"I was only 9 years old and quite young when we moved to Abu Dhabi, and although it was a very big change for my family and me, I was quite used to moving because I have lived away in Jamaica two years before we moved here - which I had done alone. I could only imagine that I thought that this was just another part of our life adventure as a family...
Before we moved I visited Abu Dhabi for a few weeks with my mum to scope out the area and look for apartments. I remember staying at the old Le Meridian Hotel which at the time was a very busy area and had a lot of businesses and shopping sites. I remember walking around the hotel and being exposed to a lifestyle with pools, fun by the beach and sunny weather. As my dad moved there a few months before we did, he had made many friends, many of which had young kids. I remember making good friends with one of my dads' colleagues daughter and spent most of my time there with her. After the quick trip, I told my brother CJ (Cornel) how sunny it was and all the friends I made, which I feel got him a little more excited about the move.
I remember embracing the new culture that we were moving into and I didn't really feel the move had a bad impact; the one thing I do remember is being quite sad when I had to leave my school. Everyone had all written me a card that was made by the class, which they had all signed and gave to me on my last day - that was the only real emotion that I remember in connection with the move. I remember crying when I received the card and I realised that I wouldn't be seeing them for a while.
I think this is one of the main reasons that I kept the card all these years - because that was the only real memory of that move that I actually physically have"
-Sadiece Holland