Cal_Hob | ExpatWoman.com
 

Cal_Hob

Cal_Hob
83
Posts
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Latest post on 17 February 2013 - 13:14
My husband's company provides medical insurance and coverage for a bunch of places. Wondering if anyone has recommendations for a pediatrician? My son has had a cough for a while and I want to get him checked out. Thank you in advance !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2013 - 13:08
Thank you Nik_172 !!
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 February 2013 - 13:07
Thank you - you have given me great food for thought. Though it will be possible when we are "sponsor worthy" only I suppose (i.e.) resident for 6 months here. :)
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2013 - 19:25
Thank you Maple. Might you be willing to share what kind of trouble you have had? Just so I know what to watch for and can be more vigilant. At this time I am thinking it will have to be a private driver since I have not heard from any mums who would be willing to car pool and I am loathe to put her on a school bus at 550 am. If you'd like please email me (my email is below). Thank you - appreciate it !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2013 - 09:16
Thank you. Would you know if I need my RP first?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 February 2013 - 08:45
Hmmmm...funny you say that cantonclan. I actually had put "an ad" - and a neighborhood mom helped me out. We are best friends now. :) Since private drivers seem to be so irresponsible - maybe I should change this to - are there any Pearl moms who would like to share the responsibility? I would do half the drops offs / picks up using a cab and would go in the car myself. This would free up time in calendars. Please email me at purba dot sagar @ gmail if anyone is interested !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 February 2013 - 08:51
Thanks a bunch - I'll go in and ask.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 01 February 2013 - 09:11
Thanks ladies. Lulu it is then.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2013 - 20:41
Ewwwww...so which place would be a good choice for buying meat? and chicken? i just bought some mince beef from c4 - guess am going to throw it out now.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2013 - 10:13
65 riyals is steep !! Are these agency rates?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2013 - 10:05
I am interviewing a lady today. The agency is charging 30 Riyals per hour.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2013 - 07:50
Puppy love - I was the only parent being shown around - was there around 9 am. So couldn't have been me :) I did go to sherbourne yesterday. School is 4 years old. Gives the impression of a solid educational institution. I think what blew me away about the school is the extra curricular activities. They work on giving an all rounded education and taking advantage of the local culture whenever possible. So I saw notices for Quran competition to weekly British author visits. Break times are longer - so while most schools have two breaks of 20 minutes - the breaks here are at least 30 minutes giving children enough time to eat and play.. School finishes at 230 pm, instead of 130 pm at other places. Overall I loved the place - I don't think it is an option for me though since their intake starts at 5 year olds. It's important for me that in the short/medium term both my kids go to the same place. My youngest will turn 3 next month so sherbourne is at least 2 years out for us.. Also it is quite far from the pearl - 40 minutes in off peak traffic time. My kids were fossilizing by the time we got back home. :) <em>edited by Cal_Hob on 31/01/2013</em>
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 21:45
Thanks - I will go without apprehension then.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 19:53
Would the weekend be ok to go there? 10 am seems early for us - but say 11 am? Or should I just avoid it :) my kids are only 5 and 2 and I really don't want to see them getting mowed down.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 19:49
Thanks for your note jennilz. I would absolutely love to meet - making new friends is one of my aims of being here :) My email id is purba dot sagar at the rate gmail.com if you'd like to send me a note on when and where we can meet. I live in tower 19.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 06:10
Thank you carlingtexas. Just read this and it is great timing since I just wrote another post for some company for my 6 year old. We will be there at the park at tower 1 at about 10 am.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 01:21
Goodness - I was planning to taking my 3 and 6 year olds there. Is this the situation all the time (yes - it sounds funny) or is there a more suitable time to go?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 13:50
Thank you Ladies. I will try both options.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 January 2013 - 13:43
Here's another update. Went to ISL and ACS today. After my visits to Newton last week - these schools are like a breath of fresh air. Remind me of private schooling back in Canada. ISL - pure IB school. Students from 65 nationalities. Exposure to languages is increased with grade level. Very multinational feel. 5 years old or so. ACS - only 2 years old. American curriculum + IB (in the process of getting accreditation). Better facilities than ISL (bigger library, pool). I was actually introduced to some teachers and walked into some live classes. Impressive. I am glad my son got in here. It would have been the school of choice anyway. I did chat with the staff about difference between American vs British curriculum and they said that while American curriculum is topic based (so say "trade" would cover geography, math, etc), British is subject based (so the approach may not be holistic creating a practical experience gap). Also there are no textbooks, more assessments, less "tests" and little or no homework in the American curriculum, while the British curriculum is more "by the book". Coming from staff members of an American school - I wasn't really expecting to hear praises of the British system. So I will wait till my trip to Sherbourne on Wednesday to hear more about this.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 January 2013 - 12:21
So I called around a few places (kidnaroundkg,etc) and they said he is not eligible for kindy (per american I think it is KG1 and 2, per Britsh it is preschool and reception). He has to be 3 the year of September start. Since he will turn 3 next month - he has to go to nursery until September when he can go to kindy. Another question - are there any good montessori schools? Grandma's nursery claims to be (they do have montessori material) but it is a far cry from the montessori he used to go to in Toronto.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 January 2013 - 12:21
So I called around a few places (kidnaroundkg,etc) and they said he is not eligible for kindy (per american I think it is KG1 and 2, per Britsh it is preschool and reception). He has to be 3 the year of September start. Since he will turn 3 next month - he has to go to nursery until September when he can go to kindy. Another question - are there any good montessori schools? Grandma's nursery claims to be (they do have montessori material) but it is a far cry from the montessori he used to go to in Toronto.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 January 2013 - 11:58
Thank you Emma123, Kimmc3
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 January 2013 - 11:46
Emma123 - Sorry I stay at the pearl. How would I get a maid here? Tamieg1 - Thanks. I will try and make it next Sunday then.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 January 2013 - 07:44
Maple - Someone on this forum said "they have not heard the best things about the school". Hmmmm....but maybe it will be fine as a stop gap. Thanks for putting that thought in my head.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 January 2013 - 07:40
Thanks ami0802. I was not aware there was an option to put him in a kindergarten instead of a school. I thought kindergarten is school - is it not? Yes - he is starting in September at ACS and I am in the process of finalizing a nursery for him as a stop gap arrangement. Can he go to kindergarten instead? Where would I look?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 January 2013 - 02:05
oz4 - I have not tried Compass. In my initial research I had found them over our budget. We get 75000 per annum from my husband's work towards education in all. I don't mind spending $10 - 15,000 more per annum from my own budget - but Compass seemed out of reach. Not sure what they offer to demand the fees the do. Are you considering Compass?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 January 2013 - 02:02
Well that's something. Thanks again
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 January 2013 - 01:56
Thank you lalala. I will try QIS
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 January 2013 - 13:22
Sure thing OZ4 - how old are your kids?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 January 2013 - 13:17
Bingo = that is what I meant kimmc3
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 January 2013 - 04:37
Yes I am here. My school visits start tomorrow. All good questions to ask - thank you ! I would not have thought of it the same way.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 January 2013 - 04:34
Appreciate your input girls - very reassuring. I will go there for a tour (nothing like a first hand feel) and will also apply for my daughter for Yr 2 starting Sept. Hopefully, as a sibling she will get preference.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2013 - 12:28
Thank you ladies. Would you say the American curriculum offers more breadth and less depth and the British the other way round? I heard this somewhere (or maybe read it on this forum) - would you agree or disagree?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2013 - 12:15
haha...ok i will. just want to be sure i guess. not like it is doha college, if you know what i mean :) <em>edited by Cal_Hob on 23/01/2013</em>
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 January 2013 - 07:43
sorry to butt into this post - but what is the meaning of getting an approval for a maid? who do we get an approval from? also why is there a ban on phillipino maids? and is it only for new maids coming from phillipine or even the ones living here as maids?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 23:18
No problem Rachael. Thanks everyone.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 23:40
Thank you ladies ! This tells me we should not get beds / mattresses from home center. The salesperson there was going to give us a 10% discount if we bought all from there. Guess not then !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 07:21
i see ...that helps ladies. thanks a lot !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 07:20
my hubby is in Doha and planning to get started with at least a bed for when i land with two kiddies. he says he will buy a "king bed" at home center ...but i wanted to bounce that off this forum. is that a good place to start? also wondering - has anyone tried second hand furniture? is there an organised forum / retailer for seconds ? by the way - thank you so much for this forum and all the help. you girls have helped me every step of the way. now it's down to the wire. :)
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2013 - 20:58
HI Ladies - Did you have to pay half month's rent to your agents. Mark is asking for half month's rent as his commission. That came as a surprise to me. Or should it not have?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 23:19
hi ziggy - thank you so much. You are putting in words what I was "sort of" feeling. I am from Oakviile, Toronto. My name is from Calvin and Hobbes - my favourite comic characters. :)
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 22:40
Thanks - I told my husband about Y village and AJV2. Also - we were interested in living at Al Fardhan Compound - and there is a waitlist. :(
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 22:15
I am in the process of applying to International School of London and ACS - since I hear they are close to West Bay / Pearl area. Also the compounds - my husabnd and I both like new. He went to Beverly Hills and says while the common areas are great - but the villas themselves look run down. He thinks coming from Canada, I might get too much of a shock. Are any of these villas new? Also - are the road works as bad if we live at West Bay though?
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 06:47
thanks girls - that helps !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2013 - 06:38
thanks sandicane - think i missed your response and didn't thank you earlier !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 December 2012 - 18:44
Thanks so much AEB !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 December 2012 - 09:21
Thanks a lot Ladies. With two strong references I will definitely look into Crown.
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 December 2012 - 04:13
Thanks Park Clark. I have passed on this info to my husband. Hope you are super satisfied with what you got. Did you get furnished or unfurnished ? I forget. I hope these places you have mentioned fit our bugdet - we are looking to spend no more than 15 K per month. Thanks again ! Meet soon? :)
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 December 2012 - 20:25
Thank you all !
Cal_Hob
83
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 December 2012 - 19:18
Thank you !
 
 
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