Travel Gourmande

Let's pretend for a second that we are in a nice terrace overlooking the garden enjoying a cup of coffee (while the baby is sleeping) to catch up. Miss B of Bobochic nominated me a few days ago to share a few random things about me. Check out hers here. I can't wait to find out about yours too.

A Leftie. I'm left-handed and I can write with my right hand too. I can also write upside down. It was a clever trick to amuse clients during meetings. :)
It’s difficult to get my 100% attention in a conversation. I have a very short attention span.
I have mastered the art of pretending to listen but don’t be fooled. :) I was eventually sent to attend a seminar called, "The Art of Listening." --which was really helpful by the way.
Absent-minded and often daydreaming, always ask me three times when I say ‘yes’ to your question, if I really meant it, especially when I’m doing something.
I won an award- Most Talkative Person in kindergarten class for not listening to the teacher and going from one table to another, which was weird because I'm really quite reserved.
I got in trouble and was sent to the principal's office when I was a kid for using the boys bathroom all the time. I always wondered why the boys screamed whenever I entered.
I like the adrenalin rush of presenting on stage in front of a big audience and talk. It scares me, but I always get such a rush afterwards.
Yet, it’s so funny how I feel anxious socializing or networking in a cocktail party with people I don’t know.
I'm a licensed architect, but didn't really practice it until I got into Interior Design. I'm so glad I took Architecture. It's a great foundation for what I am doing now.
I avoid any sport activities that involve BALLS..or any sport where balls bounce back (that includes shuttlecocks too). Balls hate me, they always land on my face.
I can sleep anywhere immediately, even inside the plane or a moving bus. I can fall sleep sitting down and in less than a minute.
Almost stage actress. When I was 22, I auditioned in a professional theatre while I was looking for a job, and won the lead role to perform as an adulterous woman doomed to be murdered by her famous artist husband. I turned it down because I had to appear half naked on stage in a steamy bed scene with lots of torrid kissing. Eeew..
My first big theatre performance on stage was when I was 13, as a seductive dancer performing flamenco in a high school musical play called, "In Gay Havana" by Baker.
A frustrated dancer. I've always wanted to pursue dancing and was invited to join a professional dance group performing on TV after that play, but I was not allowed by my parents for fear of affecting my studies.
I was a strict lacto-vegetarian and at some point pure vegan for 7 years.
After 7 years, I decided to buy one Big Burger King Whopper one day and started eating meat again.
One of my greatest accomplishments today was learning to install the baby car seat for my first day out with my little one at the mall alone. She's a mall rat in the making. She was incredibly well behaved and seemed to have enjoyed shopping a lot.

I could go on and on. That's it for now.

Now it's my turn to nominate the following bloggers:

Marjorie of Coffeehan
Ashley of Have Ashley Will Travel
Irene of Away from Tenerife
Claire of The Secret Notebook
Molly of The Move to America

Please feel free to participate. I'd be very happy to read about your random things.

Have a great week!

Love & light,

Arni

I am happy to participate once again in the Expat Blogger Link-up called The Expat Experience hosted by Molly @ The Move to America. For this week's theme, we are to write about an unexpected challenge that we faced. Join in the fun by clicking here and share your thoughts.

The biggest challenge for me was {drum roll}

Acclimatizing to the complex work environment of a multi-national company in a new country.

I was hired from my home country and was then previously working as an interior designer. At that time I had no experience in Interior Design Sales. Due to my design background I was hired and was flown in.

New in town, with no friends, no business contacts and with absolutely no idea how business relationships are conducted in this rapidly progressing country, I found myself learning the ropes one step at a time.

There was pressure because I was in a six-month probation. My performance was based on closing project deals within 6 months.

Source

The toughest for me was adjusting to the diverse culture in the office. Throw in different individuals with different personalities in one office that are doomed to clash everyday. Throwing fits along the hallways seemed unavoidable.

In reality, I am an introvert, sensitive, emotional and not very confrontational who prefers and have always been used to a harmonious working environment back in my home country. Imagine my surprise when I receive an immediate comment from my superiors on my first day saying, " I don't think you can make it in this business. You look weak."

Hmm.. that made me think real hard. Alone in a foreign country with people saying I can't make it. I cried. Believe me, a lot! Most days, it was my family back home who gave me strength as well as my goal to succeed. I have come this far, I can't give up.

Thinking back, this was my process in finally overcoming this challenge:

Prayer. I prayed a lot for strength and guidance.
Communication with family gave me courage to move forward reminding me what I came here for.
Good random acts of kindness and good karma find their way back to you. I found mentors in the company who taught me, as well as like-minded people with similar values who believe in team work. I gave help without expecting anything in return and gave credit to those due. Somehow in the process, I gained their trust and this helped me win projects and form long term harmonious relationships within and outside the organization despite our cultural differences.
Accepting criticism I took them in and found ways to improve myself. Sadly, to the point where I had to re-invent myself to fit the job from the way I communicate to everything, but it did work 100%. I had to pretend to be 'aggressive' and appear 'in control' in front of the mirror at first until I slowly absorbed it and became that character.
Flexibility and Open mindedness I had to accept there are certain things I cannot change. Like a colleague's or a client's personality for instance. :) I had to adjust and see how I can win this person instead.
Take it easy. Years down the line, that experience will just be another conversation laughing topic (so true) so I guess I should just enjoy the ride and not get too caught up with all the drama.

The whole challenge took me about 2-3 years to overcome. It wasn't a walk in the park and it didn't happen overnight. I failed. I made mistakes. I cried. I learned.

Good friends and a healthy support system do help a lot too, but that was also another challenge because in such a transient city like Dubai, it is difficult to find long lasting friendships. It took me years to find them though. Sad to say they still come and go because we all never know how long we all plan to stay.

Hope this post helps those who are going through the same challenges.

Love & light,

Arni

Better late than never. I wanted to seize the chance of completing the final part of the Expat Blogger Link-up called The Expat Experience hosted by Molly @ The Move to America. For the final theme, "The Everyday Experience," we are to write about what we really enjoy or cherish about living abroad. Join in the fun by clicking here and feel free to share some love.

In almost eleven years of being an expat in Dubai, the entire experience has been ever-changing and never constant. It pretty much sums up the environment as well, since this dynamic and young city always evolves.

Driving, for instance. Leave the country for a short break of about a week or two and upon your return, you'll find yourself completely surprised that the road you usually take has changed. A new interchange has opened to replace an old roundabout and names of highways and roads have been replaced. Sometimes, residential developments and towers pop up like mushrooms unnoticed and it often makes me think, "When did that happen?"

Dubai in 2010, Imagine what it's like now.

The environment somehow mirrors my personal life too. The way I viewed Dubai during my first job here was completely different from the way I see Dubai when I moved to another company.

There were lifestyle changes and little did I know, it was changing me. As I adapted with the melting pot of different cultures, I see different facets of myself. Some parts of myself that I didn't like and some parts that I am proud of. Little by little, I am finding the courage to stay true to who I really am in this rapidly changing city.

Weekend Brunch

Things I love about everyday life in Dubai:

The weekend brunches. The above picture paints a thousand words.
It is sunny all year round. The buildings and villas always look new because it never rains. You can be fashionable and wear stylish and expensive shoes without worrying they'll get ruined. There's valet almost everywhere too.
It is tax-free. There are exceptions to this of course like parking tickets, housing fees and toll fees but they're indirect. No need to calculate taxes on your pay check or grocery bills.
A large array of cuisine, whatever you fancy that are available on speed dial.
The shopping festivals.
Feeling of safety and security. People here have great respect for the law, so it's a very secure environment. There was a time when I can leave my wallet on a table inside a food court. Come back after 30 minutes and it's still there. I have misplaced my valuables many times and I always get them back.
Easy access to beautiful beach.

Jabal Yibr : On the highest mountain in the UAE

Tips to make the most of everyday life in a new place.

Explore the outdoors and neighboring cities during the weekends. My first year in Dubai, I kept weekends busy visiting sites and discovering new landscapes until we ran out of places to see. These road trips are not only entertaining but also educational and can be great conversation starters when meeting new friends.
Join clubs, fitness classes or hobby groups. Easiest way to meet like-minded people and new friends. I joined some weekend language courses and even a dance class where I met friends outside my usual circle.
Find beauty and love in the most ordinary thing you encounter everyday. I should put this on my bathroom mirror everyday. I get overwhelmed by tasks and stress that I often forget to pause and smell the roses.