Re: HAPPY VALENTINE'S!!!

Hi JE!

I decided to have the break-up talk w/ Injazat (PE / investment bank / we'll-do-anything-for-money-firm) and decline their OFFENSIVE offer. They told me I learned nothing at Stern, yet they would give me an offer. I said I needed time to consider and they became girls about it and started calling A LOT, but I never picked up.

 

When the text messages started coming I decided to put them out of their misery and called to decline. They convinced me to reconsider and address all things  that concerned me in the contract (ie the offensive salary). All of a sudden I was the most accomplished person! I'm wondering if they still think I learned nothing at Stern...

 

Someone told me this is the Arabic way of negotiating. "You're carpet is ugly, but I'll still buy it from you." Well, that's not how a Swede negotiates.

 

Went on impromptu drive to Abu Dhabi the other day at 5pm, 130 km from Dubai. Very grey city and I didn't even get out my car, but decided to return to the comforts of Dubai Marina. When I suddenly found myself in pitchblack darkness in some semi-desert alone w/ my headlights shining into nothingness and the iPod you gave me blasting, I realized I had driven in the wrong direction.

It's the first time since I got here that I've been scared. "Dubai 911? I'm somewhere NOT close to Dubai, can you come and get me...?" 

 

After an illegal U-turn and killing some sort of small animal, I did make it back to Dubai. 

 

I so hope you are well, Jeffrey! I wish you the best Valentine's Day!

Always,
--
Cecilia Steen
Dubai Mobile +971 50 940 2062