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ewmoda

/////URGENT deadline is 19 Feb 2011 by 3 PM!!! Pros and Cons of DSO//////

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 21:39

Ladies I need your help....

to whom are living in DSO, in EK accommodation, and not married to pilot - the reason is pilots are on high basic salary regarding other EK grades - I need your help to determined if moving to DSO is a good step or not, as EK had sent an e-mail - 5 min to the end of office working days on Wednesday, following Thr and Fri off, Sat you have to submit your application of accepting which Villa in DSO you choose to relocate on staff responsibility, not responding to this e-mail means you will be removed permanently from the waiting list, and not accepting any of the list will remove you from the waiting list....
I have no car, so grocery shopping have to be inside DSO only have 2 toddlers, and no friends at all in DSO....so if you have any Pros and Cons please do feed me back with it, as tomorrow 19 Feb 2011 is the deadline - giving only 17 and 18 Feb 2011 to think about it!
Thanks in Advance

G

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Sticky Wicket36659

1511

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 19 February 2011 - 09:20

Lol I wonder if you will get my villa! Moving out tomorrow and caaaaaaaaaaan't wait! Might not be such a factor for you but the amount of driving just got me down. The villas are lovely, facilities are nice but no real supermarket and no school meant an enormous amount of time in the car and a lot of time in foodcourts filling in time between nursery and school pickups, school pickups and after school activities etc etc The kids here are total brats that run completely wild breaking things and roaming the streets until all hours with absolutely no supervision. I can't count the number of times I have almost run over children on bikes. Security are powerless to do anything about it. If you are with EK you will have access to some other activities in the Semmer Villas compound. As non-EK we did not have access to any organised activities. Agree with Greenish about needing to know where your villa is. In summer even the walk to the pool can be a long way with little ones. I know the new Spinneys is opening this week but if you are in Cedre Villas (phase 1), the walk to the complex in Semmer villas would be over 6 km round trip. Add a couple of k's if you're in phase 2. Have not yet found a decent delivery for meals. Another reason I am excited to move - finally decent takeaway!! Sorry this all sounds pretty negative but I think you need to be aware of how isolating it is here in the middle of the desert, especially with no car. edited by Embo on 19/02/2011 Really, which section are you in?

Sticky Wicket36659

1511

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 19 February 2011 - 09:18

DEWA is covered by the company, but I have heard there may be a cap on it (?) Yes EK have quite a large allowance for DEWA.

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 19 February 2011 - 08:24

Lol I wonder if you will get my villa! Moving out tomorrow and caaaaaaaaaaan't wait! Might not be such a factor for you but the amount of driving just got me down. The villas are lovely, facilities are nice but no real supermarket and no school meant an enormous amount of time in the car and a lot of time in foodcourts filling in time between nursery and school pickups, school pickups and after school activities etc etc The kids here are total brats that run completely wild breaking things and roaming the streets until all hours with absolutely no supervision. I can't count the number of times I have almost run over children on bikes. Security are powerless to do anything about it. If you are with EK you will have access to some other activities in the Semmer Villas compound. As non-EK we did not have access to any organised activities. Agree with Greenish about needing to know where your villa is. In summer even the walk to the pool can be a long way with little ones. I know the new Spinneys is opening this week but if you are in Cedre Villas (phase 1), the walk to the complex in Semmer villas would be over 6 km round trip. Add a couple of k's if you're in phase 2. Have not yet found a decent delivery for meals. Another reason I am excited to move - finally decent takeaway!! Sorry this all sounds pretty negative but I think you need to be aware of how isolating it is here in the middle of the desert, especially with no car. edited by Embo on 19/02/2011 lol... I used to have a friend out there with a teenager.. Those were some interesting late night phone calls from her in distress about the trouble her dd was in. And a certain boy who came constantly that they couldn't seem to keep banned from the complex as another parent was always vouching for the boy with security. edited by bornconfused on 19/02/2011 YIKES!!! But sadly not surprised.

bornconfused34509

542

Posts

EW GURU

Latest post on 19 February 2011 - 08:06

Lol I wonder if you will get my villa! Moving out tomorrow and caaaaaaaaaaan't wait! Might not be such a factor for you but the amount of driving just got me down. The villas are lovely, facilities are nice but no real supermarket and no school meant an enormous amount of time in the car and a lot of time in foodcourts filling in time between nursery and school pickups, school pickups and after school activities etc etc The kids here are total brats that run completely wild breaking things and roaming the streets until all hours with absolutely no supervision. I can't count the number of times I have almost run over children on bikes. Security are powerless to do anything about it. If you are with EK you will have access to some other activities in the Semmer Villas compound. As non-EK we did not have access to any organised activities. Agree with Greenish about needing to know where your villa is. In summer even the walk to the pool can be a long way with little ones. I know the new Spinneys is opening this week but if you are in Cedre Villas (phase 1), the walk to the complex in Semmer villas would be over 6 km round trip. Add a couple of k's if you're in phase 2. Have not yet found a decent delivery for meals. Another reason I am excited to move - finally decent takeaway!! Sorry this all sounds pretty negative but I think you need to be aware of how isolating it is here in the middle of the desert, especially with no car. edited by Embo on 19/02/2011 lol... I used to have a friend out there with a teenager.. Those were some interesting late night phone calls from her in distress about the trouble her dd was in. And a certain boy who came constantly that they couldn't seem to keep banned from the complex as another parent was always vouching for the boy with security. <em>edited by bornconfused on 19/02/2011</em>

304

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 19 February 2011 - 07:08

Lol I wonder if you will get my villa! Moving out tomorrow and caaaaaaaaaaan't wait! Might not be such a factor for you but the amount of driving just got me down. The villas are lovely, facilities are nice but no real supermarket and no school meant an enormous amount of time in the car and a lot of time in foodcourts filling in time between nursery and school pickups, school pickups and after school activities etc etc The kids here are total brats that run completely wild breaking things and roaming the streets until all hours with absolutely no supervision. I can't count the number of times I have almost run over children on bikes. Security are powerless to do anything about it. If you are with EK you will have access to some other activities in the Semmer Villas compound. As non-EK we did not have access to any organised activities. Agree with Greenish about needing to know where your villa is. In summer even the walk to the pool can be a long way with little ones. I know the new Spinneys is opening this week but if you are in Cedre Villas (phase 1), the walk to the complex in Semmer villas would be over 6 km round trip. Add a couple of k's if you're in phase 2. Have not yet found a decent delivery for meals. Another reason I am excited to move - finally decent takeaway!! Sorry this all sounds pretty negative but I think you need to be aware of how isolating it is here in the middle of the desert, especially with no car. <em>edited by Embo on 19/02/2011</em>

2340

Posts

EW EXPERT

Latest post on 19 February 2011 - 02:54

Gorobattie...if it's not too late, can I suggest you somehow find a way to get in a taxi and go to look at DSO\? Where your villa is may have a big impact on how long the walk is to groceries etc. Some villas have small supermarkets quite close, some are quite a hike...a factor to consider especially with little ones in tow. DSO is lovely, clean, pretty, villas are well built and reasonably well maintained (not so much if you're not with EK), pools are nice...public transport is ok, it's all main roads to go anywhere. I don't live there anymore so will keep my mouth shut on the factors I didn't like. (I'm well aware the things I didn't like about it were partly because we were not with EK and that things may have changed a lot since we left) I think you really need to see it to decide. Awful, unfair time-line they've given you. Maybe one of the lovely ladies who lives there could meet you and show you around?

53

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 19 February 2011 - 02:13

We have been living in DSO for the last 6 months and its really nice and peaceful. Small supermarkets have slowly started to open us and the Chouetram in the Spring building is very well-stocked. I think its a lovely area to raise kids:-). Oh and in March, the Kensington Nursery is opening up a branch in Cedre Villas. Lots of restaurants from International city do free delivery in DSO. Can I ask which department and Grade your husband is at EK? I believe the email only went to Grade 10 and above because I asked a friend (Grade 9 in Dnata) who wants to move to DSO but has not recieved this email from HR and in fact was surprized when I told him about this 2 days deadline.

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 23:38

Shellly, you got a mail. you can take it out now Thanks

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 23:06

3 days is not long to decide where you want to live :( If you want to email me please do as I check my emails more than EW... <em>edited by shellly on 19/02/2011</em>

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:57

Hi Shelly, I'm with you in the part of taking the time to view and know what exactly our needs, again it's EK decision, they sent the mail on 16 feb - DH was off - giving every body 3 days only to tell which is which, if the recipients did not answer back they lost their chance in a villa, if they No thanks not now maybe later still lost their chance, in both ways you are booted out of the waiting list for a villa - and we did not apply for it at all!! - we preferred to wait until we found our feet in Dubai. I asked a neighbour in the apt compound we are in, she said that their is a cap, but you will never know what is it, or how was your usage, until you find the deduction in the salary... It's a very important decision and EK is rushing every body to take, I want to have a villa, but now I'm looking for a job, then booting me out of Diera, where taxi fare will be less than having it from DSO,and the relocating - which EK announced in the mail will be on us, having our apt as we received, and accepting the villa - any villa - as it is... oh yeah, it was semmer or summer (spl?) <em>edited by Gorobattie on 18/02/2011</em>

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:40

DEWA is covered by the company, but I have heard there may be a cap on it (?)

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:39

Gorobattie, we have only been here 2 weeks so I am still finding my way as far as what services etc are here. I do believe that the new Choitrams does deliver to your home. Choitrams would be a fair walk from the villas, but the little Spinneys is a short walk. Were you offered Semmer? Semmer is a short walk to Spinneys. With regards to the other locations... its really down to personal taste and expectations. We were offered those locations plus a couple more but for us DSO was a better fit. Yes the location is not as good as Jumeirah/Safa area but we drive so that wasn't an issue. We also have a baby so DSO was perfect for us with the much needed footpaths and grassy park areas with plenty of shade and kids play areas. Mainly though, we liked the villas here better than the others that were offered... again, personal taste. You really need to take the time over the next couple days and go and inspect the villas offered. Good luck and if there is anything else I can help please let me know.

100

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:38

Sorry don't know about the EK stuff ! But Dewa is about 1000 aed and the gardener is 200 pm.

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:33

Nothing to do with EK but line in SO I love it here, there is a little SPinneys you can walk to with a Costa a Pharmacy and laundry oh and ATM. There is also a Choithram and numerous smaller corner shops that are open or due for opening. On the 24th Feb the big SPinneys is opening near Cedre villas but as yet there are no other shops in there. Taxis are always around and have always been fine getting one, there is a Gems school opening in Sept which is British Curriculum. Hope this helps ! oh that help !! thanks dear :) do you have to hire a gardener? how much he would be payed? and for DEWA, is it really you pay it - for EK accomm. - and how much it ranks? hence summer already at the door step...

100

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:28

Nothing to do with EK but line in SO I love it here, there is a little SPinneys you can walk to with a Costa a Pharmacy and laundry oh and ATM. There is also a Choithram and numerous smaller corner shops that are open or due for opening. On the 24th Feb the big SPinneys is opening near Cedre villas but as yet there are no other shops in there. Taxis are always around and have always been fine getting one, there is a Gems school opening in Sept which is British Curriculum. Hope this helps !

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:20

Thanks Shelly for coming back to me, They give us Four seasons II in Al Safah( 4 bedrooms), API villas(3 bedrooms) in Mirdif, Rashidiyah (3 bedrooms), Le Meridien (3 bedrooms) in SZR and DSO the e-mail was addressed to all staff whom are above grade 9, and it was sent to all EK and DN staff.. so any other things you would like to share? Grocery - hospitals - a 24/7 pharmacy - how long it will take you to buy the grocery on foot? - do they have little Iranian or Indian supermarkets deliver to your home? transportation? taxi? schools ? hair dressers? laundry services? library? bank - ATM machines? I would be happy if you can tell me any of the above, once again thanks G

1403

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 22:01

We just moved to EK accomm in DSO. We love it and are so happy! Mind you, we were given a lot longer to view the villas and submit our requests back to accomm so we had heaps of time. What other locations were you offered? I ask this because in our experience that helped with our decision to choose DSO.

1170

Posts

EW OLDHAND

Latest post on 18 February 2011 - 21:56

No one!!! okey, I'll lower the bar... EK pilot wives??? any??????

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