Looking back to that blog when I wrote about the "Index of Happiness" my 1st year, which I used in anticipation of my trip to Bhutan, which DID happen, I saw it was a steady incline through the year and I left it at 75%. Well, now I can happily say it is up at 90%! As this 2-year anniversary was approaching, I was talking about it a little, and I think about 80% of people said, "ooohhh... the 1st year is tough! I hated it the 1st year." And.... honestly, I can see why. I won't go as far to say hate, but I think now looking back it was a lot tougher than I thought and I definitely had my share of ups and downs through that year as well more breakdowns than I've had my whole life. I can't pinpoint exactly why or what was it that made it so difficult, but as everyone says, including me, it's just the adjustment to a new life in a new place!
However, this 2nd year, the ups were more and the downs were less. Dubai is a place like that, things are always changing. I probably felt a lot more homesick that 1st year, and now of course I've had times where something random provoke it, and I will get homesick. But then that too passes, you move on with life, and here we are 2 years later! It's funny because when talking to people, EVERYONE it seems says, "oohh... I just came out for a couple of years, and hey look! It's been 10 years!" WHAT?! I 110% know that's not true for me (10 years? I can't even imagine!), but although I don't really have a plan, I'll for sure be here for another year or so, then we'll see what happens. Next year probably when I write my "3 years down, ??? to go" I hopefully should have some kind of plan. The problem that also EVERYONE faces is it is a bit hard to save here, and we all come here to do some savings, and I've been successful with goals such as to TRAVEL (yaaaaay) and also a big one was to pay off my grad school loans - DONE and DUSTED! This would take at least 10 more years if I was still in the States, so I am super grateful for that! Next year I'm investing more in educational/career development, which of course isn't cheap either, and hence, as a lot of people say here, the time just passes. But ultimately, I want to come home with some kind of $$ cushion, however long that takes me to get there! So... "we'll see!"
Sooo..... as previously, I like to write lists, and below I just summarized in no particular order of importance, a synopsis of my 2-year life here in Dubai!!!!
LIVING:
This alone takes my scale of happiness up up and UP! I looooooooooooooooooooooooooooooove where I live! It is an AWESOME location, right downtown, but not in the heart where it gets SUPER backed up with traffic, but walking distance from it where it is quiet and peaceful. I also LOVE my apt, have it the way I like it, it's perfect for me, and I am just SUPER happy here. There was a brief moment of panic when, like ALL of Dubai, I got a notice about a BIG rent increase, which I almost had a heart attack about because it is a bit beyond my budget, BUT fortunately, they changed it. It's still an increase, but manageable and still probably undervalued what it should be. I am soooo thankful and fortunate I found this place!!! YAY!!!
WORK:
Ahhh.... work. Well, if anything changed my blood pressure, it would be that. That alone was one of the key reasons why my "Index of Happiness" was fairly looooooow. Too make a looooooooooooong story short, let's just say there was a particular "poison" person that I had to deal with, and this person alone had an affect on my attitude (in a bad way) and presence at work. Now looking back, I shouldn't have let things get to me as they did, but what to do? We're all human. Anyhoo, this "poison" left for a year, and work has been 100% different, I am truly genuinely happy and comfortable and relaxed at work now. It is soo nice and the atmosphere is just sooo much better! One colleague made the analogy of a character from Harry Potter that sucked the soul from people, and this person was it! Thank gaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwd I LOVE what I do, otherwise I really would have been a HOT mess. But anyhoo, I'm comfy and happy as can be... when the "poison" comes back next fall, definitely will be re-evaluating my status there. Besides that, we've had MAJOR management changes as well as a HUGE turnover at our clinic, with abrupt departures from some top people, and that was just unpleasant because they were big losses AND it just cemented the fact that in Dubai, no matter what, you are never ever secure and you SHOULD not feel secure or stable, because really, things can change overnight. So all and all, things at work are great now!!!
TRAVEL:
Being that MOST of my blogs are about travel, this past year was absolutely amazing and I can't even put into words how AWESOME!!! From being HOME to ANTARCTICA (Argentina, Colorado, etc) to then Bhutan and India to MALDIVES to TANZANIA, phew!!!! Truly amazing and if anything, when I leave Dubai I will be grateful and appreciative of ALL the travel opportunities Dubai has allowed me. I'm also in the process of planning some fun things for 2014, he hehe :-)
HEALTH and WELL-BEING:
This is probably one of the best things that's happened to be - an awakening, an awareness, I don't even know what to call it, but this alone has a HUGE contribution to having my "Index of Happiness" as high (if not higher, ha ha) as it is. I've always been conscious of exercise and eating right, but I've totally revamped both those things. Exercise wise I'm doing a ton of cross training, which is just fun and stimulating, and I have met a majority of my friends through various groups I participate in (thank you Dubai Creek Striders and Dubai Masters Swim Club!). But the eating really has made a MAJOR impact on my mood and life. Last year I discovered steaming and smoothies, this year it is roasting and learning how to cook! From both these things, although my age is creeping up, I honestly can say I feel GREAT!!!! Physically and mentally, and both those I will say it is because of my healthy lifestyle of exercise and proper eating. I.e. I've been doing a sugar free, gluten free, dairy free detox, and .... it's been AWESOME! AND..... da da dum, we'll see what I say about this next year, but I'm going to run the Dubai marathon in late Jan 2014! My 1st marathon (5th total) in 10 YEARS!!! Kinda nervous but excited about it... if I were to knock out a decent time, it would be because of all that I mentioned above (cross-training, nutrition). We'll see what happens!!!
DUBAI LIFE:
I'm fairly happy with my life here. The funny thing is Dubai REALLY REALLY has EVERYTHING imaginable here. Whatever you can think of, there will be some sort of group or organization or activity that will match your interests. Same applies for social activities, you can go ALL out to the fanciest of clubs or go low key at a coffee shop. Well, I would consider myself a low key person, so it's not the interest it's also the financial hole that comes along with this - these activities can get UBER expensive! For me, I would rather spend $$ on club sport activities and sports I enjoy, than say hundreds of dollars (no joke) for a brunch. NYET!!! Sooo.... not to say I was out and about ALL the time back in Chicago, but here I'm out and about, but not as much, and again, my life is more low key and just focused on things I enjoy.... being mindful of budgets! Another thing, because of course I lived in Chicago my whole life, I am fortunate I have a great group of awesome close friends I've known forever and ever. Here, I am fortunate that I found a small group of really good people, and although not nearly the same quantity, as we know, it's the quality that matters! Soo.... I'm happy and content with my Dubai life!!!!
CAREER:
This is probably one area that has been a bit lacking, unfortunately secondary to not being motivated by "poison," which is my fault, BUT I did take a fantastic course this spring and it really changed my way of thinking and has helped a lot. I'm looking fwd to later this fall and next year as I am going to focus my energy on expanding my knowledge and skills which in turn later will help advance my career when I get home to Chi-town.
Overall, as I mentioned, 2nd year has been MUCH better than the 1st, it continues to get better and better, and I am happy with the life here!!! Don't panic, that doesn't mean I'll stay here forever, but if I can meet my career goals and financial goals (I think I've done fairly well with travel goals, he he) by next year, then I will consider making my way back home the year after that? If I need a little more time, then I'll stay for a bit longer. We'll see!!!!
Soooo... it's been a journey and more journeys to come!!!! :-)
BTW, on a side note, as I mentioned, one of the big accomplishments of my time in Dubai is learning how to cook (kinda), and for my 2-year anniversary I made pumpkin-coconut soup (in honor of the fall season we don't really get here) with sprinkled cayenne pepper, then stuffed peppers! It is a Serbian classic, and I made it for that reason as well as the challenge - brown rice mixed with ground beef and some veggies. Yummy! Then for desert made a banana & Greek yogurt smoothie.... TOTALLY delicious and SUPER easy!!! Just had to share:
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