The Focus of Procrastination

47 days from starting work at Dubai International Airport and I have a list of things to do that is much more than 47 days long. Packing, selling, storing, downloading, painting, replacing, studying, and generally liquidating my life here in the USA. Pretty daunting, but I can only do one thing at a time--so tonight, I'm setting up this blog which will be my conduit to my friends and family. (I'm also downloading cds onto my hard drive to take with me--ok, 2 things at once). My intention is to let you have a peek into a new life in a new place.

For those of you unfamiliar with the back story, I have spent the past 28 yrs as an Air Traffic Controller for the FAA. I was privileged to work with some of the best, brightest and busiest controllers in the World. These people are, in their own unique way, the smartest, proudest, and most motivated people in the world. I'm still in awe of some of the things we accomplished together--we worked a lot of damn airplanes and didn't scare too many pilots.

I won't go into why I left the FAA, except to say I felt the institution no longer had anything to offer me--and I was tired of driving 90 miles (150km) each way, 6 days a week. So I looked for an escape plan. After leafing thru several alternatives, it seemed like Air Traffic Control in Dubai offered the best chance of professional, financial, and personal gratification.

What's a Dubai, you may ask? Well, first of all, it's not Iraq (war torn), it's not Saudi Arabia (hard core Islamic), it's not Lebanon or Afghanistan (with suicide bombers and car bombs waiting around the corner), and it's not even Columbus, Ga (Dubai's crime rate is about a tenth of a typical US city). What Dubai is is one of the 7 Emirates that make up the United Arab Emirates. Dubai is also a huge work in progress and home of a 3rd of the world's cranes. Dubai is the city of Palm Islands in the water, the worlds tallest building, Indoor skiing, the Largest Shopping Malls, New canals, New transit system, and lots and lots of sand--desert and beaches. It's Islamic, but tolerant of many other religions. Mosque are as common as Baptist churches in the south. The sounds of the call to prayer echoes thru the city 5 times a day. Dubai is also a melting pot, with almost 80% of the population being ex-patriot...Indian, Pakistani, Filopino, Irani, UK, European--everywhere! Dubai is a mix of taste, smells, and sounds of many cultures. Most everyone is warm, friendly, helpful and happy to be there.

So here I go...I start Nov 2. I already have procedures and maps to study. I'm trying to pick up what Arabic my old brain will absorb. Working on a million little chores (if I told you once, I told you a million times, don't exaggerate!). And also trying to enjoy my friends and family who I will see too little of over the next 3 yrs. It will all get done, because it has to--but wish me well anyway! Next time from Dubai...