(Disclaimer: You might notice some conflicting messages/thoughts between this and my next post. These thoughts were recorded soon after arriving back to Abu Dhabi, but I am just now posting them. You can blame any contradictions on me being human. :-)
I don't live here anymore! That is what I realized during my trip home. When I arrived home to Virginia Beach, of course my family welcomed me with open arms...and then they went back to work/school. I woke up one morning and realized I was the only person at home, "Where is everyone?!" I asked myself. "Oh, your world doesn't stop because I'm in town? I get it." Realizing this reconfirmed what I explained in my last post, Abu Dhabi is my home. Well, I refuse to make it my "home," but it is where I live for the time being. And that time is not short; it's 2 years, and I'm only 6 months in (technically it's more like 18 months and I'm about 5 in, but you get the point.) Then, I remembered that one of the things I was most excited about in coming to Abu Dhabi was the fact that I signed a 2 year contract, whereas some programs I was applying to were offering 1 year contracts. After living in Philadelphia and completing my Master's in just 1 year, I came to Abu Dhabi excited to settle down somewhere for longer than just 9-12 months. Staying in a place for two or more years really helps you take advantage of everything. So, with this being the beginning of a new calendar year and with me being in the middle of my first academic year living here, I am excited to see what the next 18 months of living, working, and traveling about have to offer.
Here are a few more pics from Christmas. I love watching my family open their gifts!
(You might notice some conflicting messages/thoughts between this and my next post. These thoughts were recorded soon after arriving back to Abu Dhabi, but I am just now posting them. You can blame any contradictions on me being human.)
I don't live here anymore! That is what I realized during my trip home. When I arrived home to Virginia Beach, of course my family welcomed me with open arms...and then they went back to work/school. I woke up one morning and realized I was the only person at home, "Where is everyone?!" I asked myself. "Oh, your world doesn't stop because I'm in town? I get it." Realizing this reconfirmed what I explained in my last post, Abu Dhabi is my home. Well, I refuse to make it my "home," but it is where I live for the time being. And that time is not short; it's 2 years, and I'm only 6 months in (technically it's more like 18 months and I'm about 5 in, but you get the point.) Then, I remembered that one of the things I was most excited about in coming to Abu Dhabi was the fact that I signed a 2 year contract, whereas some programs I was applying to were offering 1 year contracts. After living in Philadelphia and completing my Master's in just 1 year, I came to Abu Dhabi excited to settle down somewhere for longer than just 9-12 months. Staying in a place for two or more years really helps you take advantage of everything. So, with this being the beginning of a new calendar year and with me being in the middle of my first academic year living here, I am excited to see what the next 18 months of living, working, and traveling about have to offer.
Here are a few more pics from Christmas. I love watching my family open their gifts!
No comments:
Post a Comment