Christmas in Abu Dhabi

This was the first holiday season for Miranda and I as husband and wife so we wanted to go big and we were not going to let the desert's 90-degree temperatures thaw our Christmas spirit.

So I guess it all started with a tree. It's not like they are just growing in the sand.

We maneuvered through a crazy weekend crowd at the local Carrefour to purchase our Christmas tree and other decorations. I was actually surprised they designated an entire aisle to the festive holiday season that was full of ornaments, reefs and grown-up Santa costumes.

Of course I bought the latter without thinking twice.

Back at Carrefour, they even had these little three-foot Santa figurines that shimmied around and played music every time you pushed a button. While I was trying to decide on which Santa to purchase -- the one with a saxophone and sunglasses or the rock n' roll one with a guitar -- Miranda drew a line in the sand.

"This is great but where are we going to store all this stuff after Christmas?" she asked.

She made a great point because we live in a one-bedroom apartment. But it was the most festive apartment in our building, we made sure of that. And in case you were wondering, yes, those are homemade snowflakes in the window.

When it comes to Christmas in the UAE, we were told religion takes a back seat to the overall party. Miranda and I learned this when we had coffee with her colleague from Dubai, who was born and raised in Tunisa.

As we sipped our Starbucks, he explained that if it involves a party, then everyone from the UAE likes to get involved. Sure, this may have just been his opinion and he did not speak for the entire country, but the malls were definitely onboard and my local liquor store was in a festive mood.

Unfortunately, I still had to work on Christmas day. Someone had to put out a newspaper.

But the higher ups at The National hosted a low-key turkey dinner for all the newsroom folks, which was a nice gesture and another example that everyone likes to get in on the celebration. People from all different backgrounds, countries and religions lined up for that feast.

The one thing we had in common: we worked in the media.

And whenever free food is exposed inside any newsroom, it never lasts long. Yes, we are a spry bunch. But still, I do appreciate that people from all walks of life observe Christmas here. It was a warm reception we were not expecting.

But the one thing I will always remember from this holiday season in Abu Dhabi is when Miranda and I went to Carols In The Desert, which was hosted by St. Andrews Church.

What was it, you ask? More than 1,500 expats and their kids gathered in the middle of the desert to sing, camp and spread festive cheer. It was the perfect blend of Christmas celebration and desert chill (when the sun went down, of course).

Just good people and good times.

From our desert family to yours, we wish you a Merry Christmas. And to all a good night.

One whole year in the sand box

As I sit here and look past the flickering lights on our Christmas tree and focus on the distant palm trees and mangroves outside my window, I am forced to examine where my life was one year ago.

This time last year, I was struggling to keep my emotions in check as I hugged Miranda, my girlfriend at the time, outside a simple breakfast diner near Minneapolis. I was about to board a plane for the Middle East in a few hours and my immediate future was very uncertain.

My first day working at The National was December 15, 2012 and it was conveniently the day after I first set foot in this country. When duty calls, there's no time for jet lag.

The initial transition was anything but smooth. I was so ill during the trip that my colleague, Steve, who was also making his UAE debut, felt like he was talking to a corpse during the 15-hour flight over the Atlantic Ocean on a packed Etihad plane.

That first month was spent at the Royal Ramee Hotel & Apartments, which was down the block from my office (which was good) and also had a free daily breakfast (which was not so good). The "American sausages" looked like under-cooked hot dogs and the tinfoil presentation always reminded me that I was dining in style...

But a quick glance outside my window offered incredible views of serene desert sunsets and the popular mosque across the street.

Then came Christmas.

I will never forget that holiday season because it was my first away from home.

All my office mates and very new friends were nice but trust me, it is never a good idea to re-locate just 10 days before Santa comes to town. It doesn't matter if it is the Middle East, Japan or Tuscaloosa, Alabama.

Those were lonely days and just getting over the sickness from hell did not help things. But like I always do, I made the best of it and got a little help from my friends.

A fellow production editor at the newspaper, Rich, took it upon himself to entertain me with a few beers after deadline on Christmas eve. Rich is also a fine American and I think he saw a fellow countrymen in need.

We went to a swank place called Stars 'N Bars on Yas Island, feasted on over-sized cheeseburgers and washed it down with cold Budwesier while we gazed at the gaudy Viceroy Hotel, which lit up the early-morning sky. Yes, this is the hotel with a Formula One track that goes underneath it.

Unfortunately, during that particular holiday season, there were no Christmas carols and there were no stockings stuffed with care.

So last night after deadline, we hoped into Rich's car again and set a course for Yas Island to celebrate my one-year anniversary in the sand box. This time, we had another production editor, CB, from India, with us in tow as we reflected on what has been the past year at The National.

It was just fitting that the surrounding area around Stars 'N Bars was under heavy construction during last year's holiday season and during our current visit, Rich gave us a quick tour of all the new restaurants, cafes and clubs that have sprung up.

It's like the players are the same but the game has changed. A year has passed and things have improved in a very good way.

I'm not one to promote useless milestones, unless there really is something to celebrate. Living in Abu Dhabi this past year has presented many challenges as there has been many twists in my professional and personal life.

Planning a wedding from abroad and then actually getting married to the woman I love has definitely been the highlight for me in 2013. We have also built a home together over this past year in Abu Dhabi and it looks like a 7-star luxury hotel compared to the old Royal Ramee.

As an exciting new year is about to start for Miranda and I, we're not really sure what is in store for us while living in the desert. How long will we live in the sand box? What new adventures are on the horizon? And should we open the red or white wine?

All I can say is stay tuned...

Life struggles all Expats understand

I usually try not to waste my time with all the buzzfeed links that pop up on facebook but this one about Expats and their common struggles caught my eye and seemed to make some sense.

I've essentially been an expat since 2009 and even though I do love America, the adventures abroad are getting more interesting everyday and I'm glad to be on the move.

I'm a better person because of traveling. My wife Miranda shares the passion and we just feel we have to strike while the iron is hot. That intense urge to travel continues to build inside each of us and it's something we really enjoy because we can share it together.

Sure, there are daily struggles living in another country. There is no denying that. But every hurdle we get past makes us stronger in the long run.

As for our unexplained desire to see the world, I think it all goes back to the famous quote: "The more you learn, the more you realize how little you know."

In essence, visiting foreign places makes us hungry for more. The world is so huge and we've seen just a tiny piece of it. Some places are rubbish; some are amazing. But we will never know for sure unless we see it for yourselves. The options are endless.

So for good or ill, I implore everyone to get out there. Whether it is across an ocean, to the other side of your own country or simply to the next town over. The ups and downs may overwhelm you but at the very least, when you really look back on everything, it's all about the ride.

Or I can just let my man Anthony Bourdain explain. He said it best:

“Travel changes you. As you move through this life and this world you change things slightly, you leave marks behind, however small. And in return, life - and travel - leaves marks on you. Most of the time, those marks - on your body or on your heart - are beautiful. Often, though, they hurt.”

Thankful on Thanksgiving

Shortly after a turkey feast and a full bottle of red wine, I got to lay eyes on this good-looking group. Yes, if it wasn't for Skype, I would not be able to join my family for Thanksgiving or check out the progress of my brother's Movember mustache.

I don't get to Skype with them as much as I would like. With the 8-hour time difference between the UAE and the U.S. East Coast, it makes for a lot of late evenings but it is always worth it.

Like I said before, we had already finished a late dinner and were about to head out the door for an Expat Thanksgiving party. On the other side of the world, they were just getting started on their afternoon appetizers and were still drinking their morning bloody marys.

Of course I missed being home but Thanksgiving in the desert was quite a delight.

The boss gave me the day off. He is also a fine American so it was a basic request email: "Boss, can I have Nov. 28 off for... Well, obvious reasons."

Unfortunately, Miranda was called into work in the afternoon because some big-time Russians were in town and her services were needed at the hotel. I was not going to let a bunch of Ruskies spoil our day so I got cleaned up, I threw some "traditional Thanksgiving music" onto the YouTube and prepared for my lady's return.

This is what Thanksgiving in a box looks like:

Because we were stretched for time, we ordered a complete dinner to-go from Marco Pierre White Steakhouse and it was sensational. Yes, a huge delicious turkey was inside that black box.

Miranda, undeterred by working on such a grand holiday, hauled it home and the package had all the fixings. I even learned how to trim a full turkey like a real man.

The Skype date with our family was the highlight for the night but two days later, Miranda and I were fortunate enough to host some local servicemen at the Fairmont Hotel in Abu Dhabi for lunch.

There was no turkey involved but since these fine young men could not have Thanksgiving with their families, we thought that enjoying an afternoon with two random Americans would suffice.

It was a treat just to chat with these guys. Most of them were from the Army but a few were in the Air Force.

They were from all walks of life. From all over the country. Good people.

They feasted like kings and then they indulged in some shisha while sitting poolside. It was a grand afternoon. A little touch of civic duty on a special day made me proud to be an American (in the desert).