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It’s been 3 weeks since I moved to abu dhabi. And in a weird way, it feels like a long time, and still so new. Today I have received my resident visa, tomorrow; I will apply for an ID card and a driver’s license. I move into my apartment on the first of October.

I feel energized like I have not been in so long. The job is demanding, exciting, and I realize how much I am in my natural element in multicultural, complex International Corporation. Obviously I don’t know if I am going to succeed, but every morning I get up and I feel happy to go to work.

Speaking of waking up. I’m living in a hotel right now, at the edge of the sea, and when I do open my eyes around 7 AM, it’s the view of the sun’s reflection in the turquoise Arabian sea that puts a massive smile on my face.

Abu dhabi counts 1.5 million inhabitants; it’s an island and means “father of the gazelle”. The best word to describe it is “mellow”. It’s mellow really. Of course I see from an expat point of view, and not from the perspective of the countless Indian or Pakistanis who are here as hotel boys, construction workers, waiters, office boys, etc… I live a life of utter luxury, not so much in term of wealth but of facility and quality of life. Nothing is complicated, and while many things work differently, there is no stress.

The heat. I bask in it. Although I’m sure that in a couple of months, I will be looking forward to grey weather and rain, but the daily 38 to 42 degrees Celsius are a joy, something that I can’t get enough of. I walk back from the office in the evening, a solid 30-minute walk through the crowded, loud but still very civilized downtown.

I pass the barbershop where I had my hair cut. The owner is a Syrian, and cutting my hair, trimming my bushy eyebrows and sculpting my beard was a 3 hour ceremony that was continuously interrupted by clients popping their heads in to throw in a few tidbits of local gossip. Time is a fleeting thing, of which you have plenty and people seem to take those rituals seriously. Me, the fidgeting, nervous and on adrenaline stephan has to let go of my rigidity. Or try at least.

Social life has been surprisingly intense. Evenings and social mingling is centered around hotels, where expats gather to drink, eat and meet. Food is particularly amazing, with restaurants of a quality that I have not experienced often. All nationalities, all specialties’, with the highest standards and excellent service.

Some have been surprised by the ease to drink alcohol. So am I actually. As long as you stay in international places such as hotels, beach clubs, etc, alcohol can be served, inside or outside. As a resident you need a “license” to buy some alcohol in shops.

I have gone through (personal) hell (and come back° in the last months. And although hell is meant to be a rather warm place, this particular hot pavement has a soothing, cooling effect on my soul.

To be continued…