Hopping on travel

One of the biggest things I wanted to accomplish coming to the Middle East was to fulfill the travel bug that has been pestering the back of my mind for years. I have always dreamed of being able to see the world, to experience beautiful sights and be introduced to new cultures. Well this is a great dream but how does one who is not worldly nor well traveled even begin to understand where to go, what to do once you get there, and of course how to stay safe when traveling to unexplored lands.

One of my friends here in AD who is from back home introduced me to the app "Hopper".

Of course one of the first things is how much do I want to spend on these trips? Well Hopper has been a favorite so far as you can plug in your intended dates of travel and it gives you when the prices are high, medium, or low. It even watches trips for you so if they happen to sink really low you get an alert so you know when to buy to save you a few dollars. I have the notifications set up so I get when the price goes up, goes down, or when it is the best time to buy.

I am loving the fact that I can program in a bunch of different trips and just kind of wait and see what will suit me and my budget the best! The app keeps track of all the trips and you are able to plan pretty far out or at least get the intended trips on deck to be watched. I cannot wait to start acting on some of the deals that this bunny finds me. What apps are your travel essentials?

Dreams and VPN's

Confession: Last night was the first night that I dreamed of finally boarding my plane and making it to Abu Dhabi. I am kind of surprised that my overworked mind had not played this scenario out prior to now. I am actually pretty proud of the fact that I haven't gone in to full-blown, ugly cry freak out yet. But then again, that just isn't me. I am so thankful for this opportunity. I know that many cannot even fathom doing something as big as this. I think it is such an amazing gateway to such bigger things. I cannot wait to experience the culture and the lifestyle differences. Oh hey, tangent.. let's re-rail this post, shall we. 

In my dream, Abu Dhabi is horrible. I landed in the middle of the desert with nothing in sight and no idea of what I was supposed to do. I was all alone with no one. It was like I was transported to the middle of the desert and just kind of left. Obvi that is not going to happen because we will land at an actual airport. Much to my dismay in said dream, I had also forgotten to download the VPN on my laptop. The things that take priority in my little life, right? Nevermind that I didn't have directions, suitcases, or a place to live but sonofa if I didn't forget to download the VPN before leaving. I remember in my dream being very mad at myself. So I guess I will put that on my short list of BIG things to do. I am sure that this dream is a spin off effect from the placement news I received the other day about my school. I will be in an all girls High School in Abu Dhabi City. I am so thrilled with my placement that I cannot even begin to say. I definitely hoped to be placed near the city and I am happy with high school since it is what I am used to now after being in high school the last four years. 

**email check break** As per usual, SQUIRREL!! I was writing then got a notification from my email that has a special tone for important emails, like from my rep. that is in charge of my visa. Yep, well that went off, my heart dropped as usual and there is was. I had passed security and I am just waiting on my visa. My proposed leave date is two weeks, if not sooner. Right, smack dab during the middle of Thanksgiving week. That should go over like a fart in a space suit with my mom. Can't wait to break this news... oh wait, yes I can! 

So two weeks -- what would you do in the last two weeks before you left the country? I guess this calls for a list.  I am going to jam out and link out with Helene for the #SOTWW. Have I mentioned that I love her blog? Please do yourself a favor & check that business out. I have a list to make. I'll be jamming to one of my favorites..

The Stereotypical Pleaser

I was asked yesterday if I was beginning my midlife crisis early.This is largely due to the fact that I decided it would be a fantastic idea to dye my hair a little bit of the rainbow in its blue, pink, and purple glory. I stand by my decision whole-heartedly, mind you. No, this is not the beginning of a midlife crisis, or an early 30-something freak out. I have had a little time lately to kind of reflect on me, my life, and my choices.

I will tell you I've definitely made some questionable decisions in life but not a one that I regret. However, in looking back at these decisions, I also can see where I have tried to always pick the lesser of the two evils, the way of less confrontation; ultimately the road more traveled. I have rarely made a decision based on just me: what I want and what would make me 100 shades of happy. I have always put others thoughts, feelings, emotions, and opinions before my own. I like to make people happy; I discovered I am the stereotypical pleaser. There are several instances that I can look back and say I made a decision not for me, but based on those around me. What would make them happy. Some of these decisions pushed people out of my life that I really wanted in my life. Isn't that tragic? I have excluded people, instances, events all in the hopes that I can make someone else happy.

An exorbitant amount of time has been devoted to this realization. I'm not sure why this infinite wisdom struck now but I am glad that somehow it weaseled its ways into my thoughts because sometimes there is no better time than the present to make some changes. I have decided that I am a pretty good person; I am giving, thoughtful, reliable, and kind to most (lets not be confused, I am no angel). But it is the time in my life to make decisions based on what will make me happy and what I want. I am gonna do me.  Clearly, I am not going to go out of my way to hurt feelings or morph into a different person, but I need to speak up when something is bothering me, make decisions without always wondering how I will be judged and just go for it. This life is so fragile and who knows when our time here is up. I don't ever want to look back and say "What if I..." and question my decision making. I have lived too long hoping that I would be good enough, and praying that I would not only live up to, but exceed expectations. So I vow that not only will I live up the expectations of all those who have put the expectation out there, I will shatter the expectations I have set before me.

And I feel damn good about it.