Fossildog

Surely the money is the only reason we are here? Everyones circumstances are different but I know I am sacrificing a lot of happiness to be here, especially as my family is back in the UK.

Oyibopeppeh

No....

I know that I could make a shed load more money working back in West Africa. But having done the rounds there for +10 years it was time for a change of scene and also an opportunity for my wife to develop her own career in a more formal way.

Apart from missing out some good gigs at Nottingham Rock City and me mum's yorkie puddings I can't say I miss the place.

Millhouse

It's not my sole motivation, no. I hated working in London and always wanted to leave. That said, I wouldn't stay here if I was struggling either. I have my family with me and live a normal life - apart from a reliable source of tangfansics I'm not sacrificing much being here.

We all have options...

OleJanx

Dear me! I hope your hardship allowance makes up for the things you must forego....

Autonomy

Edited that for you. Hope it helps.

PS Since June 2011 have you bought a house with cash, lived 100% comfortably, has your wife found a job, have you found god, are you happy?

Norm_uk

It's not easy if what my family says is anything to go by. Decades of socialism, bad management of industry and a culture of reliance of the nanny state instead of a can-do attitude hasn't helped us much.

That said my one of sisters just got promoted and will probably send me a decent christmas present this year

N.

klaus3974

Thanks. Yes we bought the house in cash but we had to borrow a small amount just to pay for the reforms, so we have not lived comfortable. Happy? Are you American?? Happiness is always a straggle, not a state. I guess my problem is that after been an expat for 10 years, I do not know where home is.

commander

Its where the heart is.

Look, do yourself a favour..look up here

www.howtokillyourselffordepressingtwats.com

klaus3974

Good to know that some things and people have not changed in BE...
Life is good commander. I have a young family, good health and many good job opportunities (but not at "home"). I just was trying to remember if I like something else about Dubai beyond my salary.

commander

You have your health and wealth, be happy.

Everyone has different reasons for being in dubai. We actually like it.

I actually have a wife who is quite ill, and would trade everything to have her illness cured, so apolgies if I can't quite sympathise with the self pitying posts..

I wish you well though, and I wouldn't comeback here for only the money unless you go on rotation and leave the family at home.

Best of luck..

weasel decentral

this is the answer I think

Meow

I'm curious. Why did your wife hate Dubai? Had she lived someone other than the UK before?

Home is where you feel comfortable and that really ought to be be where you are at any given point and personal happiness is your responsibility. As an adult you can make you life what you want it to be. You don't have to have an allegience to where you grew up to feel happy in life.

klaus3974

We lived and worked in the UK, the US, France, and Italy before going to Dubai (and since then in Africa and South America but with base in Europe). I think she hated Dubai because she could not get a decent job and it was bored to death (she got those one where the employer would keep your passport for "your own security"). It was bad timing, we landed in Dubai in May 2009, when a lot of people where been laid off.
On the strict personal level, I feel comfortable almost anywhere as long as my family is there and they are happy, and I do not struggle to make ends meet.

rowell

[QUOTE=Meow;9971446]I'm curious. Why did your wife hate Dubai? Had she lived someone other than the UK before?

After 4 half years here my wife has just told me she hates Dubai, how on earth has it took her so long and in my opinion the solution is in her hands, as she said its simply lack of freindships.

seven seas

artificially elevated social status?
Even the most chavtastic nobody is treated well in DXB.