From Home to Dubai: A New Year's Journey

 A very happy new year to all my lovely family, dearest friends & amazing readers. I am amazed that on 1 January 2024 for the first time in my life I am not home but in Dubai. Dubai, a city of lights, kites, bikes, heights, and of course Rolls Royce; where people of so many beautiful & different languages, cultures come for earning livelihoods, some for shopping, others to optimize their wealth and while others come aboard on winters to have some fun.

Dubai was not in my bucket list because it was synonymous to earning money and I hardly had any sense or concept of wealth. All I enjoyed is the little pocket-money that my mom used to give me out of my own salary and that was my life. I could buy coffee, I could go crazy with stationary shopping (I know stationary sounds crazy but I never claimed to be normal).

However, it all changed about two years ago when, one fine day, my mom handed over the burden of financial management over to me. No more pocket money but I will be giving everyone else their pocket money’s, the salaries of house-help, bills and Allah knows what not. I never had a relationship with money, not even a slight affair - rather we just watched each other from a distance. So much so that when I saw numbers my mind would just stop working, I would get anxiety just by counting more than 300 rupees.

As scared as I was, I had to do the job. Initially, I turned into a penny-pincher and it was only months later that I became comfortable with money. Although I give myself immense credit for micromanaging my first big European holidays with my mother and younger brother- when I single-handedly did every payment, booked all travels, and of course I paid for all of it. It was fun to do something for once; nevertheless when it becomes a daily job it isn’t fun anymore.

One would ask why Dubai? Why now? The main reason is my mom’s back to back 2 major surgeries within a span of one year. She became very weak and depressed- losing one’s energy and movability is not easy to handle. So she was the main reason for this urgent change of scenery. We needed a holiday place with normal sunny weather that is also easy on pockets, not very easy on the latter yet manageable, and Dubai won our votes.  

Besides being a hub of international brands, companies and human resources Dubai  offers something unique, that is sense of physical security amongst presence of so many nationalities. More importantly for women Dubai provides a secured atmosphere devoid of any fear of eve teasing or bully based on what they wear or how they look. Honestly, feeling safe is a very new feeling for me, as from childhood every girl has to be on a high alert and to be always on guard, it took me a while to accept that I am not under any kind threat when I am walking, going on public transports or even driving due to my gender.   

But at least for today I shall be positive and sweet. So all my best wishes to everyone.

Good Night! 

Sonya Syed.