Why hello there. Have you met my cat?
I don’t have an inspirational cubicle-escape story.
I didn’t sell all my things to live out of a backpack.
I don’t earn my living from writing a travel blog.
I did sell all my furniture and move halfway around the world with my new husband, who I had married in secret. I did take the chance to be a woman living in the Middle East and now I’m traipsing around the place. I teach English at a fancy international school in Dubai, and it’s a springboard, if you will. I have no firm plans for where or when I travel – I just grab every single opportunity that pops up. A little scary, but I think that’s how I like it…It’s all about self-discovery anyway, isn’t it?
I often struggle with the fact that I am not travelling to far flung places with exotic new experiences every day. I need to remind myself that even though this little Arab nation has become so familiar and routine to me, it’s still so very exotic to the rest of the world. I’m making more of an effort to immerse myself in discovering the nuances of living here, for the sake of getting me through the times between travelling to the locations I long to be in.
I have regular identity crises, trying to decide where I’m from, or where I belong. I’m an Australian passport holder, born to parents of New Zealand and Canada. My mother’s parents were citizens of the world and I still find the sound of a German conversation the most soothing of childhood memories. I was and raised, reared and educated a true-blue, dinky-di white Aussie who appreciates a great holiday tan and the more I am away from the corner of the globe I was born in, the more I realise that’s where I want to go back to. However, I still can’t help but find the wisdom and whimsy of the rest of the world so damn attractive ad exciting.
I write about travels, teaching, running, living and working in Dubai, my wonderful students, my excessive workload, and more travel, whenever I can. Sometimes short and sweet, sometimes far too long and deserving of a cup of tea. I do not need to focus my blog or find a niche – because I never need to monetise it. I work from the heart and will never use this space of wonder as my space of work. I’m here to remind myself of where I’ve been, and reassure my family when I fall off the grid for five to six weeks at a time. I love it when others come along for the ride. I’m useless at emails, sometimes on facebook and tweet erratically. I like the word erratic. I lose focus regularly.
What about the food?
If you’re here looking for food, as this blog has quickly become filled with food, you’ll find a range of intolerance and food sensitive goodness. Thanks for a number of sensitivities, a possible leaky gut, and a neat dose of PCOS, I have to try and worm my way through the world of food depending on how my body feels on any given day. However, the man of the house can eat anything but cream and uncooked cow’s milk. So, there’s something for everybody – sometimes gluttonous, sometimes desperately healthful, always delicious, and always an attempt to avoid that unhappy face my husband pulls when I tell him I just “threw it together” and can’t remember how I made something.
Hi Kristy,
this is Anja from Anja’s Food 4 Thought, another Dubai-based food blog. I found your blog via Gluten Free UAE, and just loving your site. Great recipes, and entertaining post written in such a refreshing way.
I want to tell you about the UAE’s food blogger community called Fooderati Arabia. We have a closed Facebook Group and a website with the same name. We have been around for more than a year and have over 80 members from all over the world, all based somewhere int he UAE and with various interests”: recipes, restaurant reviews and/or food related Dubai/UAE stories. We have regular “events” where we meet up and do something food-related together. It’s big fun. And you would be a great addition. Please check our website and request to be a member of the FB group. I will let the admins know, that you may be knocking at the door.
Anja
Thanks for your kind feedback Anja! I will come and find you all
I found your blog using the tag surf WordPress function. Wonderful blog.
Thank you!
Hi Kristy!!!! Nice to know that someone is going through almost the same phase
I am also newly married (thought we did not marry in secret) and decided to join my husband here in Dubai. Though I still do not have a job, I have been actively seeking one for the past months. Would be glad to meet up should you be free 
It’s nice to find and meet like minded people in a strange new place like Dubai
Sounds lovely Didi! Though, at the moment, school is so hectic I barely have a moment to scratch – can’t wait until after the festive season and Winter Break.
Winter Break is equivalent to the Christmas Holiday break noh?
Sounded so romantic Kristy – the marrying in secret part. Now wishing you all the luck in traipsing around – be it in food or travel:)
I must admit that it feels more romantic a couple of years later now that the panic and worry is all gone! It’s working out good so far!
Fantastic and Touch Wood! I can imagine – since even dating without anyone’s knowledge used to be associated with lot of stress – so marriage must be a different ball game altogether:)
Interesting blog! Great pic though, the photographer has done a lovely job!
Yeah! I’m a very lucky client!
Amazing Blog. Very inspiring and fresh. L
Thanks!
Brilliant blog!!
Thanks! It’s been a bit neglected of late, but I’m getting back to it.