Honestly, tonight is just a bragging memory. But since I put in all the years of hard work, I feel I deserved the "reward".
In 2010, myself and two others were selected from the logistics team to work with our Middle East partner Al Shaya to assist in opening the first Bath & Body Works store...in Dubai. Which meant...traveling to Dubai.
When my Director approached me about the opportunity, I was completely floored. It came out of nowhere and I was eternally grateful.
I can't say enough about the Mast Global Logistics team. It truly was a world-class organization supporting the brands. International Ocean teams. International Air teams. Legal teams. Marketing teams. International Relationship & Travel teams. Everybody pulled together to achieve this vision.
Since I went in late October 2010, the world was abuzz with the filming and trailers for the next Mission Impossible movie, because apparently there was some crazy stunt Tom Cruise was doing outside the Burj Khalifa (now Burj Dubai). Having been there, seen it, ridden the elevator to the observation deck and just marveled at it...that stunt was pure fucking insanity.
Bravo Tom Cruise...bravo...
P.S. I tried to talk both Shannon and our travel team into letting me stay just a couple more weeks to see the final F1 race of the season in Abu Dhabi - which is where Red Bull Racing's Sebastian Vettel won the Drivers' Championship. In doing so, he became the youngest World Drivers' Champion in the 61-year history of the championship. Pretty much everyone told me no - I couldn't stay...I was pretty bummed since I was basically already there...
Ghost of a Chance 