it's January 13th...5 lessons already from 2014

All settled, so what now? Time to learn a few lessons I guess.

I know I’ve said this before…in blogs, in chats if we’ve chatted, and face to face if I’m lucky enough to be able to converse with you on a regular basis. I am SO lucky to have the people in my life who are here and at home for a support system like no other.

So what was my first lesson of 2014? Getting blown off. This might not seem like a big deal. But, this is my first time being blown off…ever. I’ve been broken up with, even broken up with over an email (which sucked!) but never just ignored as if the other person were to simply fall off the side of the earth despite communication attempts from me. I’m in my 30’s, I don’t need this. I thought people have grown up since middle school! Luckily, I wasn’t attached, therefore, no heartache. Just frustration….it just shouldn’t be done. Dating wasn’t on my agenda coming to Abu Dhabi. In fact, it was the last thing on the list if there were one…back to focusing on family, friends, work, and absorbing all of the amazing things that Abu Dhabi and the UAE have to offer. Lesson #2…don’t blog about something like this, at least not until a few months perhaps? LOL.

Ok, lemme think…lesson #3---never think that it’s too late…for anything! If 2013 was the year that I changed my life, 2014 is going to be the year that I invest in my life. Not long after I arrived, I got a cold call from a financial company here in the UAE, but has a home base in Britain (friend from Empirical know exactly what those calls are like to make). The gentleman was kind, and did the typical take me out for coffee. Being smart with money, I’m able to manage investments here, in Canada, and had my retirement pension switched and managed by Empirical Group…I’m safely and progressively investing in my financial future. It’s never too late to look at your finances and see where improvement could be made (insert ad for Empirical Group’s FGA here for all Ontario residents).

But what else? I’m also taking advantage of the extra time that the teaching expats have to enjoy here. I’m getting back into fitness. What I thought might be too late is getting back into dance. I have been in ballet from 1987-2001 continuously, took a break and re-joined ballet in the 2004-2005 school year. Thought I would shake things up and did dance/aerobics for 2005-2006, took the next year off, and then finally tried hip hop of all things in the 2007-2008 school year. I don’t want to blame marriage, LOL, but while married, nothing stuck when it came to fitness. Here though? I have a small walking group, and TWO dance classes that I’m attending regularly. Belly dancing is a must for all those here with any dance experience (and without!). I’ve also dusted off my plies and releves! The Xtend Barre class here in Abu Dhabi has taken traditional ballet techniques and warped them into weight training and aerobics as well. I was tempted to slow down and get into the strict adult ballet, but the workout I got was incredible! I told the instructor that I had many years of classical ballet training (but as you can see, it’s been many years SINCE my classical ballet training!). It was great to hear her comment that my structure is still proper…I think it was muscle memory…strange how it can all come back (ok, mostly). NEVER too late!

Lesson #4…remember to never take anyone for granted…there is nothing like a random chat conversation or phone call from your home country that can put you in the best of moods. As I said above, I am extremely blessed to have been given the global family that I’ve got. Thank you for your questions, kind words, support, and encouragement. From the pictures on Facebook, it may look like that we are living the dream life. Remember, those are the Facebook highlights. There are still frustrations, tears, arguments, lack of sleep, a cramped workload (at times), and loneliness (I have to say here, that I’m lucky I don’t really get lonely per se…I love being on my own), but it happens now and again. Those of you in the teaching profession considering Abu Dhabi…I will say this: I will NEVER regret making the move. I will, however, insist that I speak with you one on one.

Lesson #5…things change whether you like it or not. I noticed a change among the group of friends that I came with when we came back from holiday. It’s almost as if we reached a different level. Now knowing that we’re all here for a bit of a long haul…it seems more intimate. I know for those of you here, this might be hard to imagine, as since the Fairmont/Sahara/Grand Millenium/Murjan Asfar, we got to know each other really well, and really quick-we had to! But now, somehow, even more so. We discuss the change in dynamics at length sometimes. Some that were friends, are no longer friends. Some that were not friends, are now bonded at the hip. Two special people were strangers in September…they have now committed their lives to each other and we’ll be looking forward to a wedding! The dynamics here simply wouldn’t exist had we been in the states, Canada, the UK, Australia, or anywhere else. Change can have some negative side effects, but overall, change in itself is essential, and therefore, always good.

What have your lessons been for 2014 already? What would you change?

Xo

Cara

fragments from NYE 2013-2014

Fragments:

If I were to honestly describe all of the moments I want to blog about NYE…I wouldn’t be able to do anything else. That task would absolutely consume me. There are so many memories not mentioned here, and perhaps I’ll add them as time goes one. Terrible traffic (3.5 hour drive which is usually 1 hour from Abu Dhabi to Dubai), a great dinner at the Dubai Noodle House, amazing world-record breaking fireworks display, countless jokes about being late for dinner and a show, a fantastic display of Cirque de Soleil bringing out the works of the late Michael Jackson to life, and then heading home…a nice drive from Dubai, to Al Ain, to Abu Dhabi. A few days that I will never, ever forget. You know what the best part is? The friends here who we’ve got and will be making more crazy blog-worthy memories together! Alhamdolilah.

#1: The car situation

So, we booked 2 rooms that the World Trade Center, Dubai…but had 3 cars. One for their room, and 2 for ours…for the first night anyways. As it was NYE, they did not allow 2 cars per room, only one. It would have been nice had they told us ahead of time when we asked. So, I was instructed to move one car to the paid parking garage attached to the hotel. We split the parking job in the end…but I had a bit of a heart attack going back to the carpark later on NY day as there was a warning for any car to be parked longer than 24 hours, that it may be impounded. YIKES. Being in Dubai to find that your car has been taken? Yuck. Luckily, my car was still there without a ticket and mine for the taking. As it was 10 dirhams an hour, and I've been there for over a full day, “oops. I lost my token”. The fine for that was 150 dirhams. Very lucky! I usually feel guilty about this sort of thing, but had we been honoured our spot at the hotel as we were told, this shouldn't have happened to begin with!

#2: “But you look drunk!”

Boy: “can I get you a drink?”

Me: “no thank you.”

Boy: “Please? I insist. It’s New Year’s!”

Me: “No, really. But thank you. I am fine.” I pull my water bottle from my purse.

Boy: “Wait. You really are not drinking any alcohol tonight?”

Me: “Nope.”

Boy: “But you look drunk! You have no alcohol but you act this crazy? I love it!”

#3: “Um, this isn't a taxi.”

You know you’re in Dubai when…you have your hotel concierge get you a taxi but it doesn't look like a taxi. In fact, they’re unmarked white Lexuses (Lexi?). Not all taxis are unmarked, but a good number of them are like this. They felt luxurious, and safer, as other cars on the road seemed to give them less hassle as they got us to where we needed to be over the New Year celebrations.

The celebrations on Barasti Beach are something that I won’t soon forget. The traffic was brutal getting out there from hotel (we were just west of the entrance onto Palm Island). In case you’ve been living under a rock, Dubai was setting up to smash a world record for the longest consecutive fireworks display around Palm Island and the World Islands. We were expecting traffic on the way back to be even worse. We assumed people would straggle into the celebrations, but like back home, all rush at once to get out once it was all over.

It was strange to be up later than 5am. It was strange to see alcohol served even longer! We left the party around 4-4:30, and it was still going strong. It was a little tricky getting a taxi. Like I said, many were unmarked. Luckily, a white minivan showed up along the side of the road where we were walking. The great friends I was with have no shyness to flag it down. He quoted us a steep amount, but agreed as there were 5 of us to pitch in, and had we had to get 2 cabs as we did on the way there, it would have been roughly the same anyways.

I couldn’t wait to sit down. Dancing all night is one thing…dancing all night in the sand, that’s something else. Ahhh…so relaxing to just sit after all that! He gave us a flat rate, so I wasn’t looking for the meter, but my attention had me looking at the dash area anyways. No meter. No GPS Monitor. No identification. Hmmm…NOT a taxi. I said to my friends in the back with me, “um, I don’t think this is an actual taxi.” They replied, “Hey, he stopped, we’re getting back to the hotel. That’s good enough for me!” At 5am? Me too. Any traffic? Nope. I couldn’t wait to get to sleep.

#4: “Alhamdolilah(?)”

Boy meets girl, etc. etc. etc….maybe. I can’t say too much more as it’s just sooo new and I’m not the one to be talking about successful starts to a relationship. I can say that I had a great dancing partner for most of the night. We met after midnight…and as the Jumeriah Beach Resort was a little late starting the record breaking fireworks, we were able to see them together. What a way to begin the new year!

The UAE as you know consists of the 7 Emirates. This was New Years. Not only are you not likely to be in the same Emirate as someone you just met, you might be countries apart! Even on that night I met people from Texas, and out of all places, Richmond Hill, and Stoney Creek (near Toronto). Dubai is so populated, and I knew quickly that he spoke Arabic, I assumed he was there. “Do you live here in Dubai?”

He looked a little sad, and perhaps assumed that I lived in Dubai. He replied, “No, I live in Abu Dhabi”. You might have guessed how I replied.

With a big smile, he replies, “Alhamdolilah!” (giving praise and thanks to God).

#5 “Cara? It’s for you.”

Our hotel room had 3 girls (including myself) staying in there the first night. I was one of the 2 non-drinkers, and there was one of us who drank on NYE. There were times where I wanted to move to check the time, but my phone was plugged in across the room, and my body was just trapped in stillness. Until…the phone rang. I am online friends with someone in Dubai. They knew where I was staying, and kindly thought to call. I started to move as I heard one of my friends answer the call.

“Cara? It’s for you.” I would love to tell you what was said. All I remember is that it was quick and I was groggy. I looked over…230pm. 230pm!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Our roommate who had been drinking had already been up for a few hours waiting for us to stir. The non-drinkers slept longer? We still don’t get it.