Growth
Hello! Its been a while. I'm going to try to keep this short (LOL). In a few days, I will be flying back to the US...for good, for now (Update: I've been home for over a month now). Initially, I was under a three year contract with the public school system. When I had to transition to the private sector, my contract became two years. Although extending a contract is not an issue (since they need teachers), I decided that two years was good enough. I am content and I believe that I have accomplished what I have set out to do. I wanted to prove to myself that I could move to another country and not run for the hills. I have surprised myself. I am stronger than I ever gave myself credit for!
Many people don't understand my choice to move back home and that's fine! I'm coming home. I SAID WHAT I SAID! Some coworkers here, are sad to see me leave but they understand that this place is a revolving door: expats come to work and then they return to their home country. Some expats understand the pros and cons of living and working here. For example, although we may earn a tax free salary, prices for basic needs have increased in the UAE. The country is getting prepared for the 20/20 Expo and they have introduced VAT (value added taxes). Now, coming from the US, I am accustomed to paying taxes, but when prices suddenly increased in a place that was 'tax free,' then I/we felt some type of way. I am still able to send the majority of my salary home since the cost of living is so low. Also, I am very cheap. I like sales and my mom always taught me that 'You don't have to do what everybody else is doing." This sentence echos in my mind. I consider myself a very chill person...I might club, or go to a few dinners, but I enjoy hikes and walks and kickbacks. I don't feel the need to be in everyone's face because I need my space.
I think that oftentimes, the loudest person, is the QUIETEST. That's me. No need to pop bottles, flaunt my body, throw money, etc. I was venting to my sister about people that come here and reinvent themselves. I encourage reinvention, but be authentic. Basically, people come from whatever state or country, and forget where they came from. Don't forget what you used to look like or how you used to live paycheck to paycheck. This is the reality for many of us. I don't expect people to share their roller coaster ride, but don't paint a fictional picture. Social media has made us this way. We share for the likes. S M H.
This experience has taught me contentment and mindfulness. Situations that would cause me to become angry, are now met with shoulder shrugs. How is yelling at said person going to solve Problem X? Its not, so I am more aware of what I speak, what I absorb in conversations, what I think about food, how I accept people's differences, etc. Being in this country has taught me to slow down. YOU WILL GET WHERE YOU'RE GOING, AMBER! These people do everything slow: walk, run, work, drink coffee, etc. It's as if there is no deadline for anything. No expediency. God's time. Thank you, UAE, for slowing me down.
WHAT'S NEXT?
There will be a few changes next year. I will be at a new middle school in the states! I'm looking forward to the change since I only worked at one school prior to coming here. I was super spoiled there when I hear the stories of other teachers. I am, was, and will be blessed! I am super excited for the technology PDs because I feel that I am behind in that area since moving abroad. I will get my Chromebook back! I might coach cheerleading again also. I am ELATED to go to my favorite stores and farmer's markets. When I land, I plan on going straight to my gym to sign back up and I will be hitting up Trader Joe's. I welcome the familiar with open arms: my home, natural hair products, bed, kitchen, BATHROOM, car, independence, etc. Normalcy.
'See You'
I know this post is all over the place due to my absence, but I hope that you take a nugget of useful information from it. I will leave you with this: my mom always told us to never say 'goodbye' since its a permanent word...there's no coming back from 'goodbye.' It wasn't until I arrived here that I heard 'See You' when clocking out or leaving a place. In the states, we say 'see you later' or 'see ya,' or 'holla at you later' when we expect to see someone again. But 'See You' goes beyond the span of time. I have analyzed these two words because they are so beautiful to me. What does it mean? 'I see your soul and the goodness in you' or 'until next time.' Live in expectancy. Until then, SEE YOU.
