{
  "id": 17268690,
  "title": "What walking alone in a foreign city has taught me",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/what-walking-alone-in-a-foreign-city-has-taught-me",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-10-30T18:01:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/2026/10/30/what-walking-alone-in-a-foreign-city-has-taught-me/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Walking alone in a foreign city at night can be a transformative experience, highlighting the distance we've traveled in life. With a career that's taken me to various corners of the globe, every journey continues to leave me utterly amazed. Whether it's the mesmerizing blue waters of Saudi Arabia's Red Sea coast or the vibrant, neon-lit streets of Seoul, each experience feels surreal and unexpected. In many ways, I believe that the decisions and detours I've faced throughout my life have been subconsciously preparing me for this journey. Journalism was not my initial career choice, despite a lifelong love for reading, writing, and questioning. I had planned to pursue architecture or engineering, but logistics intervened, redirecting me towards my true passion: storytelling. After graduating at the top of my multimedia journalism class, I worked for local news outlets before joining The National as a social media journalist in 2021. This role allowed me to move to Abu Dhabi, opening doors to covering stories across the world. My experiences have ranged from fashion shows and climate conferences to the diplomatic corridors of the UN and rooms filled with influential leaders. The work fuels my passion and keeps me constantly moving and producing. As the workday ends, I find myself taking a leisurely stroll through the city, immersing myself in the sights, sounds, and scents. This mindless activity puts everything into perspective and evokes a profound sense of awe. To capture these moments of gratitude, I take dated photos on Snapchat, creating a private memory box. Occasionally, these photos remind me of past experiences, transporting me back to those surreal moments. Amidst the plans that didn't work out and the dreams yet to come true, it's essential to pause and recognize how much of what we once hoped for is already a part of our lives. For me, night-time walks in foreign cities serve as a grounding ritual, reminding us of the surreal beauty that surrounds us and the progress we've made.",
  "summary": "Very few things in life compare to walking alone in a foreign city at night and realising just how far you’ve come. I’ve been blessed with a job that has taken me to destinations near and far, and somehow every trip still leaves me in complete awe. From waking up to the stunningly blue waters of Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast to getting lost among the neon-lit, bustling streets of Seoul in search…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}