Just get out there

I'll be completely honest and say that I've been pretty homesick lately.  It has hit much earlier and harder than I thought it would.  I think our issues with Renard have made it worse in that his separation anxiety is rearing it's ugly head again.  Ryan and I really can't leave the house for that long at the same time without our poor upstairs neighbors being subjected to his constant and extremely loud barking.  We are really working on it as best we can.  We're taking him to a doggy daycare that will also help train him 2-3 times a week.  This is in part so that I can actually leave the house when Ryan is gone and also to help Renard have some much needed playtime with other dogs while hopefully getting some obedience training.  We've invested in chamomile calming collars, no-bark collars that buzz when he bars (as opposed to shock), chamomile calming pills, etc.  We are also just working on training him not to bark by leaving the house and going to the pool where he is still somewhat within ear shot.  We can then check on him and see if he's barking.  Basically, whatever the training books and websites are telling us to do, we are doing.  If it doesn't get better we'll have to opt out of company housing and rent a villa.  We really don't want to do this because company housing is so convenient.  We don't have to pay any bills or worry about landlords.  It's all pretty much taken care of and we actually like our apartment and our neighborhood.  But we'll see.  Wish us luck.  And any advice is appreciated!

Anyway, I've gotten a little off track with the dog rant.  Sorry about that.  I miss my family and I miss my friends.  Summer in Chicago is just about the best time of the year ever and I'm missing it for the first time.  Rooftops, taking Renard to dog friendly restaurants with patios, Sunday Fundays.  I've been reading about it all on Facebook and seeing the Instagram pictures and I'm super jealous and sad.  Surprisingly, you don't really meet that many people while sitting on your living room couch in Dubai.  So yesterday I decided to contact the American Women's Association of Dubai and ask about membership opportunities and upcoming events.  It turns out that I had missed the deadline to RSVP and pay for the final meeting of the summer, which was today.  But the ladies I emailed with were so nice and helpful that they got me in last minute, and I'm so glad.  The meeting was held in a restaurant attached to a hotel in the Dubai Marina.  From the second I walked into the room every woman there was extremely kind and welcoming.  They hold a ton of events during the summer and non members are able to attend, so I'm going to do my best to make it to as many as I can.  I exchanged emails with a few girls and hope to continue to get out and meet people.

I'm a pretty shy person and not great in social situations where I have to mingle with a bunch of strangers, but I'm so glad I got out and went to the meeting.  Basically, this entire entry is to future Rachel.  Hey future Rachel - don't be a baby.  Quit feeling sorry for yourself, turn off the Drop Dead Diva marathon, and go talk to some damn strangers.  It can be pretty awesome.

Since this entry isn't that exciting and lacks the photos I promised I'd include in all my blog entries, I'll end with the photo below of me, in the desert, standing near a super skinny camel.