I've Got 99 Problems, is America One?

It has been so long since I've written here that I couldn't remember the name of my blog since I changed it. It isn't that I haven't wanted to write. Unfortunately, I had so much to do for most of this school year that blogging was the furthest thing from my mind.

I didn't start feeling more like a human until school was coming to an end. Over the past couple weeks I have REALLY been feeling like a human-I finally unpacked my office and put everything away, the reading room is set up, and I am able to read and I am stress free!

BUT...and there has to be a but with the title, no?

The but is that this may be short lived. As much as I try to prepare for the upcoming year, I know that I work in a high stress environment (although it doesn't have to be that way). I want and need better this time around and plan on being proactive in that regard starting with putting down the phone and doing productive things! But on to this list. Because last week marked my ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY of being back home!! And while things are wonderful in many regards, I can't act like there are things about this place that don't suck. And yes, there are things about every place that sucks.Moving on.

• (much) Less pay
• (so) It takes much longer to buy things or save money AND you can't really do both
• Longer work hours
• Higher utility bills
• paying rent (mortgage)
• no taxis-yeah I know uber is a thing but nah
• (currently) working under the same confusion as you would expect from a developing country
• I miss my team and next door teaching friend
• I was in a place where my voice was valued and my opinion respected. Moving backwards (for lack of a better word OR to keep consistency) sucks
• Dare I say that the freedom to wear an abaya was rather convenient? lol
• My view-and I go back and forth on this one because I now have my very own back  yard!
• Not able to travel to desired locations-I realize I've become a travel snob and there aren't many places here that excite me (also see 2nd bullet)
• Food options can be disappointing-I can make a list of places I miss eating from!
• Food prices! I could get organic vegetables for a dollar. ONE DOLLAR!
• The food wasn't full of hormones that made you gain weight
• NO MANGOSTEEN
• Delivery of anything you wanted was a phone call away
• <15 copay="" dollar="" dr.="" even="" for="" li="" matter="" no="" reason="" surgery="" the="" visit.="">
• There is no walking anywhere here
• My friends are no longer 15 mins away
• It was easier to visit another country while there  than it is to visit another state here!
• Not nearly the same amount of parent appreciation that we got in school there. I miss the flowers and the gifts (let's not act like teachers can't or shouldn't appreciate gifts!)
• The chocolates! How could I forget the chocolates?!?!? If you google "chocolate shops Abu Dhabi", you will have a frame of reference but still no idea!!!
• mafi shawarma. Wallah, haram! 

I'm sure I could eek out a few more things if I tried. The point is that life is much more relaxed when you aren't worried or stressed out about work and/or financial things. It's one reason why Americans are so angry imo. 

I guess you are wondering why I came back if you're still reading. Short answer? Because family is still better than all these things (aaaaaaaaaaawwwwwweeeeee). And even without family, I don't think I would go back there. Things are for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Know which things fall into each category and your life will be much happier for it. 

Now, I wouldn't mind spending my summers abroad. In my mind, I can see myself in Portugal or Spain and traipsing off to surrounding countries. I keep telling myself that I can spare a couple dollars each month to win the lottery. Stranger things have happened.