One Year

Today marks exactly 1 year since we left the USA and moved to the UAE

wow! What a difference a year makes!

This year has been  such a wild ride – so many highs and lows and everything in between.  I have had joy, pain, comfort, loneliness,  felt empty and full, heartache and happiness.  We have experienced more in one year than most do in lifetime.  We have camped in the desert, dune bashed twice, snow skied indoors, been to the top of the worlds tallest building as well as the lowest point on Earth (dead sea), taken 10 flights with 2 kids, rode camels, vacationed in Paris & enjoyed the magic of Disneyland, traveled to Jordan and had such an adventure horseback riding in Petra, then in Israel where we saw things that will continue to blow our minds forever.  

As I see new people come into Abu Dhabi and reflect back on how it was for me one year ago, I realize how hard it truly was  {much of it I didn’t want to post on the blog as to not look like a complainer}.  The difficulty of adjustment to a new culture and country can never be overestimated but it is something I am forever grateful for. 

The best way to deal with adjustment for me was just eventually erasing expectation.  As Americans we are used to so many conveniences and have a pretty high baseline for housing, customer service and just overall ease of life.  Wiping those away and realizing that life here doesn’t work like that and no hissy fit that I can throw would ever change that.  Adjusting expectations to  like, “zero” set myself for less disappointment, fewer frustrating days and overall a more positive attitude. 

here is my Expat Adaptation formula:

New Reality  - (minus) Expectations = Level of Happiness During Change

Ha! hopefully I’ll never have to use it again

So how are things now? after a year of stretching, growing and learning…..? Really good.  I must say. It is “normal” and we do REALLY enjoy it.   A very different normal than my Texas normal, but a new normal, indeed.  I still meal plan, grocery shop, do drop offs, hang out with friends, play with the kids, go to bible study, cook dinner etc. but I don’t do any cleaning or laundry which is totally awesome.  We regularly go to the beach, have hours upon hours of playing outside and volunteer a lot of my time.  We enjoy doing all that Abu Dhabi has to offer and are having lots of fun.

The days whip around fast here and things still take longer to do here than in the states, but I expect it.  Some days I have absolutely nothing to do and others so full I don’t have a minute to spare.  We have made wonderful friends to do life with here, as well as make time for each other as husband and wife.  I am so thankful that God put me thru so many trials and challenges at once – it has produced in me a faith without fret… something that I can trust in for many years to come.

One {MAJOR} thing that I will never get used to is the distance and time difference from our families.  Even though life here is really good, I don’t want it forever.  The thing that gets me thru is knowing it is temporary.  Nothing can make up for the ‘far-ness’ from family/friends and the daily interactions that you have to give up…. and no amount of adventure can fully distract your heartache for your loved ones.  I am so thankful for my sister’s visit to Abu Dhabi this year! I know we won’t have as many visitors as our other expat friends do just based on our families circumstances – but it meant the world to me that she spent her time, money and vacation days to hang with us in the desert! Truly a highlight of my year.

Who knows what this year will hold for us here half way around the world…. One thing I do know is that we are enjoying the cards we’ve been dealt. 

Cheers!!, to one year down, trusting in God’s plan and taking one HUGE leap of faith really, really far out of my comfort zone.