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DesertRose1958
Posts 1905
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09/05/2012 21:47:07
Simone N wrote: I'd do it if I had to; it wouldn't be fun or particularly pleasant but I'd do it. We were always out and about as children growing up in the Middle East regardless of the heat. I've lived to tell the tale (from my air-conditioned living room). It sometimes takes my car that long to cool down at pick-up if we get stuck in traffic. And it'll make the school run in the cooler months so much better. Your children will skip to school then! quote] You lot were hard core Simone 
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DesertRose1958
Posts 1905
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09/05/2012 21:44:33
No I wouldnt do it and wouldnt want anyone I know doing it either.
Years and years ago here in Oman kids would finish school for the summer at the end of april or first week of May, older kids would be finished a few weeks later. They did do a 5 and half day week though. When I'm on the school run with my grandchildren I wish they could have those days back because even in a car with the ac running I believe that come certain times of the year not even mad dogs and englishman should be out and about doing anything during extreme temps.
My grandson has been unwell and off school for two days now and my first thought was - ah no school run for him, good.
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Irooni
Posts 6733
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09/05/2012 21:42:59
No place like Tehran for me. Perfect 4 seasons. Bliss x
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Alismum
Posts 953
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09/05/2012 21:36:44
Irooni wrote: Alismum, I have never ever come across anyone as bad as myself with heat. Anything above 24c is too hot. I am considering a move to Ireland! 
Really Irooni. I went to Tehran once and it was freeeeeeezing, coldest I've ever been. Had icicles coming from my nose.
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Irooni
Posts 6733
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09/05/2012 21:34:28
Alismum, I have never ever come across anyone as bad as myself with heat. Anything above 24c is too hot. I am considering a move to Ireland!
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Irooni
Posts 6733
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09/05/2012 21:33:04
Neda?
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Irooni
Posts 6733
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09/05/2012 21:09:48
Lolacat wrote:
To me you are looking at this a bit backwards.
You mention you taught in China and Saudi.
Loads of teacher jobs on EW pages and TES, the schools here are always looking, get employed as a teacher and get your fees paid for, do a deal, most schools will.
Rent a cheap run around and get a divorce.
Why get a divorce ??
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Irooni
Posts 6733
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09/05/2012 21:09:02
Alismum wrote: lol Did I tell you BM that I survived a whole summer here without AC and only a few fans. Tis true... 
Oh my god! If I didn't die, I would have ended up in a mental institution!
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Baklava mmmm
Posts 71
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09/05/2012 20:20:46
Simone N wrote:
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned that there will more than likely be other families from the school in the same area who would be willing to give you a ride home/into school. Even if it's not every day, I'm sure you'll work it out.
Oh yeah!
Nobody even offered! LOL! We are all too busy wondering if this will be the TNT.
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Genie
Posts 1552
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09/05/2012 20:18:27
feefnick - I have lived here a very long time and in Australia before that so I am definitely acclimatized. When I go home to the UK I shiver in what is considered a heatwave there and will not remove my cardi let alone break out a swimsuit or anything sleeveless.
I sold my car in Sept 2010 and decided to do without a car as a lot of my working life I had lived in cities without the need for a car and decided I should try and do without one here. August 2011 was my undoing. Whereas getting to work was a breeze as taxis are plentiful where I live, any other expidition began to be torture. The breaking point was grocery shopping, waiting on the side of the road with heavy bags in the heat and humidity often for up to and above 30 minutes at a time was a killler.
Because of the high humidity here you do not have the normal cooling processes, evaporation of sweat, as it is too humid, the result being that you overheat rapidly. Then when you do go inside a cool building you sweat like a p*g, and end up looking like you have just stepped straight out of the pool... fully clothed.
One of the breaking points for me was when a taxi stopped, with someone already inside and offered to share the journey... the Filipino maid inside was going to the same place and wanted to know who my 'madam' was. LOL.. time to get a car again.
I suggest you investigate a back up plan of a reliable taxi driver who you can call on the days when the humidity is really stinkingly high.
edited by Genie on 09/05/2012
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Feefmick
Posts 959
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09/05/2012 20:02:32
I taught a long time ago(early 90's) in UK but GCSE's etc in technical colleges rather than schools. As a result I never completed my probationary period for schools teaching. In Saudi I taught adults - Saudi women which was very interesting!. In China I ended up teaching PE in an American Intl school - my qualifications are actually biology, maths, chemistry.In China i started off doing supply/substitute teaching and my coaching qualifications and a bit of bulls**t gained me this PE position LOL(was mainly teaching Primary school kids so my coaching qualifications covered this fine). I last taught in 1998 but it seems to me that schools are much more choosy about appropriate qualifications/paperwork than they were back in those days.
It is still worth a try but I believe I'm more likely to gain a local hire position than a full contract due to the fact it is so long since I have taught. I will def be investigating all possibilities and increasingly the D word sounds good LOL. Just need to get cv put together amongst everything else I am currently juggling.
edited by Feefmick on 09/05/2012
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Lolacat
Posts 886
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09/05/2012 19:36:40
To me you are looking at this a bit backwards.
You mention you taught in China and Saudi.
Loads of teacher jobs on EW pages and TES, the schools here are always looking, get employed as a teacher and get your fees paid for, do a deal, most schools will.
Rent a cheap run around and get a divorce.
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Simone N
Posts 2383
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09/05/2012 19:27:11
I'd do it if I had to; it wouldn't be fun or particularly pleasant but I'd do it. We were always out and about as children growing up in the Middle East regardless of the heat. I've lived to tell the tale (from my air-conditioned living room). It sometimes takes my car that long to cool down at pick-up if we get stuck in traffic. And it'll make the school run in the cooler months so much better. Your children will skip to school then!
I'm surprised that no-one has mentioned that there will more than likely be other families from the school in the same area who would be willing to give you a ride home/into school. Even if it's not every day, I'm sure you'll work it out.
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Sue62
Posts 7175
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09/05/2012 18:35:43
Feefmick wrote:
Will definetly investigate the Greens. Thanks!!!
just out of interest how do families with 2 cars manage in the Greens as I believe they only come with one car parking space??
edited by Feefmick on 09/05/2012
Make sure you're home first ?? Lol
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Feefmick
Posts 959
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09/05/2012 18:29:34
Will definetly investigate the Greens. Thanks!!!
just out of interest how do families with 2 cars manage in the Greens as I believe they only come with one car parking space??
edited by Feefmick on 09/05/2012
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Dilys
Posts 366
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09/05/2012 18:26:02
The Dangerous Blonde wrote: Dilys wrote: The Dangerous Blonde wrote:
Why not rent a 2 bed in the Greens for 75k and use the difference to rent a car? That way you are mobile and can drop the kids at school (5 - 10 mins drive if it's in the Springs), and if you find a job, can drive to work too. It will make your life soooooo much easier. Villas are nice to have but as other posters have said, your DEWA will be thru the roof - the cost of a/c and water for a villa is double that for an apartment. I wouldn't rent a villa if I was on a budget - they are the preserve of those comfortably off and the Springs ones are really small. It is also a residential community and hard to get around without a car. It will be very cramped for a family of 4 in one of those 2 beds. The Greens is a lovely community, lots of families, LOW RISE (you could find an apartment on the first or second floor), gardens, pools, play areas and plenty of things within walking distance like coffee, supermarket etc. It is also centrally located and would take your DH about 30mins to get to work by the airport. Taxis are easy to find and you're so close to everything in Dubai. Sorry to chime in late but I would take this option over dragging your poor kids through the heat to school. HTH What's The Greens like for pets please? Absolutely fine - I had cats in my apartment (6 at one point as they had kittens, but that's another story loool!), dogs are well catered for too, as it's lovely to walk around. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Great I'm on the hunt now. We've got 2 dogs and 3 cats to accommodate
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arohadxb
Posts 6217
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09/05/2012 18:02:13
Baklava mmmm wrote: arohadxb wrote:
you can cut through the backside Aroha, you've been in the middle east WAY too long...roflmao. Feefmick, good on you for looking for ways round things. Something or the other will work out.
lol, I know I know.
feefmick,,,the dangerous blonde is right you know, the 2 beddys in the springs are tinsey winsey, you'd get more bang for your buck at the greens a short drive away and you'd have the car. Metro station right there as well...you'd have to bus/or taxi to even metro it from the springs.
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The Dangerous Blonde
Posts 2113
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09/05/2012 18:01:06
mushypeas wrote: The Dangerous Blonde wrote:
Why not rent a 2 bed in the Greens for 75k ...
2 bed in the greens for 75K .. really ?!!!!!!! Just checked on Dubizzle and there are 60 listings in the Greens for 75k (2bed min). Some of hte more desirable and larger Greens apartments are more, but in my opinion, they are nice enough, large, and well located so would suggest to the OP to investigate this route. 1beds for 48-50k btw.
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mushypeas
Posts 2339
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09/05/2012 17:55:38
The Dangerous Blonde wrote:
Why not rent a 2 bed in the Greens for 75k ...
2 bed in the greens for 75K .. really ?!!!!!!!
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The Dangerous Blonde
Posts 2113
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09/05/2012 17:53:53
Dilys wrote: The Dangerous Blonde wrote:
Why not rent a 2 bed in the Greens for 75k and use the difference to rent a car? That way you are mobile and can drop the kids at school (5 - 10 mins drive if it's in the Springs), and if you find a job, can drive to work too. It will make your life soooooo much easier. Villas are nice to have but as other posters have said, your DEWA will be thru the roof - the cost of a/c and water for a villa is double that for an apartment. I wouldn't rent a villa if I was on a budget - they are the preserve of those comfortably off and the Springs ones are really small. It is also a residential community and hard to get around without a car. It will be very cramped for a family of 4 in one of those 2 beds. The Greens is a lovely community, lots of families, LOW RISE (you could find an apartment on the first or second floor), gardens, pools, play areas and plenty of things within walking distance like coffee, supermarket etc. It is also centrally located and would take your DH about 30mins to get to work by the airport. Taxis are easy to find and you're so close to everything in Dubai. Sorry to chime in late but I would take this option over dragging your poor kids through the heat to school. HTH What's The Greens like for pets please?
Absolutely fine - I had cats in my apartment (6 at one point as they had kittens, but that's another story loool!), dogs are well catered for too, as it's lovely to walk around. Cannot recommend highly enough.
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Dilys
Posts 366
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09/05/2012 17:53:00
The Dangerous Blonde wrote:
Why not rent a 2 bed in the Greens for 75k and use the difference to rent a car? That way you are mobile and can drop the kids at school (5 - 10 mins drive if it's in the Springs), and if you find a job, can drive to work too. It will make your life soooooo much easier. Villas are nice to have but as other posters have said, your DEWA will be thru the roof - the cost of a/c and water for a villa is double that for an apartment. I wouldn't rent a villa if I was on a budget - they are the preserve of those comfortably off and the Springs ones are really small. It is also a residential community and hard to get around without a car. It will be very cramped for a family of 4 in one of those 2 beds. The Greens is a lovely community, lots of families, LOW RISE (you could find an apartment on the first or second floor), gardens, pools, play areas and plenty of things within walking distance like coffee, supermarket etc. It is also centrally located and would take your DH about 30mins to get to work by the airport. Taxis are easy to find and you're so close to everything in Dubai. Sorry to chime in late but I would take this option over dragging your poor kids through the heat to school. HTH
What's The Greens like for pets please?
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Baklava mmmm
Posts 71
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09/05/2012 17:50:10
Mark. overstepped.
PS, OP- put DH on the metro to EKHQ from the Greens! It's the least he can do! lol. then you've got the car.
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Baklava mmmm
Posts 71
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09/05/2012 17:47:13
arohadxb wrote:
you can cut through the backside
Aroha, you've been in the middle east WAY too long...roflmao.
Feefmick, good on you for looking for ways round things. Something or the other will work out.
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suze63
Posts 1648
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09/05/2012 17:46:36
I'd far rather live in an apartment in The Greens than a small villa in Springs (IMHO). I think The Greens is far nicer.
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The Dangerous Blonde
Posts 2113
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09/05/2012 17:41:28
Why not rent a 2 bed in the Greens for 75k and use the difference to rent a car? That way you are mobile and can drop the kids at school (5 - 10 mins drive if it's in the Springs), and if you find a job, can drive to work too. It will make your life soooooo much easier. Villas are nice to have but as other posters have said, your DEWA will be thru the roof - the cost of a/c and water for a villa is double that for an apartment. I wouldn't rent a villa if I was on a budget - they are the preserve of those comfortably off and the Springs ones are really small. It is also a residential community and hard to get around without a car. It will be very cramped for a family of 4 in one of those 2 beds. The Greens is a lovely community, lots of families, LOW RISE (you could find an apartment on the first or second floor), gardens, pools, play areas and plenty of things within walking distance like coffee, supermarket etc. It is also centrally located and would take your DH about 30mins to get to work by the airport. Taxis are easy to find and you're so close to everything in Dubai. Sorry to chime in late but I would take this option over dragging your poor kids through the heat to school. HTH
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arohadxb
Posts 6217
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09/05/2012 17:32:01
feefmick...isnt springs 3 closer to DBS?...you can cut through the backside and be in the back carpark of spinneys in no time at all. (Unless I have my mental map of the springs absolutely about face)
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Feefmick
Posts 959
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09/05/2012 17:21:53
PS sue62 - love your comment re car by Xmas - working on it LOL.
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Feefmick
Posts 959
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09/05/2012 17:18:51
Back is against the wall ladies. DH took a job on a salary which is not really viable with school age kids and school fees to pay. He's gone and done it and started so I have to try and make the most of things. I take heart by a few folk posting that although NOT pleasant their kids do walk SHORT distances. I'm not ignoring other posters but heartened by those that say their kids do it. I realise it won't be very pleasant and the kids realise that as well but they also appreciate I have very little room to manoevre - the option for them is to stay in UK and barely see their Dad or put up with some hardship and see their Dad. At minute (and this may well change) they choose to put up with hardship.The plan is to look for a 2 bed in Springs 2 and get as close to DBS as possible. I know people park in Spinneys to walk to DBS and I am hoping to locate somewhere in Springs 2 where there will be no more than about twice that distance to walk. I understand a car is only about 1500 dirham a month but until I find employment (especially with huge start up costs) I just can't find that sort of money. I know it's going to be hard on me as I'll be forced to taking buses/metro etc and DEFINETLY not my choice and not something I am patricularly happy about. Pains me to say it but DH liked the look of the job and took it with no real consideration towards how it would affect the family. The way I see it I have 2 choices - I can moan and divorce him/wring his neck (lol) or give things a try and see what happens.
I DO appreciate everyone's comments and what I think I have established is that a 5 to 10 min walk maximum is NOT desirable BUT IS possibly doable.
once again thanks for comments and I'll post back in Sept and let you know how I'm doing. Fingers crossed , it might all have changed and I might have a job and a car by then!
edited by Feefmick on 09/05/2012
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Sue62
Posts 7175
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09/05/2012 15:20:02
The Dangerous Blonde wrote:
No offence to FM, but I find it odd that a newbie to Dubai posts on a forum, asks for everyone's advice, someone runs a poll on their behalf, at least 25 different people reply and 95% of people say NO, they do not recommend walking their kids to school during summer, yet the OP insists repeatedly it will be OK. Despite not having lived here or experienced a Dubai summer. If it were me, I would take on board what everyone has advised, and taken time out of their day to help, and realise that they probably know best and go with the majority. Claiming that we are all mollycoddled because we don't walk the streets (which is dangerous anyway), and go from one air conditioning to another is a bit rich from someone who has not lived here.
To the OP - I appreciate that financial constraints mean that your living options are limited however, hiring a car costs as little as 1,500AED per month and in my opinion is essential to get around town, especially with LOs in tow. It also means you can be more flexible with where you live and your kids won't pass out from heat exhaustion. don't forget that most things in Dubai are just not walkable, and are in fact miles apart, so every trip to the supermarket / mall / appointment / friends will require a taxi, which all adds up, much better to just hire a car. Good luck!
i guess the OP isn't taking advice on board because she can't - the decision to only have one car has already been made...i know it makes me sound like the typical spoilt expat but i really could not manage here without my own transport..if only it was as simple as just the school run..our first 6 weeks or so here before i got my car were a logistical nightmare and spending all my time apartment bound was a lovely break...for the first couple of weeks !! But, as others have noticed, the OP sounds a together sort of person, i'm sure she will take it all in her stride...and i'm willing to bet she has her own car by Christmas
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The Dangerous Blonde
Posts 2113
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09/05/2012 15:04:23
No offence to FM, but I find it odd that a newbie to Dubai posts on a forum, asks for everyone's advice, someone runs a poll on their behalf, at least 25 different people reply and 95% of people say NO, they do not recommend walking their kids to school during summer, yet the OP insists repeatedly it will be OK. Despite not having lived here or experienced a Dubai summer. If it were me, I would take on board what everyone has advised, and taken time out of their day to help, and realise that they probably know best and go with the majority. Claiming that we are all mollycoddled because we don't walk the streets (which is dangerous anyway), and go from one air conditioning to another is a bit rich from someone who has not lived here.
To the OP - I appreciate that financial constraints mean that your living options are limited however, hiring a car costs as little as 1,500AED per month and in my opinion is essential to get around town, especially with LOs in tow. It also means you can be more flexible with where you live and your kids won't pass out from heat exhaustion. don't forget that most things in Dubai are just not walkable, and are in fact miles apart, so every trip to the supermarket / mall / appointment / friends will require a taxi, which all adds up, much better to just hire a car. Good luck!
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