I knew from my move from NY to Florida that making friends here in Abu Dhabi would take some work. But that if I got involved at the girl’s school and started playing tennis again, these activities would help me meet women with similar interests. I have actually found that making friends here was easier than I thought it would be! There is a special bond that ex-pats must have! I guess because we have all gone through the same thing – moving here from somewhere else – that we have a connection. We are all here in a new country, without family nearby, learning a new culture, and not knowing anyone. l have met some really interesting people here! Families that have moved here from the States, Kuwait, Hong Kong, London, Canada, even Nigeria! And their occupations are just as interesting. Many are here as architects, lawyers, teachers, with oil companies, and one builds bridges! This is what I am truly enjoying!
I have realized it is very easy to start a conversation with someone I’ve just met – “Where are you from”, “Where did you move here from?”, (I’ve learned these are not always the same!), “How long have you been here?”, “What brought you here?”…For those of us who are shy, these are great ice breakers at social functions! I have been much more comfortable meeting new people because of this! Those who have been here for any length of time are truly happy to help those of us “newbies” as we are sometimes called! They sort of take us under their wing! I realized that when we return here in August I will be able to help the “newbies”! It will make me feel good to know that I have come such a long way from August 1, 2010! I know my way around for the most part, I have furniture, internet, a mobile phone, my UAE ID card, & our liquor license! Don’t laugh – all of these things take months to get!
While making friends has proven easier, there is a downside to this ex-pat life. Friends do leave. Today was a sad day – I had to say goodbye to a really good friend. I had only met Lisa in November and now she was moving back to the States. We had become close very quickly. I guess this is part of the ex-pat life also – saying good bye every year to new friends. This is the time of year when families decide whether or not they are going to be staying on for another year. Like us, this depends on work contracts and business trends. Many families are on edge, not knowing exactly what will be happening to them. One family we know was told in February that the husband’s office was closing down. While the office had been open for 5 or 6 years, they had just moved here in August! They began the mental process of preparing themselves to return to the States. Then when they returned from Spring Break, the husband was told that the company had decided to keep a very small office here and that they’d like him to stay on board! So now they are staying – and we are very happy!! This seems to be business as usual here!
So while I’m very happy with our social life here in Abu Dhabi, having made many new friends from all over the world, saying good-bye to some of these new friends is a sad fact of life here. But modern technology will help keep us connected!
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