January 11, 2011 marks my one year anniversary of moving to Abu Dhabi.
Here's my top ten list of lessons learned over the past twelve months:
10. If you work hard, you can play hard.
(Some really long weeks at work, but also some great weekends and vacations.)
9. In this part of the world sometimes you have to be extra persistent (or get angry) if you want something accomplished. (i.e. My new bank account was only created after I waited for three months and then got upset about the wait.)
8. Expats are easy to befriend. We're all far from home, so many are happy to chat and get to know you. I'm thankful to have made friends from Kyrgyzstan, Australia, Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Albania, Cameroon, South Africa, Brazil, Syria, Jamaica, and many other places.
6. With freedom comes responsibility: it's impossible to break residency with Massachusetts, so I still have to pay quarterly state taxes.
5. I love line dancing!
4. I listen to more country music than ever before-- perhaps because it's so American?
3. Camping in the desert is amazing: stars, campfires, dune-bashing, goats, camels... What more could you ask for? A toilet, I suppose, but it's worth doing without for a night or two.
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| view from one of our campsites |
2. Starting an academic library from scratch is simultaneously exhausting and exhilarating. 7,800 books and DVDs: 90,000 to go! I'm very thankful for a true team of colleagues in AD and NY.
1. God is good-- in Concord, Chicago, Somerville, and Abu Dhabi. He has provided more than I could have imagined this past year: a job that's a good fit, a church community, new friends, an orchestra, an expanding view if His world and His grace. Praise Him!
