Originally Posted by dubaiguy2011

A number of your posts seem to highlight your inexperience and innocent naivety (e.g. having to ask if you can have male visitors to visit you and being surprised landlords in Dubai are all a bunch of bvllsh1tting ar$eholes).

Please be VERY aware that all is not necessarily what it seems in the Middle East. People will spin you a yarn readily and without conscience. Forums like this are a useful (and often brutally honest) source of information but please be sure you keep your eyes open and wits about you as a single woman new to Dubai. Do not be lulled into a false sense of security by the apparent 'safety' of the place. Scammers and bvllshitters are commonplace (a pal of mine who is a 8 year veteran was caught up between a landlord and agent in a real estate scam and there was fvck all he could do about it). Do your homework and it's ok (and I would encourage) to be very wary of people and not place trust in them until you're sure.

And remember, if you meet a Mohammed, he won't be any different to all of the rest.... This may not make sense now, but it will in 6 months, especially if you date one.

Originally Posted by Saff_Parker

I think you get a kick out of my inexperience and innocent naivety. Thanks for your concern though. As for the Mohammeds... I'm not quite sure what you mean... My main group of friends are a bunch of 'Mohammeds' and 'Mohammed-esses' ... and my boyfriend is one too. Are they supposed to be scumbags?

Saff

Originally Posted by Miss Anne Thrope

Me too - no more likely to be scumbags than anyone else and probably less likely to be casually racist (or homophobic) than your average BE poster.

Originally Posted by dubaiguy2011

Lol. Is that what your Mohammed tells you?

And ladies and gentlemen of the jury.... I rest my case.

Originally Posted by Saff_Parker

Originally Posted by Saff_Parker

thanks guys! So far I've spent my whole day (my first day in Dubai!) traipsing around JLT/Marina/JBR today viewing flatshares with stops at coffeeshops inbetween (like right now! Carrying my trusty laptop around with me) Seen three apts, and two of them were lovely. Half tempted to go for one *right now* but obviously want to see a few more first.

I guess I've come at the perfect time - great walking weather! There was a flatshare I particularly liked.. based on my limited geographical knowledge of the Marina so far, I think it's a little far out from the action? It's next to the Marriot? Or is that still pretty central?

What about you guys who don't drive - do you find it a pain in the neck having to rely on taxis/metro? I was wondering today, would I totally hate this place in the summer when I need to spend 10 minutes outside the building waiting for a cab

Originally Posted by Expat2020

Hi Saff, I hope you are well

I am coming to Dubai 20-1-13 & am looking for a villa / Apartment share. Any advise of where to find add's? Im searching from the UK at the mo.

Thanks

Gaz

Originally Posted by Blue Cat

Saff did you find somewhere??

Originally Posted by Saff_Parker

Hey!

I did indeed, thanks for asking! I moved in a few days ago into a building in the Marina (flatshare)
I'm actually switching apartments (but staying in the same building) at the end of this month because my current room doesn't have a balcony and I saw a room here yesterday I preferred.

Settling in quite nicely and start my new job tomorrow, eek!

Saff

Originally Posted by Blue Cat

good luck today

Originally Posted by Scamp

How has day one been so far then?

Most important things you should have covered:

1. Where do you smoke?
2. How often can you smoke?
3. Where is good for lunch?
4. Who to talk to and who not to talk to?
5. Can anyone see your screen and therefore catch you on BBC sport all day.

NOTHING else matters Saff.

Originally Posted by Saff_Parker

Lol! Well day one is now over and I'm home! Smoking is on the office balcony and people seem to do it quite often but I'm afraid I don't join as I don't smoke! Took a packed lunch today but didn't need it as I was thrust into my first lunch meeting. My screen is quite visible and I was very much thrown into the deep end today so didn't have time for Facebooking/BritExpating/Other Hey ho, I'm sure I will figure out how and when I can doss off but in the meantime I'm a little wet behind the ears and therefore eager to make a good impression. Dossing shall probably commence in a month or so! However saying that, I observed everybody today and nobody seemed to be messing about. It seems quite serious

Saff

Originally Posted by Scamp

You just described my office. I'm sure we didn't have anyone new today though.

What do you do again?