mokkapala | ExpatWoman.com
 

mokkapala

mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2011 - 12:09
But you all are interested enough to discuss them though? No? ;)
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 January 2011 - 09:32
No to transport allowance. But tell her you will drop her off and pick her up and MOE at specific hours on Friday. That at least would have her coming back at a reasonable hour. This then means you have to work your day around your maid. Who is employing who? :\: Anyone willing to do that on a Friday, work their day around maid's pick ups? The OP's maid needs to get a bit more resourceful. If the transport system is not yet properly developed there, then there must be quite a few maids who all have similar problems. They should get together and organise a frequent car lift service at certain times and to a certain drop off place where they can then catch a public transport such as a bus or a metro. You could have 4 maids sharing this at affordable cost. Since when do maids need to be travelling around in taxis? I will get shot for saying that but really. And if it is for the convenience factor then what the heck??? They are maids - yes, housemaids,. And as such, not a profession that reeps major salaries. Live the lifestyle you can afford. That is how it is everywhere.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2011 - 22:05
monkapala No one said anything about paying for taxis twice a week, only when she want to have her day off on friday. Just help the maid out with cost so she can enjoy her free time. One does not have to pay taxi to M O E but if there is no bus nearby drive them or taxi them to nearest place/bus stop. Times are tough for everyone , and the lower paid also. As you pointed out maids are finding it very expensive if they go back to home for visit and go thru alot of cash. Just be reasonable. I agree with you to be reasonable. Absolutely. I also am an advocate of paying well and not be miserly. But the OP is paying close to Dhs 2000 already and food on top of that, that is a fair pay and I really do not think an extra transport allowance is needed . If you told me a maid was making 1000 a month then it would be a different story. What I am saying is that they do need to spend their salary here for some living costs too - just like everyone else. Well, at least in our household our maid has to. We do not cover all her outgoings - she gets a fair salary she can use for those and still send money home.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2011 - 21:38
Many maids use carlifts. There are lots of those around. Here where we live carlifts are common - but we do have good transport system as well. I find many maids do not want to go back the Philippines when their holiday is up as they say it is very expensive there and they end up spending a lot of money there. Mine and my friends' maids prefer to get the value of the ticket and then the 13th month salary as it speeds up their savings. All of a sudden they get say AED 3,500 for the ticket (which is what Emirates charged for January) plus their one month salary - and also their normal salary if they opt out of not taking the holiday. This is what our maid preferred to do this year and go next year instead. I do believe the yearly ticket is part of every contract now but not sure. On paying transport allowance I still do not agree with it. Really,so the maid wants to go to Mall of Emirates, are we meant to pay Dhs 100 for a taxi each time she goes, say twice a week? What nonsense in my opinion. This is their job, they should also pay from their salary for their outgoings. And you just got to live within your means. This is your life. You make 2000 dhs, how do you balance that out. So then you do not tke that Dhs 50 taxi to mall of emirates. Are maids meant to travel in a taxi now paid by their sponsors, wherever they go?
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2011 - 19:33
mokkapala replied : Transport allowance? for what - for her to go to spend her weekends away? Of course it is not your responsibility. If she lived outside then it would make sense. ...Grocery shopping....church...doctors....sending money home....visiting family etc. Victory Heights is a new community and lacks amenities. Even maids have things they need to do on their day off! Of course they do, that goes without question, but it not our responsibility to provide transport allowance. It should come from their salaries and this lady is paying her maid well. My maid also leaveson Thursdays and comes back on Saturday, she uses bus and metro and pays herself. We also pay her a decent salary. Sponsors are not meant to have to pay for everything are they?
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2011 - 18:20
But yearly flight seems normal to me, we do that.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 January 2011 - 18:19
Transport allowance? for what - for her to go to spend her weekends away? Of course it is not your responsibility. If she lived outside then it would make sense.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2011 - 12:38
I thought generally all British schools had the cut off as 1st September. But FYI, for IB schools the cut off is end Dec, so for the first year which is K1 they have to be 4 years by the end Dec. HTH ;) Can you recommend good IB schools in Dubai?
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2011 - 08:46
If you used a really reputable pest control company like National pest control, then you have nothing to worry about. When they come to our house, they ask pets to be locked in a separate rom for 2 hours after the pest control has been performed, and to keep babies and small children and pregnant ladies like myself out for an hour or two. They are very trustworthy company. We use them. COuld you call the cmpany you used and get them to explain everything, maybe you would get some peace of mind. And I totally understand your concerns, I have had similar myself.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 January 2011 - 08:41
the baby is born to a British mother and I assume the father is also British. There must some precident for this as the baby is a British Subject by birth??? What does being British got to do with this? Don't you need a birth certificate here that you then take to your embassy? They do not give them for out of wedlock babies as far as know unless they make exceptions. I sure hope they do though. I do not know how British embassy helps in cases like these. But jail in my opinion is totally wrong solution. I think the girl has been punished enough. She needs some mother's love herself I am sure. A few years ago an unmarried British air Hostess with a regional airline gave birth after keeping her pregnancy a secret, though I'm not sure if she did it deliberately or if her mind failed to register she was pregnant. She delivered early but not that early. The British Embassy stepped in and her and her baby were given all the necessary travel documents to enable her to leave the country where this happened. I think something along these lines will happen for the wee girl who's found herself in this very sad mess. I suspect the Government concerned was glad to be able to wash their hands of the problem and I dont for a minute think the girl will ever go home without her baby, and I think they'll go home sooner rather than later. edited by DesertRose1958 on 07/01/2011 Thanks for clarifying and I hope this is the case. I know the laws of this country, but I still feel having baby out of wedlock should not be considered a crime that gets punished with prison. Who does that help? Not the baby nor the mother.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 20:12
the baby is born to a British mother and I assume the father is also British. There must some precident for this as the baby is a British Subject by birth??? What does being British got to do with this? Don't you need a birth certificate here that you then take to your embassy? They do not give them for out of wedlock babies as far as know unless they make exceptions. I sure hope they do though. I do not know how British embassy helps in cases like these. But jail in my opinion is totally wrong solution. I think the girl has been punished enough. She needs some mother's love herself I am sure.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 January 2011 - 15:05
We watched it on New Year's Eve - we had a quiet one at home with DD and DH and me being pregnant! The movie was very good and my DH who collects lots of movies, especially European, Japanese etc, really loved it. OUr favorite character was definitely the taxi driver!!! And you can see the director in a cameo role as well in a taxi at one point - am I right?
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 10:55
Why is everyone so worked up about some letter in 7 days? Someone says - we are entitled to our opinions but we do not run to newspapers with them. I see no difference with online forum or letters page to newspapers - public opinions all the same. Live and let live. I find that periodically someone writes to 7 days to spice things up on this forum - that is what I think. I personally find it funny, because the writer seems to get exactly the response she or he wants. Let people have different opinions, what's the big deal? I found this thread to also be full of helpful comments, and also believe putting the ban on the maid was the right thing to do - companies would do the same if we did a runner- but so what if someone writes a letter to 7 days? It's a free world. let people say what they want.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 07:18
I also wanted to add that I also am quite sure that when we finally move, I will miss aspects of Dubai. Here money is never a concern to us and still we save a lot of money. We bought a fantastic house in cash in the home country, and have made other investments and no way would we have done that had we lived somewhere else. Saving here has just been so quick and for my husband career opportunities have been amazing - and for metoo. I have to be grateful for that. That is our future in the end and future of our children.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2011 - 07:10
If we did not save lots of money here every month, then we would not stay here. I have been here ten plus years and the sand, dust, heat, a lack of greenery and cultural things have started to get to me. And for some reason I am fed up with this constant festival feel. Some posters talk about things you cannot measure in money. I m the same way. I miss many things that do not exist here. But I do not hate Dubai by any means. for example I love how safe it is, easy to live in, multicultural, friendly people everywhere. We enjoy it for now but have no plans to settle here indefinitely even though here financially we would always be better off. The other day I told my husband - I do not want to drive along Sheikh Zayed road the rest of my life. Before I get old - am now three years shy of turning forty, I want to still start a new page in my life. Dubai is means to an end, to save money and then go. But while doing that we also enjoy our life here. If it was JUST the money and no enjoyment then we would have basically sold our souls. You have to still enjoy your lif whereever you are.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 January 2011 - 05:04
What's the big deal?
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 18:49
By telling her you will not tolerate her not keeping her room clean as well. She clearly knows how to do this in rest of the house?
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 16:52
Do know where is a good place to look. Carrefour clothing section. Mine has a field day in there and its reasonable too. can pick most of it up in there. Sorry if some of u buy more designer but im not going that route. Thanks for the tip. I found some undies and the t-shirts at C4 the last time. Lulu is also a good option. Not going to be buying her any Mango or Zara anytime soon! And Splash is also quite good value.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 January 2011 - 14:55
The minute a maid starts talking with sentences like "all the other madams" I do not want to continue the conversation. This " but the other madams do this and that" thing does not work in our household, I will not be sent on a guilt trip but then our maid does not try it on us anyway. When our maid arrived she had just a small bag and very little clothing. We took her clothes shopping and have also bought her cold weather clothes like cardigans and fleeces and give some for special occasions. And w ebought her comfortable clothes for working - not a uniform. You could buy her something for the cold weather, the are not that expensive - but you should not feel obliged to do anything - especially when the maid starts references to other madams.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 15:24
Just took my 2 year old daughter for a hair cut at Bianca in the Springs. I specifically told the lady I wanted a neat bob. My toddler now has a short in the back, long in the front Victoria Beckham style cut ( yep, the one that she made famous) and it looks AWFUL. I am so mad at this woman. I told her she was cutting too short but she just kept doing her thing. I wanted to warn others. I will never go back there. :( I had make up done there for a friend's wedding and seems they only know the "subtle" make up style favoured by some ladies of this region- it was like a Twisted Sister look going on. I told them time and again I want a subtle make up - nothing scary. Was very upset when I left from there.
mokkapala
121
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 02 January 2011 - 13:21
Complain less - such as my regular annual Dubai moans when the weather gets hot. At the end of the day, we have decided to extend our stay by couple of years so matters are not helped by me having a 5 month long PMS about how all we do is walk in shopping malls. Also, will enjoy my second baby more than my first one. By this I mean I will be less nervous and just love every minute of it. Am just looking forward to our family growing, loving my family and trying to be grateful for the good life we have. Two incidents happened this past week that made me realise that sometimes you have to look down rather than up. And by down I do not mean "down on people". At mall yesterday found the toilet cleaner crying in one of the cubicles that I was to go into. I do not know why but it was heartbreaking. And at Spinneys a laborer was looking longingly at chicken while carrying his Arabic bread. My trolley was full. Just realising that most of us have such good lives, let us be happy about that.
 
 
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