Happy Birthday to ME!

When people think about hallmark bdays, it's usually becoming a teenager, turning 16, 18, 21, 30, and then you get into the decades. For me it was those plus 27 y/o (my GOLDEN bday) and 33 (I'll just spill out my age!). Why? Well, dad met my mom when he turned 33, and he's always said 33y/o was his lucky year (awwww) and every year for his birthday he would always make some kind of comment about being 33, and we would always (and still!) write that on his bday cards... even when he was turning 45, 50, 55, and so on. 

So the pressure was on when I was approaching 33 because I always had it in my mind something BIG would happen.... or I would make it happen. Unfortunately my older sister was of no help because her 33rd birthday came and went with NO excitement, so there was slight doubt what a fabulous year it would be... slight, but I wanted and needed something big to happen.  As marriage wasn't coming anytime soon, the next best thing was to make a LIFE change. It sounds silly, but really, when that 33rd birthday rolled around, I just knew I HAD to do something. Good thing was I was at the tail end of a full year of travel, so I was pretty much open to anything! 

So here is my last year, the infamous 33rd birthday year, in a nutshell:

-Celebrated my 33th at the Burj Al Arab in Dubai, a 7-Star hotel. Spent the next 5-6 weeks networking, interviewing, and making job connections.

-Came back home with job opps, but nothing confirmed... until officially in July by my current company :-)

-Practically single handedly packed up/cleaned up the house where I've lived for the past 25+ years, including a lot of my family's stuff. This included major selling/donating/giving away stuff... I'm talking garage sales, consignment, Mom Mail/Craiglist, you name it. This was practically a full-time job and a very emotional one because I was literally packing up/selling my comfy beautiful life in my favorite childhood and adult home and town (I love you Oak Park!)

-Wrapped up the logistics of my life in Oak Park/Chicago... this included many small but important details like bank stuff, change of address, renewing drivers license, etc etc etc.

-Worked part-time to keep up my professional skills up and caught up with most, if not all, friends and family.

-Made a road trip out west with some close friends, a last hurrah!

-Learned to play tennis, did yoga/pilates, got back into swimming, kept up with running and ran a 1/2 marathon, and got into biking again (but I admit, more social biking).

-Hosted a BIG o goodbye party!

-Had a HUGE breakdown before I left.

-MOVED TO DUBAI!!!!! 

-Suffered and rehabbed myself with my first ever severe injury -> 2 herniated discs (darn all that moving and packing!)

-Got my life started here - bank accts, driving license, apt, bills... while working 50+ hours a week in a NEW country where I know literally a handful of people and had to figure out how to do all this stuff on my own.

-Finally, and this is a BIG one for me, kinda slowly am starting to learn how to COOK! Yes, I hope you are sitting down to hear that, especially for those that know me. :-) And no, I am not embarrassed or ashamed to say I've somehow avoided cooking for 33 years of my life! 

So .... yes, a pretty BIG year! What lies ahead for this 34th year (eek!) is yet to be seen. For now my goals are to get involved with a new activity/sport, network more with sportsmedicine stuff, travel to NEW places (I already have Uganda/Rwanda and Antarctica on the list!), and basically ENJOY life here! Now, I admit, my life is about 70-80% work, work, work, and the rest is.... ummm.... rest, rest, rest! :-) ha ha, like an old lady. But "halas" (as they say here) - enough waiting around, time for action!!

To start off my bday right, I am going to Ras Al Khaimah (RAK), another Emirate, one of the 7, of the U.A.E. for a little getaway weekend - I want to watch TV (I don't have one here! On purpose!), lounge, relax, pleasure read, get some SUN by the beach, get a massage, and just DETOX by NATURE! Supposedly there are some little mountains there (Hajar mountains). Although some may find it strange I am going by myself, but honestly, and I'm not complaining about this, but when your profession is listening to people complain all day and you almost literally and figuratively break your back for other people, I just really want to do something by myself and for myself! Doing what I want when I want and so be it!!!

Lesson #25: In a land of luxury, indulge!!! Take advantage of it and treat yourself every now and then!

So my next update will be one year older and wiser!!! :-)

6 months down, ??? to go

Da da dum, I didn't think I would make it, buuuuut here it is..... I'VE OFFICIALLY BEEN AN EXPAT FOR 6 MONTHS!!! And actually, I just realized that I 1st came to Dubai almost exactly a YEAR ago as a tourist. Little did I know at the time that I would be LIVING here... also makes me appreciate those lazy days where I was lounging at the beach/pool relaxing. Ahh... the good 'ol life! Now I'm a working girl!

I actually just skimmed my blog all the way from the beginning, and as I wanted to do this blog in the first place kind of like a little diary to my life here, it definitely is a trip down memory lane! The things that I was concerned about seems so forever ago!

To recap these last 6 months, nothing like categorizing!

Logistics:
As many people ... actually, almost ALL expats have told me, the logistics of getting settled here is somewhat of a nightmare. Things aren't clear, they take forever, and ... have I mentioned that nothing is clear or straightforward? So I would say the 1st 3 months were the most challenging primarily for that reason! Now that almost ALL things are settled, things are much much better and life is much .... easier :-)

Work:
Besides a new life experience, I came here to 'expand my horizon' with my practice, my skills, my education, and mostly interacting with people in my profession from all over the world. That's obviously something that doesn't happen overnight and that is something I need to work on and be more proactive with. I would like to take more time and interact with other clinics, physios, and that will take some time! The good thing is here in Dubai, I feel I finally have time to look up things that previously I was seemingly too busy to do. I have had to learn a lot about dealing with different cultures and backgrounds and that has been the biggest change with how I practice. At my clinic we probably see about 20%, if not less, local Arabs, and the rest are Expats/Westerners. Which is fortunate because Arabs are.... umm.... a little more challenging to work with (not always). Westerners can be in their own way, but it's just interesting. I have good interactions with the docs I am working with and I feel they are recognizing me more with my work. Of course like any work environment, it's not always a ray of sunshine, there is mismanagement and disorganization, but hey.... I did come here for a learning experience! :-) I DO feel I work a lot, 50+ hours a week and now it is more of WORK than work&life balance, but that will hopefully change. Which, speaking of... :

Life:
I realize I've stopped with my little Lessons I started with, but here is an important one:

Lesson #22: It takes 6 months to a year to get used to living in a new environment.

I think before I came I was looking at it almost as travel experiencing, like "I'll get there, I'll find my way and everything will be fine!" But UNLIKE traveling where you are always moving and when something sucks you can go, if you like it, you stay. HERE... I'm obviously 'stuck' here :-) I've really felt FINALLY these last couple of weeks that I've feel "settled." As I've gone on and on about, finding a place to live and be on my own was HUGE, again, maybe a lot more than I thought.

On another note with my Life here.... I've cleaned up my 'bad' eating and darn it, I was a victim of the Dubai Stone,

Lesson #23: Once moving to Dubai, you have a VERY good possibility of getting the Dubai Stone - basically gaining 5-10 lbs. Ouch.

Why is that? The culture of the people is to eat late... and a lot. There are a TON of brunches, buffets... .and opportunities for excessive eating. At home in the States I feel it's very in and out, you come, sit, order, and you're out in an hour or so. Here.... dinners take hours.. and more hours. It is more of the social experience, starting with several "mezzi" (little appetizers), then dinner... then shisha (the watered tobacco), then dessert, the more shisha, and.... eating lasts as long as the conversation, which again is hours. And have I mentioned again that meals and dinners typically start very late? :-) The other thing is, and I haven't done this yet, but here they have delivery for EVERYTHING (like Ace Hardware delivers for free, the pharmacy, obviously snack/food places), so it is very convenient to just eat, eat, and eat!

Anyway, I got rid of my stone, fortunately, but NOW.... and this is my goal for the next 6 months, I need to pick up my exercising (which, as most people know me, I'm usually fairly active) and also get more of a work/LIFE balance.... meeting people, going out, getting more involved in the many, many things Dubai has to offer, especially with fitness/exercise activities.

So here is a lesson (to myself):

Lesson #24: Here in Dubai it is a bit of a workaholic atmosphere.... still try to ENJOY and take time for FUN!

Thanks to all my family and friends for supporting me through these tough 6 months in a new country! I'm lucky and fortunate to have you in my life!!!

6 months down, ???? to go!!

Some Home Lovin' in Dubai

Well, it took almost 6 months, but I just had my 1st official visitors. Not just ordinary visitors, MY PARENTS! They were tying in a medical trip to Serbia to visit me, so unfortunately, they ONLY had just 4 full-days to see me and Dubai. They also made a point to tell me NOT to over-schedule them (hehe), because they really REALLY wanted some R&R and chillax'n time. Noted.

So, knowing that my parents were coming, it was time to step up the ball game on... pretty much everything! As far as ME: 1. did that CLEAN diet (previous blog) to not be a balloon when they see me 2. Got my hair cut (hehe, yes, after almost 6 months!) 3. Starting dressing up a little more (this is more because I made this big stink at how nice people dress here, and my mom would have a heart attack if I wasn't one of 'those' people after I made such a big deal out of it! I needed to practice!).

The 2nd thing was the apt, which I totally cleaned up, got some last "big" furniture (dining table), and got made it more comfy.

The 4 days went by SUPER quick, as I predicted. And yes, it took all of about a night's sleep before my mom started a little nagging, he he, but it's all out of love. :-)

Here are some of my fave pictures from the weekend, yes some max'n and relax'n, but also some high stylin' life in Dubai!

Above and below: At the Burj Al Arab, one of the World's most luxurious hotels! 

Above and below: At Atmosphere Lounge, Burj Khalifa - the current World's Tallest Building!!! Above is a view from the 123rd floor!!!

Above and below: At a desert safari, and yes, my parents are the coolest people I know! They got such a kick out of both dressing up and riding a camel, it was just hilarious. :-) 

Above: The Serbian family friends that hosted me, my parents, a doctor that works for my clinic that invited himself to join us, and ME!

And finally.... this is AFTER their trip, a nice messy apartment to clean up and totally exhausted! ;-)

All and all, it was waaay to short and I feel I showed them too much of the "high" Dubai life, which my parent's impression is "this is Vegas on steroids" or "Vegas, Miami, and Cancun all in one." Next time I'll show them the more local side of Dubai. They were super sweet and brought me some home goods (big goods, like umm... a foam tempurpedic mattress, some linens, and much much more!) and of course, some home lovin'. 

I passed the test, so now... my doors are officially open for visitors! You are all welcome! 

CLEAN

I realize blogging about being an expat is not just about the technical side of life here, which I have been very detailed (hehe), but also the "other stuff."

Now that I am 5.5 months into my life here in Dubai, I finally am seeing the brighter side of life here... and time is FLYING... FLYING by. I feel I will blink and I will be back home and my time here will be over.

But in the meantime, here are my updates:

-Yes, I FINALLY FINALLY moved into my apt. I didn't realize what an impact it would have, BUT I feel sooooo much better! It's been a BIG time consuming process to furnish an apartment, but then again, I have time and am not trying to make it perfect right away. Just so it is presentable for my parents big arrival later this week (YEA!).

-Work has totally slowed down, which for me personally is good because I feel I have time to breathe and concentrate on other stuff, again, cleaning up and organizing my apt (hehe). For the organization, probably not so good, but eh, I'm salaried :-)
-I FINALLY took advantage of the amenities at my complex... went to the gym, lounged by the pool (which is big enough even for lap swimming! I hope to get to that soon!) and met a tenant that supposedly is going to introduce me to some beginning tennis players, so we'll see.
-The friend that I was staying with taught me how to cook a soup and stir-fry and how to make a lentil dish (dahl), soo.... that is a BIG change for me to be cooking!! Well, I should say "cooking" because it is like .2 dishes.

And finally.....

-CLEAN: What is CLEAN? Well, during one of my 2309482309428390423 emotional frenzies, I got on a kick about my diet. Yes, a big part of Dubai life is EATING and lots of it, but while I was staying with my friend, who happens to like buffet eating, we went to numerous buffets AND I took the liberty of eating the ample amount of chocolates, sweets, CHEESE (I looooove cheese) she had around the house. Worse thing is.... at night too. Wah wah. Needless to say, I was feeling TOTALLY blah and gross. My good friend Allison (thanks ABG!) told me about this 'detox' program called CLEAN, so I got this book (by Alexander Junger, M.D.), and yes, there are 2309842390423904293084 books out there about detoxes and healthy eating, but I just like the way he communicated (he's a cardiologist) and the program just makes sense. So I got spastic and was going to do the main 3-week program ASAP, but then calmed down and realized that it's best to follow his recommendations ... and that is to do a pre-clean and THEN do the 3-week "detox." So as many people know, eating is very much correlated with psychological and emotional well-being, so KNOWING that I was going to do this pre-detox, I found it okay to be a little Miss Piggy before I started.

So you might think the transition would be hard going from Little Miss Piggy to:
-NO dairy
-NO gluten, breads, carbs
-NO sweets
-NO alcoholic beverages
-NO coffee, caffeinated drinks, soft drinks. Pretty much just water.
-Having a 12-hour gap between your last meal and your first meal

What do you eat then right? Fruits, lots of veggies, fish... umm... more veggies. :-) Interestingly, no bananas, no tomatoes, no eggplant, peppers, oranges, grapes, strawberries, corn, pork beef, sausage, raw meats, soybean products (soy sauce), mayo, peanuts and peanut butter, fruit juices, ketchup, breath mints, blah blah blah.

I think it was so well needed, I just took to it and didn't have such a tough time transitioning. I thought the hardest part was going to be the sweets, but it was actually the dairy (again, have I mentioned that I loooooooooove cheese???). And I don't coffee or caffeinated drinks anyway, and here alcohol is not as accessible as it is at home so that hasn't  been an issue, so again, it was mostly the sweets and dairy (almond milk, coconut milk, and rice milk are okay though). So the 1st week I lost almost 3 lbs and the 2nd week I lost almost 3 lbs again. Now I know it sounds like a lot, but this is the weight I gained during these last few months (I think), so I am actually more or less back to my "normal" weight, BUT having no muscle mass says something too. And of course I am expecting to put at least a couple of them back, but hey, I'll take what I can get.

Yes, the weight loss is fine, BUT the BIGGEST difference I have seen is my face has TOTALLY cleared up and.... my mood and energy levels have been totally neutral and even. I just feel calm and relaxed. It made me think how much food affects are mental well-being (which the book talks about), and I feel my "bad eating" contributed to my 2304928340923894038 ups and downs. At home I eat relatively healthy so I guess I never really noticed this before. So this has all been an awakening to me. It has been easier to do this because I'm living on my own now so I don't have to go through the being rude not to accept food that is put in front of you think AND .... I am still in the process of meeting people so I don't have that influence of going out all the time to stuff yourself.

What next? Well, I just completed week 2. This week I am going to introduce a little bit of some 'normal' foods that I have been avoiding because my parents are coming for 5 days and there is NO way I am not going to enjoy Dubai eating life, which is a big part of life here and they will be experiencing it! Then after they leave, I will get back on it... relatively strict until later in the month (in preparation for my birthday! haha), then let loose over that weekend, and then basically start incorporating smart, healthy eating using the "include" foods and "exclude" foods the program suggests. I actually feel so good with this "pre-clean" I am not even sure I want to do the actual 3-week detox! It is basically a shake in the morning, a solid meal for lunch, and a soup in the evening. My other hesitation is I know nothing about cooking and even to make some of the recipes say for the lunch I am overwhelmed.

For more information about the program (I sound like an advert, right?): www.thecleanprogram.com.