Movingaround | ExpatWoman.com
 

Movingaround

Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 April 2016 - 19:39
Agree with other replies. Nothing has changed and it is wonderful place to live and work. We are having a fab time, people are friendly, it's bright and sunny and so far this year hasn't even been too hot! (Obviously that's about to change!). Anyway don't panic- think it is perfectly normal at your stage of move to have massive cold feet but you'll be fab. Enjoy your goodbyes and enjoy the new adventure.
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 April 2016 - 18:45
They are doing great in school so I'm not really worried about that. More I was hoping it would give me a sense of their potential and also I was hoping I could get a sense if their strengths lie in numbers, words, problem solving, memory etc. I feel sometimes like I'm not quite hitting their learning style correctly. Also that I possibly expect too much of one and not enough of the other!? It's hard to be objective when you are the parent. Thanks so much for taking the time to give me your thoughts- much appreciated.
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 20 April 2016 - 15:01
We heard great things about Hamilton but in the end went with Fit Republik based on location!! Also the pool is inside which I think will be pretty important soon! There is another one I can't think of..
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2016 - 21:09
Sorry, I have no idea that far up. I know in the earlier grades in makes a big difference but by then I expect it depends on the curriculum and the individual child. Maybe the school can do an assessment and help you?
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2016 - 18:46
Ohhh sure this will get a million replies. You'd need some sort of standardised testing.. Anyway my kids are at Foremarke so clearly I am massively biased but it does seem reasonably academic to me. Not to the level of London private schools but think it would stand up well against other uk private schools. Not sure how helpful that is!
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 November 2015 - 11:13
I meant in a good way! Just seems a little more rigorous than their old school. A focus on mental arithmetic, tables and spellings which I like. Although I was laughing this morning as some of the mums were complaining about the amount of creative work they have so clearly I have that to come too!! My kids are academic but there seems to be a reasonable spread of abilities - I think they don't have any learning support type of thing though. Hope that helps.
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 November 2015 - 20:40
Ohhh I want to tell you lots of things but I don't really have any answers!! We just moved here and have young kids so I'm pointless. Plus side- definitely a lot less glam than I imagined. Lots of down to earth normal people. We have found people amazingly helpful so far and also open to new people and experiences. Also it is generally fab! Downside... We have met lots of people through the kids and I can see that might be harder without. It is very hot in the middle of the summer (I know, pretty obvious right!) Other stuff. We live out in expat land in victory heights but I can see the lure of more in town experience. I wonder if it would be easier to meet people out here though. I think as long as you have hobbies and a reason to get involved you will meet people. We brought our furniture. Easier to let our house at home unfurnished and very much unfurnished here. Although you could furnish it in expensively from IKEA!? Look online at areas and costs, it's not perfect but it gets you started. Dubizzle was good. You can def join beqch clubs- look on their websites you'll find the prices. We drive and it's amazingly easy. Only got massively lost once so far. Sure it depends on your budget but I'd think a driver would be unnecessary, tons of taxis. Good luck!
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 November 2015 - 06:56
All very personal but we have just started at Foremarke and having a great experience. I'm finding it more academic than their private school in the UK and very welcoming. Not sure how that will continue as the school grows but we are very happy one week in. Good luck with the move. We are loving being here so far.
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2015 - 01:37
Wow what a week. We had an amazing trip and am now hoping that the next week brings a contract as we loved it! Thanks for tips on housing. We loved meadows and Arabian ranches and wanted to love victory heights but didn't get inside. Plan is for husband to find us a house once he is there so he should be able to do through viewings. Really welcome advice as all sounds terrifying! Schools- I agree, we could make a massive mistake.. We made one when we moved the the States and it was grim! Poor child was totally misplaced. Hopefully we've learnt from that and will make a good choice for them both... Anyone got any first hand experience of Nord Anglia or Foremarke?? Thanks again for all your support- has made us feel welcomed and helped enormously.
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 30 April 2015 - 07:17
Dubai is amazing!!! I am totally loving our trip and now am desperate for us to move here. We've seen Nord Anglia and Foremarke and our children would be lucky to go to either of them. They are both outstanding schools . At the moment I'm leaning towards Foremarke because oft he small classes and generally fewer students. My son is quite anxious and I'm not sure a massive school is the place for him... But the fees,.. And the lack of facilities..... Right, maybe i should go and swim in the hotel pool!!! Someone we met yesterday said meadows and springs nice so we will go and look at those today. Most of the housing we've seen looks fab- again we'd be lucky to live in any of it!!
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 April 2015 - 02:02
Ohhh British school thing- I didn't know about that one. Anyone any thoughts on it?! It looks sort of interesting. Lolacat- thank you so much for all the information. That is great, I need to spend the flight pouring over the map! Never mind sleep. No time for that! Thank you for top renting tips. Sounds like ideal advice. Tallybalt that sounds like just the tips I need to get a nose at places. All getting rather real now! Thanks again to everyone for making this so much easier.
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 April 2015 - 20:25
We have booked to see Nord Anglia, Hartland, Foremarke and GEMS Jumeriah. So hopefully we have a good selection to view (and all have places so that seems hopeful). Just one more question (well one for today...) I have an idea we can go for a drive around residential areas. But are they all gated? How will we be able to go for a little look around? Will we have to look with an agent of some sort? My husband is going to sort out houses when he moves out there before us so we just need to figure out an area. Thanks again
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 April 2015 - 00:53
Once again I am soooo grateful for you all taking time to answer me! Definitely the positive side of the internet. We've just booked flights to come and have a whistlestop tour. My parents are in town (they live 5 hours away) and so we're taking the chance to leave the kids... Oohhhh. I am planning to get up tomorrow and hit the phone and try and get some appointments at schools.. So basics are. The kids are in a small (ish, small classes rather than small overall) academically selective private school here seem to be thriving in that environment - so we would love them to be in a similar school in Dubai. Is there anywhere like that? Sounds like maybe not? For living the more I think about it the more I fancy a nice gated estate where small children can roam on their bikes and then where we can hang out at a communal pool and meet people and have fun. We like to keep fit so need somewhere to do that... Budget for accommodation is flexible but I'd like to keep it under 250. I'd like 4 beds.... Around 3000sq ft. Am I off my rocker?? Any suggestions? What are the Um Sequimm places- schools/ accomodation? Thank you and you'll be glad to hear we're definitely still back to wearing coats and feeling chilly after the brief burst of warmth we had a couple of weeks ago!
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 April 2015 - 00:53
Thank you all for taking the time out to reply. I really appreciate it. Right am now totally confused... So if anyone has a minute... If I live and kids go to school at Nord/ that area. Why am I then in the car all day? Where am I going? Should I live nearer to wherever that is? Did that make sense?? How long would it take husband to get to work. Will he go mad? (Or will he enjoy the break from his crazy wife?) Is jumeriah primary a good option?? Kids are academic but one is not terribly sporty (I'm being kind here) They'd both be better in a smaller place but think that isn't an option. Or is there another cunning option we should be looking at!? Like living someone more lively? (I'm not a party animal but like a few people around.) Ahhhhh. Am going slightly loopy now. Thanks for tip on parking space, sound well worth checking out. Whole package negotiation tips also very useful.
Movingaround
15
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2015 - 17:18
I'm sure you get far too many of these questions BUT husband is in the last stages of agreeing a job in Dubai (although last stages seem to be taking a while, is this good prep for things to come?). Anyway I'm trying to get a march on sorting out schools and house... My thoughts are Nord Anglia (they have places which seems positive) Foremarke (like the website also seem to have spots ) GEMS jumeriah primary (even bigger than the others but spaces sound possible) Houses... Victory heights (easy for school but does it have nice communal areas?) Ranches (sounds great but will traffic getting out in the morning drive me mad?) Jumeriah golf (too pricey?) Or should be throwing all this out and doing something totally different!? Um.... Think that's it at the moment. Husband would be working in the DIFC (Ohhh, sounds fancy!).. Any thoughts of any of this would be brilliant. I keep sort of thinking I know what I am doing and then realise that maybe looking at people's holiday pictures of Dubai doesn't exactly make me an expert. Little waves of excitement and panic keep coming over me!! Thanks so much. Grey and bit rubbish in UK today... Good day to plan dreams.
 
 
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