Back in Germany...

     These are some pictures I had forgotten on the camera and are very dear to me, since they represent what we have left behind... It is a different kind of beautiful from what we have in Abu Dhabi right now, but it is, nevertheless, beautiful! Look at those fresh, spring colors!

    It will forever be *home* in our hearts, a place to come back to, someday!

Insta-moments

     Time is crazy! I do not understand how it is possible to wake up on a Sunday and realize that the *next day* it is already Friday again...but it has happened... not to mention that I was constantly confused about what date it is...

     Again, had no time to take proper camera pictures of what went on around here, but a short resume would be... furniture shopping, cleaning, laundry, TV&internet connection setup, groceries shopping, first meal in our new home, insurance policies, other boring(thank God for my husband taking care of everything) administrative issues...

     Otherwise, our stamina levels have been running pretty low (I know, with all the sunshine going around it's such a shame), with me having some sort of weird bug that has been keeping my energy levels way down, nose is constantly stuffy and I am blaming the air conditioning, husband has been working loads and there are still a milion and one things that need to be sorted out. Like... all of our belongings still sitting in a deposit somewhere in Munich, due to the delay of some paperwork required by the customs, just as a small example. Yeah, having all my clothes and possessions stuck somewhere, unattended, is such a reassuring thought! :D  Well, I guess it could still be worse...
  
     I am trying not to complain too much though, because I know this whole transition phase is going to be over soon and then we can really start enjoying ourselves and everything Abu Dhabi has to offer.

    On a happier note, we finally got some furniture installed, couches, an armchair(sooo comfortable), dining table&chairs, some shelves, a great TV, dinning table & chairs, a bench, chairs and a table for our small balcony with the killer view, plus the most colorful kitchen utensils I could find in the shops now took residence on my kitchen counter...
 
     We've had a very good experience with the people here(so far). Everybody seems to be so relaxed, helpful, welcoming and ready to share a smile or two... Don't know what to say about the efficiency of people's work, but we shall live and we shall see!

    So long till the next time, here are some snaps I had lying around in my iPhone...

Hello....is it me you're looking for?

   

   
     I have arrived! Not so sure that I am completely comprehending the fact that I LIVE HERE, but it sure is a nice feeling. The sun was a very nice welcome as soon as I landed, I was greeted with smiles and everything went on smoothly. My husband surprised me at the airport with a rose and there was a car waiting for us...

     Day 1, had a wonderful breakfast comprising of labneh, hummus, veggies and a big bowl of delicious fruits and already got a professional mani-pedi. What more could a person wish for?

     Checked out a couple of furniture shops and realized that the options are quite limited as far as western furniture styles go...  Soooo... Ikea? :)

    We'll see about that, no hurry over here! My husband and I are committed to even sleeping on an inflatable mattress until we find that perfect bed! Maybe I will do a step by step of our home purchases here on the blog.

     And seriously,  with views as the one above to look at, who could complain about anything?

Happy Birthday!

  

     My birthday happened over the weekend, May 4th to be more precise... I wish I had posted on the day, but time just ran out on me!
     I wasn't prepared to have any big celebration this year, but my very good friends thought it is an opportunity worth celebrating, especially since I will be leaving Munich pretty soon.
     We had a karaoke evening at Shamrock Irish Pub and truly enjoyed ourselves. There have been a lot of laughter, extraordinary gifts, beautiful wishes and inevitably some tears. Tears obviously came out when I realized, once again, what a lucky person I am!
     I am surrounded by amazing people, genuine friends and wonderful family! This is a thing that I value enormously and will forever take with me, no matter where life may take me. These beautiful people and the connection that we are sharing are going to be terribly missed.
     Yes, of course, life goes on, but I have been trough this once before. I know already that it is not easy to separate and let go of everything that is familiar... All the joys and comfort of this place and all the people in it.
     I must admit, I may have taken our  'moving to Abu Dhabi' a little too easy, thinking ahead on what is awaiting for me there, but not really taking a moment to consider what I am leaving behind.
     3 years is a lot of time. A lot of things have happened here. We lived here. We made good friends. Experienced. Discovered ourselves. We committed to one another. Made the biggest step of our lives here, getting married. We made a home.
     As much as I tried to hide it, I must admit it will be hard leaving our home and every memory we created here.

     All of that being said, here's to starting a new stage of our lives. To the thrill of new discoveries and experiences. To living life beautifully. To happiness and all of the accomplishments to come...  We are as ready as we'll ever be! :)

P.S.  Once again, thank you to all of our friends! Looking forward to the next time we'll see each other!
      
    

Last month's flowers

This month...

...I want to:

• celebrate Easter
• do my nails every week
• drink more water/eat more fruits and veggies
• move to Abu Dhabi
• furnish our new apartment
• start juicing
• take my vitamins regularely
• go shopping in Dubai Mall
• take more pictures and keep the blog updated
• explore our new 'home'
• enjoy summer with all of its benefits!

START - CONTINUE - FINISH

Packing...

  ...is absolutely no fun!! Especially when you are too lazy and unmotivated, so everything gets left up for the last moment... as in a day before traveling...
     We have come to the conclusion that we don't have all that many things to pack up, but since it's personal/home items we are talking about, mixing and matching them, wrapping them as best as possible with papers and bubble wrap, then carefully placing everything in the boxes is quite time consuming! Imagine a life-sized game of Tetris, except you may also have round or irregular shaped pieces...
     Aaargh! If only I would have a magic wand...
   

Cuteness overload

Oh...I just couldn't help myself... Isn't that the cutest thing you've seen? And doesn't knowing that it's those ducklings first trip down to the pond make it even cuter? :D Spring time in all it's glory!

Bad days

  
      You know the kind... Everybody has them... Some, more often than others. Personally, I think I am a pretty happy cookie, but sometimes the 'dark side' catches up with my thoughts and I am feeling a bit confused...
     I don't enjoy exposing these deeply personal feelings out in the open like this, so I will keep things brief.
     This time it's about the realization that the person I wish I would be does not coincide with the person that I am. I mean we all have somewhere in the back of our heads an imprinted image of who we would like to project into the world. Maybe it's an ambitious, but fair person. Maybe it's kind and generous. Maybe lively and knowledgeable. Maybe incredibly irresistible and full of confidence...
     As days and days go by, we tend to (maybe) unconsciously work on that projection. Put all of our thoughts, behavior, capabilities and strength into that particular projection and we think we are good. Well on our way to representing this person that we imagined. We may be even getting a little cocky, as people around us are complimenting and cheering on our particularities, ensuring a feeling of success and accomplishment.
     That is when it usually happens. 'What if it isn't so? What if thinking that we are what we really wish to be, is actually not an accomplished thing? It must be to good to be true...'  There is always a small crack of doubt that gets bigger and soon counteracts all of the positive feelings we own, replacing them with even more doubt, uncertainty, confusion, stress, panic, anger and sadness.
     In the midst of all the anguish and thrill revolving around packing our home here in Munich, trying to figure everything out, seeing all of our dearest friends, spending a bit more time with our family, moving and my upcoming birthday, this is how I've been feeling. It is not a pretty sight, that is certain!
     Already feeling much better, hence the open talk you've just witnessed. But I can't help wondering, how many times must a person start over and learn the same lessons in life in order to completely avoid making the same mistakes and actually getting nearer and nearer to this imaginary personality?

In the countryside - Spring!

Fresh air - YES! Crude grass - YES! Bright dandelions - YES! Budding trees - YES! Sunshine and warmth - YES! Living nature - YES! Chirping birds - YES! Beauty - YES! Happiness - YES!