Unpacking The Overwhelm

I decided to move to the UAE only a few weeks before the semester began. Huge changes in my life inside a small frame of time. And so, everything was unexpected and overwhelming. 

Sure, I knew moving would be a big task — I mean, packing your entire life into two suitcases is no joke — but that ended up being the easiest part. The real mountain was after landing. I had a lot of shopping to do. Luckily, my parents had travelled with me to help me settle in. We hit Ikea and a few malls to get everything  I needed for my dorm room, and it took around two days to get everything I needed. Without them — especially my mum — I’m not sure I could’ve pulled it off without spiraling into anxiety.

The first month was the hardest, settling into a new city, in a new country and a culture I wasn’t used to. It took a while to find my feet. One of the biggest challenges was the overwhelm. I didn’t realise how much I’d have to think. 

Suddenly, I was responsible for everything — cooking, laundry, grocery runs, classwork, and hydration (yes, I forgot to drink water). And because I’m me, I put ridiculous pressure on myself to do it all perfectly. Even the smallest tasks felt monumental. Sometimes I’d just sit in my chair overwhelmed because I just didn’t know where to start. What ended up helping was making a checklist, meal planning, and permitting myself to not have it all figured out.

One of the most beautiful things about moving is how you pack your life into two overweight suitcases, and somehow, they’re not the heaviest thing you carry. You walk into a new city with dreams, fear, and excitement about the unexpected. There are very few moments in life when you feel that, so it is undoubtedly special. 

My biggest advice would be not to forget the person who moved in the first place. Allow yourself to evolve and grow. Try new things, put yourself out there, make those mistakes, and make new friends. Change is inevitable. You change with time, because of new environments. But don’t be swept up by the waves. Things change quickly. People may come and go. Even if you live in a fast-paced city like Dubai, remember to plant your feet firmly on the ground.

Kanzah Maktoum

Senior at the American University in Dubai I Forbes Contributor I F1 Enthusiast

Instagram: @kanzahmak