sobevan | ExpatWoman.com
 

sobevan

sobevan
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2013 - 11:33
I just have to add that I too registered months ago and they have no record of it ever being processed. I did it at Festival City Etisalat in October or something. Went last weekend to kiosk in MOE and they did it there. Of course, I'm still getting SMS (after getting confirmation that it was done) that it needs to be done. I don't know what in the world they are doing at Etisalat, but there seems to be NO ORGANIZATION at all. And no one cares that they are inconveniencing people (no surprise), but that they are making more work for themselves!
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 March 2013 - 07:41
I've actually done this (not toothpaste) but some stuff I wanted to return to Home Center that was worth 18 dhs or something like that. For me, it was the principle - what I had purchased (frames) was not what they said they were (not true to the marked size after opening 1 package). As per their policy, you are allowed to return it and get your money back. It took me 20 minutes of people running around, finding the right person to sign, etc. etc. etc. I think they must purposely make it difficult as to dissuade people from returning. My feeling is, if you have a policy that you take stuff back, then do it, hassle-free, whether it's for 300 dhs or 3 dhs. These stores need to get in the 21st century instead of this antiquated paper trail/signature nonsense. All of these cash register systems come from the same place. You can program them to do anything. Don't even get me started on trying to pay for a coffee and a muffin the other day at Starbucks with a gift card. That took 20 minutes because their system couldn't handle me using up the 15 dhs on the card and trying to pay 14 dhs cash. What a joke. I was done with my coffee by the time they figured it out (and I don't call adding 15 dhs to the card so now I have 1 dhs left on it figuring it out).
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2013 - 11:29
Thanks laurelm. Now to decide on the particulars of getting there and getting home. :)
sobevan
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 March 2013 - 09:14
Get tested for whooping cough too. Sounds similar to that as well - persistent coughing, especially at night. At least if you find out what it is, you can better treat. Hope he (and all of you) feels better.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 March 2013 - 12:22
No good news on our end. Our LL will increase for us (were we to stay) to 176K. I'm assuming since we're leaving he'll be able to rent for upwards of 180K. Good luck with the move!
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 March 2013 - 08:34
Our lease is up June 8 and we're in the Ranches. We're paying 160K now, will see with LL if it's staying that way and get back to you. We have 3 beds upstairs and 1 down plus a maid's room and a decent sized garden.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 March 2013 - 10:37
I hear you too. Not to generalize, but I think this could also be a man thing - like to them, whatever the issue is, the solution has to be simple and logical and 1, 2, 3 it will be taken care of, move on. I don't think they always get the nuances of their kids' personalities (especially if they work all the time like mine does) or how to see a meltdown coming, or diffuse a situation because they aren't in the trenches day after day. I can't tell you how many times if I'm telling my husband what happened (or if he's there to witness it), he just thinks he has all the answers, and either says or gives you a look like, "well, it's easy how to fix it". Ugh. Talk to him about it and see what happens. I think it's totally normal to feel like you're not doing all you can, when really, can we all make the best choices 100% of the time, especially in the heat of the moment? No. We (myself included) I think need to cut ourselves more slack and stop feeling guilty and know that we are doing the best we can. Hugs. :)
sobevan
154
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Latest post on 13 March 2013 - 21:15
Perhaps a stupid question - where do you check on the mattress? Under the fitted sheet, or do you need to lift it up? Never thought to check that before, but as we will most likely be in a serviced apartment in between a move, I don't want to have any issues. Thanks!
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2013 - 18:56
What is the brand on that cleaner, please? :) TIA.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 28 February 2013 - 23:22
Sorry for responding late. Thought I'd just rest my eyes and fell asleep! Security was very helpful - came by within 15 minutes of my call. Turns out it was some kids ringing bells and running away - security escorted them to their homes to speak to their parents so that they wouldn't do it again. I get that kids do that, but after reading on here some other stories re: people checking for unlocked doors, etc. (and with small kids who don't need to be disturbed by pranksters - they were freaking out that no one was at the door), figured it was better to report it than do nothing. So all's well again. :) Thanks, ladies!
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 February 2013 - 07:18
My mom watches my sister's daughter twice a week (the days my sister can't work from home). Same deal where they don't pay her. However, my sister and her husband are well aware that they have a good deal going on and don't push their luck with the free childcare. If for whatever reason she can't be there (doctors appointments usually), they make alternate arrangements, whether it be to stay with her sister-in-law, mother-in-law, or either she or her husband takes the day off. It's one day. And no one who works and has kids doesn't have at least 1 backup for childcare. And if they don't, there will come a day when it's needed! Have a great trip, hope it works out!
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 January 2013 - 16:11
From the Sofa Studio website. They are in the Courtyard at Al Quoz, not the Lime Tree side, but the other. First shop on the right on the 1st floor - you get the stairs up there from the outside. I talked to Nadine and she was great. SOFA STUDIO Po Box: 390565 Dubai, UAE Phone: 00971 4 3468810 Fax: 00971 4 3468814 OSCA BLOM 00971 50 6725158 [email protected] NADINE OHL 00971 50 3534283 SHALINI SHINDE [email protected]
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 27 January 2013 - 20:18
I used Sofa Studio in Al Quoz not too long ago and they were fab. I thought the price for recovering was reasonable - it's the fabric that you select that can break the budget. In our case, the fabric was actually more expensive than the work, but overall price still worked out cheaper than buying new (and saved some space in a landfill the way I look at it). Are you getting quotations for work & fabric (separate) or one price? I'd get an estimate on how much fabric you need, plus quotation on the work, then go from there. You can narrow down what fabrics are available to you based on how much you'd want to spend (and how much you need). Seems like there is a wide variety of fabric available for quite cheap per yard all the way up to hundreds of dirhams per yard. All depends on where you're hoping to go with it. Hope that helps and good luck.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 14:29
I played one once at a shower that I thought was cool. You write down the first names of the 2 parents and their last name(s) and then write as many baby names as you can think of using the combinations of letters in the parent names. Got some unusual ones in there (which might help if someone doesn't have name ideas!).
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 14:27
I just did this last week (bought the tickets). I called and from what I understood (which is also written on the website), if when you get to the payment page and you can write in your name (not a traveler) in the cardholder information, you can pay for someone else. The woman I spoke to on the phone said that no one will ask for the credit card at departure. That being said, she said depending on what avenue you use to purchase the ticket, there are different requirements. If you book on the phone, they won't let you do that unless you present the credit card. Strange, but not altogether surprising given the rules here and how they change. I think I will send the documentation like other poster suggested just in case. Would really suck to have 4 people get turned away at the airport because someone decided to enforce a rule that doesn't apply. And since it's my MIL traveling who doesn't speak English, she'd just let it go and not fight for it. (On that note, once I was flying on Lufthansa or Swiss and had called ahead to check my baggage allowance. I was told I could have 2 bags per person at 20 kg each. I had 5 bags for 3 people weighing in at 69 kgs. She tags them and goes, "That will be 450 Swiss francs (or whatever the outrageous amount was) for the 9 kgs extra baggages." I told her I had called and I wasn't paying it. She double checks the reservation and goes, "oh yes, you are correct. YOu don't owe anything." Urrrrr.)
sobevan
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Latest post on 09 January 2013 - 07:44
That is genius. I nearly spit my coffee out on the keyboard at the part where she talks about her b*&^$#@s and "hose". Too funny.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2013 - 11:28
Sorry - case of my thoughts moving faster than my typing fingers (or usually my mouth and thinking I got all bits of the story out)! Either that or shortening too much the message instead of stating it clearly. Whoops.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 January 2013 - 11:11
Thanks, it's for Bahrain. Cleared that up straight away!
sobevan
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Latest post on 06 January 2013 - 11:01
Not the cardiopulmonary resuscitation kind, but what would it stand for on a UK school application near Date of Birth and the child's name? It's probably something totally obvious, but coffee hasn't kicked in yet this morning. TIA!
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 31 December 2012 - 09:44
Also, the vaccine is not actually an anti-cancer vaccine. Slick marketing at work there. It's against 4 strains of HPV, 2 of which are for genital warts (which don't cause cancer), 2 of which may or may not lead to cancer in some people. You can still get cervical cancer from 13 other strains not in the vaccine. Also, if you've been infected already with the HPV strains in the vaccine, it won't work, but who checks that first? Just having HPV doesn't automatically mean you will get cancer. It is a common viral infection that usually clears itself in healthy people within 2 years. There are other risk factors that increase your odds of having a problem - I'd so some more research and decide for yourself. For me, I'd rather have the pap smear and I'm not getting the vaccine for my kids. OP, don't know where you're from, but in USA they recommend you get everything all the time. Bit of a one size fits all policy that doesn't address individual needs, concerns or personal health issues/situations.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 December 2012 - 08:12
Thanks everyone. Must have arrived recently because I've been checking all those places for the last few weeks and nothing. heading out today!
sobevan
154
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Latest post on 16 December 2012 - 20:22
Anyone seen them anywhere? I've seen boxes of candy canes flavored with mint chocolate, gobstoppers, all kinds of weird candy. I'm looking for the traditional red and white peppermint candy canes and can't seem to get a hold of them! TIA
sobevan
154
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Latest post on 16 December 2012 - 20:19
I too have looked for PJ's and no luck here. I have seen Egg Nog (Bolthouse Farms brand) at Geant in the Arabian Ranches Geant. They must have it too in the Ibn Battuta branch.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 December 2012 - 22:49
They usually have those for like 29 dhs at the toy area in Waitrose Dubai Mall or Spinneys Motor City. Don't know about the other branches.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 December 2012 - 22:42
I would like to add that (at least in USA) sometimes boys (more often) might be classified as having behavioral problems, when in reality, perhaps it merely has to do with them being younger and less mature. It isn't realistic to expect a 4 year old to behave in the same manner as a 5 year old (for example). But as someone else said, you know your child best. I will say that some schools here will not allow you to red shirt. They stick to the dates and that's that. You have to ask OR you switch your child to a school where the cutoff dates favor him being the oldest. Wait, sorry, just read your message again and see that it's August. I don't think anyone's cutoff is in that month (unless the 31st). Could you switch schools if you are afraid of teasing? Then he may not also feel like he's done the same stuff in the same place already. But the torture of trying to find a spot in that year grouping may not be what you had in mind. If the school he's in isn't super small, I don't see how it would be a problem. I say if you feel that holding him back will help in the long run, then do it. ETA Should have added that were we in the States, I would have red shirted my son 100%. He's an early September kid, so always on the border of cutoff dates. He just does better in situations where he's the oldest and the biggest (from experience with nursery, etc.). We were lucky here in that when we went from nursery to big school, he was able to technically be redshirted (big school said no way ) but because his nursery used a different curriculum (and had Aug 31 cutoff), so he couldn't be in the year at big school he was supposed to be in (would be like skipping a year). Otherwise, he would have been just turning 5 in a class full of kids turning 6. For him, it just wouldn't have worked. <em>edited by sobevan on 11/12/2012</em>
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 December 2012 - 18:29
Just ask at the typing center if they can call EID for you to find out what the issue is. If it is related to wrong inputting or something, head to the main immigration office over near Zabeel park. Warning: It is 100% guaranteed that once you are in immigration, you will have to talk to at least 3 people before someone can help you/understand your problem/direct you to the proper queue/sort out the problem. I think I was bounced around to 4 or 5 different desks. Some told me there was no problem. Some didn't understand what I was asking them to do. Just get the facts from the typing center, stay calm, anticipate the chaos, confusion and waiting, and don't leave until the problem is sorted. It will be terribly frustrating (especially since you're new here - people who have been here a while tend to expect this - see McDonald's thread for "logic" that prevails around here), but lower those expectations, expect the worst and it will be peachy.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 December 2012 - 18:03
I had a horrible time getting my ID reissued. Had one in another Emirate, then had to have it reissued in Dubai. My entire family got theirs (although not all together, even though we applied all together), first was done in 1 week, second in 2, third in a month I think, me - nothing. Had to go back to the typing center 3 times. Turns out after typing center guy talked to the ID people, my visa number or passport number was incorrectly inputted into the database, so when they ran my ID number, it wasn't registering me being here. I had to sort it out at immigration so that the ID people could process the card. Maybe ask if they can double check that the numbers are correct? Or check with the typing center that they can call? P.S. I've since gotten my card (had it for months now) and recently got an SMS saying my card is ready for pickup or something like that. What? I ignored it, but maybe I shouldn't have! They'll have it shredded or something and me deleted from database. Oh dear. Not surprising at all.
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 December 2012 - 19:48
What's the stuffed animal this year?
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2012 - 09:35
Just checked Ahlan is 160 dhs/per adult for the premium package (includes a porter). Standard (no porter) is 110. I know it's silly to include the porter when they only charge you 30 dhs if you flag the guys down, but for older people who maybe aren't so travel savvy (and tired, etc. etc.), might be the way to go. Marhaba is $26 (they give price in USD) for the bronze (standard) and $41 for the silver (with porter).
sobevan
154
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 December 2012 - 09:20
I'm assuming around 10pm is just as bad? Do the Ahlan or Marhaba services take them through the queue faster? My parents are due in this week and with my father not in the best physical shape (unfortunately), the last thing I want them to do is wait in line forever. Hadn't even thought of this...Yet again one of the reasons I like EW is it puts ideas in your head you hadn't thought of before! Thanks, ladies!
sobevan
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Latest post on 30 November 2012 - 22:17
Desertsnow.ae, but I don't think it's cheap. I could be wrong, but I think more than 1000 dhs to rent.
sobevan
154
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Latest post on 30 November 2012 - 22:01
Thanks.
sobevan
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Latest post on 25 November 2012 - 08:47
Thanks everyone for the information. Quite eye-opening.
sobevan
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Latest post on 24 November 2012 - 16:32
I need to ask a question - how on earth do you know if your toddler needs deworming medicine? Also in regards to another poster's statement of taking it regularly because of the sand? Does anyone else do this? This is the first I've heard of this and I've lived here for 4 years!
sobevan
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Latest post on 20 November 2012 - 12:45
most of the big shops have it. Carrefour has it in the cheese section near the mozzarella. Latebri brand, I think (blue container). Spinneys has it too in a white and blue or dark red and blue container near the cream, I think. I've also seen fresh (don't remember where) from that Italian cheese maker in Sharjah. I want to say it was in Waitrose.
sobevan
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Latest post on 14 November 2012 - 08:58
Has OP been friends with husband before the wife? One of my best friends in the whole world is a guy I went to college with, but he's like a brother to me. There are no issues with our friendship (either with his wife or my husband), but we all get along really well. But maybe that's the difference - I'm not seeing him as a "girlfriend", but as a brother, so there's no gray area. Men are dumb. I remember before I got married, my now husband told me how some woman he used to work with had called him up out of the blue and wanted to get together. I was like, "Ten bucks says she's fishing around to see if you're single." He thought I was crazy. He asks me to join them for lunch because she's a nice person, blah blah blah. I suggested that perhaps this woman was not going to be too pleased to see me at the lunch ("No, no, it's not like that, don't worry"), but he insisted I accompany him to prove me wrong. Well, who was right? Me, of course. You should have seen the look on that woman's face when he introduced me as his fiancee. Priceless. Then all of a sudden she has an emergency and can't have lunch. Yeah right. My point was that maybe this dude is misreading her friendliness as interest/flirting.
sobevan
154
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Latest post on 14 November 2012 - 08:58
Has OP been friends with husband before the wife? One of my best friends in the whole world is a guy I went to college with, but he's like a brother to me. There are no issues with our friendship (either with his wife or my husband), but we all get along really well. But maybe that's the difference - I'm not seeing him as a "girlfriend", but as a brother, so there's no gray area. Men are dumb. I remember before I got married, my now husband told me how some woman he used to work with had called him up out of the blue and wanted to get together. I was like, "Ten bucks says she's fishing around to see if you're single." He thought I was crazy. He asks me to join them for lunch because she's a nice person, blah blah blah. I suggested that perhaps this woman was not going to be too pleased to see me at the lunch ("No, no, it's not like that, don't worry"), but he insisted I accompany him to prove me wrong. Well, who was right? Me, of course. You should have seen the look on that woman's face when he introduced me as his fiancee. Priceless. Then all of a sudden she has an emergency and can't have lunch. Yeah right. My point was that maybe this dude is misreading her friendliness as interest/flirting.
sobevan
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Latest post on 13 November 2012 - 16:00
Toys R Us has a brand called Imagination or something and the sets are more reasonable than Thomas and Brio sets, but still more expensive than IKEA. You could get some of those non-branded sets and then pick up a few Thomas trains if that's what the child likes. FYI they are cheaper at ELC and Toys R Us than the other toy stores around. Forgot to add that the Toys R Us brand has a pink train set - it has a pink fountain, more girly-looking trains and houses that go on the side of the track. Can't remember what it costs, maybe 140 dhs? <em>edited by sobevan on 13/11/2012</em>
sobevan
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Latest post on 01 November 2012 - 00:33
I do have to get to sleep because I'm exhausted, but I think it's important to remember also that there are plenty of illnesses you can get (and nasty ones too) that are not vaccine-preventable. Being 100% vaccinated doesn't make you invincible. Maybe I'm a stick in the mud, but I refuse to take my kids to any of those soft play places - usually only for birthday parties they've been invited to - because none of them ever look that clean and the thought of the germs that lurk there really freak me out. I also avoid crowds or crowded areas/times like the plague. I'm not a germophobe, but too conscious of how disgusting people are. The one year my older son went to a lot of those play places, etc. (and he's vaccinated, mind you), he got some weird weird viruses, strange rashes, all kinds of things. Kids will pick up colds and stuff at school, but that other stuff was freaky. This also makes me think of the recent hullabaloo about whooping cough. I know in US and UK they are making a big push to give booster shots to older kids and insisting that adults get it because the pertussis rates are going up. Meanwhile, in Australia, they recently determined that the cocoon vaccinating (where everyone around the infants, etc. gets the vaccine to protect those that can't get it or are too young) was making no difference at all in the rates, so they discontinued the recommendation. So who has it right in the end? I think it boils down to a lot of unknowns, which is also why this is such a complex issue for some people to process. And in all of these other countries, there was no overwhelming finger pointing at the unvaccinated people - in fact in many cases, it was either a situation where vaccinated people were passing on the disease because they had contracted a mild version of it and thus were silent carriers, or they think in some cases maybe vaccine is not as strong as it should be (like DPT vs. DaPT), or that the b. pertussis bacteria is mutating to a stronger more vaccine-resistant form. So it's not always necessarily the unvaccinated who "put others in danger". There are so many factors that contribute to this. Nature is wily. Sorry for rambling, I just find this subject terribly fascinating and also how difficult it is to be in the middle, that's to say neither unquestionably pro-vaccine, nor anti-vaccine either. There doesn't seem to be a lot of room for people who sit on this fence because each side wants to throw you in the other's camp depending on what questions you ask! Good luck to you and your investigation samie10. :) <em>edited by sobevan on 01/11/2012</em>
sobevan
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Latest post on 31 October 2012 - 23:58
Wow, I know this is a sensitive topic, but a lot of people are biting OP's head off for asking legitimate questions. I have been down the road you are traveling (questioning, investigating, etc.) and it is extremely difficult to find any kind of information on what diseases are prevalent/contracted here. There is some link on the World Health Organization site that lists every disease imaginable in every country, and how many cases per year they have, but it's difficult to slog through and the data is not complete. If I can find the link, I'll post it. As for the link that another person posted, you are correct in what you surmised. The UAE list does not state that these vaccines are mandatory. They are recommended. There are no compulsory vaccines for children in the UAE yet. I believe there was talk of eventually making you show proof of MMR and polio in order to get a visa, but I'm not sure if that has come to fruition. Maybe someone who has recently gone through visa processing can help with that one. That being said, individual schools may require you to follow either the UAE's schedule or another country's schedule (USA, UK, etc.), but from my understanding, it is up to the discretion of each school and you can find this out by asking. All schools must hold a copy of each child's immunization record as per MOH requirements, but that is vastly different from requiring you to comply with any sort of schedule. Oh and I think certain types of visa holders need to show proof of Hep B vaccination, but not all.
sobevan
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Latest post on 31 October 2012 - 12:36
Didn't even think of it that way. True, I suppose. But could be way more depending on situation. My 1st son's birth was about $14,000. My friend's was $25,000. Could be $40,000 if you have a c-section! Big difference between $12K and $40K!
sobevan
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Latest post on 31 October 2012 - 12:24
All I can say is, I hope your health insurance covers birth in USA because it costs A LOT of money to have a baby in America. I think a home birth would be way cheaper, but if you want to be in a hospital, good luck. In NY/NJ metro area, I don't think you can deliver in a hospital for less than $12,000 for a 2-night stay. More if you have a c-section, complications, epidural, etc. Besides finding out if you can give birth there on a tourist visa, I'd call around to the local hospitals/birthing centers and find out what they charge.
sobevan
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Latest post on 31 October 2012 - 00:18
I ended up not getting it for the 2nd child because the 1st child's batch of the vaccine was later found out to be contaminated with a *** virus. We've been assured that nothing will come of it and it's not a big deal, but how on earth can they be 100% sure that is true? They can't. It's too soon to tell and I don't even know how they would begin to assess how that could mutate in humans. We obviously can't worry about it now, but that was enough for me to forgo it for our 2nd child. Good luck with your decision.
sobevan
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Latest post on 31 October 2012 - 00:09
I am also wondering if this place mentioned has the fabric. Very difficult to track upholstery fabric down that's not super pricey in the mall fancy furniture stores. Sam7 I think we're in the same boat. I'm embarrassed to have people over my chairs are in such a sad sad state. Hope someone can update this with some info! Thanks.
sobevan
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Latest post on 27 October 2012 - 13:26
There should be no heavy traffic to Abu Dhabi tomorrow, should there? Usually during Eid traffic in the AM is light, but just want to double check / see if I need to make alternate plans. Thanks in advance!
sobevan
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Latest post on 27 October 2012 - 09:06
you've got mail. still waiting for the tickets! but they are yours.
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Latest post on 26 October 2012 - 11:03
I don't think the MMR vaccines are available separately anywhere anymore. I think Merck decided to stop manufacturing them, which is kind of annoying, but whatever. Not everyone wants the "convenience" of putting all vaccines together in 1 jab. Quite frustrating when your options are taken away. As for rotavirus, my first had the drops. I don't remember there being any kind of reaction or side effects, but my memory isn't what it used to be. With my second, opted out of that vaccine. If I were you, I would do some research on the pros and cons, what goes into making it and then make your decision from there.
sobevan
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Latest post on 26 October 2012 - 08:33
we got ours last year from Moon by Mazoon. They are based in Abu Dhabi but came to the ARTE souk in December I think. We also got one of those Pottery Barn type little chairs for a lot less than you pay in PB. They have a huge swatch book of fabric.
sobevan
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Latest post on 15 October 2012 - 21:22
There are probably plenty of schools that have room for next year. Don't listen to what people tell you. Of course, if you want JESS or something like that, there won't be room. I waited until around this time last year to get my son into FS2 UK curriculum/KG1 US curriculum and it was fine. But start checking around now.
sobevan
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 October 2012 - 07:41
I too had abscesses (yes, plural) last time around and was hospitalized 3 times. Although I don't plan on having more children, I would not take the risk again. I know breast is best and all of that, but it was such a horribly painful, stressful experience, took so long for me to heal, that I would never be able to relax and let it happen. I know there are plenty of people who have had abscess and then continue breast feeding, but that was not an option for me. I am still very traumatized from what happened. I think the most important thing is for you to listen to your own instincts and go with what you really and truly want to do. Each woman has to do what is right for her without being made to feel guilty. I am still angry (less so now, working on letting those feelings go) at the people who kept insisting I give it another go because the formula was "poison" and it would all be fine. Or that I must be exaggerating. Until those people are experiencing what your own body is going through, no one has the right to tell you what to do or to judge you. I think it's hard not to let something like this bother/worry you. We all want what's best for our kids and there are so many pressures out there to do things a certain way, so much competition (from baby age on up), it can be overwhelming. I don't know when women started getting so judgmental instead of being supportive of each other's choices. But go with your gut and don't worry about explaining your choices to anyone. Best of luck to you.
 
 
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