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starsouthern
Posts 1690
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02/06/2012 13:19:34
I've been here 15 years and have never seen a camel spider! House spiders yes but not often we had many more insects in the Springs compared to the Ranches.
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Sue62
Posts 7175
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02/06/2012 12:31:30
camel spiders are supposed to be nocturnal so you're unlikely to see one anyway lol In 2 and a half years i've seen 2 spiders (not camel), outside at night..i'm the worst - will scream like a banshee if i see one..was the bane of my life in the UK so am thrilled at their scarcity here  ants will be plentiful in the garden but if you make sure there's no crumbs indoors they don't come inside - quick squirt of pifpaf (the local kill anything spray) and they're gone... once had a tiny gecko scurry up the bathroom door while i was sat on the loo !! but they mostly stay outside and are quite sweet - nothing to worry about... If you search on EW you will see posts about rats in the ranches but i've never seen one and someone once posted about a scorpion on her balcony - again i've never seen any..I did the same before we came here - i found the AR community website (now defunct i think) where there was a whole thread about red spiders hiding under rattan furniture...completely freaked me out..You hear lots of things if you look for them....best not to look too hard
"I read an article about how dangerous drinking wine is...scared me to death...that's it..i'm giving up...reading..."
edited by Sue62 on 02/06/2012
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SunDevil
Posts 836
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02/06/2012 09:37:39
verdeque wrote:
so, like a complete idiot I stayed up till 1 am reading horror stories on EW about huntsman spiders, camel spiders (holy ****), scorpions, rats, redback spiders and cockroaches, many of them in the Ranches!!!!!!!!!!!! So, puhleeze tell me that I don't need to worry about living there!!! Based on the stories I got whipped up into a completely irrational frenzy and told my DH there was no way I was living in AR. Now that it's NOT the middle of the night, I'm back to my senses, but would love assurances!!!
I'll bet you are the kind of person that will use Dr. Google for a cold and be convinced you are surely dying of some crazy disease!! LOL
I promise you that the Ranches are completely safe to live in! The only insect I have had a problem with is ants but not fire ants like in the states. I have those teeny little brown ants in my kitchen despite all mine and my maid's efforts to keep the place cleaned and free from anything that will attract the ants. I was going crazy with the ant problem and one night came in the kitchen for something and flipped on the light and a gecko scurried up my wall. Gecko's don't scare me (I'm from AZ and TX). About a day or two later I noticed I didn't have any ants at all. The gecko had taken care of them all. I let him stay in the kitchen for a couple weeks and finally caught him and released him outside. It's been several months and now I have ants again. *&%$ I'm ready to go outside and find another gecko to live in my kitchen.
We have pest control come out once a year and treat the house and have not had any problems with spiders, scorpions, or roaches. When we lived in a "local's area" in AD we had roaches so bad we finally had to move. It was disgusting.
There are rats here in the Ranches but we haven't seen any of them. (touch wood) We don't have them in the house or yard. Our biggest problem is the neighbor's peacock that wants to sit on top of my minivan at night. LOL
One thing to pay attention to when house hunting, AR's is more westernized when it comes to things like storage cabinets, bathroom vents. When we lived in AD we lived in a neighborhood that was locals only in a stand alone villa. It was very lonely not to have any neighbors that we could do things with. I was spit on by Emirati children when walking to the local grocery store and that was the house with all the roaches. I couldn't get out of there fast enough. Our kitchen cabinets were a rather interesting design color choice and the tile work in every room and bathroom was so tacky with pepto bismal pink or french blue or gray. It would have brought a tear to Liberace's eye. Here in the Ranches we have cherry cabinets like what we have in the states, granite countertops, tumbled tile back splashes. In the bathrooms we have granite countertops with full cabinets and storage drawers. In the AD house we only had free standing pedestal sinks so we had to buy storage for all of our bathrooms. Some places here have sinks that come straight out of the wall but nothing underneath for storage so you see the pipes showing. Again you'll have to buy storage for your bathrooms. The bathroom vents were in the window with a hole cut out and the vent stuck in there so you got to see the whole fan and components. Here our vents are built into the ceiling like in the states. You'll see the difference when you get here and start looking around at the housing choices.
It's just a really nice place to live with all the neighbors, parks, running/biking trails, grocery stores and restaurants, and pools that are heated and chilled year round so you can use them all the time.
Good luck with your trip. It's not as bad as your web hunting is letting on. I have three children here and wouldn't live somewhere that wasn't safe or could run the risk of a camel spider carrying my 10 month old off to the dessert. LOL
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verdeque
Posts 378
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02/06/2012 07:48:08
lol. I can handle anything but a camel spider crawling up from under the car seat, which I read about here!!!! It would be the end of me!
On my way in 12 hours to look at schools and areas!
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Appletiser
Posts 7133
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02/06/2012 07:32:29
verdeque wrote:
so, like a complete idiot I stayed up till 1 am reading horror stories on EW about huntsman spiders, camel spiders (holy ****), scorpions, rats, redback spiders and cockroaches, many of them in the Ranches!!!!!!!!!!!! So, puhleeze tell me that I don't need to worry about living there!!! Based on the stories I got whipped up into a completely irrational frenzy and told my DH there was no way I was living in AR. Now that it's NOT the middle of the night, I'm back to my senses, but would love assurances!!!
Dubai is in the desert after all  What doesnt kill you makes you stronger!
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verdeque
Posts 378
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02/06/2012 03:29:09
so, like a complete idiot I stayed up till 1 am reading horror stories on EW about huntsman spiders, camel spiders (holy ****), scorpions, rats, redback spiders and cockroaches, many of them in the Ranches!!!!!!!!!!!! So, puhleeze tell me that I don't need to worry about living there!!! Based on the stories I got whipped up into a completely irrational frenzy and told my DH there was no way I was living in AR. Now that it's NOT the middle of the night, I'm back to my senses, but would love assurances!!!
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waterbaby
Posts 89
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17/05/2012 21:43:18
I can't help re schools but I echo what SunDevil and Sue62 say about living on the Ranches. I lived in the Marina for 3 years and was reluctant to move to the Ranches because I thought it too isolated. I've now lived in the Ranches for nearly 2 years and I love it. It's a great location, not isolated in the least, has loads of great facilities and loads of stuff nearby. Plus I've made a few really good friends just from taking my DD to the pool and getting chatting to other mums.
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verdeque
Posts 378
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17/05/2012 20:27:43
Sue62 wrote:
Sorry PJ, I obviously misunderstood the " leave the school shopping til you get here"...
As Sundevil says, the Ranches is a fab place to live and we don't feelin the least bit "Removed"..on the contrary, it seems everywhere is ony 25 minutes away in whichever direction lol.. We have our own retail centre housing a supermarket, pharmacy, pet shop, toy shop, costa coffee etc..and there's the golf club for an evening out etc...
Some people will say there are Other, newer developments where you can get more for your money, but they don't have the same amenities yet....
I am def planning to check it out when we get there. I am really pleased that EW exists for help, too. Thanks for all of your input. Much appreciated & I'm sure will make for a softer landing.
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Sue62
Posts 7175
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17/05/2012 20:24:55
Sorry PJ, I obviously misunderstood the " leave the school shopping til you get here"...
As Sundevil says, the Ranches is a fab place to live and we don't feelin the least bit "Removed"..on the contrary, it seems everywhere is ony 25 minutes away in whichever direction lol.. We have our own retail centre housing a supermarket, pharmacy, pet shop, toy shop, costa coffee etc..and there's the golf club for an evening out etc...
Some people will say there are Other, newer developments where you can get more for your money, but they don't have the same amenities yet....
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SunDevil
Posts 836
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17/05/2012 19:47:09
I'm putting my son in KG2 but he will be one of the oldest in his class with a Nov birthday where he will turn 6. Here in Dubai many of the schools have a Dec 31st cut off so technically he's eligible for 1st grade but if I put him in 1st grade he'll be the baby when we return to the states b/c the cutoff in the states is typically in August or beginning of Sept. So it's my choice to place him in KG2. We were offered a spot Gems DSO and he would have been in their Year 1 there b/c it's a British school and they call the grades by different names.
You mentioned AR's. We are in the Ranches and LOVE it! We used to live in AD and moved to Dubai specifically to live in the Ranches and now DH commutes to AD for work. My school run to UAS will be 30 minutes each way but that's the cost of doing business in Dubai. Fortunately AR's runs along 311 and it's really easy to get all over Dubai from the Ranches, so I don't think anyone that lives here will say they feel like they are out in the boonies especially since there is so much out here now.
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verdeque
Posts 378
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17/05/2012 19:39:32
Plain-Jane wrote: Sue62 wrote:
Sorry, for some reason admin have closed your thread..I wanted to reply to PJ's comment that you don't need to bother with a school - I don't know about where you are but in the UK when I did the paperwork (leaving certificate etc) the schools wanted details of their new Dubai schools and it was addressed to those schools..I'm guessing it's so that the authorities know that you are moving and not just dropping out of the system...having said that, the school my youngest was supposed to be joining fell through anyway lol
Your question about ks1 etc...it depends whether it is US or English (British) Curriculum.. I don't recall saying not to bother with a school??? What I said was to focus on getting secured seats period before she comes, then transfer schools later after being here and looking around. Getting a place whatsover as a newcomer is difficult and rarely is there many available places to choose between. People are on waiting lists from birth at the most popular schools. When applying last year DS was refused even a place on the waiting list of many of them (many of them being the ones in Verdaques original post). I was in country when doing the school search and DS didnt get offered a place in any of the ones I originally applied to - didn't even get to the stage of entrance tests. I had to just grab a spot in an outrageously expensive new school to avoid missing out altogether. DS is now transferring next September (still not to any of my original choices). I certainly didnt mean not to bother getting a school - on the contrary I was advising to get a place secured to avoid missing out altogether. Verdaque - some schools have a 13 year system and some have a 12 year system. British is usually 13 year and USA is 12 year. What this means is that in a 12 year system a 5 year old would be in KG2, and in a 13 year system they would be in Year 1. The teaching is at the same level, just with different names (my son is transferring from KG1 in a 12 year system to Year 1 in a 13 year system). As someone mentioned on the previous post - whether you are able to be examined remotely will depend completely on the school. Some don't allow it, some do, and some will give you a conditional place based off the child's previous school reports, and then they will test and confirm when you are in country. You will need to confirm this individually with the schools. Some will mention it on their websites. Insofar as leaving certificates - I wasnt asked for anything addressed specifically to any of the schools we applied at.
Thank you for the clarification re the levels. I'm being offered a place for my son at JBS and was told to look at KG2 for my daughter at Childrens Garden, as they are supposed to be near each other. Doesn't look like they are. Ack, what a palaver! I really feel bad for all of you who've gone through this. I'm spending the weekend eves applying around.
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Plain-Jane
Posts 538
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17/05/2012 19:30:01
Sue62 wrote:
Sorry, for some reason admin have closed your thread..I wanted to reply to PJ's comment that you don't need to bother with a school - I don't know about where you are but in the UK when I did the paperwork (leaving certificate etc) the schools wanted details of their new Dubai schools and it was addressed to those schools..I'm guessing it's so that the authorities know that you are moving and not just dropping out of the system...having said that, the school my youngest was supposed to be joining fell through anyway lol
Your question about ks1 etc...it depends whether it is US or English (British) Curriculum..
I don't recall saying not to bother with a school??? What I said was to focus on getting secured seats period before she comes, then transfer schools later after being here and looking around. Getting a place whatsover as a newcomer is difficult and rarely is there many available places to choose between. People are on waiting lists from birth at the most popular schools. When applying last year DS was refused even a place on the waiting list of many of them (many of them being the ones in Verdaques original post). I was in country when doing the school search and DS didnt get offered a place in any of the ones I originally applied to - didn't even get to the stage of entrance tests. I had to just grab a spot in an outrageously expensive new school to avoid missing out altogether. DS is now transferring next September (still not to any of my original choices). I certainly didnt mean not to bother getting a school - on the contrary I was advising to get a place secured to avoid missing out altogether.
Verdaque - some schools have a 13 year system and some have a 12 year system. British is usually 13 year and USA is 12 year. What this means is that in a 12 year system a 5 year old would be in KG2, and in a 13 year system they would be in Year 1. The teaching is at the same level, just with different names (my son is transferring from KG1 in a 12 year system to Year 1 in a 13 year system).
As someone mentioned on the previous post - whether you are able to be examined remotely will depend completely on the school. Some don't allow it, some do, and some will give you a conditional place based off the child's previous school reports, and then they will test and confirm when you are in country. You will need to confirm this individually with the schools. Some will mention it on their websites.
Insofar as leaving certificates - I wasnt asked for anything addressed specifically to any of the schools we applied at.
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verdeque
Posts 378
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17/05/2012 19:28:51
wow, I only saw this because I looked you up. I seem to remember that you used to be notified if someone wrote on your thread, but this doesn't seem to be the case. The only way I'm seeing any responses to my posts is by looking them up in the first place. Am I doing something wrong?
I will make sure to do the schools now. I've been told I can do one in JBS (any input welcome) and one in Garden School (or whatever it's called). The trouble is that I'm 8 hours behind so the only time to reach the schools is either really late at night when I'm shattered or early in the am when I'm also shattered! lol. I am going to start applications this weekend and am still wondering if I can do assessments from afar.
I wonder why the thread was closed, too, but I think I have an idea.
Also, I love the houses in AR, just wish it wasn't so far. Do you love being there, or do you feel too removed from it all? You are a star for your kind help. 
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verdeque
Posts 378
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17/05/2012 19:28:49
wow, I only saw this because I looked you up. I seem to remember that you used to be notified if someone wrote on your thread, but this doesn't seem to be the case. The only way I'm seeing any responses to my posts is by looking them up in the first place. Am I doing something wrong?
I will make sure to do the schools now. I've been told I can do one in JBS (any input welcome) and one in Garden School (or whatever it's called). The trouble is that I'm 8 hours behind so the only time to reach the schools is either really late at night when I'm shattered or early in the am when I'm also shattered! lol. I am going to start applications this weekend and am still wondering if I can do assessments from afar.
I wonder why the thread was closed, too, but I think I have an idea.
Also, I love the houses in AR, just wish it wasn't so far. Do you love being there, or do you feel too removed from it all? You are a star for your kind help.
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Sue62
Posts 7175
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17/05/2012 18:40:55
Sorry, for some reason admin have closed your thread..I wanted to reply to PJ's comment that you don't need to bother with a school - I don't know about where you are but in the UK when I did the paperwork (leaving certificate etc) the schools wanted details of their new Dubai schools and it was addressed to those schools..I'm guessing it's so that the authorities know that you are moving and not just dropping out of the system...having said that, the school my youngest was supposed to be joining fell through anyway lol
Your question about ks1 etc...it depends whether it is US or English (British) Curriculum..
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