This time of year witnesses many expats moving away from Dubai and back to their home countries. Being new to Dubai may have been stressful all those years ago and going back home can be just as stressful. It is not always as easy for you as everyone back home thinks it will be. Here is a great article about ‘repatriation’ with a lovely video at the end, perfect for those of you preparing to make that final exit from Dubai.

This weekend I quietly celebrated my 5th repativersary. Hard to believe we’ve been back home in Canada the same amount of time we were away. And incredibly, we’re not just surviving — we’re thriving. (If you had told me back in June 2007 that I’d be saying that in 2012, I would have laughed and/or cried in your face.)

It’s been a rocky road, but I managed to come out the other side relatively unscathed. What helped? Friends, old and new. Blogging and all the rewards that come with it. Watching my daughters grow into intelligent and happy young women. Finding meaningful work after a long time without. And my recent trip to Singapore, which did a wonderful job of pushing my reset button and finally giving me some peace.

Continue reading on I was an expat wife.