Loopdeloop

I'm aware I maybe quite mad, I grew up in Bahrain and Dubai many years ago and a job offer has come up in Sharjah...quite honestly the ONLY Emirate state I never visited in 8 years of living in the UAE.
I'm perfectly aware of its dry status and it's difference to Dubai..and I'm also aware none of it will be the same as it was in the eighties.
My biggest concern is uprooting my 13 yr old son and putting him in school in sharjah..quite different from inner city London ..I suppose my post is really asking if anyone else has successfully negotiated a child of that age groups move to sharjah and if so..how did they cope ?
Many Thanks in Advance .

Kix

Do you have to live in Sharjah? If you lived in Dubai it's a reverse commute so the traffic isn't too bad.

Is he into Rugby? If so the Rugby Club there has all he wants.

Personally I don't know any western families with teens that live/school in Sharjah - but I'm sure there are many.

Loopdeloop

Yes, I will be working in a school and he will attend that school, accommodation is supplied with the job .

flares

Good call on the rugby club.

Also if he likes golf and shooting...http://golfandshootingshj.com/

I'd imagine living in Sharjah as an ex-pat kid would be more like your time growing up in Dubai/Bahrain than if you were posted in current day Dubai

Beakersful

Is that a bit like the armys, "Shoot and run"?

Tockalosh

Had a drive around Sharjah last weekend and it must be 5 years since I was last on a visit there and without wanting to start the Dubai is great and Sharjah is shit debate again

I have to say Sharjah really is shit.
There is more shit on the streets, the taxis looked battered and the driving standards seemed to deteriorate. I know the last bit seems to make no sense as ten minutes earlier those same cars were driving on Dubai roads but it did feel like that.

Hope you have a good time there and as many people say, Sharjah is great. I just didn't see it

seven seas

I guess that would be right.


Do you really want him mixing with Do-Buy expat kids? Dubai and its entertainment opportunities will be just a short drive away anyway. He might even meet and interact with kids from non-western backgrounds.

kittycat1

If I was 13 and my parents took me to Sharjah from London I would hate my parents and run away from home.

Tockalosh

Far better than staying with them in Sharjah and being scarred for life

Blue Cat

I have a friend who brought her two teenage sons to Sharjah years ago, they settled in well, loved school, played golf at Sharjah Wanderers etc. There are worse places to live.

kittycat1

[QUOTE]There are worse places to live./QUOTE]

True Bluecat there are alot worse places, but there are also a lot better as well. Sharjah isn't exactly in the top 10.

jam25mack

Ha ha ha ha ha....

I spend quite a lot of time in our Sharjah office. That place mystifies me!

It is weird tho that the westerners I know who live there, they ALL defend the place to the hilt!

busybee2

maybe look at dubai and commute up the road, more to do in dxb.

scot47

You think Sharjah is bad ? I recommend a vacation in Lagos, Kinshasa, Dacca or Mumbai !