People frequently forget that the term "Expat" means: a person who is voluntarily absent from home or country. It is common practice here to refer to all Western people in Dubai as expats but we forget that unless you are a citizen, you are an expat. This includes all of the Indian, Pakistani, Phillipino, Bangladeshi, etc. people who make up this diverse country. I often find myself referring to only Europeans and Americans as expats but I have to remember, most people in Dubai/Abu Dhabi are expatriates.
When I start to find life hard and somewhat unbearable here, I try to think of those in a much worse situation than us (and there are so many). I frequently meet taxi drivers, cleaners, and sales representatives who are paid below minimum wage and never have a day off. The taxi drivers, for instance, get one month off a year to go home and see their family. They work 12 hour shifts every single day. Many of them can't afford to call long distance to speak with their families on a daily basis or even weekly. They aren't all young men either, many are middle-aged men with families. They all come to Dubai for the same reasons we all do: To make money and send it home to their families.
I had a moment of shock and clarity the other night while speaking to my personal trainer at my gym. These men are specially trained professionals, not simply cleaners or construction help. I asked him how often he got to see his wife and young son and he replied, only once a year. I asked if he was able to speak with them much and he just shrugged and shook his head no. I guess I expected that from the more menial jobs but not from a higher profile one.
I feel so lucky and blessed to be able to use Skype at a moment's notice, to be able to hop on a plane with ease if needed, and to have my husband with me. I couldn't imagine having to leave a family behind and hardly ever see them. Parents miss the growing of their children, all for the sake of being able to send them to a good school and feed an entire extended family. I find that amazing and so selfless.
I think we European and American Expats need to remember these facts and find some compassion when we start to lose our patience with them (which is a daily occurence for many of us). I also urge Americans and Europeans to be thankful for your country and lifestyle. Things are difficult for many of us out there in the US, UK, and Europe, but we don't have it anywhere near as bad as a lot of the people in the world. There are opportunities in our countries that many people in the world can't even imagine. Be thankful for what you have been blessed with.
And remember, we are all EXPATS in this country.
