Madam Medusa

...quite a few children from my kids' school have already left, some over a week ago, even though it doesn't finish until next tuesday...why do people feel the need to leave on holiday before the end of term (i'm not talking about people skipping the country, it's people i know who are coming back)...the school holidays are waaaay too long already this summer, until 13 september, so why the hell do you need a week or two extra...?

mind you, i never understand the idea of "little wifey and kids" buggering off for the whole of the summer anyway, so maybe it's just me...

MM, xx

hnd

Don't get it either ... neighbour's wife & kids left over 2 weeks' ago and won't be back until Eid. Yet another 'summer bachelor' in Dubai ...

MataHari

I would love it if my husband and kids buggered off for 3 months...I'd even drop them at the airport.

MissDemeanor

Meow

It's not just you. I also don't understand it. Yes, it's very hot, but the UAE is hardly a hardship posting.

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Roadking

Mrs RK and Miss RK and going home for the summer for the first time this year. I'll go for July, come back then fly back for a week at Eid and bring them home with me. Won't cut school early as we don't agree with that, but with the new house, they will be kept very busy; gardening, cleaning windows, laying tarmac on the drive, cutting wood for winter...should be a great vacation for them.

Meow

At least you are putting them to work RK. No slacking in your house!
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Roadking

Yeah well, we'll have July as a holiday...while I'm there... then the work starts early August. I reckon the should have everything done by the time I get back for another well earned holiday over Eid.

Madam Medusa

i've almost managed to work that one this year, lol...

MM, xx

Aikman7981

It helps to remind the kids what country is their real "home". Also a good opportunity to get the grandparents/family some time with the kids. The summer away is a vital part of this and without it we wouldn't last.

I do think its very stupid for people to pull kids out of school early since you paid a lot of money for that school time.

Madam Medusa

don't think they need the whole summer...and the problem is, it doesn't show them "real life" back home, as they are doing fun and amazing things every day, which they wouldn't be in the real world...

agree it's important for them to see grandparents etc, but do they need 3 months, not convinced...and they defo don't need the extra week that some people seem to have decided is essential, lol...

MM,xx

Aikman7981

No, it doesn't show them "real life". It does help remind them which flag is theirs. My kids do the same thing they would do during an American summer: play and see relatives. My family goes for 2 months which is our only trip home during the year. I join for half of it as I can. Dubai is empty, boring and too hot during summer.

commander

agree totally. Before my daughter came along, i had the same opinion as MM on this..i just didnt get it.

Now my parents get to spend a few months living with thier granddaughter and also it does my daughter the world of good to spend time with them and get some of the fresh scottish air in her lungs for a change.

Plus i get 2 months to work, train, drink, sleep

Ethos83

If I had a family out here I would send the wife and kids home for the summer. Leave the night school lets out, return the day before.

There's nothing to do in Dubai during the summer months that doesn't cost a lot of money. It's too hot to spend prolonged periods outside so the beaches are out of the question. Same for weekend camping. Malls get boring after a while and you spend a fortune out of boredom.

It's a great opportunity for people to reconnect to their families back home, rejoin whatever community you left and remind yourself that you are British/American/Whatever.

Not to mention that it's goddamn hot. I was cranky enough today and I can't imagine having several little kids running around underfoot. July and August is even worse.

Alexa

Maybe airplane tickets are cheaper before the hols officially start? I don't know...