Sandier Pastures

I got this last year and I thought it would be a great way to recall the events of the year: 

*****

1. What did you do in 2007 that you hadn’t done before?
Relocated to a far away land tagging my spouse and kid who are fully dependent on me.
 
2. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My colleague at work, his wife gave birth on my birthday last month.
 
3. Did anyone close to you die?
No, thank God.
 
4. Did you travel? Where did you go? Best holiday memory?
Yes, we travelled when we relocated in Dubai at the start of 2007. 
 
5. Best thing you bought?
Our car.
 
6. Where did most of your money go?
Relocation. Taxes, mortgage we left in Japan.
 
7. What do you wish you had done more of?
Exercise, again. This just pops out year after year, doesn’t it!
 
8. What do you wish you had done less of?
Surfing the net during office hours?
 
9. What kept you sane?
BLOGGING.
 
10. What drove you mad?
The new work environment, especially my work schedule. Working on Saturdays and Sundays and only having one day off per week will never rub in on me.
 
11. What made you celebrate?
My husband finding a (second)  job here and loving it.
 
12. What made you sad?
Leaving Japan, a place I call my second home. I am enjoying my life here in Dubai but sometimes I wish I’d go to Japan for vacation, specially on spring and autumn there.
 
13. How was your birthday this year?
Different. I am finally able to enjoy it, have cake and eat it without any interruptions but with lots of guilt, though.
 
14. What political issue stirred you the most this year?
Not really interested in politics, unless I saw Bush stepping down the office, I would care less. Pakistan’s Benazir Bhutto’s assasination.
 
15. Were you in love in 2007?
N/A.
 
16. What would you like to have in 2007 that you didn’t have this year?
My ideal weight (and it’s at least 20 lbs away), preferably before my brother’s wedding on August.
 
17. What date from 2007 will be etched in your memory and why?
December 1, when I had to call an ambulance because my daughter fainted. On the happier side, being able to visit the famous and pristine Jumeirah beach where tourists from all over the world travel to see.
 
18. What song will remind you of 2007?
When You’re Gone by Avril Lavigne - mine and my daughter’s favorite and Chris Daughtry’s Over You - played on the radio everyday.
 
19. Compared to this time last year are you happier?
Yes! With the pretty relaxed work situation here, M is happy and if he is happy = less pedantic = I am happy.

20. Biggest achievement this year?
Driving in Dubai.
 
21. Biggest disappointment this year?
Not being able to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight.
 
22. What is the one thing that would have made you more satisfied?
A bigger apartment or a house with a backyard for my daughter to play with.
 
23. Best new person you met this year?
Does the person have to be physically with me? Online friends not counted? Physically present new persons = none!

24. A valuable life lesson you learned this year?
Can be summarized in the saying: “No one can hurt you without your consent”.
 
25. How was your health in 2007?
Not bad, except for a few headaches which is already a part of what I am.
 
26. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
The resolution to lose some weight, yes! I kept it. I mean “some” weight so don’t expect too much!
 
27. What countries did you visit?
Only the UAE this year hopefully Egypt and/or Jordan next year!
 
28. What would you like to have in 2008 that you lacked in 2007?
Savings
 
29. Did you suffer hardship in 2007?
Paying bills in two countries, at least in the present country I don’t have to pay for taxes.
 
30. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Our little one, who braved going to class with kids from all over the world. Even with her very limited English, she never failed to show up at school, remained enthusiastic with all she does and now her efforts are paying well! She can speak the language very fluently, even in her sleep!
 
31. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
No one. I chose not to be appalled or depressed anymore. It’s not healthy and it’s not making me any thinner!
 
32. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
(In no particular order!) Going to the beach in Dubai, working for a new company, our new life in a totally different country.
 
33. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? Happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? lighter
iii. richer or poorer? Break-even
 
34. How did you spend the New Year’s? With my family, my mother, my aunt, a cousin and a friend I can call my family too.

35. How many one-night stands?
N/A
 
36. What was your favorite TV program?
No TV at home!
 
37. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Life is too short, I have rid myself of hating as much as possible.
 
38. What was the best book you read?
By the River Piedra I sat Down and Wept by Paulo Coelho; The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Dr. Stephen Covey
 
39. What was your greatest musical (re)discovery?
Christ Daughtry
 
40. What did you want and get?
The last Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows!
 
41. What did you want and not get?
A bigger apartment.
 
42. What was your favorite film that you watched this year?
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix - just because this is the only movie I watched. Wait, I did watch the Fantastic Four too but well, I am a huge Harry fan…
 
43. What one experience do you never want to repeat from this year? Sleeping through Christmas eve and Christmas because of sickness.

44. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2007?
No bigger sizes even if my body expands.
 
45. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
No one, I guess
 
46. Who did you miss?
An old friend who I recently become reacquainted with online.
 
47. Quote that sums up your year:
Hard work pays.
 
48. Was 2007 a good year for you?
Yes!
 
49. What was your favorite moment of the year?
My mother finally arriving in Dubai.

50. What was your least favorite moment of the year?
Having to sleep through Christmas eve because of flu, hospital trips.
 
51. Where were you when 2007 began?
At home, where else? But someday, I’d love to be in Times Square New York shouting five, four, three, two, one…Happy New Year and kissing random people!!!
 
52. Who were you with?
My husband.
 
53. Do you have a new year’s resolution for 2007?
To take things lightly. Thinking too much about petty things only adds wrinkles and white hair, which I have lots of already.
 
54. What was your favorite month of 2007?
December because it is cooler and it is P’s birthday and of course, Christmas.
 
55. What was your favorite song in 2007?
When You’re Gone - Avril Lavigne
 
56. What was your favorite record from 2007?One from Avril Lavigne.

57. How many concerts did you see in 2007?
Still never been to a concert. I have to break this record and go to a concert soon. Shakira and Justin Timberlake came but I did not go.
 
58. Did you drink a lot of alcohol in 2007?
No because I still have to get a liqour license and I am too lazy to do that. Besides, I realized that one can live perfectly well without alcohol.
 
59. Did you do a lot of drugs in 2007?
Just for headaches and some for asthma.
 
60. How many people did you sleep with in 2007?
Wow, tough question. Easy answer, none!
 
61. Did you do anything you are ashamed of this year?
None I can think of.
 
62. What was the worst lie someone told you in 2007? Can’t remember, maybe I was too busy to notice?

63. Did you treat somebody badly in 2007?
No, at least not intentionally.
 
64. Did somebody treat you badly in 2007?
My boss?
 
65. What was your most embarrassing moment of 2007?
None, I guess. Rushing my daughter to the hospital via an ambulance with home clothes and without a bra! (thankfully I had a cardigan over, but still it made me very concious)
 
66. If you could go back in time to any moment of 2007 and change something, what would it be?
I think I would not change anything. I liked the events as it is.
 
67. What are you most looking forward to in 2008?
Lots!

• My brother’s wedding in August (a quick vacation to the Philippines for me)
• Our vacation in Japan more than a year after our relocation. Taking the babe to Tokyo Disneyland for the first time. It will be M’s first time to Disneyland too, would you believe!
• Going to the neighboring places, probably seeing the Pyramids in Egypt or Petra in Jordan
• Save a lot to be able to do all of the above.

 How was your 2007?

Now that the temperatures here in Dubai are cooler and the weather just perfect, no rain, everyday blue skies and very low humidity, there’s no doubt that the tourism season is well on its way.

After almost 6 months of convincing my in-laws to visit us here, they finally said yes and we are in the middle of planning for their trip! I must admit, it was so hard to lure them to come here. The 12 hour flight, excluding the 5 hour train ride from their place to Nagoya airport, the totally different culture and the language barrier (they don’t speak any English at all) made them really hesitant no matter how they say that they miss their grand-daughter so much.

I have to tell them over and over that the daytime temperatures are very ideal for tourism from the month of November to March. The evenings are even a little cold at 13C. I guess it’s just hard to get the stereotyped thought out that it is very hot in the desert the whole year through!

Now we are busy in finding accommodation for them. As much as we would like to have them in our home, we have very limited space so we all agreed to house them temporarily in any of the numerous furnished apartments in Dubai, preferably near our place of course. When we started looking, we were surprised to see that the Dubai’s yellow pages directory book is outdated. Telephone numbers and location information of hotel apartments in Dubai are not up to date because of the everyday changes in this ever growing city. New Dubai hotels and apartments are popping everyday and it is difficult to find a resource that compiles and updates that information.

I have been tempted to go look for these hotel apartments that are self catering in Dubai by going to the place myself, ask for tariff rates and availability, especially for those that is not listed in the directory. But this is Dubai where going from one place to another, unless it’s a Friday, can take so much time and energy. I always wondered why the quality of web-based services here seems to just lack in functionality or worse nothing available online at all.

So for those planning for a trip here, finally travellers can book hotel apartments in Dubai at the comfort of their seat. Dubai apartments is Dubai’s premier online property marketing and rental portal that provides a comprehensive list of properties from simple furnished apartments to holiday apartments. The website is sophisticates but easy to navigate, user friendly and lets you effectively and securely book your accommodation online.

Why we chose a hotel apartment rather than the usual hotel? Because sometimes, hotel apartments give a better feel of home away from home and besides, who wouldn’t want to try waking up and open the window and see the beach when staying in a furnished villa in Palm Jumeirah? If they decide to stay in the Palm Island, I would have to ask them for a sleepover!

Christmas is over and time for me again to change the current theme for this blog. You don’t want to be seeing this blog dressed in Christmas all throughout the year, right?

There are thousands of themes free available for blogs using the WordPress platform (the self-hosted ones using not blogs with wordpress.com extensions). But I always wished for a custom made blog design that’s exclusively mine. On the average, it costs around $80 - $200 depending on the complexity of the design. But guess what, I have found a great giveaway of a blog design at Little Fun; Little Learning via my friend Kailani’s column, 5 Minutes Around The Blogosphere at 5 Minutes for Mom. Thanks Kailani! 

A custom made blog design at RS designs valued at $100 will be given away! If you want to be included in the pot when the winner is drawn, go check Little Fun;Little Learning for details. It’s so easy to enter!

The holidays, specially Christmas is the time of giving, so the popular saying goes. I have been asked so many times during Christmas by relatives and even random neighbors back in my home town, “Where’s my gift?”, like I am obligated to give them every year just because I live and work abroad.

When I was still a student in Japan, I look forward to coming home every December for Christmas but whenever I go out, random neighbors whom I don’t even know (they only know either my father or mother) would ask me Christmas gifts and they pout if I just stare at them blankly and call me Scrooge. So I rarely go out of the house, afraid to bump on to people who have faulty eye sights and see me as the fat man in red suit shouting ho, ho, ho.

Looking back, I had long become Santa every year. I gave out things and gifts to my family, never expecting anything in return. On Christmas this year, just a few days ago, some relatives called and grumpily asked for their Christmas presents. I answered differently this time, “How about mine?”

“But you have everything already!”, came the expected reply.

I don’t know what made them think I have everything. If I have, then I would not be working 6 days a week. I would be home wrapping presents for them.

A simple Christmas card or email greeting or the cheaper SMS would have made me happy. A gift does not necessarily mean expensive or bought or wrapped. It’s the thought that counts.

This week’s theme: Messy

Messy road on the way to our apartment building. The ongoing construction work in Dubai leaves a lot of holes in the roads and piles of sand. It’s nightmare taking this messy path by foot.

I always have to go the other way, the long way because I hate sand getting on my feet if I am wearing slippers or open sandals.

Don’t you feel that year 2007 passed by with a speed of a strong hurricane? Well, at least, that is how I feel about it. It seems like we just landed here in Dubai and now, in less than 2 weeks we’ll be one year here.

I learned so many things and I know I still have tons left to learn everyday. I look forward to another year, another summer (ick!) here in Dubai. At least though, next summer, we will be out of the country for a full month so that’s 30 days less of extreme heat. Travelling to Japan and to the Philippines for my brother’s wedding is what I most look forward to next year.

Also, I have to add that when I started blogging when we relocated here, I did not expect people to find me, read on beyond my first post and comment! At first, it felt like I was talking to myself but right now, I have at least 3,000 visitors per month since September (that is so few for established bloggers but my blog is less than  a year old so I think that’s overwhelming — but you know me, I sometimes exaggerate my feelings!) and more than 5,000 comments to boot! Who knew!

So….Everyone will be busy with the New Year festivities, I’m making this post short and wish you a happy weekend. To my friends in Japan, I envy your long vacation. I am only home on January 1st and the rest of the days, I am working while you enjoy lazying from today until the 6th of January!  You know my next line: Life is sometimes unfair.

Have a safe and joyous New Year everyone!

Thanks to Samulli for the T13 banner

13 EVENTS THAT HAPPENED IN 2007 (Part One)

1. I bade goodbye to my life in Japan. After more than 10 years there, half to study and half spent working, getting married and having kid, I said sayonara to my second home.

2. My family and I relocated in Dubai. I accepted the job offer and got on the plane with my trailing spouse and daughter who will be fully dependent on me. That was probably the bravest thing I did. 

3. I started to work for the new company right only a couple of hours after we landed!

4. I started to blog about our desert life, all because I had nothing else to do in my first few weeks at work. I did not even have a PC for three weeks! I had to write posts with pen and paper and later transfer them.

5. We transferred to our own flat after spending two months in the company guesthouse where we are not allowed to cook (we ate out) and there was no washing machine (we washed by hand). Most of our things are left in Japan so we had a very barren home.

6. Our daughter is enrolled in school here (British curriculum) when she was not equipped with the English language. I worried much but that did not last long, now she is fully conversant with the language, even adding Arabic to her conversations! She is in KG1 class since September (was just a listener at the same class last March-June).

7. My mother came to Dubai to stay with us. She had some terrible experiences with the immigration section at the home country. She is still here now taking care of P after school.

8. Dubai’s skyscraper, Burj Dubai becomes the world’s tallest building.

9. The first palm island is completed and residents move to their homes in Palm Jumeirah.

10. Justin Timberlake performed in the UAE for the first time; not that I was there, just sayin’. (and on a different date, Shakira did some hip shaking performance, too)

11. Cyclone Gonu visits the UAE and the neighboring gulf countries.

12. The construction of the Dubai Metro is in full swing. They are giving a really optimistic completion date on March 2008 so everywhere you could see diversion roads, closed roads and a helluva traffic.

13. It rained again in November. The first was in March.

For the first time in many years, I did something different on Christmas eve. I slept through it.

Oh, hold that thought. I have not become Scrooge or any of the characters in Nightmare before Christmas. I was sick. Seems like Santa came early and sprinkled flu virus in my chimney and sped away without telling me. I could almost hear him say flu!, flu!, flu! loudly.

So, Christmas eve was event-less and I didn’t wear a Santa suit even if I would really look good in one belly and all. We all slept - at least, the people in my room (Me, hubby and P). I don’t know what the people in the other room did. My meds kicked in real hard to make me aware of the goings on that night. When I woke up in the, my aunt was already here. I didn’t bother to ask around, I had no voice to be chatty on Christmas morning!

Whole day of Christmas was spent with me in my pajamas helping the babe in opening her gifts. I stuffed her Christmas stocking with some candies and biscuits and the lovely pink sandals she always wished. She was delighted of course but asked me:

“Mom, did Santa buy this in ___Center? (where I bought the shoes)”

I panicked just smiled. She knows!! But I didn’t give her an honest answer of course, I had no voice, remember?

On this Christmas day, I am thanking all of you who reads, visits and leave comments on my blog. May all of you find the true meaning of Christmas and have a great time with your family and loved ones. 

Merry Christmas from my home to yours.

P had a great birthday yesterday, I’d say one that is beyond my expectation. She was sick last Friday so we did not plan anything except to have a cake where she can blow her four candles, besides that, yesterday though a Sunday, was work for me.

Out of the blue yesterday afternoon, my aunt who work as a house helper for an Australian family here said she will be coming with her two wards. Whole day yesterday, P was still complaining of stomachache but when my aunt and the kiddies rang our bell, she sprang up to her feet!

She quickly forgot all about her stomachache and played and played. It was back to non-stop talking again. Looked like she had to have some friends around so she can forget about whining and sticking to my mom all the time and divert her attention to fun.

Last night we celebrated and tonight we’ll have some preparations again. Sometimes I wish I could have waited for another 24 hours of my already very long labor so that my family can celebrate our daughter’s and Jesus’ birthday altogether!

It’s Christmas eve, so what are you planning to do tonight?