Our First Post Together!

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DUBAI!

About a month ago, my fellow grad student Lindsay and I were booking tickets to Malaysia for our capstone research project. We were looking at making our layover in Dubai 24 hours so that we could explore the city. In the end, we decided not to take the long layover. In justification, I pointed out to Lindsay that we were both international travelers and that we'd surely both have another opportunity to visit the city. Little did I know that a month later I would be getting the news that I would be moving there for THREE YEARS!

Sean and I are extremely excited about this post.  It will be glamourous and full of life. Perfect for newlywed life. I was a bit nervous about how artificial the city would feel, but then my sister Ashley shared this great article with me that put me at ease.  While looking at our different options, we made a pro/con list. Dubai seemed to have WAY more pros than all of the other options, so it was clearly our No. 1. Here is our list: 

Pros

• Warm year round
• A well connected international airport that will be a great base for travel in the region. 
• The Beach (this was a huge one for Sean)
• This may be the only place I can get Sean to go skiing because he can go to the beach right after.
• There is plenty of international cuisine available. 
• There is a strong ex-pat community - this will help me as I transition to my first post with the foreign service. 
• We will most likely have an apartment with a gym in it.
• We can take our car
• Adventure!
• A great job for Sean's career
• There are two Mormon congregations there. 
• New region for both of us to discover together 
• Bustling city with a fun night life and array of daytime activities 

We had a list of cons, but in the end there is no point in dwelling on them as we are going anyway! The biggest one is that Sean is slated to leave in July. I will stay behind so that I can finish my masters degree at GW and join him in early January of 2016.  We are both really sad about the idea of being apart for so long, but we will make it work. Other couples have done worse. 

 The other major con is distance from home and family. I am sure I will miss my home and country a lot as I adjust to this new life abroad. For that reason, I will need all of your help…. YOU ALL NEED TO COME AND VISIT US! Seriously though, we will always have an open door policy and all are welcome! Plus you'll have a free place to stay in DUBAI!