You can support this Podcast by buying host Viktoria a cup of coffee --> https://buymeacoffee.com/worldscollidepod

In this Episode Esra tells her story why she left Sweden and moved to Dubai. She tells us her opinion of living in a muslim country as a woman and talks about a more vibrant life style. She also explains what the major differences where when it comes to the school system and being a new mom in a new country.

And we also talk about living in the heat, pros and cons of Dubai and more comparisons to Sweden.

You can find Esra on Instagram ay mylifeabroad.blog and her Blog is https://nouw.com/livetidubai, it's in Swedish.

Write me an email if you want to be a guest on this podcast worldscollide123pod@gmail.com

Or on Instagram worldscollidepod

Expat Experiences, Dubai Lifestyle, Sweden To Dubai, Motherhood Abroad, Cultural Misconceptions, International Living, Middle Eastern Culture, Women'S Rights In Uae, Adjusting To New Countries, Expatriate Communities, Dubai Expat Life, Swedish Culture, Bicultural Families, Dubai Attractions, School Systems Comparison, Arabic Language, International Move, Dubai For Families, Expat Adjustments, Cross-Cultural Identity

Viktoria Daute talks with Esra about her new home, Dubai

Welcome to my podcast, worlds Collide. I'm, the host of the show, Viktoria Daute, and I talk with my international guests here in the show about the experiences they made in their new country versus their home country.

Hi, and welcome to this week's episode. up front, I want to say that I do not always know the guests on my show. Many times I find them on Reddit or on Instagram, which happened in this case, for Esra. she is my guest this week and somehow I thought when I was browsing through her Instagram account that she was from somewhere else and moved to somewhere else. So I was kind of caught off guard when she talked about her new home, which is Dubai. I thought this conversation would go in a totally different direction. But yeah, we talk about, her opinion about living in Dubai as a woman and mother. And we talk about the major differences to her old home, Sweden.

Also living in the heat now and how it is when she goes back to Sweden. And we talk about many other things as well. All right, let's hear her story. Here it is.

Esra says he moved to Dubai because his husband worked there

>> Viktoria: So, hi, Esra, where are you calling from today?

>> Esra: Ah, so I am calling from, Dubai.

>> Viktoria: From Dubai. Okay. And this is where you're from, right?

>> Esra: yeah, I'm from Sweden originally.

>> Viktoria: Oh, you are from Sweden. Look, I mean, I only know you from, online, so I would have not guessed that you're from Sweden. Okay.

>> Esra: Yes, I moved to Dubai around seven years.

>> Viktoria: okay, so wait, so I thought. Because I texted you on Instagram. Right. So I thought that you are originally from Dubai and that you moved to.

>> Esra: no, so, I was born and raised in Sweden.

>> Viktoria: Uh-huh.

>> Esra: And then I moved to Dubai.

>> Viktoria: Okay. Ah, all right, cool. so why did you choose Dubai?

>> Esra: so I moved to Dubai after completing my university studies and that's because my husband was living there too. So I moved there too.

>> Viktoria Okay.

>> Esra: I got married and then I moved to Dubai because my husband was living there.

>> Viktoria: Okay, and is your husband from Dubai or is he also from Sweden?

>> Esra: No, he's actually from the UK.

>> Viktoria: He got a job in Dubai.

>> Esra: Yeah, yeah, exactly. He's working in Dubai. And, for many years before we got married. So once we got married, it was a natural thing to do, to move to where he lived. Ah. And, yeah, it was a huge step and, it was exciting and full of questions and fears. How would life look like, leaving my comfort zone, leaving, my family behind. Yeah, I think I was also looking for some change in my life.

You are young and you just want to explore and try something new. And even Dubai felt appealing considering it's an arabic country and my origins is from Middle east.

>>Viktoria: Uh-huh.

>> Esra: So it was a huge step, but it was exciting to start a new life in a new environment, new country.

>> Viktoria: Uh-huh. But, I imagine also if you are used to, swedish culture, moving to, a muslim country, that is especially as a woman, you have different rules and I imagine you don't have the same freedom as a woman, there that you were used to in Sweden.

>> Esra: Yes. But the thing is, I think this is a big misconception, okay.

>> Viktoria: Yeah.

>> Esra: That women don't have same freedom or they don't have rights in the Middle east or in a muslim country. It's totally different than what people think. You have exactly the same freedom as in Europe.

>> Viktoria: Okay.

>> Esra: For example, if I speak about Dubai, it's a very open society, with lots of freedom. And, you just have a mix of both the western and the middle eastern mixed.

Together because 80% of the population in the UAE are made up from expats. Oh, 80%, yes. It's very international. Uh-huh and you just find people from all over the world, okay. Women have the same rights, they work, they can do everything, as in a european country. So I think this is just a misconception.

>> Viktoria: So I'm glad you cleared that up. Yes.

> Esra: Uh-huh because I think also most people, they have this image, mostly from the media.

>> Viktoria: Exactly. I have never been there. Don't really know about people living there.

Yeah, exactly. I mean, I have never been, never. I have a acquaintance, Ah, she lived in Dubai for a few years. she was from, I, but I think her husband worked. She was, I don't think she did much.

And they only were there for the husband's work for a while.

>> Esra: Yes. A lot of people, they are in Dubai because they are just working and they are there on a working visa or something like this. But most of the people, they really like life in Dubai because it really offers an amazing lifestyle.

>> Viktoria: Okay, what is it like?

>> Esra: it's just vibrant, multicultural, it's convenient. it's just different. Everything is so much bigger and better, like the mall, the variety of products in the, it's just at the same time, I would also stress out this, that, you have this image about Dubai being a luxurious city, like people living there. They are mostly rich and they have that lavish lifestyle. But you can actually have both. It all depends on what kind of lifestyle you want to have. if you're opting for more lavish, luxury lifestyle, you can get that, but if you want more affordable options, you can live by that too. So it's up to you. And you can find a lot of different options in Dubai, I would say, like both expensive and cheap restaurants for, Yeah. And places to go to, for example, you can spend a fortune on places to go to and you can choose more affordable options. So you really have both world in Dubai.

There's always something new to explore in Dubai. Every now and then something new pops up

>> Viktoria: I see. Okay. I mean, I always just think it's, so insane, kind of because I'm thinking just of all the islands and it's like, in the water where they made those artificial islands and it's like a desert. So I'm just always thinking the environmental impact is just so enormous there because it's a city that should be in the desert and has all this water and because of all the money, there's all the opposites that are there. You have like a skiing park.

>> Esra: Yes, exactly. And they are building places and landmarks all the time, so.

Every now and then something new pops up. if you have a new observatory deck or a new view over the City or a new landmark.

So there's something to explore all the time. And that's also, do you call it the fun part of being in Dubai? I think.

There's always something new to see and discover and it's really fun, actually. You never run out of things to do.

Viktoria: Yeah, exactly.

The official language in UAE is Arabic but the most commonly spoken language is English

>> Viktoria: And, how was it for you when you moved there? Like language, wise? do you speak the language?

>> Esra: Okay, so the official language in UAE, the United Arab Emirates, it's Arabic, but the most commonly spoken language is English.

>> Viktoria: Uh-huh.

>> Esra: Because of the many expats, how international society is. So you really get along with English, I think. I haven't heard lots of Arabic during my time in Dubai. Mostly English everywhere, in schools, in the supermarkets and.

>> Esra: Yeah. But of course it's also good to know some basic Arabic. Few words. For example, how to say hi. Thank you.

>>Viktoria: Uh-huh.

>> Esra: Very basic word, I think. But everyone speaks English.

>> Speaker B: And you and your husband, I mean, he's from the UK, so you probably speak English at home.

>> Speaker C: Ah, no, we speak Arabic at home.

>> Speaker B: Ah, okay. so you grew up speaking Arabic at home with your parents?

>> Speaker E: Yes.

>> Speaker C: Okay.

>> Speaker B: And he did too. Okay.

>> Speaker D: Uh-huh.

>> Speaker C: Yes.

>> Speaker B: Okay. So at least you have both options, right. So it's not a problem for you at all.

>> Speaker C: Yeah, exactly. And I know Swedish, but my husband, he doesn't speak Swedish.

>> Speaker B: I don't speak any.

>> Speaker E: Yeah.

>> Speaker C: So I can't read languages. But yes. it's really fun that you live, in an arabic country in the Middle east, but you don't really hear Arabic.

>> Speaker B: Oh, wow.

>> Speaker C: That's the last thing you hear.

>> Speaker B: And before you moved there, have you ever visited Dubai?

>> Speaker C: actually, no. Just I think a short trip before moving there just to prepare and all this stuff. But no, but as I said before, that most of the image you get is from m social media. But when I moved, that was really before the social media went viral. But mostly from the media.

>> Speaker B: From tv for sure. even like 20 years ago it was on tv all the time. There was like one report after the other about Dubai, because it's such, a luxurious and different, I mean, off almost world.

>> Speaker C: Yeah, it's a different world.

>> Speaker D: Uh-huh.

>> Speaker E: That's correct.

>> Speaker B: Yeah. And how was your first reaction when you actually experienced it?

>> Speaker C: So after moving, moving to a new country, far from your family, everything is new. And also for me, shortly after moving, I became a mom.

>> Speaker D: Uh-huh.

>> Speaker C: So I was busy with just adjusting to the new environment and being a mom 100%. Yeah. So it was quite tough in the beginning. and it took me a few years to feel connected to the place I live in, to really feel happy and to feel that I want to live in this place.

>> Speaker C: And this is part of me and it has made a big impact on me, living here in Dubai, exploring a different part of the world. So it's been challenging but enriching at the same time.

>> Speaker B: Yeah. When you moved there, were you already, pregnant?

>> Speaker C: No, I wasn't.

>> Speaker B: Okay. And do, people do like baby groups or do mothers do baby groups there?

>> Speaker C: Yeah, actually you can find a lot of groups and a lot of different communities, mothers with babies, et cetera. But it also depends on what kind of personality you have, if you really like to meet people and you're extrovert and going out and stuff like this. And I think for me it was a little bit different. I was busy, being just a mom.

>> Speaker C: And exploring and my new role was a bit tough. Being alone.

>> Speaker B: Yeah. I was also not that person that liked to go to baby groups because, I was not really up for the small talk and m I was already here for a while when I had my first baby, but it was like obvious that I am from somewhere else. And I was just over that conversation, hey, where are you from? It's always the same questions. And I was like, sure. now I just do the same questions. But I have a baby now, so I was not really feeling that vibe.

>> Speaker C: Yeah, I'm quite the same. Yes.

>> Speaker E: Uh-huh.

So how did you end up making friends in UAE in particular

>> Speaker B: So how did you end up make friends then?

>> Speaker C: So this one, it's been tough, honestly, because I hear a lot saying that it's quite easy to find friends in UAE, in Dubai in particular, because there are many groups, as we said, and communities. But I think it all depends. it's not that easy. maybe for some it's easy. For me it wasn't.

>> Speaker C: So when we were living somewhere else in Dubai and a few years ago we moved to another, community which is more family friendly. it's like an own community and you meet people in the same buildings.

>> Speaker E: Or in the community.

>> Speaker C: so I met a few persons from this community and got friends and I have my close friend also living in the same area as me. She has a baby too, a small child. Okay.

>> Speaker B: So they're almost like neighbors then.

>> Speaker C: Yes, quite often.

>> Speaker C: And we're just going to the park near, close to where we live and.

>> Speaker E: Just catch up and have some fun.

>> Speaker C: So you don't have to really move outside,

>> Speaker E: Community or somewhere else.

The Dubai school system is very different from Sweden's

>> Speaker B: And how old are your kids now?

>> Speaker C: So I have a boy, he's six.

>> Speaker E: Old.

>> Speaker B: Okay. does he go to kindergarten?

>> Speaker C: yes, preschool. he just finished, the preschool.

>> Speaker E: Uh-huh.

>> Speaker C: he finished fs one and fs two. I don't want to go into the school system in Dubai, but yeah, he finished the preschool and he will start, year one next year.

>> Speaker E: actually it's so cute, I think because when people ask him, where are you from? He's saying, I'm from Dubai. I think it's really cute because it's where he has grown up and we've been to Sweden. A. yeah, but it's still, Dubai is his favorite place.

>> Speaker B: Yeah, that's, that's, I mean, that's nice, right? That's what you want. You want your children to feel at home where you.

>> Speaker E: Right, yeah, exactly. That's true.

>> Speaker B: So what, is the school system different?

>> Speaker E: Yeah, the school system is really different from Sweden. so it's mostly private. You have many options. and you have different curriculum based on what you want. If you want american or british or indian or. There are so many options to consider. so it's quite different from Sweden and also in Sweden we have that everyone is going to preschool until the age of six years. But here in Dubai you can actually attend bigger school once you are three years old. It's like you read the preschool grade in the big school, so the move to the big school will be easier. And many parents, choose that option for their kids.

>> Speaker B: Right. Was it hard for you to understand though, that is so different.

>> Speaker C: Yeah, it took a lot of research.

>> Speaker E: And a lot of time to understand the system. the school system, yeah. and mostly because it's so private and it's all based on your own preferences and what you want. And also that, it's really costly, it's really expensive and you have to pay school fees, et cetera. So you have to find a good school, based on your preferences. And that might be little hard. And also you have to consider where the school is because, for example, in Sweden, most of the schools is close to home where you live. So you can just walk. But here in Dubai, you will mostly need transportation by either a bus or you drive.

>> Speaker B: Yeah, but is there an option of public school or what if somebody doesn't have the money to pay for a private school?

>> Speaker C: yes. So expats, can choose between,

>> Speaker E: I think they can choose a governmental school. Public.

>> Speaker E: But most of them just, choose private, one.

>> Speaker E: But there are different, fees depending on each school. So you can find cheap schools and you can find really expensive. Depends on what kind. If it's british, usually the british and american ones are the most expensive ones.

>> Speaker D: M

>> Speaker B: M I got it.

Every time I'm back in Sweden, it's so eye opening

And you said that you go back to Sweden quite often. Your parents are still there.

>> Speaker E: Yes, my parents live there and, yeah, my parents and my brothers live there.

>> Speaker B: And what about if you go back? is it like a culture shock for you?

>> Speaker E: So every time I'm back in Sweden, it's so eye opening and it's so interesting because I just realized how different society is from Dubai. It's like a whole new world opens. And I get this feeling every time I'm back in Sweden. it's a little hard to understand, but the society is just so different from Dubai. For example, the weather, how the system, everything. I mean, the schools, even the health system. In Dubai it's privatized, and you will need the health insurance. In Sweden it's public. if we take the taxes for Sweden, have a very high taxes on income, but here in Dubai, it's tax free. okay. Yeah.

>> Speaker C: For example.

>> Speaker E: So these are a big difference.

>> Speaker B: Yeah. That's why you have to pay other things out of pocket. Exactly.

>> Speaker E: Yeah. And Sweden is a scandinavian country. It's really cold in the winter. M it's a beautiful country with lots of. Yeah. In Dubai, on the other hand, it's more vibrant. I don't know how to explain, but it's always something going around. for example, the city comes to life during the night.

>> Speaker D: Ah.

So I wanted to ask you about the weather in Dubai when you moved there

>> Speaker B: So I wanted to ask you, how did you get used to the weather in Dubai first, when you moved there? How was it for you?

>> Speaker C: Yes.

>> Speaker E: So during the winters, it's really nice here in Dubai because you can be out in all the new attractions that's being built all the time. You can be out to the beach, to the park, and just enjoy the palm trees, which I love. so the winters are really beautiful here, but then when it comes to summer, it's really hot and it's really annoying to be here in the summers.

>> Speaker B: Okay.

>> Speaker E: And the thing is, every summer I end up living here in Dubai. Every summer I told myself that, no, I have to escape the heat. I have to go back to Sweden, and I'm just ending up here in Dubai. And you can actually survive. You can survive the heat here because, most of the places are ventilated, air conditioned.

>> Speaker B: Yeah.

>> Speaker E: So in the big malls, et cetera, you can be indoors. There are a lot of places you can go to even during the summer, even family friendly places, places, that kids can enjoy, for example, indoor play. And you can go to the mall. and also the pools, pool here are the savior. Yeah. They can save the summer 100%.

>> Speaker B: It's the same here, we have this, week. It's around 40 degrees.

>> Speaker C: Yes.

>> Speaker B: So is it for you? It's hot.

>> Speaker E: Yeah, it really is. You can barely be outside. You can find, someplace during the evening, take a walk. But the humidity, it's not just the hottest, how do you say?

>> Speaker C: The heat?

>> Speaker E: It's the humidity that's more annoying than the heat, I would say. but I have get used to it by now, and I think you can just do the things that you enjoy and that you love.

>> Speaker C: Yeah.

>> Speaker B: You just spend a little bit more time inside or somewhere by the water. Because if it's by the water, then it's, bearable. It's always like a few degrees colder. Does it cool down at night?

>> Speaker E: Little bit, not so much.

>> Speaker C: Yes.

>> Speaker E: It's kind of more, bearable during the evening.

>> Speaker B: During the night, yes. I think until midnight. I checked two days ago and it was under 30 degrees at midnight, so, you know, so it's still high. Just because it's dark, the heat is still there.

>> Speaker E: Yeah.

Everything around the move was harder to adjust to than the culture itself

>> Speaker B: how long did it take you to understand the culture there or how long did it take you to get used to it?

>> Speaker E: So, it took me, I wouldn't say a long time. I would say everything around the move was harder to adjust to than the culture itself in Dubai because I'm kind of familiar with the culture, considering I have an arabic origin.

>> Speaker E: so it wasn't that different from what I'm used to. but I would say everything. For example, leaving my family, being out of my comfort zone, just adjusting to the, for example, the weather change, the heat here. So for example, I love nature. And here in Dubai, it's mostly desert. There's nature, not much nature.

>> Speaker C: Yeah.

>> Speaker E: So all these kind of things and even, when I became a first time mother.

>> Speaker E: This new role in a new society and my husband had long working days.

>> Speaker B: okay.

>> Speaker E: Just have to, how do you say that you need to.

>> Speaker D: Adapt.

>> Speaker E: to the situation in this way. And I would say when it comes to the culture.

>> Speaker C: It'S a lot.

>> Speaker E: Different from Sweden, it's different from the western, I mean, here in Dubai, considering it's very international. So you can actually find both the western and, middle eastern cultures, or what do you say, expressions, you can find both of them. but when it comes to culture, yes. It's different from a typical european country. Yeah. It's not about their freedom or rights, it just looks different. More on a systematic level, more on, yeah. As we talked about, the economical, system, the school system, the health, all this, the bureaucracy. So I would say this is the biggest difference from, difference from a european country. Yeah. The thing that I'm finding hard is the dealing with mixed feelings that I have that when you move abroad and when you became an expat.

>> Speaker E: Suddenly you just suddenly have two homes. And that's been difficult for me to know and to decide where do I want to spend my future, where do I want to live?

>> Speaker B: right.

>> Speaker E: This is still frustrating for me because when I'm in Sweden, I do feel at home and once I'm in Dubai, I feel the same. M there are both things I like about Sweden and lots of things I appreciate about Dubai.

>> Speaker E: So this mixed, emotions and feelings about having two homes, it's kind of enriching, but it can also be hard if you understand how.

>> Speaker B: Do you. Would you ever consider moving back? I mean, your husband is from the UK, so maybe even to the UK.

>> Speaker E: yeah, that might be an option. But for now, it's really hard to shake off Dubai once I'm away. I just want to go back because, I was in Sweden before. I just came back to Dubai. I know it's summer, but I just really wanted to come back to my. Yeah, it's really hard to shake off Dubai and a lot of people have the same feeling about the country.

>> Speaker B: So we'll see what the future brings, kind of.

>> Speaker E: Yeah, exactly. We'll see what the future brings. And it has been, ah, ups and downs. It's not a straight line.

>> Speaker E: it's been hard at times, to figure out where do we want to live and spend our lives? Is it here, is it somewhere else and what's best for us? Yeah, I think the journey is still going.

So what did your friends and family say back in Sweden when you told them about moving

>> Speaker B: So what did your friends and family say back in Sweden when you told them that you're moving to Dubai?

>> Speaker E: okay, so I don't remember much of that time because it's been a few years now. but yes, they were excited for.

>> Speaker C: Me, for the new journey ahead and.

>> Speaker E: Always telling me that you can change your mind. this is not the only way, to go. Yeah, they've been a great support for me and my family is what I miss the most. Abroad. and there are a lot of things that you have to adjust to and you just need to grow. You just grow in a way you didn't expect. And sometimes you need to be strong. And I think for me, the farwells, have been the hardest part. system. Every time I have to leave and tears floating and feeling. Yeah, firewalls are really hard for me.

>> Speaker B: Okay.

>> Speaker E: I'm used to them now, but it's hard.

>> Speaker B: Do they come visit you too?

>> Speaker E: they actually do, yes.

>> Speaker D: Uh-huh.

>> Speaker B: So that's nice.

>> Speaker E: Not very frequently, but yes. My mom was here in Dubai.

>> Speaker B: She enjoyed it, that's all. So at least you get see them.

>> Speaker E: Yeah, exactly. You just want to go and show them everything in the city. you just want to be that guide for them. M I know a lot of my city.

>> Speaker B: Sometimes you think, you're far away, but if I would even live in the same country, but in another city, I would not see them as much as you would think. Sure, maybe like once or twice a year more for a short weekend. But if we go, we go for a longer time. I don't think if we would live close that we would spend that amount of time together.

>> Speaker C: Yeah, that's true.

>> Speaker E: Even in the same city, you can be so far away.

>> Speaker B: Yeah, exactly.

>> Speaker E: Only the country. And sometimes when you live abroad, maybe that will make you visiting home more because you just m meet your family.

>> Speaker C: Yeah.

>> Speaker B: For me, it's like we almost never go on vacation. We go on short trips. Yes. But if we do, like a long distance flight, it's just home. It's always home. It's not like, we're going to Hawaii or anything like that. We're always just going back home.

>> Speaker C: Yeah.

Ezra says he misses many things about Dubai once he moves to Sweden

>> Speaker E: Where do you live?

>> Speaker B: I live in the US, in Texas, in Austin.

>> Speaker E: Okay.

>> Speaker B: And I'm from Germany.

>> Speaker E: Okay. So it might be a big difference between Germany and us.

>> Speaker B: yeah, I mean, I live first in California, in San Francisco, and it has a very european vibe. but for me, the bigger difference was then moving from California to Texas. That was day and night, kind.

>> Speaker C: Of.

>> Speaker E: In the same country.

>> Speaker B: But all the states, they are so different.

>> Speaker B: I don't know, it's such a big country. So all the states are like their own little countries, kind of with their own little habits. And it's far away. it's almost like a four hour flight. Like if we drive.

>> Speaker C: Different continent.

>> Speaker B: Yeah, if we drive, I think it's like a 24 hours drive. It's far.

>> Speaker E: That's really far. Yes. But it's kind of interesting because even considering the seasons, you will have different seasons.

>> Speaker B: Yeah, I mean, the seasons, we didn't have that heat. We had like a very mild winter. But like three seasons in California, because we were north, so, we had like a very mild winter. And then if it was hot, it was like for one week in late summer, in September and October, for one week, it was like 30 degrees. And here it's like two seasons, hot and cold, and hot is 40 degrees and cold is zero.

>> Speaker C: Wow.

>> Speaker E: That's a big difference. And even, I think with the climate change, just the weather is so confusing and more extreme. Yeah, that's true. Interesting.

>> Speaker B: what else is there that you miss?

>> Speaker E: what I miss from home, my family, the nature. And I would say also how easy everything is, because at home, everything is so much easy. you know, the system, you know how things work.

>> Speaker B: And you're from a big city or from smaller town in Sweden.

>> Speaker E: Yeah, from a big city from.

>> Speaker B: Oh, ok.

>> Speaker E: Yeah. So I also missed public transportation here in Dubai. There is quite convenient, public transportation. But in Sweden, it's more convenient because the weather allows you to be out. the station to take the metro, for example. But here in Dubai, the metro doesn't go to all places and you need to walk a lot to reach the place.

>> Speaker B: And you don't want to walk in the heat. Obviously not. I would not. Yeah, I would not want to.

>> Speaker E: Yeah, that's right. So all the things that's familiar to what you're used to. but the thing, as we talked before, that once I'm in Sweden, I miss so many things about Dubai. for example, the halal food. We are muslim and we eat the halal food. And in Dubai, you just can't grab every restaurant and it doesn't have to think about whether it's a halal or not, for example.

>> Speaker C: Yeah.

>> Speaker B: That is easier for you.

>> Speaker C: Yeah.

>> Speaker E: And also it's so safe here in Dubai, both for women, for me as a woman, to walk outside even in the evenings.

>> Speaker E: But, in Sweden, the safety, I think even in the, especially in the recent years, it's getting so much worse. Okay. yeah, so this is thing that I really appreciate.

>> Speaker B: I would not think of Stockholm as a dangerous place, of all the places. Not Sweden.

>> Speaker E: Yeah, but Sweden is a safe country. But Dubai is for me, I feel Dubai is safer, especially for families, for women, for children. It's really good, environment for children.

>> Speaker B: To, I mean, that's an important feeling to have.

>> Speaker E: Yeah, it is.

>> Speaker B: thank you. Thank you for your time.

>> Speaker A: Yeah, that was Ezra's story.

Victoria Dowtill says farewells are hard for many people

We kind of had an abrupt ending. We had lots of technical issues while we were talking.

>> Speaker B: So I want to thank you again.

>> Speaker A: For being on my podcast. I couldn't say it when we were recording, really, and I wanted to share that. It was nice to hear that she feels home and safe where she is, but also that she still feels torn about which home to choose.

>> Speaker E: Yeah.

>> Speaker A: And farewells are so hard for her. For me, they are not that hard anymore. But I'm sure for many people it is still hard to say goodbye to the family when they live so far away. And I also wanted to tell about her blog.

>> Speaker B: So she has one and it's in Swedish.

>> Speaker A: Or you can find the link in the show notes. And also you can look at her pictures on Instagram, which is called mylifeabroad blog.

>> Speaker B: And yeah, there are lots of beautiful.

>> Speaker A: Pictures of what to do in Dubai. And as always, if you like this podcast, give it a five star rating wherever you listen to it.

>> Speaker D: It.

>> Speaker A: And please reach out to me on Instagram or worldscollide. One, two, three, pod@gmail.com. You find all the information in the show notes. I hope I will see you next time. I am your host, Victoria Dowtill. bye.