The 50 things I will and won't miss from Dubai (in no particular order)

1. the people that I have met from around the world that have helped me grow, challenge me daily and represent a broader spectrum of careers and countries than any other place I have lived.

2. the February-April sunsets on the beach, reddish-orange skies every night.

3. Lamb chops, tabbouleh and baba ghanoush

4. My students and their dramatic interpretation and dances to the "tabbouleh song."

5. Karama curries

6. Drives to Barracuda, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujeirah-- Camel crossings and dust storms...

7. Rock Bottom, Rattlesnake and Jebel Ali club, trashy bars being a commodity instead of high end ones like in Tulsa.

8. Ladies Nights at Nelsons..

9. Lulu Hypermarket, the world's greatest grocery store, laser light show and you can pretty much find everything in the world you need there..

10. No left turns????

11. Safety, being able to walk down the beach and leave your bag.

12. the sandstorms where you cannot even walk outside without sunglasses.

13. the tall, attractive array of men from around the world.

14. Being surrounded by some of the world's most beautiful people (motivation to stay fit)

15. the warm water beaches

16. Being a 5 minute drive from the beach

17. January-February race months in the UAE

18. Creek Strider mornings- justification of my binge drinking later in the day

19. Interesting taxi cab conversations

20. zen yoga classes

21. Sumo Sushi delivery

22. Random home delivery services: pharmacy, soda water, etc.

23. Living down the road from some of the world's most interesting architectural projects: Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, the World project, Palm Jumeirah

24. the spices

25. Bur Dubai

26. Cheap flights to almost any country in the world and decent travel times.

27. summer shopping sales

28. Runs around Safa park

29. Opportunity knocks- being able to dream up and do anything if you wanted to stay here.

30. Dinner club

31. Irish village beers before flying out at the DXB airport

32. the Coldplay concert in Abu Dhabi, rain; giant yellow bouncy balls, multi colored paper butterflies: MAGIC

33. late night calls from boys only rivaling university days

34. Fun and frequent stories like McArabia (oh, Kristen)

35. bottles of vino with the girls: Kristen, Tara, Carrie, Kate M, Kate D, Becky and more..

36. Some good gigs: 2 Many DJs, Basement Jaxx, Plump Djs, etc.

37. Lime-tree cafe; yummy goodies.

38. Mall after mall after mall after mall

39. dodgy hospital experiences :(

40. random parking tickets with absolutely no proof

41. runs in Media City

42. Satwa area, a little bit of culture in plastic heaven

43. My neighbors who return baking/ cooking favors equally

44. the lack of local produce

45. A spectacular group of colleagues I have learned from enormously

46. Drinking cocktails on my lil' balcony

47. The views from the freakishly high buildings.

48. Sajid's cooking

49. long drives on the highway in the ford focus

50. not knowing whether the city will be here in the next 50 years but at least having been a part of its craze now..