The change in Dubai
May 8th 2011, 5:02 am
#31
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
May 8th 2011, 5:26 am
#32
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
May 8th 2011, 5:37 am
#33
BE Forum Addict
Thread Starter
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 4,017
Re: The change in Dubai
I have been here on and off for quite a few years and the main thing i find is you slowly become tired and weary of the bullshit and the pretence . We all take the best out of it and leave the crap at the door but this is a place where we as expats are just the hired hands .
You will never be thanked or have official gratitude of any substance bestowed on you. Our hosts in this region in my opinion are some of the rudest , obnoxious , ignorant and arrogant people on the planet and that's an opinion formed over a lot of years in a lot of Gulf countries , of course they are exceptions to the rule but i have never found that many .
Sometimes i wonder why i still put myself through it everyday , moaning about the same bullshit to people and telling the each other the same problematic stories over a few beers at the end of the week .
May 8th 2011, 6:37 am
#34
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: The change in Dubai
The trouble is you get used to your shit bucket being full to the brim and that becomes the norm . Your tolerance levels increase and what you wouldn't except a year ago now becomes the norm. It's the boiling frog syndrome , things get harder , more expensive and less enjoyable and you just get on with it because that's what we do.
I have been here on and off for quite a few years and the main thing i find is you slowly become tired and weary of the bullshit and the pretence . We all take the best out of it and leave the crap at the door but this is a place where we as expats are just the hired hands .
You will never be thanked or have official gratitude of any substance bestowed on you. Our hosts in this region in my opinion are some of the rudest , obnoxious , ignorant and arrogant people on the planet and that's an opinion formed over a lot of years in a lot of Gulf countries , of course they are exceptions to the rule but i have never found that many .
Sometimes i wonder why i still put myself through it everyday , moaning about the same bullshit to people and telling the each other the same problematic stories over a few beers at the end of the week .
I have been here on and off for quite a few years and the main thing i find is you slowly become tired and weary of the bullshit and the pretence . We all take the best out of it and leave the crap at the door but this is a place where we as expats are just the hired hands .
You will never be thanked or have official gratitude of any substance bestowed on you. Our hosts in this region in my opinion are some of the rudest , obnoxious , ignorant and arrogant people on the planet and that's an opinion formed over a lot of years in a lot of Gulf countries , of course they are exceptions to the rule but i have never found that many .
Sometimes i wonder why i still put myself through it everyday , moaning about the same bullshit to people and telling the each other the same problematic stories over a few beers at the end of the week .
I hate the locals, the arrogance you mention is unbelievable. Walking through a mall yesterday I was faced with 5 or 6 local lads my age walking towards me. If I hadn't moved out the way I'd have been walked into and no doubt blamed - they know they will win any battle so why bother conceding anything ever?
They're a bunch of tosspots, but I will always move out their way in the above situation because I will do my best to remember I'm in their country and should respect it, but also, because it's not worth the potential aggro.
May 8th 2011, 6:42 am
#35
MODERATOR
Joined: Dec 2004
Location: Dubai
Posts: 6,370
Re: The change in Dubai
I lived in Dubai for seven years and saw a lot of changes which I now think were not all for the best. Dubai used to have more to offer in terms of community among the expats, and even though there were fewer towers it was a lot more down to earth.
I think one of the reasons I went to Abu Dhabi was because most people I meet there don't care what job I have, where I live or what car I drive...there are idiots everywhere of course but I find it more tolerable since I left.
The international press has been watching the UAE, and Dubai in particular more and more so we are hearing a lot more the negatives for certain which can and do skew perceptions. For all my moaning and complaining the biggest issues for me are the weather, the people who can't seem to walk past you without staring like your nose is gushing blood and the driving.
I've given myself another three years - I want to study some more and get over-qualified then I'll look at my options. Also I want to start a family again and I want to do it somewhere without calls for prayer, censorship of kissing and an abundance of people wearing sackcloth who think they are "modest" (so that rules out Luton then
)
N.
I think one of the reasons I went to Abu Dhabi was because most people I meet there don't care what job I have, where I live or what car I drive...there are idiots everywhere of course but I find it more tolerable since I left.
The international press has been watching the UAE, and Dubai in particular more and more so we are hearing a lot more the negatives for certain which can and do skew perceptions. For all my moaning and complaining the biggest issues for me are the weather, the people who can't seem to walk past you without staring like your nose is gushing blood and the driving.
I've given myself another three years - I want to study some more and get over-qualified then I'll look at my options. Also I want to start a family again and I want to do it somewhere without calls for prayer, censorship of kissing and an abundance of people wearing sackcloth who think they are "modest" (so that rules out Luton then
) N.
May 8th 2011, 6:47 am
#36
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,094
Re: The change in Dubai
The trouble is you get used to your shit bucket being full to the brim and that becomes the norm . Your tolerance levels increase and what you wouldn't except a year ago now becomes the norm. It's the boiling frog syndrome , things get harder , more expensive and less enjoyable and you just get on with it because that's what we do.
I have been here on and off for quite a few years and the main thing i find is you slowly become tired and weary of the bullshit and the pretence . We all take the best out of it and leave the crap at the door but this is a place where we as expats are just the hired hands .
You will never be thanked or have official gratitude of any substance bestowed on you. Our hosts in this region in my opinion are some of the rudest , obnoxious , ignorant and arrogant people on the planet and that's an opinion formed over a lot of years in a lot of Gulf countries , of course they are exceptions to the rule but i have never found that many .
Sometimes i wonder why i still put myself through it everyday , moaning about the same bullshit to people and telling the each other the same problematic stories over a few beers at the end of the week .
I have been here on and off for quite a few years and the main thing i find is you slowly become tired and weary of the bullshit and the pretence . We all take the best out of it and leave the crap at the door but this is a place where we as expats are just the hired hands .
You will never be thanked or have official gratitude of any substance bestowed on you. Our hosts in this region in my opinion are some of the rudest , obnoxious , ignorant and arrogant people on the planet and that's an opinion formed over a lot of years in a lot of Gulf countries , of course they are exceptions to the rule but i have never found that many .
Sometimes i wonder why i still put myself through it everyday , moaning about the same bullshit to people and telling the each other the same problematic stories over a few beers at the end of the week .
May 8th 2011, 7:13 am
#38
hmmmm...nice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 27,923
Re: The change in Dubai
Because it's our inner enjoyment to moan and believe everyone else is crap. Part of being British, and crucial when overseas.
I hate the locals, the arrogance you mention is unbelievable. Walking through a mall yesterday I was faced with 5 or 6 local lads my age walking towards me. If I hadn't moved out the way I'd have been walked into and no doubt blamed - they know they will win any battle so why bother conceding anything ever?
They're a bunch of tosspots, but I will always move out their way in the above situation because I will do my best to remember I'm in their country and should respect it, but also, because it's not worth the potential aggro.
I hate the locals, the arrogance you mention is unbelievable. Walking through a mall yesterday I was faced with 5 or 6 local lads my age walking towards me. If I hadn't moved out the way I'd have been walked into and no doubt blamed - they know they will win any battle so why bother conceding anything ever?
They're a bunch of tosspots, but I will always move out their way in the above situation because I will do my best to remember I'm in their country and should respect it, but also, because it's not worth the potential aggro.
you've only been here a few weeks and already you 'hate the locals'...how does that happen....I've been here 6,5 years, and yes, there are wankers around of course, but of every nationality surely...the other day I totally accidentally brushed the bag of a lovely British woman while trying to push my trolley past her in a narrow bit at the veg and fruit at Spinneys and she went completely mad at me, up to the point where she went and brought her husband over to me, lol...and I am not making this up! I honestly have never had a bad run in with a local, and it's not like I am not dealing with them or that I never go outside, neither do I think I walk around with rose coloured glasses. I just go about my business, just as I would anywhere else.
yes, it's not all glitter and glamour here, if people come here thinking it is, they get disappointed....you will face problems here, just like anywhere else in the world, maybe/probably they will be a different kind of problems, but still....there is no paradise as far as I am concerned.
Not saying it doesn't concern me when locals use their power to get their way, cause it does, also cause I have teenage kids here, and I keep my fingers crossed that they stay out of trouble...
May 8th 2011, 7:23 am
#39
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: The change in Dubai
where as teenagers in the UK are all very well behaved and will never make you feel uncomfortable...
you've only been here a few weeks and already you 'hate the locals'...how does that happen....I've been here 6,5 years, and yes, there are wankers around of course, but of every nationality surely...the other day I totally accidentally brushed the bag of a lovely British woman while trying to push my trolley past her in a narrow bit at the veg and fruit at Spinneys and she went completely mad at me, up to the point where she went and brought her husband over to me, lol...and I am not making this up! I honestly have never had a bad run in with a local, and it's not like I am not dealing with them or that I never go outside, neither do I think I walk around with rose coloured glasses. I just go about my business, just as I would anywhere else.
yes, it's not all glitter and glamour here, if people come here thinking it is, they get disappointed....you will face problems here, just like anywhere else in the world, maybe/probably they will be a different kind of problems, but still....there is no paradise as far as I am concerned.
Not saying it doesn't concern me when locals use their power to get their way, cause it does, also cause I have teenage kids here, and I keep my fingers crossed that they stay out of trouble...
you've only been here a few weeks and already you 'hate the locals'...how does that happen....I've been here 6,5 years, and yes, there are wankers around of course, but of every nationality surely...the other day I totally accidentally brushed the bag of a lovely British woman while trying to push my trolley past her in a narrow bit at the veg and fruit at Spinneys and she went completely mad at me, up to the point where she went and brought her husband over to me, lol...and I am not making this up! I honestly have never had a bad run in with a local, and it's not like I am not dealing with them or that I never go outside, neither do I think I walk around with rose coloured glasses. I just go about my business, just as I would anywhere else.
yes, it's not all glitter and glamour here, if people come here thinking it is, they get disappointed....you will face problems here, just like anywhere else in the world, maybe/probably they will be a different kind of problems, but still....there is no paradise as far as I am concerned.
Not saying it doesn't concern me when locals use their power to get their way, cause it does, also cause I have teenage kids here, and I keep my fingers crossed that they stay out of trouble...
Don't get me wrong, the American kids in Costa yesterday were vile, and so many mid 20's/30's Westerners are knobheads, but they are the same you get in the UK. Thick as thieves.
My frustration is that I'm trying to be polite / respectful to everyone, regardless of nationality or whatever, but you don't get seem to get the same back from a local.
Teenagers in the UK are mixed like anywhere, the bad are bad and the good are good.
May 8th 2011, 7:24 am
#40
hmmmm...nice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 27,923
Re: The change in Dubai
you know, it's almost like there must be something wrong with you if you are having an ok time here in Dubai, you must either be a rich spoiled housewife, or be really thick or a loser who couldn't make it back home and therefore reinvented themselves here...
I know a lot of perfectly normal people/families, that live fairly normal lives here, the men go to work, the kids go to school and the wifes either work or don't (is that really relevant), they come home, have dinner, watch a bit of telly, spend an hour on the computer, go to the gym whatever and go to bed...in the weekend they will do a bit of shopping, have a bbq with friends, go to the beach, go to the movies etc...nothing weird or wacky, but they enjoy their lives, the fact that they don't have to wash their cars, that they can afford a maid, that they can afford a nicer car than they would have back home etc...really can't see a problem with it all.
I know a lot of perfectly normal people/families, that live fairly normal lives here, the men go to work, the kids go to school and the wifes either work or don't (is that really relevant), they come home, have dinner, watch a bit of telly, spend an hour on the computer, go to the gym whatever and go to bed...in the weekend they will do a bit of shopping, have a bbq with friends, go to the beach, go to the movies etc...nothing weird or wacky, but they enjoy their lives, the fact that they don't have to wash their cars, that they can afford a maid, that they can afford a nicer car than they would have back home etc...really can't see a problem with it all.
May 8th 2011, 7:39 am
#41
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: The change in Dubai
you know, it's almost like there must be something wrong with you if you are having an ok time here in Dubai, you must either be a rich spoiled housewife, or be really thick or a loser who couldn't make it back home and therefore reinvented themselves here...
I know a lot of perfectly normal people/families, that live fairly normal lives here, the men go to work, the kids go to school and the wifes either work or don't (is that really relevant), they come home, have dinner, watch a bit of telly, spend an hour on the computer, go to the gym whatever and go to bed...in the weekend they will do a bit of shopping, have a bbq with friends, go to the beach, go to the movies etc...nothing weird or wacky, but they enjoy their lives, the fact that they don't have to wash their cars, that they can afford a maid, that they can afford a nicer car than they would have back home etc...really can't see a problem with it all.
I know a lot of perfectly normal people/families, that live fairly normal lives here, the men go to work, the kids go to school and the wifes either work or don't (is that really relevant), they come home, have dinner, watch a bit of telly, spend an hour on the computer, go to the gym whatever and go to bed...in the weekend they will do a bit of shopping, have a bbq with friends, go to the beach, go to the movies etc...nothing weird or wacky, but they enjoy their lives, the fact that they don't have to wash their cars, that they can afford a maid, that they can afford a nicer car than they would have back home etc...really can't see a problem with it all.
In fact, what you posted doesn't make sense...what you described constitutes an 'OK time' doesn't it?
I'm trying to work out if you are calling me a twat or just having a rant.
May 8th 2011, 7:40 am
#42
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: The change in Dubai
How many have you actually dealt with? I don't have too many issues with them - I'm quite happy to drink sweet tea for 40minutes and chat about nonsense before starting a meeting.
OK, some are idiots but that's the case with all nationalities. I foolishly got stuck once without water and food on a hot day and mini needed both. I walked up to some locals and asked for help. I got it.
OK, some are idiots but that's the case with all nationalities. I foolishly got stuck once without water and food on a hot day and mini needed both. I walked up to some locals and asked for help. I got it.
May 8th 2011, 7:46 am
#43
hmmmm...nice
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 27,923
Re: The change in Dubai
it's what seems to me to be the way the people that don't like it here categorise the people that do like it here in...
read it again...I am saying that I know lots of people here that do have an ok time...and I am one of them and I don't really like to feel like I am stupid/spoiled/thick etc because of that...
May 8th 2011, 7:46 am
#44
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Aug 2009
Location: Disneyland, Dubai
Posts: 15,887
Re: The change in Dubai
If Mata wants to call you a twat she wouldn't hold back...
May 8th 2011, 7:47 am
#45
Account Closed
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 0
Re: The change in Dubai
How many have you actually dealt with? I don't have too many issues with them - I'm quite happy to drink sweet tea for 40minutes and chat about nonsense before starting a meeting.
OK, some are idiots but that's the case with all nationalities. I foolishly got stuck once without water and food on a hot day and mini needed both. I walked up to some locals and asked for help. I got it.
OK, some are idiots but that's the case with all nationalities. I foolishly got stuck once without water and food on a hot day and mini needed both. I walked up to some locals and asked for help. I got it.
Either way, still so new to this.
