Filling my suitcase

Well then. I suppose I should begin, now that I have been giving out the address to this blog everywhere. People will be bitterly disappointed if they come here to find a wonderful picture of a suitcase, an earthy brown background and.....nothing else. So yes, now I am going to write things and more things. This is the beginning of an Eleven day trip.
I suppose I should outline some of what I'm doing. I was selected to represent Smith at the Insight Dubai conference in Dubai, UAE. For those of you who may not know where that is, or think it sounds like a large mall where you Do-Buy things, it's smack dab in the middle of the Middle East, between Qatar and Saudi Arabia and opposite Iraq and Iran. Dubai is a very metropolitan city but I won't presume much about it now because honestly, I have no idea what it's going to be like! Follow me on this blog and I hope to be able to tell you all about Dubai and much more. Find out what I'm going to be learning, what I'm going to discuss and what I'm going to see here ----->http://dwc.hct.ac.ae/insight-dubai/home.html
Do I feel nervous? Well, I suppose a bit. Flying always makes me feel both nervous and excited. When the airplane takes off, my stomach does flip-flops like pancakes and my heart jumps in my chest (and I guess it soars like an eagle as well, for those of you who get this reference). Being in the airport makes me feel limitless, like I can do anything and now that I'm going to the Middle East (!), I know that I really can! This is just the beginning of my travels; I am going to live the world and be a truly global citizen.
This posting is just the beginning, so it may not be as good as I hope it will be eventually. I'm thinking in so many directions right now that my thoughts are scattered and can't really articulate what I'm thinking. I just don't know what to expect, really. I'm just packing. I've packed lots of light, blowzy clothing that is also appropriate for a conservative muslim country. Tunics, capris, etc. I'm hoping that I won't burn, as it promises to be upwards of 85F the entire time! I'm not a fan of heat, but every building is supposed to be air conditioned so I'm going to be fine. Besides which, if I want to spend any time in the middle east (which I do) in the future, I am going to have to learn to deal with it.
This is signing off for now. I have to finish packing to make sure I don't forget anything. I really hope I have everything I need and that I need everything I have. Here's to hoping!
I look forward to sharing my next eleven days with you all and I hope you enjoy reading. PLEASE feel free to comment on any posting or photo and ASK QUESTIONS if you have them!
Happy reading
ready....
    set......
         GO!