Cheezu | ExpatWoman.com
 

Cheezu

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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 14:55
Nice of him to take a stand, but if it were my dad handing me over for such a low sum, I'd be furious. Is he saying she isn't worth more? http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/saudi-bride-s-father-asks-for-a-sr2-dowry-1.1081127 Why would you be furious that your father doesn't put a price on your value?!! Not just any price!!! A high price! Would you be happy if your dad sold you off cheap? "Sold you off"? Really... how can you even use such phrasing?
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Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 14:52
So if I already have a du card I need to register it now? Have they sent you an sms telling to go re-register yet? I'm not quite sure. I don't use the du card much. Bought it a while ago when our Internet wasn't working and it was an easy and temporary fix. I suppose I'll just discard it. You can go in and register anyway if you want to preserve that number, you don't have to wait until they sms you http://www.thenational.ae/news/uae-news/deadline-set-for-uae-mobile-users-to-re-register-sim-cards I don't get it though. I thought du offered a nice solution to tourists who wanted to get a temporary UAE number on arrival (my friend who came to visit a while back did just that). Now this won't be possible. Oh well.
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Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 14:46
So if I already have a du card I need to register it now? Have they sent you an sms telling to go re-register yet? I'm not quite sure. I don't use the du card much. Bought it a while ago when our Internet wasn't working and it was an easy and temporary fix. I suppose I'll just discard it.
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Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 14:42
It depends. I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have your phone compatible with your OS system. You should be able to transfer files between your computer and pretty much any phone. I'm a happy blackberry user and I own a Mac. However, if you're interested in transferring apps or syncing them, then yes, I'd go for an iPhone. I also own an iPad. I think it's good and by far the most popular.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 14:37
So if I already have a du card I need to register it now?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 14:35
I'd ask for a box of chocolates instead.
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Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 12:59
I'd suggest volunteering, too. I suppose some people do work privately though to make some extra cash here and there by tutoring, babysitting, etc. Yes but who would leave their child with a stranger who isnt covered in the case of emergencies? etc plus if the police were called there would be trouble Not worth the risk I'm not saying you'd leave it with a complete stranger but then plenty of people here get their friends' kids to babysit and pay them for the service. One of my friends also teaches piano privately. I think that as long as the people you are offering this service to trust you, you're not going to get into any sort of legal trouble (unless, of course someone reports you for some reason). <em>edited by Cheezu on 26/09/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 12:39
I'd suggest volunteering, too. I suppose some people do work privately though to make some extra cash here and there by tutoring, babysitting, etc.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 10:26
if her visa is cancelled and she is still in the UAE technically she is still the responsibility of her current sponsor. without sounding harsh, im not surprised that they have kept hold of her passport and she is still living with them. if she gets into trouble so will the family who she lived in so in effect they are just looking after themselves. I don't know the situation, of course, but I'm always skeptical when I hear of people holding onto their maids' passports. I mean, would this sort of thing be tolerated anywhere in Europe? I don't think so.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 10:18
I wouldn't recommend cooking with it... It tastes horrible.
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Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 10:00
I remember being told a long time ago that Spanish ladies rarely wash their hair at all, they let the natural oils come out and give it a lovely lustre, I believe. It may not be true nowadays, of course. I'm not sure if it's specific to Spanish ladies but some individuals (particularly long-haired women) don't wash their hair too often. I suppose it also depends on how oily your hair gets. My mom's scalp never gets oily and she can actually go a week without washing it. If I were to do that I think I could use the oil from my scalp to cook me some dinner. Gross, I know.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 09:56
Well the less chemicals the longer your hair will stay on your head. But i like myself and everything else squeaking clean:) My hair gets so oily I don't know if it would work for me though. Hasn't this thread gone terribly off-topic? hehe
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 09:53
Some of my friends bathe their children with water only. Their philosopy is that if you soak in a tub once a day, you are clean enough, no need for shampoo or soap. I knew a guy who'd never shampoo his hair. Only rinse it with lukewarm water everyday. He actually had lovely hair.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 08:47
I did a google search for "law firms Dubai" and found quite a few results. Not sure which is the optimal one... But try that. =)
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 September 2012 - 08:41
I thought that your embassy was supposed to be there to help you and if your passport was being held by someone they could assist you in getting a replacement / emergency one to be able to leave (as has been suggested in many threads where there have been problems in marriages and the husband is holding the wife's passport etc...?) That's what I thought too. I thought that the role of embassies in general is to protect their citizens but I suppose it could vary depending on the country you are from. You could try contacting a law firm I suppose (I'm not sure where you could find the details - Connector, the Yellow pages?). <em>edited by Cheezu on 26/09/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 23:29
Not that I'm trying to attack the OP in any way, it's just that I can sympathize with her MIL on some level. My hubby is Pakistani and he insists on adding spices and herbs to EVERYTHING. While I love traditional Pakistani food, I also like (yes, I will say it) bland food every now and then. He loves cooking which I suppose is lucky for me... but all our food has be laced with spices of some sort (even spaghetti). I feel really terrible about complaining but sometimes I get annoyed. Once I even refused to eat a meal he prepared. I'd really like to have spaghetti with just the ordinary bland tomato sauce every once in a while.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 22:18
To be honest, unless you are 100% sure that this is really the case and you know the whole story, i wouldn't get involved. We see far too many stories on here of maids spinning stories and exaggerating things to manipulate westerners. That's a little harsh, don't you think? I'm not saying all people who work as maids are the epitome of honestly, but I have personally witnessed an incident where a maid kept getting mistreated by the people she was working for here. It happens a little more often than it should. No - going up against someone who has a lot of wasta, when you are not 100% sure of the whole story is not a good idea, especially here. The same could be said if you are indeed a 100% sure because the people with wasta have a bigger chance to start off with regardless of the circumstances. In the end, it all comes down to personal values and who you choose to believe I suppose. It seems that the OP has already made a choice and wants to help? <em>edited by Cheezu on 25/09/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 22:11
To be honest, unless you are 100% sure that this is really the case and you know the whole story, i wouldn't get involved. We see far too many stories on here of maids spinning stories and exaggerating things to manipulate westerners. That's a little harsh, don't you think? I'm not saying all people who work as maids are the epitome of honestly, but I have personally witnessed an incident where a maid kept getting mistreated by the people she was working for here. It happens a little more often than it should.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 22:07
I just checked and I don't see any private messages (I joined FB in 2006). Lots of single wall posts in the early years because back then you couldn't reply to anyone's post but had to write on their wall instead. I suppose this might seem like they're personal messages when, in fact, they're not? =S Seems to be affecting us all differently. I was looking at my sisters time line to see if anything private id written was there (one was ) when I noticed a private email from one of her male "friends" too Are you sure they're her private messages though? Some of the stuff I saw in my old posts was quite embarrassing and maybe a tad bit too personal (created my account when I joined college) and I'm sure I wouldn't post similar things right now but I'm convinced it's not part of my private messages. Also, hubby and I exchange short messages daily through PM and none of the stuff is on my wall either.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 21:06
I am be wrong but from what I know you need to be employed in order to have an account here.
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Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 20:41
I just checked and I don't see any private messages (I joined FB in 2006). Lots of single wall posts in the early years because back then you couldn't reply to anyone's post but had to write on their wall instead. I suppose this might seem like they're personal messages when, in fact, they're not? =S
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 20:22
I don't really get this. How can PM's be showing on the timeline? Unless they're private wall posts that have now become public?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 19:48
Have you tried the Nutritional approach of explaining: The basic ingredients are exactly what you would eat at home, chicken, fish, meat, potato etc. The reason why I add these herbs is because ................. and the spices because ................ Explain what the various herbs and spices do for our health (don't go overboard with too much information just concentrate with the herbs and spices you are dealing with in that meal, get her interested and she may even help you with preparing the meal. then finish off by saying thank you for helping me prepare the meal, you go and put your feet up now and I'll do the dishes. Telling someone why you're doing something will not necessarily make them like it. I know that some people can't tolerate spicy food... others don't appreciate herbs or pepper on their food either. It can actually be upsetting to a person's stomach but for someone accustomed to these additives, food served without them will appear "bland" and "tasteless". People's tastes are different but I think that if your MIL is staying with you for only 2 weeks it wouldn't kill you to cook in a slightly different manner during that time span.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 18:31
I'd suggest taking him/her to the doctor. I don't think it's normal for a baby to be always screaming while pooping.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 18:27
So how does one go about cleaning the tank? Just curious because I think ours is very dirty. When I open the tap the first few squirts are always brown.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 18:02
I think I might know what they are then... Wasn't sure what they're called. =) Must try!
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Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 17:36
My friend was raving about these. What are they exactly?
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 17:35
They are VERY rude and disrespectful. I have been refused so many times, and "lectured" a countless number. I feel like the service has gotten worse over the years - maybe because more and more people depend on taxis nowadays so the drivers can afford to refuse customers if the destination is not along "their route". Appalling. <em>edited by Cheezu on 25/09/2012</em>
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 17:07
Good news! No incense burning today. =D I wonder if they could telepathically sense something.
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Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 17:03
Cheezu, if i cook for them, it will never be spicy food, it just probably salt, pepper, rosemary, thyme....all the simple herbs. Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that. In any case, try not adding the spices one time and see how she reacts. Your MIL does sound like a difficult person but bear in mind that it's only 2 weeks. If she were living with you permanently it would be a different matter altogether. lol
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 16:03
No, there are enzymes that you need to thrive which are only found in meat. [b'>The worst diet for you is a a vegan one[/b'>, closely followed by vegetarian; you can survive on this but you will not thrive. This is the stupidest thing ive read today. i'm vegan by choice. And ever since i stopped meat and dairy four years ago, ive never felt or looked better. Some people's bodies actually can cope with eating meat and dairy. Mine cant. Everything that used to be wrong with me, bad skin, bloating, overweight, lethargy, tiredness, magically has gone, and the only thing ive changed is my diet. Thank you! Not that I judge those who eat meat. But it's like that meme going around Facebook - "Nobody cares about your protein intake until they find out you're vegan."
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 15:09
Some people don't like spicy food. Period. It can actually be really upsetting on someone's stomach if they're not used to it so why not just try to cook what they like when they do come down to visit? I know that her comments are rude but if you know that's how she is going to react, why force the spicy food on her? As for the dishes, I don't know the age of your MIL but when people get older they are less likely to notice some things, etc. My grandma who used to be a very clean person started having issues with this now. I often see plates and utensils that are not fully clean when I go down to visit her. It's quite upsetting. Getting a dishwasher could solve a lot of problems.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 13:33
I too went to the doctors and had the tests about this. I do suggest every one makes this a first step in case it is a sympton of an illness. They can tell me exactly why it is happening. I have an auto immune disease called Pernicious anemia. This means my body doesn't absorb B12 naturally. So every 3 months I have a needle of B12. This is meant to make me more energetic and help with the hair loss. It makes no difference. Drats:( I also went to a hair loss specialist and that did help about 50%. They use shampoos, herbs, laser light treatment and Minoxidill that you apply to your hair. I have continued using the laser and Minoxidill at home and things are stabilised. I also started taking Silica tablets 6 months ago because I heard a specialist on the radio suggest it. But I have never been able to fully regrow and thicken my hair. I don't know why there are so many woman who come on this forum complaining of hair loss whilst living in Dubai but there are a lot. If these tablets help someone else then I will be so pleased for you as I know what it is like to have thinning hair. That is great they are available on the internet so they are easy to get. I did buy another 2 bottles today to start my stockpile. Wuffles forget the Tim Tams and Vegemite, my bag will be stuffed with this Hair tonic stuff lol. I did ask the naturopath today about the horse shampoo and he looked at me like I was crazy lol. If it works I say go for it:) I think people should get a medical check-up by all means to eliminate any internal factors which may be causing hair loss. But what Bottons was suggesting is that scalp conditions do not ever cause hair loss which is far from true. Impure or highly chlorinated water can affect your scalp. An unhealthy scalp rarely equals healthy hair (at least from my experience).
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 September 2012 - 13:22
I just received this promotion for a Disney move, any idea if the movie would be suitable for a 5 year old girl? http://www.alphabravomovies.com/newsletter2.htm thanks. As much as I love Tim Burton's movies, I think some 5-year-olds might find them scary because of the horror-like themes. I haven't watched Frankenweenie yet but judging from the trailer I'm guessing it will be much like the Corpse Bride or the Nightmare before Christmas. More suitable for ages 8 and up I'd say.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 20:00
hilsbils - We don't really know the neighbors. Have run into them a couple of times in the hallway but never spoke. Not sure it this makes matters better or worse. Marroosh - I might just do that. Tomorrow I will try to investigate the source of the smell further (it's gone now, thankfully). I'm quite convinced I know which apartment it's coming from but I wouldn't want to make a mistake. JoyceB - That's the tricky bit about smells. Unlike with noise pollution, people might like certain smells that others find horrid.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 18:06
If it only began a month ago perhaps it is relate to a death in the family? Just a thought to keep in mind Is burning incense a cultural or a religious thingy? ShopGirl12, I do know that they light incense in Buddhist and Hindu monasteries but not really sure if it's a religious ritual or more of a tradition. Oh, are they South Asians? I think I got lost somewhere in the thread and thought they were Arabs. If the smell is coming from where I think it is, they are most likely Sudanese. Sorry, I thought you were just asking in general. <em>edited by Cheezu on 24/09/2012</em>
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 17:50
If it only began a month ago perhaps it is relate to a death in the family? Just a thought to keep in mind Is burning incense a cultural or a religious thingy? ShopGirl12, I do know that they light incense in Buddhist and Hindu monasteries but not really sure if it's a religious ritual or more of a tradition.
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 15:42
I would absolutely go and say something - if you feel unwell in your own apartment because of offensive smells coming from theirs, then they should stop lighting things. Not to mention it's not particularly safe. I doubt anyone would say you would be wrong if they were making excessive noise so why should smell be any different? In an apartment where you share a building with neighbours it's necessary to respect other people's space and wishes. AC vents here tend to be all linked up - I come home sometimes to the smell of garlic or cigarettes coming through our vents! But incense, which is lit daily, is not very fair. I'd pop round and be nice about it and say something. I think I just might... will probably wait for the hubby to come home. I was only concerned because incense is so popular here and I wouldn't want to offend anyone if it's a part of their culture. I really wish the ventilation systems were designed better in the building.
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 15:28
our neighbours have been burning something the last couple of days - is it near Dwhali or something ? I like the smell but i also like scented candles etc...Nothing you can do except be glad they don't cook kippers every day :D Not sure if this is related to any specific religious festival as they started doing it about a month ago. I tried spraying perfume, air fresheners, lighting scented vanilla candles (I like the smell) but the incense smell wins every time. My only concern is that it's making me feel so ill. I actually can't even eat anything during that span of 3-4 hours as the last time I tried I almost threw up and had to rush to the bathroom. Not pleasant at all. =(
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 14:56
To be honest, tough. You could try and work out what vent it's coming through and close it. If I do that though, will the AC still work in that room? We live in a small 1-bedroom apartment so the smell is all over. Not sure if it's coming in through just one of the vents or more.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 14:54
Sorry to bump this again but Jack the cat came home this morning - thanks to you all for the moral and practical support - we are all very relieved! That's great news!
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 14:32
I can sympathise as I cant walk past the shops in the mall which have oud and/ or incense wafting out into the public zone. I actually have to take a long route to avoid the fumes, and always feel like getting sick. I couldnt live with it across the hall! Are they lighting it indoors and its leaking to your place via the hallway, or are the lighting it in the hallway? It may be spreading via the ac ducting I think it's spreading through the AC vent and they're lighting it indoors. That's why I'm worried about going there because it's not like they're doing anything wrong.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 13:57
yes just 3 for sale she told me ....bit worrying. Do you know where I could get a small breed dog from a trust worthy place? Can't you just adopt from K9 Friends? So many puppies looking for a home and the people working there will usually be able to tell you how big the doggy will get when fully grown. You can check out the pups available for adoption here - https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.136761173890.110108.135431973890&type=3 They usually get a few new ones each month. I know that some people want a specific breed and if you're only interested in that I'd suggest getting the puppy imported - of course, the travel will be extra stressful for the pup, and getting the paperwork sorted out as well as the travel expenses might be a headache. But if you really want a pedigree pup from a reliable breeder that's what I'd do.
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 13:06
they only have very small breeds - its a new shop open in Uptown Mirdiff Most of the dogs bred by those big "corporations" have a lot of ailments because they are bred to be unnaturally small even for their already small breed. In other countries, you get breeders that actually devote their lives to breeding their pets - it's more like a small family business for them as well as a hobby, and I definitely trust those more. Synergy Labs just sounds fishy to begin with.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 12:51
Does the "labs" in the title stand for "labradors" or "laboratories"? If it's the latter, I would think twice about buying a pet from them.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 12:49
Thanks Fairfield and Cheezu, will go check them out now :) This is the official site for BodyRock - http://www.bodyrock.tv/ =)
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 12:46
I love the comments about taking an hour or so to clean up. I'm on about day 6 of trying to sort just my photos (mind you, there were over 13000 of them) :D I get that it's hard but if you got anyone else to do it for you, how would you know where anything is? Especially with something like photos, I don't think a stranger would know how to organize them properly.
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 12:45
http://uktv.co.uk/food/recipe/aid/580425 I also quite like the Polish-style beetroot soup with dumplings.
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 12:42
http://www.grouprecipes.com/102375/buraczki-zasmazane-braised-beets.html ^ this one! It's a Polish thing and I grew up eating it (my Grandma makes the best ones). She still makes it for me whenever I'm back for the summer. =) I don't recall the horseradish though.
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Latest post on 24 September 2012 - 12:35
Can't you just do it yourself? Macs are much easier to use in my opinion. When my Mac gets messy (i.e. disorganized files, etc.) I just take an hour of my day to re-organize everything. Chances are that the programs you don't use now are never going to be used anyway so if you feel they're taking too much space delete them.