Finally got official word that we are moving to AD......advice about what to bring/expect?

Hello All -

I've been lurking on this forum for a few months now as I've waiting for my husband's company to finally give him the go ahead that he officially has the job in AD. We got the official word today and so now I'm making lists and working on what I can for the move.

We are coming over sometime in mid-June or mid-July. Our kids will be at the American Community School (daughter in Grade 3 and son in Grade 5) and I think we may be living in Al Qurum (sp?) compound or Al Maha (sp?? I think it sounds like Maja....) hope to find out more details in the coming weeks.

I also have a 2 year old son and I'm a stay-at-home mom.

I'm used to going to the gym and am anxious to find one there that doesn't cost loads of money a month with great classes, day care (I think they call them creches??) for my son and ideally a racquetball court (although can't seem to find that info there - maybe I'll have to switch to squash???). I've seen information about a couple places so any advice on that is great.

My kids are pretty active with soccer, American football, rugby, gymnastics.....any advice on where to go for those things would be GREAT.

I'm also used to a playgroup for my son and am looking to meet people with similar aged little ones (he'll be 3 in September).

I'm cautiously optimistic about the move (we are coming from the Seattle area in the United States). I'm not looking forward to leaving my mom and my friends behind.....hoping to make as smooth a transition as possible.

Curious - we are most likely going to live in a compound. What exactly are those like?? Do you really have one big backyard between three or four villas?? Do you have any private yard?

Also - any other SAHM's out there? What do you spend your time doing? Afraid without my usual things that I do here (involved in local politics, used to teach music classes at a Montessori School, volunteer at school, coffee hours with girlfriends, gym, library storytimes, toddler times) that I might go crazy.

Are there library storytimes there? How about any kind of toddler time thing??

Also - any advice on what to bring that I won't find there from the states?

Thanks so much!!!