from India to Pakistan in their childhood and they fondly remember India as their birthplace. “I have always heard beautiful stories about puppet shows in Rajasthan which I finally witnessed at the Indian pavilion in Global Village. It was my childhood dream that got fulfilled,” said Naseem.
Red carpet welcome for seniors
A number of expatriate senior citizens said it was the respect, facilities and the experience at the multicultural festival park that made them beat all odds and walk around much of the 1.6 million sqm arena.
Indian expat Bharti Sharma, in her 60s, who has been in Dubai since 2011, said visiting the Global Village gave her a chance to experience faraway lands and cultures she had read in her childhood. “I visit Global Village almost once in two weeks and it rejuvenates me.”
DN Kapoor, 63, hailing from Lucknow, said: “The Global village is not only a treat for the eyes but also promotes tolerance by giving an insight to other cultures.”
A 65-year-old expat Devendra Sinha, who is a Dubai resident for the last five years, said the easy availability of wheelchairs has helped seniors get adequate rest during pavilion hoping. We managed to stay from 4pm until the around midnight.”
The 159 day-long season of Global Village runs until April 6 and is replete with cultural performances, entertainment events and surprises every day.