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Published: August 31st 2009
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The day has come, in which two years has seemed like a lifetime, as well as a blink of an eye. I say goodbye to Dubai! While the process of leaving was simply too much of a whirlwind to recount on the day of, I think it is best I have had a few months to reflect and to finally write down what this moment entails. As much of life, this period has brought both its good and bad experiences. What a person decides to do with this, of course makes all the difference. To represent parts of my life here, I have chosen to display a variety of pictures that I have yet to show. As I browse through this selection, the feeling of what these past two years seems to flood through me. In ways, in truly seems like a dream. Did I really drive through nearly the entire desert country, many times on my own? Was that really me in some of the most posh places on Earth? Did I really work that much? Was I really fortunate enough to meet and have so many good friends in my life at this time? It takes a few times
repeating to myself, but yes, this episode was in fact real.
What can I say about the whole period? While I came to Dubai with many intentions and expectations, this place seemed to have its own idea of what was best for me. Sometimes Dubai and I disagreed, for the most part though, we came to a compramise. Dubai, like travel anywhere else I would warrant, provides a person a chance to completely leave the system of what they are used to. I would have to say you really don't know who you are until you are completely out of your element. When all of the comforts and supposed necessities of your life are removed, you have no other option but to take a real hard honest look at yourself. While the reflection may at first not be what you expected, the potential from such moments of realization is quite a challenge to describe. For myself, I was faced with the reality that the life I would have in Dubai would be what I made of it, for better or for worse. While I may have had stumbles and what seems like now temporary insanity, I have no doubt
the whole experience was worthwhile. For honesty, combined with dedication and a desire for integrity is the perfect recipe for a rewarding adventure. In all honesty, I don't know where else I could have had these conditions if not in a foreign land.
With this, how can I ever forget such good friends I have made? My co-workers in the social studies department were beyond a doubt good people. I could always count on support, be it with a school issue, or simply helping me to remember to enjoy life. And of course, my close friends of roommates of both years in Dubai. These guys simply wouldn’t accept some of the misconceptions that I myself had. They were good people, and great friends to me, I could not have done so well without them. In truth, there are so many people that I wish I could list and remember. People who helped to understand beauty, honesty, enjoyment and making the most of what life had to offer. The value of a friendship can simply never be overstated. Thank you all, for everything.
Dubai, and the Middle East for the most part, has shown me at times some unsettling and
difficult lifestyles. While the malls and hotels of Dubai seem to be the peak of glamour in human civilization, the apartments and living conditions of those who built these monuments seem to fall on the exact other end of the spectrum. Within Dubai, I have seen a lifestyle that was completely unique in this world. However, when it came down to it, leaving the city and entering the land of the United Arab Emirates was what truly held the spirit of the land. Looking through these pictures, I know that I will always miss my great classes, co-workers, friends, amazing landscapes, and of course, the FJ Cruiser. This entire journey brought me much heartache at times, but at many instances, I was held spellbound by scenes of magnificence that I could have never imagined. I suppose that it is both sides of this journey that makes an adventure what it is. An adventure is a dangerous, challenging, and yet rewarding event. While you think you may learn a lot about a new area and the people, in truth, you really learn more about yourself.
So with this, I bid farewell to Dubai, and I thank you for the chance
to grow.
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Aunt Barbara
non-member comment
hello
Love the pics. I happy you had this experience, one of many more to come I bet! love ya