Because I’ve lived in multiple countries (and states) my vision of the world includes blurred borders. Home, for me, is many places. Mannerisms, foods, customs from others that I did not grow up with have mixed together, like a well-made curry (from any part in the world), and become part of the me I am today. I embrace what I was born into and spice it up with the amazingness of all my other homes.

My first overseas post was the UAE. This blog came about because of it. I gained invaluable insights from my Emirati and expat colleagues and friends. My former students from there are grown women with children of their own now. I was also able to travel to countries I’d never have been able to afford to visit while living as a stateside teacher. While I only spent a little bit of time in each of those places, the people of Lebanon, Jordan, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Turkey, Cypress and countless other places (Hello Sri Lanka, India and Africa!) connected with me through laughter, hospitality, food and drinks (oh my goodness the food!), shared stories and experiences. They taught me about their homes, but, more importantly, for a brief moment in time we got to be just people experiencing living and making memories together. It is all of them that come to mind when I read today’s headlines.

Luckily, the friends I have who still live in Dubai say they are safe — as safe as one can feel when missiles are being intercepted way above. If I were still there, I’m sure I’d be paying a visit to Spinneys to bring back some goodies to share with them in our living rooms while we commiserate and solve world problems on our couches. But, I’m not, so all I can do is blast them with love, good wishes and some pics of our time together.

There’s so much not included in this slideshow: the Iftar buffets, my girls praying in the back of the classroom (lol or screeching in class), and the many, many amazing souls I met shopping, playing, working, living. It doesn’t include the hardships, the misunderstandings, the wtf am I doing heres — and the lessons learned from all of it.

I can’t speak to the politics, military strategy, global reasoning of our governments. When it comes to these things it doesn’t matter what I think and whether I am right or wrong. I am one blip in all of our humanity. But, what does matter, to me, is that the people I’ve been so blessed to meet (and those I haven’t) know they matter. They are as human and real and important as I like to think I am.

May we continue to grow and learn from each other despite our rights and wrongs. Sending love, hugs and strength to every corner of our world — we could all use more of that during our conflicted times.