The Adventure Begins...Jules Leaves for Dubai Today...

The summer that bled into a fall sabbatical is coming to a close today.  What a ride it has been for the past (ahem)...five months.  I’ve enjoyed so much having time off to reflect, reconnect with friends and family and just take some time to breathe, rediscover some passions and frankly (as many of you who've been with me...) I've just had a damn good time.  My journey to Dubai starts today…I’m leaving Wichita later this afternoon, headed to Dallas then London and then on to Dubai.  It will be roughly a 20 hour journey…I’m looking forward to catching up on some pleasure reading!  As I look back on the past 28 years (did I really just type that number?) living in Kansas (Wichita, Lawrence and Kansas City) it is hard to describe how much I will miss it…I’ve spent two-thirds of my life in the Midwest.  I grew up here…went to college here…started my career here and have made lifelong friends. Kansas will always be home for this Dorothy so treat her kindly while I'm away.  

I want to take the opportunity to thank two of my best friends.  My parents.  They have been incredible during this transition period.  They have taken the initiative to become “technology gurus” so we can keep in touch virtually, they have helped me organize and house my belongings, they have pampered me, cooked for me, laughed with me, counseled me and are two of my best friends.  I've enjoyed spending some quality time with them this past month. They are the neighborhood favorites in their community and I for one know why. They are generous and giving.  I love you Mom and Dad!!! Thank you for your guidance and support!

So today is a little bitter sweet…but I’m ready for a change.  As I approach the year of “40” I am excited to discover a new chapter and path…as I’ve said before I’ve traveled to about 35 of the US States and Canada but I’ve never been overseas. I am excited to learn a new line of work, work with people of different backgrounds and cultures, challenge myself with new ideas and approaches and take in and appreciate a new environment.  I’m not sure where this path with lead me but my heart is full and happy and ready to discover what lies ahead!   I want to thank all of my family and friends who have had dinners, parties, events, sent emails, phone calls…I am so blessed to have you all in my life.  I love you all!  As I arrive and start getting settled I will be more diligent about keeping up with my blog and sharing more about Dubai.  Take care everyone, you are in my heart and I’ll be in touch again here soon!   Julie  

Tomorrow is Move Day...(belongings go to Wichita)

Well...the packing started a month ago.  Thanks to the help of my mom and dad who are extremely organized and detailed.  But...as most things in life go...I still had a month of living to do here in KC...so there was a bit to do at the end here...however it is all packed up...I'm still holding on to my computer for a few more hours before it too is retired...looking forward to down the road having a laptop again...this dell desktop is driving me crazy...  It has been an interesting week...lots of loose ends tied up wrapping up life here in KC...caught a little flu bug to make the final days a little more memorable but I'm on the mend (and happy the flu bug didn't hit me on a flight somewhere...that would have been ugly) so I am being a good girl tonight to preserve the health of the not so young bod!  I've been so lucky over the past few weeks to reconnect with more old time friends and I've just had a blast.  I'll miss all my KC cohorts...but I know you will take care of KC and treat her kindly...i'll be back in a few moons for a visit. 

Gotta leave KC with one last outing and concert tomorrow though...The National is playing at The Uptown...looking forward to checking them out before seeing them in Austin at Austin City Limits in a little over a week and seeing my Riffle cousins...woo hoo!  Mom and I have already started our own "bucket list" of mother/daughter activities to attack here in October...definitely want to hit up some of the fall festivals in Wichita and some of the downtown shops for their pre-holiday displays and shopping...dad is showing us great humor...I know this moving stuff is hard and annoying. He and I can bond over watching KU football and The Chiefs...I know he will also be a help for me as I use his computer to assist me in downloading music to my external hard drive for I-Tunes.. Thanks Dad for your patience! :0) 

More to come later about what I have virtually learned thus far about Dubai...I can't wait to find out for myself...

A New Beginning...

As I begin this new adventure I made one promise to myself...I would keep a journal to document the experience.  As many of you know...I am a late technology adopter but I must admit this method of documentation is sooo convenient...so here I go. 

The second day of fall in Kansas City...the weather is starting to cool down, kids have been back in school for a few weeks and The Chiefs are 2-0.  Not too shabby! I have always loved this time of year...even though spring tends to get the credit as the season of renewal...I have always thought fall to be the more provocative season with new beginnings... I have one week before I will no longer be a resident of Kansas City...but no matter what life brings...I will always be a very fond visitor!  It is a little mind boggling...hard to believe I have been in Kansas City for 15 years.  This is the longest I have lived anywhere.  I'm so grateful for the friends and family that helped me get my start here when I was 23 and who have supported me over the past plus decade.  What a ride it has been!

I've been fortunate to have a great summer of relaxing, reflection and a lot of discovery and rediscovery!  In many ways...I feel like I am 23 again...starting something new and unknown...full of excitement and anticipation. I remember coming home after being laid off in May and I felt mostly indifferent...of course I was upset, worried and pissed off...but today I see things more clearly. I had lost my passion and spark and it was time for me to start a new path. This just forced the opportunity for me to re-evaluate.  I love the quote my cousin Mike said..."you were on the Clarke Griswold career path"...meaning...I drank the kool-aid and believed in the X,Y and Z process...this the machine...this is the road map...this is what you must follow...it is what grown ups do. Yuck...no...double yuck.  After having the summer to take a step back, really reconnect with friends, family, make new friends, attend concerts, sporting events, barbecues, do some traveling, visit the beautiful ocean again, attend my 20 year high school reunion, rediscover music and my passion for writing...for the first time in a very long time I feel like I am living in the present and have reconnected with areas of my life I tended to neglect.

For me this change is more than "just a career opportunity"...it is an education and adventure in living. Being exposed to different cultures, backgrounds, and beliefs will be eye opening for sure. Especially for the gal from Kansas who has never been overseas. One of the benefits of being a researcher is having the innate curiosity and passion to discover. I am looking forward to this journey and along the way I hope to discover some new talents and passions of my own.  I am very grateful to be given this opportunity to work on contract at MoveOne and live in Dubai. In the coming weeks I will be moving my belongings to Wichita, spending some time with my cousins on my mother's side of the family for a reunion in Austin, Texas and having some family time with my parents.  So as I wrap up my life here in Kansas City I want to thank all of you who have supported me through my transition. I love you and will miss you all!