*New thread* Street Meat: The Move

INTRODUCING A NEW THREAD CALLED: STREET MEAT

Here’s how it all started.

After 4 years of studying in Canada, 2 years of cloud surfing and roaming around. I am where I am today, because of the transitional period I spent in Lebanon discovering its alternative culture, its art, its newly enriched youth and generation of tree huggers. Those 9 months enriched my whole experience and encouraged me to finally start this blog I've been talking about for years! This was the right place and the right time.

Even though my makeshift goal was to look for a legit job, and  I did so by going to a dozen interviews, at the bottom of my heart I was sure that this wouldn't be the place to start my professional life. So I did some work on the side, and focused on this non-paid, "activity" of mine as many people saw it. But I knew that this blog, the people I would meet through it and the impression I would work hard to make, were the epitome of my career hunt. This was going to help me land my dream job. You might say there’s no such thing as a dream job, but I believe that if you look forward to waking up every morning, then that’s a dream on its own! Living alone in Lebanon as a returning expat for the first time, surrounded by a gang of family members, it was going to require lots of patience, and persistence to dodge the constant interrogations. But I blogged away...in the meantime hitting two birds with one stone. Never had I known that I was actually training for my future job, and my efforts did not go in vain.

Moving to Lebanon was a big, somewhat “irrational” step for me. Many people did not understand it. To tell you the truth, I didn’t either. “Why would you leave Canada, and come to Lebanon!?” You see I always got this insurmountable inspiration from that country, one that is unfortunately often overshadowed by all the flaws that bring it down.  I challenged myself in so many ways and had an amazing adventure. Not to say it was all rainbows and butterflies, I did live through two tragedies which pushed me even more to believe that I was meant to be there. From day 1, I trusted my instincts, even though the end was not clear and full of uncertainties. I did not once regret my time in Lebanon, however when it was time for me to leave. I felt it. I made my decision in one day, packed my bags and took to the road. 

While in Saudi, I decided it was time to give Dubai a try. And I did. I applied for pr jobs but landed an awesome position as a magazine editor, on the other end of the spectrum. For the first time in my life, I made no calculations, had no hesitation, no pre-planning or predispositions. This was meant to be, and I’m gonna take it! I jet setted between Saudi-Lebanon-Dubai for a couple of months until all papers were done. patience. 

courtesy of my Iphone...Ah, the irony

I’ve been in Dubai for a bit more than 2 weeks now. I must say I have plenty to write about, and I promise for it to go beyond my diary. In hopes that you would enjoy reading of course. At first I was confused as to what would happen to my blog once I move here, but again, it all works out when you trust your instincts. I would love to write about my day-to-day life as an editor in this city, at the same time use my contacts and industry relations to publicize the awesome artists and designers I encounter through my blog! 

Dubai, is quite an intriguing place. As you can see in the photo above, which I took at the beach, there's an insane amount of contrast. Women in abayas lounging on the beach (or melting) next to a western lady sun tanning half-naked, while a bedouin passes by on his camel with a backdrop of high-rise towers. The culture is just as contradicting and ironic as this photo. When I came here initially, I saw it as a point in-between Canada, Saudi and Lebanon, a "city" that combines a piece of each of these places. And it does, which is why I always see people who led similar lives as me, a gulf-west-lebo combination. The middle ground being, Dubai. 
I'll leave my thoughts about this city for later, afterall, I've only been here for 3 weeks. And let's just say, now  would be a biased time for me to make any remarks. (Extreme desert heat + Ramadan = not the funnest place to be) 

I've decided to write my own version of Ugly Betty, since I religiously used to watch that show, and now I actually get to live the experience. This is the Middle Eastern version though. Dubbed in Arabic. *Just kidding* Betty was "ugly" compared to her ridiculously gorgeous colleagues, yet she was hard-working and succeeded even more than they did, thanks to her passion and ambition. The contrast on my side is that, I'm a free spirit, a recessionista and my style is the farthest thing from luxurious. However, the magazine I work for is a luxury magazine. I will remain true to myself (thanks to this blog) yet I will have to enter the luxury fashion industry, meet lavish people, and accept invites to dinners and gatherings from the world's most exclusive brands. This will be a challenge, but I'm ready to take it, and share my stories with you! 

I've decided to call it,STREET MEAT. why? Firstly, Street Meat literally refers to those hot dogs you eat on a drunken post-clubbing night, from street vendors. Metaphorically speaking though, I loved the irony in this word composition when used to talk about the superficial world of luxury fashion. Somehow I imagine myself all decked out grabbing a hot dog after a red carpet event...annnnd....yup there drips the ketchup on my dress... 

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