CATHY HUANG

After a week of research into Dubai and Emirates, I've decided that yes, this is the next goal for me after Korea and university. Here are the following reasons:

1. Being Emirates Flight Attendant: I don't know why I never thought of being a cabin crew until now. Since I'm always traveling and searching up new places to go to, this is the perfect opportunity for a young person to work and travel at the same time. Especially since I want to travel to some remote, infrequent locations such as Africa, Middle East etc. due to no family or friends wanting to go there with me. Since there are so many layovers in new countries everyday,  I would literally be able to see the world! Also, being a flight attendant for Emirates is a dream because its airline is always top rated and their uniforms are so beautiful. If I get in and sign a 3 year contract, I'll have to relocate to Dubai.

2. Exotic, yet so metropolitan: Despite traveling to so many places in North America and living on supposedly the "best" city in the world, Vancouver- I often feel like it doesn't cut it for me here. Yes, life here is peaceful, quiet, the air is fresh and clean, everything's structured and nice, but its not really like an adventure or someplace exciting. It's so...americanized/basic. Like everyday I'm doing the same stuff, same entertainment. No change. I feel like Dubai is always a dream for be because it's the most metropolitan area out of UAE, it feels like the middle of nowhere, it's a entire city built on an desert, it's surrounded by the persian gulf with land and sea, and there's so much luxury/metropolitan vibes to it. It'd be like living in Las Vegas times 10 everyday, with so much things to do. Even though the heat is supposedly like an oven in the summer, I think I can live with them since there's so much indoor activities. There's the city, and than the desert and crystal clear waters. From camel racing to being in a tropical area to enjoying the city all in one...it sounds so perfect. Even though I know that NO amount of moving/relocating to new place will bring eternal satisfaction, it is sure good to switch it up once in a while.

3. Refreshing cultural change: I've always appreciated middle eastern culture since I've had so much Afghan/Persian/Arab friends growing up. From the food to their traditions, I find it to be very appealing for me. Dubai is a conservative place that enforces strict Muslim laws eg. women can't wear skimpy clothes outside, partners can't live together unless they're married. Thus, that makes it one of the safest places in the world with very low crime rate. I'm so curious to meet people from all over the world, immerse myself in the middle eastern culture, try new food, visit all the legendary mosques and religious temples. See how other people in the world live rather than the local ones back home.

4.Arab Men: Who doesn't want to meet someone like the Crown Prince of Dubai.....while randomly shopping/attending to a passenger on a flight? A land where I can meet my own Aladdin and dream I'll be swept off my feet by a Dubai prince/local that looks like this!!

5. A variety of architectural delights: My top 2 favourite building is the Burj Khalifa which is the tallest building in the world and the Burj al Arab, the iconic symbol of Dubai which was completely constructed on an artificial island made of steel rods and blocks. The sheer beauty of the night view has got Times Square NYC looking like developing country. I think I'd be a photography heaven, from the water views, to the endless sea of buildings, to the bright lights at night. Everything is so extravagant, brand new, and dreamy here.




6. Being in the heart of the Middle East: Since its situated so close to other middle eastern countries, it'd be so much more convenient to travel to other exotic countries such as Iran and Egypt. It's like being able to experience what the Middle East offers without facing the civil unrest, war, and government corruption that many other Middle East countries have to face on a daily basis.

With the beginning of 2015 and having 3 weeks remaining in Canada before I head to Korea to teach for a year, I have thought up of a few resolutions to work on for this year. I think the forth coming months could either be amazing or full of struggles, therefore I should clarify the things I need to work on about myself, internally and external goals.

1. Appreciate people for their intrinsic worth: I always have a tendency to "scale" people by their usefulness in my life before I give my time up for them. I's kinda bad saying I "use" people because I'm not. The fact is that since I was young, my parents taught me to apply to cost-benefit analysis to EVERYTHING in life. No matter whom- either it be best friends, boyfriends, teachers etc. they tried to drill into my head that I needed to be "smart" and judge their worth before investing myself in them. Everytime we talk about people, they never ask me about people's INTRINSIC worth. Maybe its just asian parenting, but they need to know where my friends/boyfriends grew up, went to school, what their parents do, what they're doing with their life. If the person isn't up to par with their "usefulness test" they immediately accuse me of finding "unreliable" people and urge me to find someone more worthy. As time goes on, I believe my parents are wrong. Because in life, no person is guaranteed a permanent place in your life. To select people coming to your life on a strict criteria might mean I could miss good chances at learning about different types of people and learning from them. My resolutions I don't want to "use" people just because they are important in society, but as long as they are important to me I should have a right to keep them in my life. Honestly, the most "useful" things about a person often are how they interact with you and what's on the inside.

2. Get more into the present moment: Despite reading Eckhart Tolle's book multiple times, I still find myself struggling to not get caught up in the past and present. Sometimes I feel like life feels like a endless finish line. It makes me anxious and upset because I never feel like I have permission to relax. There's always a next best thing to do after the other, and not being busy makes me feel like a failure. I'v gotten to the point where staying at home alone for more than a day has got me near depression. My mind simply races too much and I'm always scared of what others will say about me if I choose to relax for a while. I'm always looking forward to going out, getting errands done but than I think how good it'd be to stay home alone. Because I haven't been in the present moment, life feels like one endless chore of checklists. I think I'll try to reread Buddha teachings/Tolle books and meditate more this year to get to the present moment. 

3. Stop expecting the worst: I always expect the worst out of EVERYTHING in life. Even though I'm generally outgoing and positive, worrying and negative expectations have been with me since I could remember. Even if I'm successful at something, I keep on thinking all the possible alternatives that could go wrong or what I'll do if it goes wrong. I know this is too dramatic: but sometimes I literally think and think a situation until I feel like I'm going to die. Like every minor health problem may turn to a full blown terminal illness or I might fail my class if I don't get things done weeks beforehand, despite maintaing an A- average last semester. Even when things go well, I automatically start expecting the next worst thing and the cycle starts all over again. I need to tell myself that life is never as serious as the mind makes it to be, and considering my life and luck over the years- it has all gone surprisingly smooth. 

4. Get better at road directions and adapting to living alone: I'm pretty sure I'll get an awful case of Canada nostalgia once I land in Korea which usually makes me depressed. I'm going to try making a lot of friends, taking responsibility for maintaing a weekly schedule to get things/travelling done, learn how to cook alone, all the while getting used to being alone for at least half the day. Also, since I plan to go to Japan and Thailand for my vacation days and visiting the capital cities of Korea in my offtime- I have to work at bettering my directional sense. I have literally the WORST directional sense ever. I've lived in Vancouver for 10+ years and I still don't know the main streets and how to get my way around downtown. I always rely on my friend/past boyfriends whether driving or walking to get me to places. I'm literally so clueless that I get anxious having to go outside my own city. 

5. Get better at videography/photography: Throughout the years, I have taken a real interest in photo angles, video editing, colour toning etc. thanks to my favourite Youtuber/videography Cristina Viseu http://www.mintpl.us. I want to create and make a lot of videos and photos this year, so I want to learn more editing programs, practicing and observing others in general to get better.

6. Control my spending habits: Even though I don't buy "useless" things and spend beyond my means, I still manage to spend a few thousands within a few months. I have this tendency to accumulate as much as one type of thing (eg. makeup) as possible before I can give myself /permission/ to start using it. It makes me feel secure and satisfied so I end up buying a lot of one type of thing. I will need to work on using what I have, especially since I have to bring all my purchases back this year with me in one suitcase next year. 


And that's it. 6 things but  most of them may be a working progress because it's all about internal wellness. I think in 2014 I can say that it was successful in terms of realizing my mistakes, weaknesses and getting over people messing with my mind. I also learned nothing lasts forever but it's ok because life will always bring better things and people in. I learned if I gave the effort I will always get results. And most of all I took on that giant task of getting myself to another country after half a year of applying and gathering my documents. I learned that moving forward is literally the ONLY thing I can do in life, no matter how much self-pity, problems, or doubts there are. The world doesn't care about you and your problems, so might as well fake it until you make it. And the results are so satisfying.