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EWmums

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ewmoda

Homesick!

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19

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 March 2016 - 19:20

Thank you so much for all your helpful advice. I am already feeling much much better. I got myself up and dressed and out the apartment. Even an hour or two out makes the day go faster and I am starting to enjoy it. I need to forget about the things I miss so much and focus on the new things that Dubai has given me. Thank you all and have a great Easter break bye: Hi sportzmom, I get homesick a lot too! I had a big group of close girlfriends and I worked back home. I recently moved here for hubbys work, I am pregnant with my first child so I am not working so i have found it difficult to make friends. I have found that if I go out it makes the day go fast but sometimes I just feel sad and don't want to leave the apartment! If you ever feel like meeting up or going for lunch let me know :) Riss

2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 March 2016 - 14:44

Thank you so much for all your helpful advice. I am already feeling much much better. I got myself up and dressed and out the apartment. Even an hour or two out makes the day go faster and I am starting to enjoy it. I need to forget about the things I miss so much and focus on the new things that Dubai has given me. Thank you all and have a great Easter break bye:

15

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 23 March 2016 - 02:48

Speaking as someone who has been here for 20 years, my advice to you is this. Work out what really interests you and focus on developing those interests. It might be online or locally or both depending on what it is. Try to make friends through your interests and not through the parents of your children's friends. Do a lot of exploring - find out where you can buy whatever you need - plants souks, Dragonmart, discover areas that you would not usually go to. Get to know Dubai. Be open and friendly to everyone and you will soon make friends even though you may not share interests. It takes time - at least a year. When I came here there was only Jumeirah 1 and 2, a small Spinneys in Jumeirah and Deira City Centre. Be kind to yourself, be friendly and your life here will blossom.

767

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 09:36

I've come to this late and there is a lot of good advice here. The only thing I would add is...do something. Anything. I have seen this take hold of people here (and elsewhere) and nothing feeds misery like loneliness...Do ANYTHING that gets you out and moving and active and interacting. I'm not meaning to be harsh...not at all...just think it's the only way. I agree, no one will knock on the door and offer entertaining. Go out exploring, take the metro to different stops each day, travel on the tram and water bus in the Marina. Walk around Souk al Bahar and around the fountain lake in the morning when it's nice and quite. Try an abra over the Creek.

458

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 21 March 2016 - 08:59

I've come to this late and there is a lot of good advice here. The only thing I would add is...do something. Anything. I have seen this take hold of people here (and elsewhere) and nothing feeds misery like loneliness...Do ANYTHING that gets you out and moving and active and interacting. I'm not meaning to be harsh...not at all...just think it's the only way.

280

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 14:30

Bless you. It's such a big move for your husband and children as well as yourself. Does your hubby know how you are feeling? He would have to understand your frame of mind if he is to help support you. Keeping yourself busy either by way of finding a job or doing something that interests you can help. We are so very lucky these days with the internet. It can be a great pick you up seeing and chatting to family and friends as well as watching them show you the latest rain or hailstorm they have to contend with. I have been here for 5 years and still miss home. You begin to miss the little things you took for granted. There are some amazing things to see and do in this country but they will not come to you. Just a suggestion but why not plan a trip back home, even if its 6 months or a year away? It will give you something to look forward to. Better still i'm sure there would be many volunteers willing to fly over to even sleep on your couch for a week. Having people stay sometimes makes us remember and realise how very lucky we are living here. No one is here in this country forever. No one knows how long a job will really last here. So my advice would be try and make the most of it. I wish you so much luck and happiness. :rainbow:

62

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 13:24

Sportzmom I sympathise and think the majority of women have been in your situation. It took me well over a year to find my feet. My main piece of advice is to indulge in your hobby and passions, whatever they may be, and join groups or classes that revolve around these. In this way you meet like minded people irrespective of nationality, age and marital status. Dubai has a wonderful range of possibilities. Think about what you are really interested in that you never took up back home, because you were in your comfort zone. You will be surprised at the possibilities.

54

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 13:16

Working helps. It took me about a year to finally realized that I lived here and this was my home for now. But when I got a job that seemed to help. Meeting people also helps. Especially if they are from your home country. Hang in there. ;)

Doubting Thomas

2298

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 12:43

It depends on the individual but watching tv from your home country can help - I know for some people it makes them feel worse and for others it can create a bubble that prevents them from fully engaging with their life here but in some cases it can be a comfort.. Dubai is a fabulous place and there is something here to cater for every taste so whatever you're interested in just search some of the "what to do today" type pages on facebook or look for community groups and get involved. More coffee mornings going on than you'll ever have time for and hopefully you'll connect with some like minded women..don't worry if you don't, ther'es plenty more !! All sounds a bit superficial but keeping busy will be the first step - actually second, you've already taken the first one by reaching out on here... :)

767

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 11:32

It's no guarantee that you ever get over it, not everyone likes living away from home. Try coffee mornings, Facebool groups, meetup groups, move back home or look for a job. It's what you make of your time here that will determine if you have a good time or not. Try not to be reliant on friends for a good time, find things you like to do on your own.

420

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 08:31

I'm not going to lie to you, but it will take some time. I will have been here for two years in May, and I still don't feel 100% settled. I suppose for me it's prolonged as I lost a sibling last year, so that feeling of homesickness, dread and dislike for Dubai just continued longer than perhaps it should have done. I've come to accept that this is the best place for my husband and I to flourish, in our careers, ourselves and opportunities.... I would never be in the job I have if I was in the UK. Nor would he. It can be a love/hate relationship with this place; at one point you just have to accept that it might not necessarily be the home you're used to, but you as a family can work together to make it your home now. The thing we struggled with was finding "a local", a part of our life we were so used to in the UK. It's taken until now to find a place we enjoy going to regularly, without spending a fortune each time and that's nearby home. :biggrin:

2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 20 March 2016 - 08:16

Can anyone offer me some advice on getting over my homesickness?? I've been here a few months now and it's not getting any easier. All I can think about is what a terrible mistake I've made coming and how desperate I am to go home. I know I can't because my partner has started a new job with a new company and he loves it. My kiddies seem to like it too but I'm miserable. It not making friends that I am sad about but I miss everything about home. How long did it take you ladies to get over this feeling? Is this normal?

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