Low key....phew

Hey guys!!! Sorry I am a bit late with the post this week - it's been kinda crazy from work perspective. We are close to closing out the first phase of work and in a mad scramble to produce everything we need to, while managing client expectations AND sell our next phase of work so I can come back out here at the end of March. It has been a very interesting and challenging experience.

If you have ever taken a leadership course or read up on Organizational Change Management or teambuilding - you may know there are phases to building a team. I'm not gonna go into too much detail, but the phases pretty much explain themselves.... Forming -> Storming -> Norming -> Performing. While we are starting to develop plans for our client to understand these phases and manage appropriate...our internal team is experiencing the same. Quite an experience to be implementing something you are trying to manage yourself. Luckily, we all recognize the challenge and react appropriately. In case you're wondering, we are in the Storming phase. :)

A friend told me, before coming out here, that I needed to be aware of the fourth week. That I would have to keep an eye out for my team at around that time because it's when the stress from being far from home sets in. Luckily, my team went home at the end of week 4 for a short break. Now, it was the 5th week that did ME in. Last week was a little rough for me in the transition from being away from home. I suppose the novelty of being in 'DUBAI' wore off and I started feeling the growing pains of settling in to a new way of life. While I am living in this amazing hotel, it's not home. While I've met new people, they're still not 'friends'. Let's not even talk about the dating. Thankfully, I was able to push through the rough week and am feeling alot better now!!

Anyhoo.....after five weeks of sightseeing and taking in the city, I really wanted to just relax and be a little braindead this weekend. Somewhat accomplished that goal. Co-workers and I went back to Bhari Bar on Thursday and stayed entirely too late!! That made Friday a bit of a lost day. However, that eveing we went out to the Dubai Jazz Festival to see David Gray. Altough, I wasn't too familiar with his music for the exception of 'Babylon' it was a pretty good concert! He has AMAZING energy during his performance. Unfortunately, we got there a little too late and had to stand in the aisle. There was this fuckwit of a couple standing right in front of me that were quite cocktailed and had no concept of space. They kept bumping into me - it was quite annoying! Despite that, it was a good time.

It took place in the outdoor venue at Media City. It was a beautiful evening, though a little windy and cool.

Camel statue. Apparently, lots of major cities have these. Dallas has unicorns, Chicago has cows (I think), Dubai has camels. :)

The crowd at the concert....

Pretty poor quality photo - but there's David! I would totally see him in concert again....in a seat....away from fuckwit drunks......or at least a little cocktailed myself!!

Alright kiddos! Until next time....