sisterscott | ExpatWoman.com
 

sisterscott

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 September 2015 - 08:23
What does seasoned girl at Essentials do to your hair??? I am used to a pretty high end salon and I am terrified to get my hair colored here! I found them on the Wella site via my hair stylist in the U.S. Looking for someone who does balayage and Wella freelights, ideally.
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Latest post on 14 September 2015 - 14:09
I have no resources to cite but I do have three kids, so I can tell you in my experience - yes.
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Latest post on 12 September 2015 - 20:19
Yes. I have had a heck of a time and I did give up. I'm not picking just anyone. I'm waiting until it feels right because I don't want to be stuck with someone for an entire year.
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Latest post on 12 September 2015 - 20:19
I personally had luck with inquiring about a babysitter in my neighborhood Facebook forum. I believe most neighborhoods have a private Facebook group...and I just asked for a teenager or university-aged girl that wanted to make some extra money and found a really awesome person to keep my kiddos. She lives right around the corner and drives. I bet you would have luck that way! That's what we're used to doing back home...and that way the kids always have the same person. Good luck!
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Latest post on 12 September 2015 - 20:16
Much better y'all! ;) Thank you all so much!
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Latest post on 12 September 2015 - 15:12
You are nearly at the end of the first month hump so you can start smiling now! We have just moved back to Dxb (coincidentally to JVC) after being away for 3 years and I know exactly how you feel. Kids and my visa still in process after 2 months, thus negating a live in maid. Doh! Arrived the day before Eid from Muscat with overheated dog into a brand new villa which had not had air one running for 3 months. Maids room on second floor was the only one working so sent dog there but had to turn on a master tap (which was obviously off for a reason) only to create a leak in the master bathroom thru the concrete floor above. 5 weeks of my only holiday consisted of being up at 7 am with no internet or TV waiting for workers not to show up and sitting around all day for them. The day they finally finished everything, I got a call from work asking me to start the next day, ergo no holiday! Leave home at 6:30am and cannot use a gate which takes me 2 minutes to get out as they gave it roped off (even though I have the access card for it and they do not have security in either guard house) but have to drive to the other side of the compound and then back to the opposite side to get to street 1 to exit. Oh, and if I could drive under or over Al Khail to get to Al Khamilla street it would take 4 minutes to get to work rather than the 10 minutes it takes me to go up one street, u-turn twice to come back to where I started. You will make friends soon and everything will get better (not normal but better). Let me know if you need a break and a catch up one Thursday afternoon... Feeling much better these days! Settling in makes me really calm. haha. OMG the JVC entry/exit issue is just insane. INSANE. That new mall opened and it takes just as long to get there as it does to drive to MOE. Let's get together! Maybe I need to attend one of these coffee meetups.
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Latest post on 12 September 2015 - 15:07
SisterScott or anyone else, at what point did you need to show an authenticated US birth certificate? My husband's work said that we won't need them - just wondering when it's asked for? We had to have our marriage license attested....not birth certificate but I've heard that the birth certificate may need to be attested at some point...so far we haven't needed it to be.
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Latest post on 12 September 2015 - 14:52
What kind of thing do you want to do? I can suggest a ton of things but October is really a great month to visit ANY state. The leaves are changing and it's beautiful! I wouldn't go to California because the weather and scenery are very similar to Dubai....unless you go to Northern California. The south is beautiful and the north east the leaves are changing in October and the weather is perfect. In the south, the food is AH-mazing. It just really depends on if you want a city or rural...so many options. Washington, D.C. is a fun place to visit but only if you're a history buff as everything is very historical and touristy. TEXAS of course is the best place ;) but I am a bit biased!
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Latest post on 03 September 2015 - 22:23
Well this makes me feel MUCH less crazy! Driving shouldn't be an issue to me as I'm American! hahaha...except for the roundabouts the rest of the traffic and driving I am totally used to. I've just got to get my MOJO back! Thanks for letting me whine and I'm glad you guys have come out the other side of it! I really do love all of the things this place has to offer - I just need some friends and for someone to give me a break from mommy hood long enough to get a mani/pedi and haircut. haha you're American and you used the word 'roundabout' - seems like you're "assimilating" My husband is American and he says 'circle' He used to say 'pacifier' but now says 'dummy' SCORE! That's funny, way to spot! I am guessing sisterscott is from TX or OK judging by her wording. Where are you from, SS? hahaha! Beebers I'm from Texas!
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Latest post on 02 September 2015 - 21:52
Whereabouts are you moving to when you get here?
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Latest post on 02 September 2015 - 21:50
Well this makes me feel MUCH less crazy! Driving shouldn't be an issue to me as I'm American! hahaha...except for the roundabouts the rest of the traffic and driving I am totally used to. I've just got to get my MOJO back! Thanks for letting me whine and I'm glad you guys have come out the other side of it! I really do love all of the things this place has to offer - I just need some friends and for someone to give me a break from mommy hood long enough to get a mani/pedi and haircut. haha
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Latest post on 31 August 2015 - 13:10
You have to have your marriage license attested in order to get a resident visa. And the word on the street is that the US is the only embassy that will not do it locally - they make you request it alllll back home. My marriage license has to be attested by the State of Texas, The US State Department in DC, then go to the UAE embassy in Washington DC, then back to me, then to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dubai and THEN to Visa office...holy freaking moly!
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Latest post on 31 August 2015 - 13:05
My husband and I have said that hopefully the craziness will end and that we will laugh about this later...but sheesh! The backing into someone - in my defense the vehicle we were given to drive has a TERRIBLE TERRIBLE blind spot. A car was parked on the street where normally no cars are parked. I backed right into him. Luckily it wasn't a Ferrari, but a Honda....so I had to go to the policy station. I live in JVC and our villa is nice but it's newly built and I've heard of this phrase "Dubai Engineering". It's funny to me that no one has been in the least surprised that our stove/oven blew up! It blew up y'all. Like baseboard flew off, the grate hit the ventahood (extractor) and it singed the hair off my husbands arms and face. Terrible experience! I just really needed a xanax after it happened. I mostly love it here but these few things that have never happened to me have happened in one short month. Plus I quit nursing the baby...and Aunt Flo came back after 2 years and that has sucked....and I just really need someone to come get drunk with me one day! hahahaha
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Latest post on 31 August 2015 - 12:57
I love all of these play places. We don't have stuff like this back home so my kids are ecstatic! I am a mix between a "helicopter mom" and a laid back mom. I try to teach my children that some people aren't as nice as others and how to handle those situations accordingly (I don't appreciate you being mean to me, please don't do that it hurts my feelings, etc.) but they also are taught to be gentle around small children. I have yet to see a play place that did not have the toddlers section (soft play) separate from the 4+ year olds....where were you?
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Latest post on 30 August 2015 - 12:26
I've been here one month and here are some pointers on things to do BEFORE you get here. Have your marriage license attested if you are married Have all of your birth certificates attested Scan copies of your passport, birth certificate, immunization records, marriage license, school records, etc. Get multiple passport sized photos Be prepared for things to take 3-4 weeks to get worked out.
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Latest post on 10 August 2015 - 22:15
I don't mean to hijack your post but I'm curious about something now... My husband has his visa residency but waiting on something else before the kids and I can go get our resident visas...with that being said - I think I'm okay to drive but it's a vehicle given to us by my husbands employer. If I get pulled over with no local license will I get into trouble?
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Latest post on 10 August 2015 - 22:12
Music to my ears, errr eyes! hahah
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Latest post on 10 August 2015 - 22:06
Thank you so much for all your comments. They helped because I am beginning to coordinate myself a bit. To be honest, I am really scared because it is going to be my first time in Dubai. My husband will be working in Knowledge Village and my last son who will be in the 6th grade, still has assessment to do in 3 schools, one in Academic city and we have not made a choice for his school until we arrive. Relocating is so stressful, we are practically giving away most of our things. For our family size (4) moving to Dubai, we need a 3 bedroom housing of AED 100,000. For the first few months, we can only afford 1 car so I would like a place where I can easily get transportation because I am going to be working (don't know where). I am also hoping that there might be a school bus for my son's school. I don't know how that works in the schools. Our relocation agent will be taking us house hunting but I need to know from you ladies some nice places to live in and also affordable. Where are you from in the states? I am also from the US. We just moved here 3 weeks ago. We are still in a hotel apartment because it has taken so long for paperwork to process for Visas, Emirates ID, etc for my husband. It is going to be pretty difficult for you to find a 3 bedroom for 100K from what I've seen. I'll look up Knowledge Village. We got a villa in Jumeirah Village Circle which isn't far from Motor City and it seems to be much more affordable and bang for your buck for space...however, we are from a small town in Texas and are used to being further away from amenities but there are still plenty of advantages in JVC as compared to where we came from (except for the whole family and friends part ;)).
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Latest post on 10 August 2015 - 21:59
Tallybalt - HOLY MOLY! You seriously gave exactly the information I was looking for. THANK YOU for that. Thank you SO much.
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Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 13:31
I'm not sure that I personally would ever...but I'm psycho like that.
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Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 13:26
I have no experience with a nanny but I did just move my kids away from their grandparents from Texas to here and they are very close....we lived a block from my family so I do know that the best way to heal a broken heart for little kids is distraction. Get him a lizard or take him to do fun things or step in a do sweet things for him that she used to do...Take him on a mommy and me date.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 13:20
haven't used kids service but used Careem quite sometimes and they were always excellent. Polite well behaved. Value for money!! Glad to know this for when my kiddos are a little bigger! It seems to be reasonably priced as well.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 13:20
Bump, did you try it out? I didn't try it because I emailed them to ask how it works and they said that they only bring one carseat. I have three kids...one in a booster, one in a booster with 5point harness, and one in a rear facing infant seat....
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 13:16
I'm a newbie or I would totally help...I hate when people post and no one responds. Good luck finding a place! Try the community Facebook groups. They seem more responsive.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 August 2015 - 13:07
Dude, i know. We leave the hot water heaters off all day and the water is still too hot to bathe my 6 month old. We're having to bathe him in bottled water! What a waste!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 August 2015 - 13:03
Yeah, sisterscott, we are in the same situation here. I asked about a property that had been advertised for 170k in The Springs, they just came back to me and said someone else offered them 200K. Whereabouts are you looking at? We are moving to JVC. Finally found a place that took what they advertised the price online! So frustrating!
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Latest post on 02 August 2015 - 12:58
So what is it that you have that proves you're married?
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Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 12:42
Yes and I love it! It's so hot!
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Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 12:33
When is your pre-wedding? Where is the Turkish Consulate? I am a photographer... It will be on 3rd of August at 1pm however it will take only half an hour maybe max 1 hour :) only two of us with the husband to be and a witness only. Consulate is in World Trade Center building on Sheikh zayed road... Would you be available? Darn. No I'm not available that day!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 07:33
I posted an ad here for a full time maid and I got so many responses but they all say the same thing. "I'm so and so with X years experience and I'm from ____." IT's overwhelming because those responses do not jump out at me. One lady said "I'm so and so and I have a great sense of humor" and I wrote her back and was like let's meet for coffee! And someone had already snagged her up! I want someone fun and to be a part of the family not just to clean up after us. I'm having a hard time with this maid thing. Sorry I have no advice to give but I'm with you!
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 07:31
All she has to do is put the medication in her purse together with the written prescription and she'll be fine. Unless she keeps a 60+ day supply they won't even say a word about it when she comes through customs. My husband takes vicodin daily and always brings it with him here and has never had an issue. Just keep the written prescription with her at all times.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 07:28
We have been having a hard time finding a property the last week and a half. So our agent told us with all of the demand of expat families coming back in time for school starting that landlord are upping the prices listed for their properties. We made an offer on one in JVC that was listed for 175 and then they came back and asked for 200....that has apparently been the norm - and he says typically the prices go down in October when everyone is already here.
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Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 07:26
I haven't seen one place with alcohol and I've been here for almost two weeks! Where can you get alcohol! lol
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Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 07:23
When is your pre-wedding? Where is the Turkish Consulate? I am a photographer...
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Latest post on 26 July 2015 - 16:04
Watch your kids, be with your kids ALWAYS and be aware of what's going on around you, if someone is taking photos tell them to stop immediately or call security, end of story. Please don't beat this thread up as if Dubai is the only city with creepy weirdo's in it. You are in a different country with a different culture, large variety of other nationalities and things will be different. To sisterscott, Americans are usually good tippers, maybe they were going all out with your kids for that reason, it happens. I would be very upfront and tell people not to touch my kids. The silent weirdos - the ones that don't blatantly ask to take pics of my kids are the ones I worry about...but I don't get creepy vibes from these people. I think they are genuinely enthralled by my kids being different than what they're used to...but we're totally not used to people going this far on and on...it's flattering but it took my aback. I've got major anxiety right now and my first thought was that they'd end up on some website where someone could see their photo and snatch them up if I wasn't paying close enough attention. Totally extreme and irrational thought - I've watched Taken too many times ;) but still my first thought!
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Latest post on 26 July 2015 - 10:19
Ok I've been wanting to ask this but have been afraid to. We arrived on Tuesday from the US. People have been asking to take photos of my kids, and I've even caught some doing it discreetly sitting behind us at our hotel restaurant. One man even kissed one of my sons on the cheek! We asked our friend who my husband is working for and he said that totally wasn't normal (he's an Emirati). We have no idea what the deal is. We thought maybe it was because we have blonde haired blue eyed babies but our friend says there are lots of "white" people here and to tell people not to take photos of our kids. It seems that the general culture here doesn't believe in personal space like we do in the US - which I think will take some getting used to for us...but for now - I'm constantly worried about people touching my baby and taking photos of my kids. I have a 6 month old and that's pretty normal for people to do [touch your baby'> in the US (even though I hate it) but not a toddler and almost 7 year old!
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Latest post on 24 July 2015 - 17:59
The ones you never wear...
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Latest post on 24 July 2015 - 17:54
Is there a Facebook group that consists of the members in this group?
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Latest post on 24 July 2015 - 17:53
Kellis where are you from?
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Latest post on 24 July 2015 - 17:51
I almost never use GPS. I grew up in a small town but lived in Dallas for many years and never got spoiled to GPS - so I feel sort of prepared but these people drive OFFENSIVELY here. I mean it's just the craziest thing I've ever seen. The first 48 hours of being here I was terrified to leave the house. My husband has driven everywhere. I'll be alright out in the burbish area but I'm avoiding downtown at all costs once we get settled in. I have pretty good sense of direction but I'm more fearful to get into an accident as it seems as no matter how much it is likely to be the other person's fault somehow it'll be MY FAULT. Other than that we are loving it here so far!
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Latest post on 24 July 2015 - 17:47
No matter how much someone cuts you up or endangers your life with insane driving....don't insult them. You will be in trouble with the courts not them. This. And move. Do anything you can to avoid a collision. Do not assume they will care you are in their way or slow down in any way. Your instinct might be to just keep going, as you are driving calmly, in your own lane, at or below the speed limit... But in this case, you are in the path of a tornado so whatever you can to get away to safety. Also, the shoulder is often used as a passing lane. As far as roads, the most confusing thing to me (still!) is when a street or highway is named after a person, as they often sound the same to me. I still use the numbers, e11 and 311. Along those lines, try your best to not miss your exit. I repeat. Do not miss your exit. On some places you will have to drive 10-20 km to turn around. But generally speaking, I find the roads pretty easily navigated, even the side streets aren't bad usually, as long as you've got a little orientation. We got here on Tuesday. We are staying at Emirates Grand Hotel and the parking and taxi congestion is ridiculous to me. There's no safe walk path to go from the hotel to the parking lot....SO today we were walking to the car and I have 3 kids. My husband was carrying the 3 year old and my almost 7 year old was walking and I was pushing the stroller right behind her. There were about 5 parked cabs blocking the parked cars...one was right behind our vehicle. All of a sudden he started BACKING UP right towards my daughter who almost had a PANIC attack. I didn't say anything to the guy but my daughter started crying and was like "WHY WOULD HE BACK TOWARDS ME?! THAT'S NOT VERY NICE!" We are only staying here temporarily until our Visas enable us to get a villa out in JVC where it seems much less calm. We drove around out there today and my blood pressure immediately decreased. If someone backs or so much as runs over my kids toes they may have to throw me in jail. lol.
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Latest post on 24 July 2015 - 17:41
I must have been here too long because I think the roads are [i'>totally[/i'> logical. lol. See if this helps. Dubai has multiple parallel roads as follows, which essentially go in the same direction. Starting from the outer areas:- Parallel in a "Sharjah-Dubai-AD" direction (and reverse) Emirates Rd (old Bypass Road) then Mohammed Bin Zayed Road (old Emirates Rd) then Al Khail Road then Sheikh Zayed Road then Al Wasl Road then Beach Road then the Sea A small selection of the roads crossing these in a "beach to the desert" direction are: Rebat St then Ras Al Khor Rd then Al Ain Rd then Um Suqeim St then Hessa St then Lahbab St At each place where the two sets of roads intersect, there will be a spaghetti junction where you can turn in any direction. When you get into the town/residential areas they are mostly all laid out in a grid section and if you get lost just try and work out if the sea is on your right or left, and if you are facing Abu Dhabi direction or Sharjah direction. It's helpful to think of AD as South, and Sharjah as North. I've never had a GPS and also don't really get lost as I think if you can remember the above you can usually just come off at the next intersection and turn round. Don't worry, you'll soon find your way around. *Disclaimer, unless you are in the back area of JLT/Jumeirah Park/etc as there is no chance* SUPER HELPFUL! Thank you!!!!!
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Latest post on 24 June 2015 - 07:15
I'd love to read those stories...do you have an article?
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Latest post on 09 June 2015 - 06:12
Does anyone know of a softball league for kids? My daughter is almost 7 and she's finishing out her season here in Texas but we want to make sure and get her signed up for winter ball there in Dubai timely.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 May 2015 - 23:05
What is the best way to find a live in maid? Is it customary to interview several? Do you background check them? Are there agencies? These wanted ads just seem so crazy to me! lol. I asked a friend if people really did have maids there and she said YES and that I would be crazy not to!
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Latest post on 28 May 2015 - 22:55
we do. how can i help? @ilovewine, First of all, I love wine too! So far the Seasons and Fortunado are speaking to me. We'll be there the first week of August. What do you think of those two places?
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Latest post on 21 May 2015 - 18:19
Hello! I am totally new to this board! My husband just accepted a position in Dubai and will be working close to the airport. We are trying to figure out the best place to live for our family. We have 2 kids (6 yr old and a 3 yr old) and one on the way (due in july)! I was wondering where you lovely ladies recommend that we look. The shorter the commute for my husband, the better! My ultimate wish list is somewhere that is family friendly and near the beach. Any ideas? We would like 3 bedrooms and our budget is 200,000k or under (preferable under! lol) Thank you soooo much for any insight you can provide! oh, and if you have any tips on how to start the school search, I'd greatly appreciate it! Its so difficult doing this from the states, so any help would be great!!!! Oh and we're looking at Jumeriah Village Circle.
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Latest post on 21 May 2015 - 18:18
Hello! I am totally new to this board! My husband just accepted a position in Dubai and will be working close to the airport. We are trying to figure out the best place to live for our family. We have 2 kids (6 yr old and a 3 yr old) and one on the way (due in july)! I was wondering where you lovely ladies recommend that we look. The shorter the commute for my husband, the better! My ultimate wish list is somewhere that is family friendly and near the beach. Any ideas? We would like 3 bedrooms and our budget is 200,000k or under (preferable under! lol) Thank you soooo much for any insight you can provide! oh, and if you have any tips on how to start the school search, I'd greatly appreciate it! Its so difficult doing this from the states, so any help would be great!!!! We are moving to Dubai from Texas in August and I also have a 6 and 3 year old and a 16 week old. We are applying to American School of Dubai and I'll be a SAHM for the other two for as long as possible. I've never not worked so we'll see how it goes! lol. Where are you from? We need to connect when we all get there!!! We aren't going to know anyone!
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Latest post on 07 May 2015 - 00:06
My husband is prescribed a pain medication each month here in the states. He has taken it with him several times with a copy of his prescription but when we move I'm not sure how this works. I don't see the medication on the Items Banned list.
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Latest post on 06 May 2015 - 22:26
This may sound silly - but I got to wondering about the types of formula available in Dubai. What brands do they have there? I EBF right now but want to know just in case!