1. It was a rollercoaster ride, and that was just leaving the airport! 

I thought taxi drivers here would drive slower than in my home country. But that’s not necessarily the case… that was surprise number one! 

2. Sorry, what? It rains here?

Dubai is known for its hot weather all year long, and I’ve always been told it might rain, like, once or twice a year only. Guess what? It was raining on my first day in town, while I was house hunting with my father and we were in the middle of nowhere with no taxis around. Just my luck! 

3. It is so, so easy to get lost 

The malls are so huge here in Dubai! I literally needed to use Google Maps to find stores. But hey, at the end of the day, the shops are the best in the world here, sorry credit card! 

4. A daily food coma seems inevitable 

Restaurants are so good here it hurts. A little birdy told me that no matter how much I try to escape eating out, it will not work. So might as well enjoy the good food, and just sprint it off in the mall. 

5. I’ve said goodbye to #SundayFunday

Wait, what? I got the sad news a couple of days ago… Sunday is a weekday in the UAE! RIP sofa Sundays… I’ll miss you.

6. But I now get that Thursday feeling! 

I don’t think I’ll ever get used to how good it feels to leave for the weekend on a Thursday evening. Hello TGIT! 

… And I’ve only been here for a week!