That time when home feels more strange than away

Me and my dad, Larry, on his birthday. 

There are a million great things that have come into my life ever since I left Canada for the UAE more than 10 years ago – a trip I thought might last a year or two, tops.

I've been aware that the experience has altered me totally and completely for most of the time to varying degrees. (I often liken those first few months to having my personality disintegrate, and then the rest of the year as me rebuilding it into something I could vaguely recognise. It's something else, leaving one life and building a whole other one for yourself.)

Being an expat means being homesick, but maybe not THIS homesick

I was all set to poke fun at this story, but instead it just broke my heart. I cannot imagine feeling this lost and trapped, and I just hope from the bottom of my heart that this fellow can get where he needs to be.

An unemployed man from Pakistan called 999 (the UAE's 911) more than 100 times because he was hoping to be arrested and then deported. He came to work in the UAE 31 years ago, lost his job with Dubai Police recently, and did not have the money for a ticket home.