6 Things that Make Me Nervous Regarding My Move to Dubai

So, I’m moving to Dubai. My husband has been there for 6 months now and I stayed behind in the US to wrap up work and have a baby. This is a huge chapter in our life. For the first time in 6 years I will live in the same country as my husband! While the move is very exciting, it is also a big deal. Here are some things that make me nervous about moving half way around the world.

 

Weather

 

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Don’t get me wrong, I am so happy to never wear a heavy winter coat again. I will not miss the below freezing temperatures of Washington, DC, but I also worry I will do nothing but complain 24/7 once the summer heat hits.

I love sunshine, palm trees, and warm weather, but with heat and humidity comes big hair (and I have lots of thick, long hair). How will I maintain my locks? Will I wear a ponytail for 6 months out of the year? And while the heat outside can be unbearable, the AC inside every public space can be quite a drastic change. I’m already annoyed of the thought of having to carry a sweater everywhere.

But hey, sunshine and palm trees…I’ll pick my battles.

 

 

Traffic

 

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I’m terrified of cars. I’m so scared of fast cars and drivers who don’t respect rules and constantly swerve in and out of lanes. Sheikh Zayed road gives me anxiety.
I understand that I can’t expect Maseratis and Lambos to always drive at speed, so I really hope I can find some quiet side roads. I’m the type of person who will beep at a terrible driver on the highway, or roll down my window and yell at the person next to me to stop texting. Which leads to my next point…

 

 

My Mouth

 

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I say what I feel, and my mom always told me my mouth will get me in trouble. I’m also very sarcastic, honest, and playful. I need to be sure I don’t accidently say something offensive to the wrong person. I need to remember that I’ll be a guest in someone else’s country, and I need to hold my tongue more than I’m used to.

 

 

Making friends

 

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I’m leaving so many great friends behind in the US. While we’ll be surrounded by other expats in our residential community, I wonder if any of them become great friends. Another fear is getting stuck in a bubble. I want to form friendships with local Emirati women, and not just English-speaking expats. Will I have that opportunity? We’ll have to wait and see.

 

 

Spending too much $

 

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Dubai isn’t cheap. While we are blessed with a great job opportunity, we will be living off of one salary for a while. Can we maintain a balanced life-style while saving up for the future? It will need to be a very conscious effort to not get carried away with the spending.

 

 

New Mom

 

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As a new mom, I’m moving to Dubai with a 6 week old baby. I’ll be away from my family and friends and my husband will be gone often for me. I won’t have anyone to lean on in Dubai. I don’t even know where to go to buy diapers, and whether the store carries the right kind. Needless to say, I bought 2 suitcases worth of diapers and wipes from the US to ship over. I’m sure with time I will get acclimated but for now, I’m trying to be over prepared so I don’t become overwhelmed upon arrival.

If you live in Dubai and want to help make my transition less painful by offering advice or being my friend, please let me know!

 

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