Any regrets over moving?
Oct 21st 2009, 5:25 am
#46
Concierge
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 29,625
Re: Any regrets over moving?
I'm sure I read one of the posts saying wifes not working dont have a lot to do.., to be honest married and kids in Dubai has to be better than coming here on your 'Jack Jones'. As a single UK expat, my only choice of women are Thai or Philipino, which arent to my taste - so I leave them alone. Grub is usually in a shopping mall. I would much prefer to be part of a family unit out here.
I dont think I'll have any regrets, tax free salary and career advancement are keeping me sane. Plus I love the weather!!
I dont think I'll have any regrets, tax free salary and career advancement are keeping me sane. Plus I love the weather!!
Oct 21st 2009, 6:10 am
#47
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Re: Any regrets over moving?
The big danger, imo, is that the OH may feel that she is just tagging along in your amazing career progression and, god forbid, may come to resent it.
For those who say there's not much to do in GB, well, ofc, it depends where you are, but I feel that there's far more variety. I've never felt trapped inside - even when it's raining or cold, you can wrap up and have fun. When it's 45 degrees outside, there are no precautions you can take to make it fun.
As for it being safer here for kids, I disagree. People are friendlier towards kids, and there's not the same paranoia about kidnapping/paedophilia but at the same time I don't feel I can trust the generic carers here. I used to use a crèche here but have stopped after accounts of them dropping a baby and denying it, sending a girl home with a cut they didn't think serious that then needed stitches and only having one adult on the premises with around 8 kids of varying ages. The woman laughed and looked slightly awkward when my friend asked her what she'd do in an emergency - she obviously hadn't been told what to do.
Anyhow, horror stories exist anywhere, but I personally feel that I can't trust things here that I would in the UK.
For those of you who have been over here for longer, I think a/ you're obviously far more established here, but it's taken you x years and b/ you may be surprised at how the UK has changed and so comparison is difficult. My parents have been out of the UK for 20 years now and are constantly surprised at the changes, both good and bad, but only because time has affected their memories of what it was like.
Oct 21st 2009, 6:12 am
#48
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: The Island of love
Posts: 882
Re: Any regrets over moving?
Bliss.
N
Oct 21st 2009, 12:27 pm
#49
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: Any regrets over moving?
......I truely feel that Dubai is 1 of the few countries that allows people with an entrepreneurial spirit to achieve their dreams.
There are lots of things that need to be changed here but on the whole, I abso love being here and cannot imagine being anywhere else.
There are lots of things that need to be changed here but on the whole, I abso love being here and cannot imagine being anywhere else.
I think to enjoy life in Dubai you need to have a positive attitude. Those who have got on with things with an open mind and not expected it to be just like their home countries are probably the happiest here. It does take time build up a new social network, but everyone has been new at one point and most people are pretty welcoming. You do have to leave your apartment/villa/compound/'gated community' to meet people though...
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Oct 21st 2009, 1:34 pm
#50
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2006
Location: The Island of love
Posts: 882
Re: Any regrets over moving?
Totally agree Meow - I think a lot of people expect it to be like UK but with sun - which it isn't. Positive attitude, open mind, chill out and all is well with the world.
N
N
Oct 21st 2009, 1:36 pm
#51
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 47
Re: Any regrets over moving?
I'm confident I don't fall into that category (wanting it to be like the UK), if anything I'm worried about being surrounded by sunburnt brits bragging about money and having a maid......
Oct 21st 2009, 2:47 pm
#53
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Any regrets over moving?
sure, in principle that's the ideal, but as another poster said, your life wouldn't be much fun if you came home every evening to a desperately homesick/ depressed wife who's consequently been run ragged by the kids all day and dumps them on your without saying a word.
The big danger, imo, is that the OH may feel that she is just tagging along in your amazing career progression and, god forbid, may come to resent it.
For those who say there's not much to do in GB, well, ofc, it depends where you are, but I feel that there's far more variety. I've never felt trapped inside - even when it's raining or cold, you can wrap up and have fun. When it's 45 degrees outside, there are no precautions you can take to make it fun.
As for it being safer here for kids, I disagree. People are friendlier towards kids, and there's not the same paranoia about kidnapping/paedophilia but at the same time I don't feel I can trust the generic carers here. I used to use a crèche here but have stopped after accounts of them dropping a baby and denying it, sending a girl home with a cut they didn't think serious that then needed stitches and only having one adult on the premises with around 8 kids of varying ages. The woman laughed and looked slightly awkward when my friend asked her what she'd do in an emergency - she obviously hadn't been told what to do.
Anyhow, horror stories exist anywhere, but I personally feel that I can't trust things here that I would in the UK.
For those of you who have been over here for longer, I think a/ you're obviously far more established here, but it's taken you x years and b/ you may be surprised at how the UK has changed and so comparison is difficult. My parents have been out of the UK for 20 years now and are constantly surprised at the changes, both good and bad, but only because time has affected their memories of what it was like.
The big danger, imo, is that the OH may feel that she is just tagging along in your amazing career progression and, god forbid, may come to resent it.
For those who say there's not much to do in GB, well, ofc, it depends where you are, but I feel that there's far more variety. I've never felt trapped inside - even when it's raining or cold, you can wrap up and have fun. When it's 45 degrees outside, there are no precautions you can take to make it fun.
As for it being safer here for kids, I disagree. People are friendlier towards kids, and there's not the same paranoia about kidnapping/paedophilia but at the same time I don't feel I can trust the generic carers here. I used to use a crèche here but have stopped after accounts of them dropping a baby and denying it, sending a girl home with a cut they didn't think serious that then needed stitches and only having one adult on the premises with around 8 kids of varying ages. The woman laughed and looked slightly awkward when my friend asked her what she'd do in an emergency - she obviously hadn't been told what to do.
Anyhow, horror stories exist anywhere, but I personally feel that I can't trust things here that I would in the UK.
For those of you who have been over here for longer, I think a/ you're obviously far more established here, but it's taken you x years and b/ you may be surprised at how the UK has changed and so comparison is difficult. My parents have been out of the UK for 20 years now and are constantly surprised at the changes, both good and bad, but only because time has affected their memories of what it was like.
Oct 21st 2009, 3:02 pm
#54
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Oct 21st 2009, 3:20 pm
#55
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Oct 21st 2009, 3:52 pm
#56
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Oct 23rd 2009, 12:57 pm
#57
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Sep 2008
Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Posts: 930
Re: Any regrets over moving?
sure, in principle that's the ideal, but as another poster said, your life wouldn't be much fun if you came home every evening to a desperately homesick/ depressed wife who's consequently been run ragged by the kids all day and dumps them on your without saying a word.
The big danger, imo, is that the OH may feel that she is just tagging along in your amazing career progression and, god forbid, may come to resent it.
For those who say there's not much to do in GB, well, ofc, it depends where you are, but I feel that there's far more variety. I've never felt trapped inside - even when it's raining or cold, you can wrap up and have fun. When it's 45 degrees outside, there are no precautions you can take to make it fun.
As for it being safer here for kids, I disagree. People are friendlier towards kids, and there's not the same paranoia about kidnapping/paedophilia but at the same time I don't feel I can trust the generic carers here. I used to use a crèche here but have stopped after accounts of them dropping a baby and denying it, sending a girl home with a cut they didn't think serious that then needed stitches and only having one adult on the premises with around 8 kids of varying ages. The woman laughed and looked slightly awkward when my friend asked her what she'd do in an emergency - she obviously hadn't been told what to do.
Anyhow, horror stories exist anywhere, but I personally feel that I can't trust things here that I would in the UK.
For those of you who have been over here for longer, I think a/ you're obviously far more established here, but it's taken you x years and b/ you may be surprised at how the UK has changed and so comparison is difficult. My parents have been out of the UK for 20 years now and are constantly surprised at the changes, both good and bad, but only because time has affected their memories of what it was like.
The big danger, imo, is that the OH may feel that she is just tagging along in your amazing career progression and, god forbid, may come to resent it.
For those who say there's not much to do in GB, well, ofc, it depends where you are, but I feel that there's far more variety. I've never felt trapped inside - even when it's raining or cold, you can wrap up and have fun. When it's 45 degrees outside, there are no precautions you can take to make it fun.
As for it being safer here for kids, I disagree. People are friendlier towards kids, and there's not the same paranoia about kidnapping/paedophilia but at the same time I don't feel I can trust the generic carers here. I used to use a crèche here but have stopped after accounts of them dropping a baby and denying it, sending a girl home with a cut they didn't think serious that then needed stitches and only having one adult on the premises with around 8 kids of varying ages. The woman laughed and looked slightly awkward when my friend asked her what she'd do in an emergency - she obviously hadn't been told what to do.
Anyhow, horror stories exist anywhere, but I personally feel that I can't trust things here that I would in the UK.
For those of you who have been over here for longer, I think a/ you're obviously far more established here, but it's taken you x years and b/ you may be surprised at how the UK has changed and so comparison is difficult. My parents have been out of the UK for 20 years now and are constantly surprised at the changes, both good and bad, but only because time has affected their memories of what it was like.
Oct 26th 2009, 5:54 pm
#58
Forum Regular
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 49
Re: Any regrets over moving?
i mean, i've had worst, on buses and tubes in london about being shoved around, and i have no comments, as i am a londoner and accept that people in all cities can be rude..
Oct 27th 2009, 5:14 am
#59
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Re: Any regrets over moving?
agree wirth blue cat on this...too many people moan about the locals, and comment about obey is laughable...
i mean, i've had worst, on buses and tubes in london about being shoved around, and i have no comments, as i am a londoner and accept that people in all cities can be rude..
i mean, i've had worst, on buses and tubes in london about being shoved around, and i have no comments, as i am a londoner and accept that people in all cities can be rude..
The good thing about this place, is that you will never be sworn at or have obscenities shouted at you down the street. You'll never be told to f*** off if you're out of order. You'll never hear people f-ing and blinding at every other word in a conversation... and that in itself is pretty priceless imo.
I certainly don't despise the locals. In fact, the only local I've come to know relatively well is a well-grounded, honourable man, albeit with a dry sense of humour and an eye for a bit of a deal - which is pretty similar to most of my friends around the world.
Oct 27th 2009, 6:20 am
#60
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: Any regrets over moving?
[QUOTE=Hello.Kitty;8047662]
The good thing about this place, is that you will never be sworn at or have obscenities shouted at you down the street. You'll never be told to f*** off if you're out of order. You'll never hear people f-ing and blinding at every other word in a conversation... and that in itself is pretty priceless imo.
QUOTE]
Too true, and one of the things I hate about the UK.
At home in the summer, I 'helpfully' beeped a guy reversing his fork lift off the drive into the main road as he wasn't looking... The reaction from him was as as if I had just raped his mother.
The good thing about this place, is that you will never be sworn at or have obscenities shouted at you down the street. You'll never be told to f*** off if you're out of order. You'll never hear people f-ing and blinding at every other word in a conversation... and that in itself is pretty priceless imo.
QUOTE]
Too true, and one of the things I hate about the UK.
At home in the summer, I 'helpfully' beeped a guy reversing his fork lift off the drive into the main road as he wasn't looking... The reaction from him was as as if I had just raped his mother.