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uaeobserver
Joined: 05 Feb 2007
Posts: 236
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 Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 4:53 am Post subject: |
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Let's face it --- cosmopolitan living in the muddle east isn't that great.
I remember returning to the UAE after a trip to Istanbul and feeling tremendously sterile, cynical, and uninspired.
This is one of those "what makes you tick" questions.
I went back to the UAE because I had a purpose and mission there. I try to remind myself each and every morning that I had a purpose and mission for being there. I didn't choose the middle east -- it chose me, and I remained committed to the purpose for its doing so.
This isn't to deny that I had my moments. Cynicism challenged me more than the bland geography. I've been tempted more than once to add Golding's book, THE SPIRE to the class reading list (I still think it would be a good idea).
How did I do it? Well --- I focused on mission. When my focus on mission dwindled, I'd think about my next holiday. There's plenty to plan, you know. There's Eid, Eid, Winter Break, and Summer Break. That reminds me --- time to start thinking about Eid and Christmas. I'm thinking Oman will be fun.
Cheers. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:38 pm Post subject: |
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One method is to spend a holiday somewhere like Bombay, Bangkok, or Cairo... places that are interesting but polluted and chaotic. You can come back to the perhaps bland and boring Muscat or Abu Dhabi, and appreciate it for awhile. 
VS |
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QatarChic
Joined: 06 May 2005
Posts: 445
Location: Qatar
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| Posted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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| uaeobserver wrote: |
How did I do it? Well --- I focused on mission. When my focus on mission dwindled, I'd think about my next holiday. There's plenty to plan, you know. There's Eid, Eid, Winter Break, and Summer Break. That reminds me --- time to start thinking about Eid and Christmas.
Cheers. |
Have already started the countdown...about 35 days to go till the next Eid.....  |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Thu Nov 15, 2007 1:30 pm Post subject: |
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| One method is to spend a holiday somewhere like Bombay, Bangkok, or Cairo... places that are interesting but polluted and chaotic. |
That's certainly one way.
Another is to go somewhere interesting and pleasant - but awfully expensive. That would be most of Western Europe, for example. Then, when you return to your rent-free apartment in a city where taxis don't cost 20Euro for a 15 minute trip, and where your weekly grocery bill doesn't leave you wincing, you can appreciate your surroundings.
Another option, now that it's winter, is to spend your hols in harsher climes - that's most of the northern hemisphere right now. Having shivered for a week, you start to appreciate being able to wear your strappy sandals even on a 'cold' day. Or at least I do (appreciate it, that is.) |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 4:11 am Post subject: |
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Hello? HELLO? The lights are on, but nobody's home!
When your happiness comes from within and is not affected so much by external things and situations you can pretty much live anywhere and be happy and content.
Hot or cold / cheap or expensive / polluted or fresh / noisy or peaceful etc. etc. ...human's nature seems to thrive on yearning for or complaining about what one doesn't have...like a puppy chasing it's tail!
Stop chasing your tail and you will realize that what you are chasing is already apart of you; you can be happy right now no matter where you are. ... Riyadh, London or Timbuktu
This is not some new age hokus pocus; the concept has been around for thousands of years.
I still say that working in the Middle East has afforded me a life style that I would not otherwise have had living back "home".
There is much to be thankful for and to appreciate. |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 5:44 am Post subject: |
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When your happiness comes from within and is not affected so much by external things and situations you can pretty much live anywhere and be happy and content. |
Well, yeah, in theory. Maybe. But not all - or any - of us are mini-Buddhas in the making. Our happiness depends to some degree on our external situation - be that social, material, romantic, whatever.
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I still say that working in the Middle East has afforded me a life style that I would not otherwise have had living back "home". |
Hang on a sec. If "happiness comes from within" as you have just claimed, what does it matter what sort of 'lifestyle' you can 'afford'? |
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cmp45
Joined: 17 Aug 2004
Posts: 1475
Location: KSA
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| Posted: Fri Nov 16, 2007 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Happiness is not something concrete or tangible; it's state of mind. ...your thoughts are what creates your external environment; if you don't like where you are then you start with changing your thoughts about it and then what follows if you want to or desire to change will be your external environment. You had to have thoughts about moving to Saudi Arabia first before you actually got there, no? It's not really very complicated.
No you don't have to be a big or little Buddah to understand the concept; practicing it is another thing all togeather... just like you, I am human being on this life journey trying to figure it all out. |
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lyndalorient
Joined: 10 May 2007
Posts: 58
Location: Dublin
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| Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2007 9:59 pm Post subject: |
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Am I the only person who can t wait to go back to the UAE when I go on holidays?
I have only been there since August and since then I have visited Romania, Jordan and back to Ireland. Each of the times I was happy to go back to Al Ain. I missed the weather and the relaxed lifestyle I have there.
It has nothing to do with money as I come from one of the richest countries in the world with one of the highest salaries. In fact other expats ask why I would leave a country like Ireland?
Maybe my feelings will change in a few months but I still seem to be on a permanent Honeymoon period. I was told last week by 2 Americans (whom I had never met before) that they had seen me around and that I seem so happy and content here.
Then again coming from a country that sees as much rain, cloud and darkness as Ireland, is there any wonder I am happier there? |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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If it is getting too much for you in the Middle East, I suggest a week's break in Lagos. Or Abuja. Or Ibadan or Kano.
You will be SO pleased when you are back in Sharjah, Riyadh or Jubail ! |
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eha
Joined: 26 May 2005
Posts: 355
Location: ME
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 4:02 pm Post subject: |
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Scot47: Or even Kaduna or Maiduguri. Even Jos.
When were you there? |
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Cleopatra
Joined: 28 Jun 2003
Posts: 3657
Location: Tuamago Archipelago
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 1:27 pm Post subject: |
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It has nothing to do with money as I come from one of the richest countries in the world with one of the highest salaries. |
Ireland may be wealthy and salaries for executives and businessmen may indeed be high, but could an ESL teacher enjoy the same standard of living there as they could in the Gulf (assuming they were lucky enough to get one of the very few full-time, contract jobs in ESL available in Europe)? I doubt it. Rent alone would take up about a third of my (current) salary in Dublin or most major European cities. And that's before we get talking about tax, transportation, health insurance and the generally much higher cost of living. |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:15 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
If it is getting too much for you in the Middle East, I suggest a week's break in Lagos. Or Abuja. Or Ibadan or Kano.
You will be SO pleased when you are back in Sharjah, Riyadh or Jubail ! |
Please! This is like telling a child to eat his greens because a hungry kid in Africa would gobble them down. Kuwait is a dump, Riyadh is worse. Doesn't mean much to people working in Kuwait. |
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scot47
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Posts: 15343
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject: |
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Ya Sheikh
It is all comparative ! Or as the judge said when he handed down 99 years to Cousin Elmer,"Son, everyone has gotta be somewhere !"
Your experiences in the Middle East may have been unpleasant. Does not hold true for all of us. And why if you are so happy in Spain do you haunt these pages ? |
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sheikh radlinrol
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
Posts: 1222
Location: Spain
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 2:56 pm Post subject: |
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| scot47 wrote: |
Ya Sheikh
It is all comparative ! Or as the judge said when he handed down 99 years to Cousin Elmer,"Son, everyone has gotta be somewhere !"
Your experiences in the Middle East may have been unpleasant. Does not hold true for all of us. And why if you are so happy in Spain do you haunt these pages ? |
My experiences in the Middle East were not unpleasant, apart from the murder of a workmate. I met fine colleagues and my students were generally very likeable people. I made some targets financially and enjoyed modest success in my favourite sport. Why do you say I ''haunt'' these pages? Do you do the same? And the other posters? If Dave decides that my posts are not acceptable then I will stop sending them but will not be told to do so by Scot47. A very happy New Year to you. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:44 pm Post subject: |
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Come on you two... this is getting silly. 
VS |
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