Triumphant return

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am proud and happy to announce that i have just returned a few weeks ago from a 10 day business trip to the United Arab Emirates.

In my new capacity, I served as the communications and logistics officer for a U.S. railroad trade mission to the U.A.E. featuring 30 American companies across rail and infrastructure sectors.

The trip itself was incredible, both in a professional sense with a successful mission and in the personal sense with the ability to see Dubai friends and stay in two 5-star hotels.

In Abu Dhabi, the delegation and I stayed at the Emirate's Palace Hotel where it was mostly all business, but I was able to enjoy some room service and the services of my own butler (seriously).

In Dubai, I stayed at the Madinat Jumeirah, a beautiful Bedouin-syle hotel with a beach and pool area in the back and a Souk (market) attached.

After the mission completed, I was able to have lunch with former coworkers and go out with some friends and enjoy the Dubai nightlife/World Cup action in one of the most international of cities.

The trip was a huge highlight of the year for me so far and it was awesome/slightly strange to return to the land I had left six short/long months ago.

I do not know when I will return to my third home (behind VA and MSU), but Inshallah (God willing), it's sooner rather than later.

Cheers,

Brian