R.E.M - The One I Love

Musical Medicine...for when you can't share those special times

R.E.M - 'The One I Love' (1987)

Moving to another country is a daunting thing. I've come to Dubai with the promise of a better and more exciting life, one where you can play harder than you work. I know the hardest part will be the beginning as you are literally starting from scratch. Learning the way it works in a foreign land and this time I'm on my own with having to sort out all the basics: where to live, transport, new job plus trying to make a few contacts that will help you through the way. I've discovered it has it's highs and lows especially in the first few weeks. Highs are seeing new things, meeting new people and thinking about how it could be if it works out. The lows are being away from your family, the shocking realisation that it isn't a holiday and you can't just "go home" when you've had enough. I'm out here, expected to make a life for my family whilst trying to prove to myself that I can do it alone whilst maybe enjoying it if possible. I've been here in Dubai 20 days already which seems to have zoomed by. It really was a honeymoon period at first, but the realisation has kicked in. I'm here for the long haul. 

I was having a jovial drink with my new colleagues in a local home like place called The Irish Village when a live acoustic musician performing covers made me feel really homesick for the first time. The lyrics of REM's The One I Love hit the nail on the head for me. I'm doing this for the ones I love and left behind. The going out and meeting people is the prop to occupy my time and mind so I don't miss them so much. It's through the pics and vids I get sent and in the wee small hours when I wake up in a hotel room alone that hurts the most. I know that I'm strong enough to get through the lows and I can't wait to celebrate getting over the hard part to say that these will be the best years of my life. 

Fire (she's coming down on her own, now)

By Shell Hunter