Moi, je ne regrette rien..

We are now in our third and final term of the academic year so there is a lot of planning going on for the next one, and reflection of what we newbies have been through in the 8 months since we arrived.  When we first announced our intentions of working abroad, my brother said I should write a blog for two reasons:  so we could reflect on what we had been through - you forget so much, and to help other people going through the same experience.  I know the first aspect has been very valuable, other people need to decide on the second.

I recently went back to Dubai airport for the first time since last August and it was a strange feeling, deja vue in a way.  I have memories of coming through to the arrival 'meet and greet' area after our eleven hour journey, during which the whole experience seemed surreal.  We had rented our house out, got rid of the majority of our worldly goods, given up our jobs, sold our cars, burnt a lot of bridges, but on the flight you are in limbo.  If you turned back you had a huge headache of what to do next, but by carrying on you had a job offer and the opportunity of a real adventure.  We know of only one couple who went with the first option.  They arrived and within 24 hours they were on their way back.

If you're thinking of working abroad in the education sector, there are certain concepts that you have to get used to.  When you're buying a home or changing job in your own country you have time to research the market, check out locations, see what the schools are like, make an informed decision.  This can take months or years.  But when you decide to come overseas you often don't have the opportunity to do that level of investigation.  A lot of international job offers give you only 24 hours to decide on acceptance or refusal and if you're looking in a general area i.e. the Middle East, you probably haven't visited every country or city.  If you go to a recruitment fair it's the same, you could be interviewed by three schools in three different parts of the world, and if they offer you a position you have to let them know the following day.

So thank you Tim Berners-Lee, the modest and unassuming inventor of the internet!  You get an offer, spend about 12 hours through the night researching the place, then make a decision, that's it!  Before you know it you're on a flight thinking:  what's the flat going to be like? Am I going to get on with my colleagues?  Can I cope with the change of lifestyle?  If you have a child you're multiplying these questions by a factor of 10!  We had never visited the Middle East at all so the unknown was far greater than the known for us.  But thems the breaks, if you want to make the omelet, you have to break the eggs.

I started to think about a pro & pro list, things that I like about here and things that I miss about England/France. 

1.  If you shop here when you shopped at home the supermarkets and malls are virtually empty.  

This picture was taken at our local Spinneys (think Waitrose) at mid-day on a Friday, our equivalent of a European Saturday.  The shop was similarly empty as was Marks & Spencer, where we were the only customers in the entire shop.  Compare and contrast with 10pm on a Friday night when these places are absolutely heaving, comparable to the last weekend before Christmas at home, when you can't get in the car park!  I'm also pretty used to having someone put fuel in the car for me and pack my bags at the supermarket.

2.  We miss being able to easily buy things off the internet, especially Tesco direct! 

We were used to having our friendly Tesco delivery team rock up at the door with our groceries, having to go and get them each week is a chore!  That's the price you pay for not having an address!

3.  Come to the UAE, meet the world!

In my opinion, when you travel you meet amazing people from all over the world.  When you live and work amongst a wide variety of people it definitely broadens your horizons and gives you an insight in to how the other half live, without all the negativity you see on the news.  I also think this is a marvelous opportunity for our daughter to grow up with an understanding and appreciation of different cultures rather than with preconceptions and mistrust.

4.  Home thoughts from abroad.

Naturally there are times when you miss the family and friends that you've left behind, but Skype is a fantastic thing!  We've been fortunate to have several visitors since we've been here and our return tickets are booked for a trip in the summer break.

5.  If you don't like the scenery, change it..

One of the reasons we came here was for the adventure, to see new places and try different things.  The desert is a magical place, quiet and mystical with camels and scrub trees dotted on an otherwise featureless landscape.  The mountains are magnificent, rugged and stratified, telling the story of how they were formed.  But we do miss the greenery of home!  You end up watching Downton Abbey just to remind you what the countryside looks like!

6.  You are what you eat..

Let's face it supermarkets are pretty much the same the world over and most food is available anywhere.  However I do miss:  fish and chips, a good roast and a hand drawn pint of beer, not all at the same time though..