love

against the odds

I can clearly remember. I had just made the decision to accept the letter of offer for this position overseas a few days earlier. My mind was attempting to, but not fully succeeding at this point, to wrap itself around the idea of relocating to the Middle East. Leaving those dearest to my heart, separating myself from a media career I had spent years cultivating. Was this the right decision? I was not sure but I had just decided to leap ahead nevertheless.

In Toronto. I am sitting on the subway from Castlefrank to Lansdowne on my way to work. I open the metronews to come across the article “Thailand the place to find love” … mmm… I love Thailand, or the few weeks I had spent in Bangkok and Southern Thai beaches in 2001 I should say. What a lovely place. Intriguing title. I’m a single, pre-mid 30s girl and love is on my mind as of late. I read on.

If you’re looking for love while working abroad, consider a move to Thailand. And pray head office doesn’t send you to Qatar. A survey of over 3,100 expatriates around the world by HSBC Bank International compared their experiences while living and working abroad. Almost half of expats surveyed in Thailand said they found love in the country, compared with just four per cent who had the same good luck in Qatar….

Wait, back-up. I re-read the second sentence “…. and pray your head office doesn’t send you to Qatar…” My inner voice exclaims: Well, my head office isn’t sending me. I’m going on my own accord! Is this a joke? a coincidence? I actually don’t believe in coincidences. a sign? Were my eyes supposed to stumble upon this article … effectively like someone waving a flag screaming ‘Don’t do it! Don’t move to the Middle East!” I’m freaking out.

I glance at other passengers on the subway (they all appear normal – some reading, some dozing, some bopping to music barreling through eardrums) and back to the paper. Really? Mere days after I make my decision and this pops up before my eyes? Breathe.

A few minutes pass as I squint away from the article to focus. This is silly, I chide myself. I have made my decision. I am relocating to Qatar no matter what the metronews tells me.

Gulp. I’m a single pre-mid 30s girl looking for love. And in a few months, I have a 4% chance of finding it. It’s all about beating the odds I say to myself and close the newspaper. I’ll find it.