One Year Later

Elephant! 

Since I have been away I have celebrated a milestone.  One year in Dubai!  Six new countries, a magnitude of new food encounters, 2 10ks & 1 half marathon, great new friends, one phenomenal fiance, and I think it is safe to say it has been a very full and rich year.

It is hard to say what will happen next?  Much to my mother's dismay at a wine tasting, we had this Scottish Gypsy (equivalent to physic in "American") tell us that in 1 year and 9 months, not to be specific or anything, we would be moving to Hong Kong and then finally settle down some where in Germany.  Now I have an open mind and I am okay with living the expat life, but I think that is taking it a little bit to the extreme.  I do still get very much homesick.  We have a fab life over here but I miss my family, friends, and their many milestones.

Family in Dubai!

My latest endeavor is trying to discover my passion.  It sounds cheesy, but this is something I think I have always struggled with.  I have tried running, which has been fun, but let's get real, I can definitely take it or leave it.  Lately, I have been cooking a lot more and going to the farmers market, and reading blogs on whole foods and cooking.  We have mad some pretty great dinners!  Maybe I am onto something.  The gypsy did mention to me that I will go back to school at sometime?  It is a little far fetched, but maybe culinary school?  Or maybe just a cooking class, either will suffice.

This past year has been full of changes, almost all of them for the good, let's see what this next year brings.  My Hollywood Ending will undoubtedly continue, "A true love story never ends..."

Bring it on year two!  I am ready.

Christmas Cheer and The New Year

Well we made it through our first Dubai Christmas.  When you are an expat and so far away from home what do you do on Christmas Day?  Brunch!  E and I hightailed it to the Atlantis to drink bubbly and feast of the magnificent spread.  We donned Santa hats and dined by the gorgeous Atlantis pool.  There was even a cotton candy machine, which was my go to for dessert.  It really was lovely and we had lots of fun. BUT I missed the cold, grey skies of the midwest, the fire crackling, and the family all together.  As much as we tried to mask the day in opulent fun it just was not the same as home.

My Hollywood finish, my prince
found me to cross the finish
line with me!

Now we are looking towards the New Year.  Currently we are planning to stay in Abu Dhabi and attend the Coldplay concert after a few days down on the island that E works on.  But we all know what comes with the new year...resolutions.  I know everyone says that they do not believe in them but we all still make them so often just to be broken.  In past blogs I have discussed E's health kick and it has jump started my running, most recently completing a half marathon.  So I thought that I am going to make a resolution that I can work towards everyday.  A mileage goal.  E brought up the thought of running 1000k in the year, which would be about 621 miles, which is only 1.7 miles per day.  That's less than 20 minutes of running.  Completely doable, so I am going to do it.  So from here and there you may be reading about some milage updates.  Here's to keep resolutions!!

What's your New Years Resolution?

Cheers!