Black Americans Living Abroad Volume 1 Issue 1 | Page 16

Desert

Dads

Expat Dads of the UAE

Paul Roberts

I am a Black American living abroad for the third time. In my previous expatriate experience, I have lived in South Africa and Ethiopia. I now live in Abu Dhabi.

Although I am not new to the expatriate lifestyle, living in the UAE has been one of the most unique and life changing experiences of my time abroad. While here, I married and now I am experiencing fatherhood in an international context.

What I enjoy most about being a BALA dad is the fact that my children were born with passports and have already began to experience traveling the world. I love taking my family to different countries and learning from unique cultures. Some of my more memorable family trips have been to Indonesia, Malaysia, Kenya, Tanzania, Jamaica, Oman and of course, the United States.

I place great value in family, fatherhood and fun, so the United Arab Emirates, with it's close proximity to many world regions and it's emphasis on family-friendliness, is an ideal expatriate second-home. I currently live in the Al Ain Region of Abu Dhabi with my wife and three boys. "I may not be able to give you the world, but I can show you what it looks like".