Fear less

When we told people back in the U.S. that we were moving to Dubai, some responded with fear that we would be putting ourselves in a dangerous situation. Some people thought that Dubai was actually in Iraq or another war-torn area. Other people, I think, just thought that all of the Middle East must be dangerous for Americans.

This morning as Woody and I floated in the clear salty bath tub-esque water of the Persian Gulf (referred to here as the Arabian Gulf), gazing at the luxurious Burj al Arab, we laughed about how ridiculous those responses of fear seem now.

We feel so much safer in Dubai than we ever did back home. I never worry that someone is about to mug me or steal something from me, and I generally feel safe wherever I go. Also, life is pretty cushy, to be honest. We can do just about anything we want to do and be just about anywhere we want to be in the city. Of course, like any place, Dubai has its problems, too (like labor inequality and dangerous traffic). However, terrorism and war are not among them.

It's understandable to fear that which we do not know. It's also understandable given the messages spread by the news in the U.S. However, Dubai is just a busy city full of people from other places working and living to the best of our ability. Fortunately, we were able to leave the fear that's cultivated by American media in America.