things you CAN do that you can't at home...? | ExpatWoman.com
 

things you CAN do that you can't at home...?

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 15:05

We talk a lot about things that aren't permitted to do or have in Dubai - alcohol without a licence, public affection, some over the counter medicines etc etc. But what CAN you do in Dubai that would be completely unacceptable, publicly disapproved-of (or actually illegal) in your home country?

I'm talking big or little things, and things that you may or may not actually approve of. Like you can legally marry more than once if you're a Muslim man, which you can't in many countries. Or being out in a cafe at midnight on a Tuesday with school-age kids isn't regarded in Dubai as an automatic sign of Bad Parenting the way it would be in the UK. Or the fact that there isn't a 100% culture of seatbelt-wearing, or restraining children in a car.

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 11:59
Things I can do here that I can't get in Sydney: - cheap and variety of food - not having to get out of the car to fill the tank - DEWA bills are reasonable compared to Electricity bills back home - I love the call to prayer here That's pretty much it. Not much I gues... Things I can get here that I can't do in London (DH's home) - Get out of the house anytime October - April without carrying an Umbrella or pushing a pushchair with raincover (and therefore kids screaming).. - taking kids out to the park since it's nice and sunny. - nice beaches within 10 mins drive - Live in HUGE villa compared to tiny overpriced apartments - Get a variety of food for much cheaper price - get fresh fruit and veges from Fruit and Veg market - Not having to queue up in Post office and bank forever... - be able to afford a cleaner - stay at home with children - Get quick medical service (NHS in London takes ages to get an appointment, even local private hospital takes a week). I do trust doctors there more. - Have a clean surrounding...not trash everywhere on the streets. - Go for a walk at night or go to the local park at night without worrying about gangs hanging out there (and swearing full speed) - People who smile at you and look happy - NO street gangs thankfully I can only say this for London city, there are lovely places outside of London which has almost everything Dubai has minus the sun I guess...
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 10:08
Sit with the patio doors wide open on a March evening! Have my supermarket shop packed for me (and in Bahrain have the trolley contents loaded onto the belt too) - caused a few problems the first time I returned to the UK - blush Have the car washed everyday by the cheerful man in our car park - love the fact that most people here are cheerful most of the time whereas in Blighty everyone seems to have something to moan about. Being called Ma'am and not "luv", "duck" or any other endearment by people you don't know Wonder why there are no replacement electric toothbrush heads for sale again! Walk out of my front door without being confronted by an array of outsize wheelie bins provided for me to sort my own rubbish and cart to the end of the path on various days during the month - I don't miss clogging up my brain with rubbish collection schedules! Park for free in the shopping malls. Yes yes yes....agree! You can do all of those things in the UK, USA and Europe.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 09:22
Sit with the patio doors wide open on a March evening! Have my supermarket shop packed for me (and in Bahrain have the trolley contents loaded onto the belt too) - caused a few problems the first time I returned to the UK - blush Have the car washed everyday by the cheerful man in our car park - love the fact that most people here are cheerful most of the time whereas in Blighty everyone seems to have something to moan about. Being called Ma'am and not "luv", "duck" or any other endearment by people you don't know Wonder why there are no replacement electric toothbrush heads for sale again! Walk out of my front door without being confronted by an array of outsize wheelie bins provided for me to sort my own rubbish and cart to the end of the path on various days during the month - I don't miss clogging up my brain with rubbish collection schedules! Park for free in the shopping malls. Yes yes yes....agree!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 09:21
There are so many wonderful things you can do here that you cant at home. Home is different to many but right now many of us hv chosen Dubai to be our home. but why then is there so much negativity... Chillout - I seem to have this argument with so many people. I hate it when people are always criticizing how things are done in Dubai. Everybody must have done a cost-benefit analysis between Dubai and their home country or other countries they had offers from and they CHOSE Dubai cause it offered them more. And of course, its not a place without faults but I think the good things definitely outweigh the bad things. Hi i totally agree....why is there so much negativity....i hardly respond on this forum but cud not stand all the negative comments.... many use it to vent their frustrations....so be it...but all cant be that negative.....pl take your negative energies elsewhere....we need more positive people in this world and on this forum!!!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 08 March 2011 - 00:43
Eat wherever I want without checking if it's halal or not... go to a water theme park/beach in a bathing suit (ladies only days)..leave my car running while I jump out and withdraw cash or whatever... leave valuable things in the car without worrying that the window will get smashed and my things will get stolen. The list is endless!
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:56
Sit with the patio doors wide open on a March evening! Have my supermarket shop packed for me (and in Bahrain have the trolley contents loaded onto the belt too) - caused a few problems the first time I returned to the UK - blush Have the car washed everyday by the cheerful man in our car park - love the fact that most people here are cheerful most of the time whereas in Blighty everyone seems to have something to moan about. Being called Ma'am and not "luv", "duck" or any other endearment by people you don't know Wonder why there are no replacement electric toothbrush heads for sale again! Walk out of my front door without being confronted by an array of outsize wheelie bins provided for me to sort my own rubbish and cart to the end of the path on various days during the month - I don't miss clogging up my brain with rubbish collection schedules! Park for free in the shopping malls. That is why I like shopping at Choithrams, because their packers are taught to unload the cart as well. It helps when my hip is playing up and bending into the cart is almost impossible (and sometimes causes me to fall in head first). LOL - have a picture of legs waving in air at the checkout! :-) whilst desperately trying to retrieve my upside-down pineapples, after a fruitless run around the store:) ;)
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:55
That's when you need the big granny pants...LOL
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:52
Sit with the patio doors wide open on a March evening! Have my supermarket shop packed for me (and in Bahrain have the trolley contents loaded onto the belt too) - caused a few problems the first time I returned to the UK - blush Have the car washed everyday by the cheerful man in our car park - love the fact that most people here are cheerful most of the time whereas in Blighty everyone seems to have something to moan about. Being called Ma'am and not "luv", "duck" or any other endearment by people you don't know Wonder why there are no replacement electric toothbrush heads for sale again! Walk out of my front door without being confronted by an array of outsize wheelie bins provided for me to sort my own rubbish and cart to the end of the path on various days during the month - I don't miss clogging up my brain with rubbish collection schedules! Park for free in the shopping malls. That is why I like shopping at Choithrams, because their packers are taught to unload the cart as well. It helps when my hip is playing up and bending into the cart is almost impossible (and sometimes causes me to fall in head first). LOL - have a picture of legs waving in air at the checkout! :-)
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EW GURU
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:51
Sit with the patio doors wide open on a March evening! Have my supermarket shop packed for me (and in Bahrain have the trolley contents loaded onto the belt too) - caused a few problems the first time I returned to the UK - blush Have the car washed everyday by the cheerful man in our car park - love the fact that most people here are cheerful most of the time whereas in Blighty everyone seems to have something to moan about. Being called Ma'am and not "luv", "duck" or any other endearment by people you don't know Wonder why there are no replacement electric toothbrush heads for sale again! Walk out of my front door without being confronted by an array of outsize wheelie bins provided for me to sort my own rubbish and cart to the end of the path on various days during the month - I don't miss clogging up my brain with rubbish collection schedules! Park for free in the shopping malls. That is why I like shopping at Choithrams, because their packers are taught to unload the cart as well. It helps when my hip is playing up and bending into the cart is almost impossible (and sometimes causes me to fall in head first).
117
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:44
Sit with the patio doors wide open on a March evening! Have my supermarket shop packed for me (and in Bahrain have the trolley contents loaded onto the belt too) - caused a few problems the first time I returned to the UK - blush Have the car washed everyday by the cheerful man in our car park - love the fact that most people here are cheerful most of the time whereas in Blighty everyone seems to have something to moan about. Being called Ma'am and not "luv", "duck" or any other endearment by people you don't know Wonder why there are no replacement electric toothbrush heads for sale again! Walk out of my front door without being confronted by an array of outsize wheelie bins provided for me to sort my own rubbish and cart to the end of the path on various days during the month - I don't miss clogging up my brain with rubbish collection schedules! Park for free in the shopping malls.
488
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 21:20
There are so many wonderful things you can do here that you cant at home. Home is different to many but right now many of us hv chosen Dubai to be our home. but why then is there so much negativity... Chillout - I seem to have this argument with so many people. I hate it when people are always criticizing how things are done in Dubai. Everybody must have done a cost-benefit analysis between Dubai and their home country or other countries they had offers from and they CHOSE Dubai cause it offered them more. And of course, its not a place without faults but I think the good things definitely outweigh the bad things.
Anonymous (not verified)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 14:05
I can pay for stuff with DH's bank card and vice versa without anyone questioning it... we both get called maaaaamsiiirrrr anyway so why should it matter if the card I'm paying with says [b'>Mr[/b'> Pentel?!
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:43
Sit in the car with the car running while someone fills the gas tank :) running ??? :\: Ooops no, you can't do that :\: at least i hope she doesn't lol
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:26
I can say hello to anyone on the street without them looking at me like I am a weirdo.......
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:20
There are so many wonderful things you can do here that you cant at home. Home is different to many but right now many of us hv chosen Dubai to be our home. but why then is there so much negativity...is it impossible to find a few positive things...for me.... 1. being able to stay home and enjoy quality time with my children....amazing 2. afford a big villa wen it is an impossibility in my home country.....just wonderful. 3. hv time to coffee with friends and for that matter sit and write to this forum...read a book....develop new friendships with pp from so many nationalities....just great. 4. drive nice cars.....wow... 5. take nice holidays to around middle east, europe or asia...or africa...all within reach and affordable and as most of us ladies dont work....gives us time to plan and enjoy... 6. eating out...variety is amazing...well quality depends on where you are comparing with.... 7. so many fun activities for kids....cud never dream of this back home... 8. safety...tho my home is safe....how many places are really safe in this world? can we take a train at 11pm..dare not do this in most major cities... 9. shopping shopping shopping...more variety here.. 10. afford a maid...or two if we want...a driver...a gardener....luxury.... thats my 10 points worth of what i can do here versus back home...
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 09:20
I can stay at home with lil miss I can go on lots of lovely lovely trips to very cool places I can free camp on spectacular beaches and desertscapes I can get immediate medical attention without waiting months or years in our 'free' system at home I can wear shorts and jandals to 5* hotels for lunch I can have just about any kind of food my little heart desires, delivered.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 06:03
Sit in the car with the car running while someone fills the gas tank :) running ??? :\: Ooops no, you can't do that :\:
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 04:34
having my car filled for me hate hate having to get out when im back in uk freezing wet windy filling my car then thinking there must be a hole in the tank cos its just cost me 480.00 dhs (80.00 gbp) appose to 100.00 dhs (17.00 gbp) .Xmas after much arguing on the forecourt with DH i had to get out his face was total horror when he gave me 50.00 gbp and i tapped on the window for more lol.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 00:42
The fact that you can leave your supermarket trolley anywhere in the car park and nobody bats an eyelid!! I forgot about this when I landed at Heathrow a couple of years back and calmly left my airport trolley in a parking bay until some guy in his car shouted at me!! Ooops! Too long in Dubai methinks!!!!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 00:41
Fill up the car with petrol without having to worry about taking out a mortgage to do so! Spend time in the pool on Christmas morning and then barbecue in the afternoon without worrying about the weather (within reason).
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 00:26
Also, I loved studying with people who came from 100 + different countries and unlike UK and USA, they haven't all assimilated so I still get to observe and enjoy their quirky cultural customs :) Communicate with 5-6 nationalities in my office during only one working day! Awesome!
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 00:23
I agree, Miss B - Once you figure the system, things do move pretty fast in Dubai Things happen much faster here, there is very much a 'get it done now' attitude here, i find it very frustrating when we have to deal with UK counterparts who do things so slooooooooowly...
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 07 March 2011 - 00:22
LOVE this .. but must mention that I find this a common practice in most Muslim countries - not just UAE Go to a Ladies queue and get served over the long queues of men!........
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 19:31
Things happen much faster here, there is very much a 'get it done now' attitude here, i find it very frustrating when we have to deal with UK counterparts who do things so slooooooooowly... Thats ridiculous, EVERYONE knows how slowly things get done in Dubai. Most people I know find it incredibly frustrating working in Dubai as even the simplest of things takes an age.
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 18:51
When we lived in Abu Dhabi, I loved that there were women only sections in cafe's etc.
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 18:51
Have used the bus but not for ages. Been on the metro 3 times in the last week and been offered a seat twice. :cool: Edited to add.... I am not old/pregnant/broken legs etc.... Just a woman hehe. edited by Lady Bubbles on 06/03/2011 Do you notice some nationalities are much quicker to offer you a seat? I certainly have
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EW EXPERT
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 18:48
Go to a Ladies queue and get served over the long queues of men!........
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EW GURU
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 18:41
Have used the bus but not for ages. Been on the metro 3 times in the last week and been offered a seat twice. :cool: Edited to add.... I am not old/pregnant/broken legs etc.... Just a woman hehe. <em>edited by Lady Bubbles on 06/03/2011</em>
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EW EXPLORER
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 18:34
Get fruit, veg and other food from all over the world in the supermarkets. I love the fresh mint and lemon drinks too. Go to a mall late at night.
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EW MASTER
Latest post on 06 March 2011 - 18:24
people usually always give their seat to a lady who is standing on the bus (and have also experienced it on the metro but maybe that doesn't happen so much when it is packed) Do they really?? I have never been on a bus here ;) Amazing... My answer: medical procedures eg X rays MRIs etc - you can get them FAST here IF you have the money, of course.
 
 

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