sophia07
Posts 2273

Tephi:
What part of New York are you from? I'm from Long Island

tephi
Posts 97

I'm also from the states- New York! Still new to Dubai (since Nov 2009). One of the best things I did to help myself settle in was attend the coffee meet ups Bumps and Babes. Also would drive somewhere every day, get lost typically and navigate my way back after discovering many new things- including the roadways are illogical.

mountainlover
Posts 127

Hi sophia07, I gave you my email on here a bit ago but it got deleted sooo I guess I cannot do that. Hopefully we will bump into each other sometime!

sophia07
Posts 2273

Look forward to seeing you all at the playgroups, I sometimes hold them myself
Wish I could give more info but as Mrs.K said meetups arranged on here are no-no's and I know someone who got banned for it

Ms. K
Posts 2688

dubaifam
Posts 10

Oops! Sorry...new poster.

mountainlover
Posts 127

Thanks Dubaifam for the info. Thanks for letting me know Ms. K

Ms. K
Posts 2688

Uh oh! One of the things about EW is that it's against the rules to arrange for get togethers unless they are sponsored by EW. So, if you're interested in them playgroup hurry up and write down the address because this will probably be deleted by the mods. Just thought someone should explain.

sophia07
Posts 2273

you can post on the wall and say hello

mountainlover
Posts 127

I did find it! Yay. I requested to join, maybe I will see you on there!

mountainlover
Posts 127

aha, ok thanks sophia!

mountainlover
Posts 127

Hmmm, I tried looking it up but nothing came up? I did a search different ways but nothing.

av8torGirl
Posts 21

Virgo and Novak,

DH is from Ohio, so that makes my family Buckeye fans My daughter was in her first Ohio state outfit at 6 days old hehe. He's from Westerville, near Columbus, and his dad is in Beavercreek near Dayton.

GO BUCKS!!

Sara

leslietfj
Posts 166

Seriously, check out www.awadubai.org. There's a general membership meeting April 13th and you can check it out then, but there is a lot to do with AWA Dubai. I'd also definitely hit one or more of the expatwoman coffees. I've made great friends there of multiple nationalities. If you're in the Greens, the Mall of the Emirates coffee Monday morning will probably be the most convenient and Jude will help you get introduced around. There are also lots of playgroups and I know the Moms who do that make great friends that way too (however, I'm not one of them so I can't speak from too much experience there).

The most important thing is to get out EVERY day until you're settled in. It's very easy to start feeling like a prisoner in your own home. Driving here is very similar to the US, so get a car if you can (take your husband to work?) and just start roaming. The cab drivers are lunatics so they make it much more scary than it actually is.

Oh, and unlike in the US, it is not weird to meet a lady, get a phone number or email and call her out of the blue to go for coffee or ask to go along to the shopping trip you heard her talking about. Every single woman here has been through the same thing and except in odd (and RUDE) cases, you will be welcomed. You won't end up friends with everyone you meet, but if you cast a wide net, you'll find some true and reliable friends.

mountainlover
Posts 127

Hello all, I clicked on the link to join the group but it says Dubai Marina group. I did a search for expat, Dubai, Springs but nothing came up. Is that the only Facebook expat group in Dubai for the Springs, Greens, ect.?? Thanks again this all really helps!!

sophia07
Posts 2273

Welcome I am also from the USA-New York!! I wish we could arrange a meetup but that is a no-no on here so I can recommend facebook groups for expats if you do a searh.

miki
Posts 43

Welcome. i hope you enjoy the experience here in Dubai. You will meet so many lovely people. Enjoy!

S0_IndEcIsiVe
Posts 474

mountain lover maybe you would like to join this group ..they are mums around springs, JBR,marina, Greens

http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?ref=profile&id=701197451#!/group.php?v=wall&gid=14258641619

norak
Posts 1223

Hi Rooty and Virgo:

Love, love, love Cincinnati Chilli. I make a knock off about once every 3 to 4 weeks. Kids love it too. Virgo, I haven't been to the Caverns for so many years -- more than I want to admit to! I remember the name of the chocolates -- but, unfortunately, don't remember what they taste like. Mountainlover, you're going to be just fine! It's really a small world!

mountainlover
Posts 127

Hi undecisive, i have a 20 month old daughter, would love to meet new people. I don't have my license yet, but I'm going to be getting it here in the next week. I actually have been putting it off because I have been a little nervous about driving, lol.

Rooty
Posts 53

Hi Norak, from Cincinnati - home of cincinnati style chili!

virgo001
Posts 21

Norak,
From a small town about an 45 min north of Dayton. West Liberty, home of Marie Candies, and Ohio Caverns!

happymommy
Posts 385

Hi mountainlover,
I know exactly how you feel. I've been here for 2 months now and the first weeks here I felt very lonely. I have a 3 months old DD and I live in Springs 4. I'm not from the States, but DH is, he's from Florida. I also felt as if the other moms in the Springs ignored me, but then one day I went over to Spinneys and sat down for a coffee. After 5 minutes or so, 3 lovely moms with babies around same age as DD asked me to join them at their table. That made my day! And one of them is quite a good friend now.
I also met a couple of very nice ladies at the EW Bumps'n'Babes coffee morning. It gets easier after a while, once you made a few friends you'll meet more ppl through them and so on. Hang in there, there are alot of nice ppl out there!

norak
Posts 1223

Small world fellow buckeyes. I'm from Dayton - what about you guys?

virgo001
Posts 21

Hi mountainlover! I'm also from the States, originally Ohio.(Hi Nora) I've been through a few moves and plan to relocate to Dubai over the summer. Making new friends is always a mission. I usually have to make an effort and try different approaches. Meeting other moms with children the same age as yours is always the easiest. Other ways are, joining a womens group, an exercise class, or a book club. Don't be afraid to make the first move. If you see a group of women by the pool, go up and introduce yourself, let them know that your new to the area. Try not to use the line "Where are you from? and how long have you've been in Dubai?" As most of them have heard this phrase some many times and it becomes a turn off. Try compliments and open ended questions. If things don't work out, don't take it personally. Just move on and try to meet someone else. Good Luck!

Sharmishtha
Posts 11

Hey mountainover

Welcome to a world where pecans, blueberries and cranberries are so much more expensive that you're used to, and a lot of stuff is not available

On a serious note, hope you have a great time here. Make the most of what Dubai has to offer W E L C O M E

mountainlover
Posts 127

I will check it out thanks snazzy. It's funny I thought it would be great to meet new friends from different countires but it seems like alot people like to stick to their own groups? I don't get second glances or smiles from any Moms when I go out to the pool or playground, it seems like if they hear me talk they turn their backs and ignore me. Is this normal or have I just hit it at wrong place, wrong time? I'm not going to give up, it's only been a month, lol...But it's been strange. I feel sometimes like the new kid in the cafeteria holding my tray looking nervously around searching for where I'm going to sit. Stupid I know but it's how I have felt quite a few times here.

Snazzy
Posts 1842

You could also check out the American Women's Association to see if they still run playgroups for people with kids roughly the toddler but before nursery stage. That was a great way to meet people and since it is an American (roughly) group you might feel more comfortable.

Rooty
Posts 53

Hi Mountainlover!
I'm also from the States - Ohio (Hi Norak). I have been here for about 6 years and still would love to meet some fellow Americans. I live in the Green Community but send my 3 year old to nursery in Emirates Hills. I"m also expecting my second in a few weeks. Hope to meet up sometime!

salsB
Posts 7865

Welcome Mountainlover, as already said we all have gone thru the same, it took me 10 months to meet just one person, a very lonely time, but I took the bull by the horns so to speak. Im sure you will be fine, and as you have a LO it should be a bit easier for you as there as so many groups that meet up with kids.

Good luck and if you need anything just give usa shout, we are here to help.