Entering the world of blog

So here goes, I've begun blogging. Blogging serves basically the same purpose for me as much of my email has in the past - keeping a diary of my experiences for myself and to occasionally help others to do something more easily. I'm big into thoroughly comparing products before I make major purchases so I will include reviews in this blog as well.

But aside from the side features this blog is primarily about my mission to get to the Middle East to study full time for extended periods, say 6 months, and work professionally in the area as an engineer. Syria seems like the right place for me to study Arabic from the research I've done so far so that's my target. As for work I think I'd most like to work in the UAE earning big money and working on large oil operations. At present I live in Brisbane Australia and have been working as an Electrical Engineer for 3 years. The main obstacles to me getting to Syria are:

1. the debt I've accumulated since leaving work - you'd think my past 3 years of work would have me in a better position to leave for study but no. That's the trap of a credit card and wanting to buy now.


2. My attachment to the perks of the west. TV, Rugby - both playing and watching, friends, all the gadgets that I have (sort of have) the money to buy here, my iPod, my ADSL, my Coles Supermarket, my motorbike, my car, my glamorous gym, my comfortable workplace, letting go of "stuff" I've accumulated - I can't store all of it


3. Fear of change and loss of certainty

It's a major choice that I'm terrified that I will deliberate over for too long and leave too late and miss out on it. Who knows what could be lost by pursuing this rabbit warren.. or gained? I wonder how people can tell the difference between obsession with something and actually wanting something, if there is even a difference. I'm obsessed with most of my interests.

But for now I'm going to stow all of those doubts and go back to hoping that one day I'll be able to title this blog - how I became a fulltime Arabic Student.