"Wrecked" World Premiere- Abu Dhabi Film Festival

Attending a world premiere of a movie at the Abu Dhabi film festival, held in the impressive and expansive Emirates Palace, seems like an evening's plans for celebrities and those with much more "wasta" (the term for influence, or pull, here in the UAE) than me. Except that last week, we did just that. Paul and I have our own Gala passes which secure tickets to all of the premier gala movies, including a world premier attended by VIPs and celebrities!
Some days I have to stop and remind my self that I really am living abroad, holding a residency visa, and taking full advantage of opportunities to expand my horizons while here in Abu Dhabi. After pinching myself to make sure that this isn't a life conjured in dreams during a lengthy slumber, I turn to Paul and confirm the reality of our situation aloud. It melts my heart to see him smile in response and agree with me that we should sieze every opportunity. Because, simply...why not? Often, in response- plans, travel itineraries, hopes, and dreams begin to spout from his soul, where he has held them to share with me, outlining possibilities for our future together. This how we came to possess our Gala passes. We are living here during the Film Festival, Paul loves movies, and when will we ever get this chance again? Maybe next year? But who knows what a year holds. We secured our passes. :)

After a delightful dinner shared with friends of lentil soup, hummus with fresh flat-bread, falafel, and beef cordon blue at the Lebanese Flower (one of my local favorites), Paul darted to the side of a bustling street and hailed a couple of taxis for us (they are very strict about the limit of four passengers). I should add that here in Abu Dhabi if you ask for a cab, you will get a much more expensive, albeit nicer, transfer. Cabs are considered chauffeured cars. Taxis are the very affordable and convenient ways to navigate the sometimes congested and aggressive streets of Abu Dhabi. Taxi drivers are available in a variety of nationalities, proficiencies in English, and yes, even aromas. No, you don't get to choose your preference on any of the varieties. I can't complain, though, these men always get me where I need to be- most often without a proper address ,only a vague location and at best, a landmark. They are quite astonishing in their knowledge and navigation of a city that does not have numbered buildings or actual addresses. And all of this for what would be equivalent to a few dollars in the US.
We wound our way through the "backroads" behind familiar hotels and venues, avoiding the heavier traffic of the Corniche (busy and very popular street along the beach) to our destination of the Emirates Palace. From our vantage in the back of the car, the palace loomed infront of us, expansive and regally lit with soft yellow and vibrant purple uplighting. Towering columns and archways welcome you to the grounds after entering through a roundabout, complete with a central flickering, lit fountain. Guards nod you in through the mostly open gates and you begin your ascent to the front of the Palace. Although no royalty actually lives here, one feels the air of such an importance when chauffeured in through the winding and steep entry. Doors are whisked open by identically dressed doormen and valets and guests are guided through a variety of options once inside the glittering vastness of the Palace. Gold is the metal and color of choice, offered in options of the decor, available to eat, or purchase in to take with you from the Gold ATM all inside the sparking front doors. A grand atrium allows for views of many floors, reaching an apex in the elaborately decorated ceiling, with each balcony overlooking the impressive central area and featuring sparking chandeliers. Everything that glitters is gold (or at least gold colored) in the Palace.
Following directions from very strategically placed and helpful guides, we find ourselves whisked down two escalators and descending into another common area, this time featuring a red carpet, cameras, ropes, backdrops for paparazzi, and very busy official looking people with clipboards, name tags, and headsets. The gold is somewhat dimmed (is that even possible?!?) by the bright lights illuminating the red carpet and staging areas.

Our evening progresses very "Hollywood" style, or what I would perceive to be Hollywood style, with an applauded entrance of Adrien Brody, the actor from the Pianist. This is his newest film, and the premiere nonetheless. Of course, the director, the screenwriter, and several other VIPS are introduced and following two hours of almost dialogue-less "Wrecked" movie, there is a Q and A session with them. (I will attempt to post some of the responses on here, at the very least Adrien's attempt at being funny.) :)

I will say, one of the most interesting parts of the evening was sitting a mere eight rows behind an academy award winning actor at the premiere of his newest film, while he watched the movie in public for the first time. It felt historic (although I'm sure any historian would disagree). I found myself feeling like not only part of my experience in the world, but as part of an event- something that the rest of the world could look to. And I was there. I realize it is not historically significant at all, or even important in the least...but it was undoubtedly fun and interesting to participate. My only regret is that I didn't at least attempt to have a picture taken on the red carpet. :)


*Note: the last several pictures were stealthily snapped with Paul's cellphone camera because cameras were forbidden...so the quality is bad. Adrien Brody is the one in the gray suit and gray hat in the middle of the bottom picture and on the far right of the one of them standing on stage during the question and answer session.

Tabula Rasa

How many fresh starts do we actually get in our lives? I guess that completely depends on how clean you want your slate. I had extremely high hopes that with my new "tabula rasa", introspection would lead me on a voyage of discovery about myself that one could only dream of. Would I be able to coax desirable characteristics into existence- waking them from their slumbers within my being whilst banishing the less desirable traits? It is seldom that one is presented with a chance to change their lives so drastically that decisions affecting every aspect of life have to be remade. The choices made prior to now- to this very moment, are seemingly outdated and ready for version 2.1. The perfect opportunity to reinvent ourselves, to find undemonstrated characteristics hidden within our psyche, is now. Right?

New jobs? Check.

New country? Check.

New Visas? (the living in a place kind, not the charging kind) Check.

New bank account? Check.

New apartment? Coming soon.

New furniture? Following the apartment.

New outlook? Sort of.

New Nikki and Paul? Hmm....oh. Not really.
Wow, and we started off so strong. What happened? With all of this reinvention, why is there not a new Nikki and Paul?

Of course, the cock-eyed optimist in me wants to be the person I know I am inside. I want to be strong enough, powerful enough, and dedicated enough to make a difference in my life and in the lives of others. I want to be able to improve the world we're living in, not just soak up its resources. I want to be committed enough to reduce my carbon footprint, to eat organically, to live selflessly.

The truth is, I'm not perfect. I like little bits of selfishness and enjoy some merely aesthetic and vain things. I even enjoy some things that are not eco-friendly. And I still like who I am. My values, my strength, my decisions in life...have all lead me to who and where I am right now. Sure, we can all work on being better to the environment and our bodies. I can resolve to be more tidy and punctual (both of which I'm proud to say I have been doing very well at). Then, the vain part of me realizes that I can also purchase modern, trendy furniture and decorate in vibrant colors and not worry about saving it all, purchasing mutual funds, or anything else completely responsible. I can purchase new clothes and splurge on vain things- in moderation. I can even focus on self-improvement in certain areas. I am still who I am, where ever I may be. The people here, regardless of their walk in life, see the same Nikki that my friends and family have known for years. Which, by the way, makes me happy (insert a small dose of humble pride here). I like that people meet the person I have always been. I hope they see the characteristics that I like about myself and look past the small imperfections that we, as imperfect creatures, have. I'll keep working on the nuances that make me human and imperfect. While doing so, however, I relish the realization that no matter where I am in this world that is big and small at the same time (thanks for the quote Jenn), I am the person you all know. There isn't a need to reinvent ourselves. We can have fun restyling, reviving, and revisiting ourselves, but when it comes down to it- we are who we are by the choices we make every day and how we treat those who share this big, small world with us. :)

we've arrived! Oh, well...over a month ago...

I love to blog, sharing pieces of myself with friends and family (oh and the occasional stranger who virtually stumbles into me) but now I sit here staring at a blank screen and a flashing cursor, in my comfy hotel room at a shiny new laptop, connected to an internet that cost us so many dirhams I don't even want to think about what it converts to in US dollars. Ignorance truly is bliss sometimes, especially when we're talking about conversion rates. The pressure to perform and write is not the issue, although the compliments are extremely humbling, especially since they refer to my meandering stream of consciousness. My block, the wall erected in front of my experiences that impedes the movement of fingers on the keys can be summed up in one word: overload. In a world of sensory overload where surround sound speakers blast Dolby digital quality sounds while being engulfed by a screen that is bigger than real life- in high def or more recently 3d, my body (even on a cellular level I'm sure) is accustomed to absorbing as much information as possible to experience, remember, and later document the adventure that is our lives. The problem is that I've been receiving images, sounds, smells, tastes, experiences, moments, emotions, friendships and any other feeling you can conjure, since we left Sweden- preserving and saving them to later be freed. We've said goodbye to our Swedish family, strolled quaint streets lined with shops in Paris, visited locations older than our home country, sold what felt like all of our earthly processions, put our "daughter" Lady in foster care (we love you Reeds!), positioned ourselves out of physical reach and thousands of miles from family and friends, been unfaithful to the house we're buying by becoming landlords, moved literally around the globe (I'm talking an entire 1/2 of a turn here), and this summer alone have spent at least 49 hours snuggled in a cylindrical cage with strangers passing time between destinations. Referring to one's life as a "roller-coaster ride" is cliche', but I understand the reference. The highs and lows, twists, turns, exhilaration, and fear while screaming your head off and loving every minute. I feel that now, exiting the ride completely spent, exhausted and deliriously happy, only to circle the barriers and rejoin the ques to go again.

A incredibly huge portion of my life is comprised by two elements constantly- my inner monologue that I am incessantly composing as well a soundtrack only heard within the confines of my consciousness. Through my experiences, I compose sentences, edit, and revise descriptions in my head- as one would in a word processing program. These fragments are sometimes stored, but mostly just coaxed into existence for my enjoyment. Describing the world around me, labeling my feelings, providing a description to sensory experiences allows me the pleasure of fully engaging myself in the moment. These vignettes, the moments in time, however have lodged themselves in my memory and all anxiously await the opportunity to burst through the barrier that has been my lack of available time and internet. So now I sit, staring at a blank screen and a flashing cursor, in my comfy hotel room at a shiny new laptop, connected to an internet that will eventually allow me to sift through the memories, sharing pieces of myself through written word. I am anxious to see if they sort into a logical, meaningful time-line of happenings or if it's more of an ebb and flow, bringing valuable remnants back to the shore to be found in the morning by those up early enough to gather them.

Basically, thanks to all of you for asking...yes the blogs will come. It is just undetermined in what order. ;) We can share in that surprise together.

Thanks for waiting, showing support, and loving me all the while. <3