RSAgirl | ExpatWoman.com
 

RSAgirl

RSAgirl
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Latest post on 05 July 2016 - 16:29
You couldn't pay me enough to live on the Palm! Yes its beautiful and all, but the construction noise and mess is horrific and the traffic is abysmal. We stayed there for 6 months when we first moved to Dubai in a company apartment, was really glad to leave.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 June 2016 - 11:14
So aggressive! Fact is you asked a question I responded as per my friends experience. If you want an answer valid for yourself then phone your bank and find out first hand what the process is.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 June 2016 - 16:04
Nonsensical or not that is the procedure. If you are leaving Dubai and moving to Abu Dhabi they expect it to be with a completely clear slate. Check with your bank if you are not sure. But all your clearances, health checks and so on will be done from scratch.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 June 2016 - 16:02
I don't know what this school pays, but GEMS start TAs off on AED4000 p/m. You should ask the person who you are dealing with what the rate is so that the interview is not a waste of either of your time if its not what you are looking for.
RSAgirl
111
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 June 2016 - 14:59
Not sure how this will work for you as I had a friend who was moving from Dubai to Abu Dhabi and before they would clear him, his bank loan had to be completely cleared and bank account closed. His visa was cancelled and he had to leave the country for a month and come back later and everything was set up again in Abu Dhabi. It might just have been his company that insisted on doing it that way, but I know he had to scramble to pay off his loan.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 June 2016 - 20:17
Katrinas in Mirdif have divine cakes!
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 May 2016 - 14:20
I would steer clear of mugs/cups. As a teacher there are genuinely only so many you can use before having to just pack them away in a cupboard or give them away.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 May 2016 - 19:51
We love GEMS Royal Dubai School. There are quite a few South African children in the school and a few SA teachers. The only issue for us is that we live in Arabian Ranches and its quite a drive to Mirdif every morning. Your children will in all likelihood because pushed a year ahead of where they are now because the SA system start school later, but the children catch up quickly and they do have extra help in the school if its needed.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 May 2016 - 18:23
I've set them to automatically delete. I really don't want to receive them and get at least 2 a day.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2016 - 14:36
GEMS are also very helpful with kids with learning difficulties. It will cost extra though ...
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2016 - 14:35
Don't bring party décor, there are stores like Creative Minds, Daiso etc where you can get pretty much anything you're looking for, for next to nothing.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2016 - 13:23
Is definitely not too late. You can also look on the GEMS website for positions, as well as teachanywhere. Children of teachers are given a discount only, not free schooling.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 April 2016 - 20:13
They have a good safety record until this recent tragedy, all their planes are new too. Just because they are a low cost airline doesn't mean they scrimp on safety. I would fly with them without any issues.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 April 2016 - 20:11
We used Allied Pickfords (Dubai - Switzerland). They were really good. Did all the packing and unpacking too which was a huge help.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 February 2016 - 15:26
They used them quite extensively in my sons school. Ipads and laptops (he had to take both). In year two they took them to French and Arabic lessons as well as doing topic work and maths on them. I felt that they did far too much work on devices and not enough writing. When he got to year 4 and 5 though they definitely worked less on the devices and more in their books. Im not a fan of BYOD at all.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2016 - 15:00
I'm pretty sure Office Depot would have. I don't know the cost though. Maybe phone them to find out.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2016 - 14:57
Depending on which vet you go to it will cost from AED100 - 250. Any vet can do it. We used Vetcare at the polo club.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 February 2016 - 14:53
I have a friend who dresses her two boys in the same clothes, and they are 6 years apart in age. I cringe every time I see it. OP, its not for me, but for some other people they might like to dress the same as their children. Just out of curiosity, why no vote for dressing two boys in same clothes? Is it a fashion faux pas? Yes for me it is. Especially considering the age difference. Buying a noddy t-shirt and shorts for your 3 year old might be cute, but the 9 year old looks ridiculous! Not to mention that the 9 year old HATES wearing the same clothes as his 3 year old brother. Has mentioned to me (and to his mom) a number of times. They are different people with different personalities and that would normally show in their clothing choices.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2016 - 18:42
I have a friend who dresses her two boys in the same clothes, and they are 6 years apart in age. I cringe every time I see it. OP, its not for me, but for some other people they might like to dress the same as their children.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2016 - 13:43
I don't think ovacare will make you lose weight. Its a vitamin supplement like many others (Staminogro etc). To increase your chances of falling pregnant maybe he said try lose weight AND take ovacare. Oh I see FairyDust said the same ... great minds lol
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2016 - 13:39
It totally depends on your dog. If you are out or away a lot and she gets lonely it will be a nice idea. Like the others say ... foster another first and see how she gets on. Good luck.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2016 - 13:37
I have had a natural miscarriage and a D&C, I would take the natural anyday as I almost died under anaesthetic due to the poor anaethetist :-( This was at City Hospital. Worst experience of my life.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 December 2015 - 19:52
Sky Cargo was actually more reasonable, but they don't pack. So you would have to pack and arrange a truck to get your things to the airport so that would add to the cost.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 December 2015 - 19:49
I don't have personal experience of any of those schools, but I can say I wouldn't go to Star International. A couple of years ago our school got a huge influx of children that had left Star and there were a lot of negative experiences told.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 December 2015 - 18:09
We just used Allied Pickfords when we moved to Europe 2 months ago. In all honestly in retrospect, all I would have brought is the kitchen stuff which could have gone with Emirates sky cargo for a tenth of the price and bought everything new with the rest of what we paid Allied.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 November 2015 - 20:06
I can wholeheartedly recommend Dubai Pet Sitting http://www.dubaipetsitting.com/ We have used them for 4 years for our cats and have been really happy. We get updates throughout our time away too which is great.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 November 2015 - 20:46
I was really disappointed this year with the Halloween etiquette of many of the children yesterday. The worst groups were those with their nannies or unsupervised. Many would ring the doorbell repetitively or bang on the door impatiently. They would not even say trick or treat or any other greeting, just hold out their plastic bags or dig into the candy bowl, some rather rudely demanded I give them candy. Some children even visited two or three times thinking I would not remember them. I opened the door for one group of 4 children and they went into the bowl with both hands and literally emptied the bowl so that their weren't any sweets left for the fourth child. They don't listen when you tell them one each. I was left to ration out all the sweets in the end. I spent 400 dhs on candy and it finished in the first hour!! I had to send the driver to buy more lollypops. I was very disheartened that most of the children didn't even say thank you. Last year the children who visited were more polite. Additionally there was a flier stating the trick or treat times of the community were between 6-8pm yet at 10.30pm children were still ringing the bell despite the lights being off. When I told them we were out of candy they requested money instead. Exactly same here, although I didn't enforce the rule of 1 each, we were inundated by groups of 20 coming from other parts of the ranches (not sure why???)and even granparents were asking my maid for sweets (!) so by 6:30pm we ran out!! Also spent 400dhs and I noticed by 7 most houses were out of sweets, and I keep starting this earlier and earlier every year! They aren't necessarily from other parts of the Ranches, but not part of the Ranches at all. I know a large number of children came through from Mirdif last year. They parked at the golf club and then went trick or treating here. We've moved now, and the etiquette here is amazing. Every single child took 1 sweet. Only one. We had to put more in their bags. And every single child said thank you, whereas last year they grabbed and ran. My son got 3 buckets full of sweets last year, this year he got only half a bucket but he appreciates it so much more than when he got truckloads.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 October 2015 - 12:19
With mplus we have always been sent an invoice to pay, when we've always paid cash at the time the work was done. When you bring this to their attention within a few minutes you get an email saying thank you for the payment. Their accounting is ridiculous. They also always make you wait a really long time before they come out ... we had to wait 10 days for a handyman call and when our water pump stopped working they only came out 4 days later. Im glad OP you found someone better to deal with.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 October 2015 - 12:16
Ours charged AED450 for 2 hour sessions once a week.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 October 2015 - 12:00
I don't know for Canada, but we relocated to Europe a few weeks ago, and the total cost for 2 cats was AED19700.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 June 2015 - 18:49
I sent a parcel to Johannesburg in February paying extra to have it there in 10 days. Its still not arrived. I am assuming its either been stolen or is sitting in the huge pile of undelivered parcels due to the strike. Try rather send things by DHL. It costs more, but at least it always arrives.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 April 2015 - 18:18
Dr Lefkovitz at Dubai Mall Mediclinic is good.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 December 2014 - 12:46
We live in the Ranches and my sons school is in Mirdif, its 39.something km one way. I would definitely have preferred a closer school, but as he is settled and happy, we'll see out primary school in Mirdif. Luckily he has loads of friends in our community but if he didn't, not having his school friends close by might have become an issue. The time spent in the car isn't great either. Living closer to school is definitely preferable ...
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 November 2014 - 07:50
Hi, I'm very stressed and hope someone can give me advice. I have written to and called our consulate and got absolutely no feedback, help or information. It says on the website it takes 8 months to get an unabridged birth certificate and that it takes 6 months to get a passport. Does this mean I literally will not be able to go back home until my baby is over a year and a half old? Surely this can't be right. They are no longer issuing temporary passports so how do people with babies travel? I wanted to go home when baby is 4 months old.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 November 2014 - 19:06
I was harassed so badly when I went to the cinema on my own, I had to leave half way through the movie. I don't think I ever will again. Maybe it depends on the cinema you go to. I went to the Arabian Centre.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 October 2014 - 11:24
I bought my rectangular Brabantia bin from Spinneys in Motor City. It was a couple of years ago though.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 August 2014 - 18:52
Trolley bags at school are a pain. Firstly they don't fit in the cubbys, especially since the kids share in the lower years and secondly the kids roll them around and trip the other kids up during busy times of day. In our school they recommend against trolley bags.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 July 2014 - 21:18
We arrived back in SA 3 weeks ago. No extra documentation was required.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 July 2014 - 21:16
We stopped using them. They put their prices up so much in our community and it really wasnt worth it. The lady from Housekeeping co who used to clean for us was not able to properly plan her time in order to iron as well, so we had to get an ironing service in. When we complained they sent someone even slower who cleaned badly. And the attitude was take it or leave it. So we left and are now very happy with Skymaid.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 July 2014 - 17:50
For the past 3 years we've used Dubai Pet Sitting (http://www.dubaipetsitting.com/home/aboutdubaipetsitting.html). We have 2 cats and Sabrina looks after them beautifully every time we go away.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 May 2014 - 07:51
I don't know about dragonmart, but ACE has them.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 May 2014 - 07:50
Creative minds party shop has them.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 May 2014 - 07:49
I am one of those that has only horror stories about the mirena. Not only did I gain weight (eating no differently and still going to gym every single day), I fell pregnant and then lost the baby due to it implanting on the mirena. I would never ever use it again.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2014 - 06:42
We went a couple of weeks ago. Its in a lovely location and its nice to sit upstairs in the breeze so close to the sea. However the food wasn't great. The fish was slimy and the veggies were old. Neither my husband or I finished our food. We would go again, but only for coffee.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 April 2014 - 10:19
Geant and Spinneys have them.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 March 2014 - 08:08
Did anyone else think of Timmy Maccoll, the sailor who went missing in Dubai in 2012. http://www.missingabroad.org/missing-profile/timmy-maccoll. This was my first thought too.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 March 2014 - 08:06
My son is 7 and there are always loads of neighbourhood kids in and our of our house. We've been here (in Palmera) for 3 years, Arabian Ranches is a lovely place to live.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 October 2013 - 16:19
Saw some at the Creative Minds party shop in Al Barsha this weekend. Carrefour had small ones.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 October 2013 - 14:03
Ours were delivered by Aramex 2 weeks ago.
RSAgirl
111
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 June 2013 - 20:51
We love the papa rotis at sunset mall! They are busy setting up a huge milk and honey there too.
 
 
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