josief | ExpatWoman.com
 

josief

josief
20
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2018 - 12:29
SassyM, interesting post ;) I have had similar problems in the past. I understand your passive aggressive attempts to deal with your guests...but in my experience, there are only two ways to deal with it: 1) keep quiet and deal with it, and don't trouble your husband with it - they're his friends and he will only feel frustrated about being stuck in the middle. 2) say something direct - for instance, if you don't have a housemaid, say directly to the woman that you don't have help and would appreciate her help with cleaning and noticed the toilet is especially dirty. Don't apologise, just say it! Sorry but I see this as a female issue. If my husband and children and I stay somewhere (he happens to be meticulously clean)...I make sure that I clean up after everyone. It's normal that a woman would make sure that's done. It's really not your problem that her mother didn't teach her manners! Why are some people so dirty?
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 June 2017 - 15:44
Regarding the schooling - if you really are thinking of renting in Silicon Oasis, I would send an email to both GEMS Wellington and GEMS First Point (about a 15-20 minute drive away) so you can find out if you can secure a place. It may be good to just put your feelers out there in a few directions. Also, nobody so far has mentioned that the KHDA is the local authority that provides ratings for all schools here - so have a look the KHDA website and then you will have a better idea of where you can look. GEMS First Point is rated "Good" but that's mostly because it's a new school as far as I can see. GEMS Wellington is rated "Outstanding" which is obviously ideal especially because it is next to where you would like to rent Repton is also "Outstanding" I believe. Have a look and don't be shy to book tours to all of these schools. You can tour them in the first week you are here and provide them with the documents they need as soon as you decide. You will have plenty of time to decide once you get here. Remember that schools are run as businesses here - which I am sure you know - but ensure that you treat it as a business decision based on their rating, fees, proximity to where you live and ultimately their availability for FS1 spaces.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 March 2017 - 11:39
Sorry to jump in here, but since you are a mother, I wanted to add one point... If you know that she isn't trustworthy and that you don't want her working with you, why would you leave her to look after your children even for 10 minutes? Was it really worth the convenience of not loading both your kids in the car? You have to look at your own actions here. You had already seen her neglect your children. You see, nannies/maids are not relatives. They don't care about your family once they determine that they don't like you as the madam/boss. So just as a kind of general message to everyone: you only have yourself to blame if something happens while your children are in the care of someone you KNOW is not trustworthy. It doesn't matter how well you felt you treated her, or how much you paid her. When it comes down to it - she wants to leave but will use your free accommodation until it suits her and you don't want her working there! You should have just kicked her out when you told her you were done with her. Drop her at the airport with a ticket you purchase. Otherwise she is your liability in Dubai, and if you have sponsored her, then you are under a duty to the DNRD to report her as absconding if she is not with you. And by the way, you can't ban her (providing her is on a sponsorship visa and not a company visa), and the police might even tell you the same thing I have. Don't trust dodgy strangers with your kids!!!
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 July 2016 - 13:16
Hi, you can try Desert Group - they might be expensive but they will do a proper job and will put in irrigation as well if you wish. 043404440. They work everywhere in Dubai.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 July 2016 - 17:25
Sorry to jump in on this thread, but I just wanted to say that I hope you have a way to sort it out quickly. If she is as defiant as it sounds, you really need to cut your losses and get her out of your house immediately. You can't trust her and it's not safe having your daughter out of the house without you knowing....just think, if it was anyone else taking her out without telling you, you would be calling the police right? There are temporary options until you get another maid in. You can call a company and have someone come in for 8 hours a day from outside. Good luck with this - I really hope you act fast on this one. Don't even wait for your husband to speak to her, it's not worth the risk of your daughter going missing.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 July 2016 - 17:13
If you are covered at Ameficsn Hospital definitely go see Dr. Braithwaite there. She is busy but always takes her time and is very experienced, calm and reassuring. After giving birth three times in Dubai and using multiple doctors here - I would wholeheartedly recommend her. Plus the hospital is excellent - much better than the others you mentioned.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 May 2016 - 19:48
I used someone that was previously recommended on EW (thanks ladies!) named Joseph: 0502529870 He did our entire big villa and I honestly couldn't fault their work. There were a couple minor issues after the work was done and he came back and fixed everything up free of charge.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 May 2016 - 19:42
Hi, I don't mean this to come off the wrong way - but why does it matter to you? If you don't think the company is treating its employees fairly, then they probably aren't the only company doing so...also, if you get involved in conversations with their staff about what they should and should not be provided by their company, what possible outcome would be beneficial to you as a customer? Perhaps you need to find another maid agency to send you a helper... Remember sometimes these housemaids working for cleaning companies spend a lot of time complaining to their customers in the hopes of getting sympathy...and whilst a lot of these maids are lovely girls, sometimes there is something more sinister going on. My advice is don't get involved.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 May 2016 - 20:05
Hi there, congratulations! What you need to prepare exactly is dependent on your individual circumstances. Are you marrying a GCC national? Have you been Muslim since birth? Once you are serious about planning, I would send your fiancé to the Marriage Section of Dubai Courts. He can then explain to them your situation and if he is persistent, someone will help him with all the details. He will need to be specific about asking if you need permission from your Embassy/Consulate or your father etc in your circumstances. When you go to get married, you don't need an appointment. You will need to bring your passports and two male witnesses. If you are on a visit visa they may ask for proof that your husband can sponsor you (salary certificate from his company) Before you leave the UK you may need to get a letter of permission from your father if he will not attend as one of your two make Muslim witnesses. You will need to attest this at the UAE Embassy in London. To be on the safe side, include a copy of your fathers passport and refer to it in the letter. If you became Muslim after birth, you will need proof of your ongoing studies in Islam. Once you arrive here you will need a medical fitness certificate that you can get at some of the government medical testing facilities (for instance the one in Safa) for both you and your husband. It sounds like a long process, but it is actually really simple once you have the papers in order and the Dubai Courts process is done in a jiffy.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2016 - 16:11
Try American Hospital. We use Dr. Umair Sharih, but generally speaking you will get a well qualified doctor at American Hospital regardless of who you choose.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2016 - 14:14
I agree with what a lot of the other ladies have said....but just to add, definitely get sippy cups, they are expensive here, and they don't carry the Gerber brand here which is what my family likes to use. Ointments would be good, we use a Canadian one(polysporin) which is not available here (similar to neosporin) and I can't find anything I like as much here. Definitely clothes - every time I go to Europe or North America I buy as much as possible for the kids. Even good shoes a few sizes ahead as those are overpriced here as well. Even basic toys are overpriced here, especially if you don't want your child playing with sketchy toys from unknown brands made in China. If your family uses any herbal medicine or products (even Aveeno for instance) stock up on that. You can also order from www.iherb.com once you are here (a recommendation I found on Expat Woman - thanks ladies) which results in a big savings for our family every month or two. Children's tylenol or whatever you are used to using for fevers would be good to bring - just so that you don't have to end up switching brands to the local/UK brands for a while. Similar to what another poster said, if you use something for your child, stock up because so many little things like toothbrushes are expensive here, and you won't find the selection you are used to.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 June 2015 - 22:25
It really depends on nationality (even if it's not fair) and experience. A good maid who can communicate well with your family and has a good work ethic is worth paying at a reasonable salary to begin (why not close to the minimum for the first year until you get to know them?) and then should be given a generous uplift when appropriate. It is worth doing for the RIGHT person for your family. At the end of the day you want to retain someone who is adding to the quality of life in your home for your family. We have a maid now who needs to leave for personal reasons and I would gladly have paid her well over the average to keep her here if it was possible to convince her not to get married ;)
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 June 2015 - 22:04
Just wanted to barge in here on this thread and say - it's cultural, ladies :) Helpers working here spend their whole year cleaning up after us so that they can go home and make their families happy with some silly gifts. Remember their world/horizon is different than yours - hence the fact that they work for you!
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 August 2014 - 15:31
It's always better to use a proper company than a freelancer in my experience.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 April 2014 - 22:53
Just came across this while doing some similar searches. I second the recommendation for Dr. Nataliya at Cooper clinic. She is absolutely professional, knowledgeable and takes pride in her work. I have been a demanding patient of hers for years now and she has never been anything but a godsend. Their clinic only deals with reimbursement forms with insurance companies but in my humble opinion, you will be hard pressed to find another ob/gyn like her.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 October 2012 - 17:20
Dupsee's advice to call the Consumer Protection Department turned out to be the only way to get Living Social's attention. Thanks for that. I can now say I totally recommend their hotline: 600 54 55 55 given the quick response. Now let's see if Living Social delivers on the full refund that has been promised within 14 business days.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 October 2012 - 14:24
primus, Hotpot: thanks very much. I am sure it will get resolved one way or another. I must say though, SuzyDuzy - I totally disagree...when it comes to running a business, you have to make your customers happy. If a small business has to take a hit for dealing with a coupon site and not getting paid, it really shouldn't impact on customers. This is where Sifawy really screwed up - as a customer I really couldn't care less about their issues with Living Social.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 October 2012 - 14:31
Good to know Mollydxb....I am having major issues with mine being honoured for Sifawy Hotel near Muscat. They are telling me that they cannot honour them and are referring to some issue they are having with LivingSocial for payments. The interesting thing is that I am pretty sure they have to provide proof of the vouchers being encashed/redeemed prior to getting funds from LivingSocial. If you ask me, it's RUBBISH customer service. I don't usually go out of my way to complain about these kinds of things, but this is particularly annoying. A quote from my last email from them: "The reason we cannot accept vouchers from Living Social is that they have not been paid for. I do understand that you have already paid so it’s a loss for you." :\:
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 October 2012 - 12:17
Has anyone had any issues with using LivingSocial vouchers? I have two for a hotel stay that are still valid, but upon trying to make a booking at the hotel, they said they are no longer accepting them! I have emailed LivingSocial, and haven't yet received a response.
josief
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2011 - 15:53
I really struggled to figure out the requirements for my degree attestation for my last job...you could always try using a company like Expat Docs [url=www.expatdocs.com'>link[/url'>
 
 
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