Spook | ExpatWoman.com
 

Spook

Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 July 2014 - 13:17
Can anyone give me the names of agencies that they have had a good experience with? We do not have a maids room so for this year at least, we will not be having a live-in maid. Also, can anyone tell me what the rules and regs are in relation to hiring a maid? Stuff like holiday entitlement, sick leave, visits to their home country, responsibilities for when we leave..... At this stage I am trying to understand what obligations that we will be taking on. At the moment I do not have a clue! I assume that if I were to hire through an agency then all I am responsible for is the salary?
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 June 2014 - 17:47
Welcome to UAE, hiring a maid depends on your choice, you can either visit the EW maid section [b'>or [/b'>use agent. Salary I think depends on nationality. edited by mama5 on 23/06/2014 Thanks! Having looked around, it seems that most advice relates to live-in maids, whereas we just want someone to come in for a half day (say, midday to 7pm).
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 May 2014 - 20:54
Which area? I know of a karate teacher in Tecom, if that's any good to you?JLT area, thanks!
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 May 2014 - 23:56
Does anyone know anything about the new French School "International Concept Education" (ICE)? I have not been able to find out much about it! Thanks in advance.
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 11 May 2014 - 19:31
Hello! More questions about schooling! Does anyone know anything about I.C.E.? It is very new (and expensive), but I can't really find much in the way of reviews/opinions etc.
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 April 2014 - 00:59
I had 3 of 4 kids at AFLEC school year 12/13 and this year all 4 are at Georges Pompidou (CP, CM2, CM2, and 5eme). I am also quite happy to answer any questions. We can take it off line if this forum isn't the right place. If you read french you can join the email yahoo group francodubai. Not much to the website but you will get emails daily about all things french, all written in french. I made the mistake of replying to one email question and got quite a talking to because I wrote in english. They take themselves a bit too seriously, not nearly as amusing as the conversations on this site.Hello! Thanks for the reply - could you email me? My daughter is currently at a French school (overseas) and I would like her to go to one in Dubai, but it seems REALLY difficult to get in. An offline discussion would be most apprecaited, thanks! <em>edited by Spook on 27/04/2014</em>
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 April 2014 - 02:35
Does anyone know someone in one of the French Schools? Or failing that, a forum (or similar) for French speakers? Thanks.
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 April 2014 - 23:19
Dubai International Academy is near Springs, not far from JLT (15 mins drive). Emirates International School not too far (Meadows) and Dubai British School (Meadows). What age are your children, if younger there's Jebel Ali primary school. What would be your budget with regards to accommodation?My children are 7 and 5. Budget would be around 15k AED/month.
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 April 2014 - 17:17
In that case you are best over Marina way really and focussing on schools over that way. One of my DH's colleagues rents an apartment at JLT and in the last year his rent on a 2 bed has gone up 41% so prices unfortunately are on the rise. But on a positive having visited the area, particularly the Marina I really liked it! Unfortunately I am a good 35-40 mins from that area over in Mirdif so have limited knowledge of what is over there. Perhaps create a new post asking for JLT mums or Marina Mums to give you schools advice as well as advice on which are the best towers etc to live in, budgets etc. We used Enigmarelocations, DH's company paid for it, but in all honesty I did sort quite a lot myself, but was good having the support and someone to call upon for bits. For DESS your contact is Gail Barrett, if you are thinking of this I strongly suggest calling her on Sunday when school goes back. You will need to pay 500 AED and fill in registration forms no matter whether there is a place or not, this is the same for all the schools, so do tailor it down to 2 or 3 as it adds up! Don't be too put off by wait lists. Things change very fast in Dubai, and you can be lucky, the main think you can do is be in constant contact with the school by emailing is fine. Good luck :)Thanks for the advice - I'll be posting for JLT / marina mums as you suggest!!
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 April 2014 - 15:24
Yes I am very happy with DESS, it meets exactly what I want from a primary school and already I see huge improvements in learning. For me the structure of how the children learn is far easier to follow than GEMS and they do more regular tests on maths, spelling, times tables etc which I wasn't getting consistently from their previous school. I also like the level of homework, about 45 mins a week plus reading which is consistently given, and marked every week...again a bug bear of mine from the previous school. Lastly by being in DESS it ensures my kids get a place at DESC, rated as outstanding for secondary. DESS is getting a new headmistress in September who is coming from what looks like a lovely English primary...so guessing things will get better! Let me know if you need any help with areas...are you getting the services of a relocation agent?Nope, I think I am pretty much on my own as far as relocation goes! Suggestions on areas would be most appreciated, my office is in the Jumeirah Lakes Towers. Can you recommend any relocation agent? If you could also give me the webpage of DESS it would be appreciated :)
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 April 2014 - 12:52
It really depends on where you want to live as a starting point. I would suggest you use that first and then consider the schools around that area. Some schools have a huge waiting list so are not worth considering. We live in. Mirdif and my kids started at Gems Royal Dubai which is British. For various reasons I have moved them to DESS which is a much further commute so now I send them on a bus. I focussed on getting a confirmed school place when I moved here and there is always the option of moving them later should you wish. Gems have a lot of schools in Dubai with British curriculum so you should get your child in one of them, but maybe worth starting the waiting list process in another school as part of a fall back plan.Unfortunately I have no idea where we will be living! I will be coming over at the end of this month and will start on this in May, hopefully. So I suppose that by the time I have found somewhere, it will be getting too late to make any applications to schools! I will start with the Gems schools, thanks for the tip. Are you happy with DESS (if you don't mind my asking)?
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 April 2014 - 00:45
Thanks for all the information! Now I suppose I have lots of research to do.....!
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 15:17
http://www.dubaifaqs.com/schools-dubai.php http://www.gemseducation.com/our-schools/list-of-schools-opening-2014 There are a few new schools opening in September - Nord Anglia GEMS Metropole Kings Nad al Sheba Kings Al Barsha Good luck, don't delay the applications as many schools will insist your daughter takes an admission test too, some schools are less receptive to children who are coming from a different syllabus too (especially British Schools!).Excellent, thanks! I don't suppose you know anything about the French schools or French system there do you?!
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 April 2014 - 12:55
At this point consider the newer schools than. You did not mention what years?She is 7 years old. Can you give me any school names, or places where they are listed?
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 April 2014 - 17:31
For this September?Yes, that's right (only received the contract a couple of weeks ago, hence I am starting rather late!).
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 16:51
I am a woman :) and I will be sponsoring my daughter for her visa. To do this, I need a ‘No objection certificate’ from my husband. Does anyone have a pro-forma they can give me? Go to one in the typing shops and get it in Arabic also ( Incase they require this) Thanks for the reply, but I have not arrived in Dubai yet; I am trying to get as much of the paperwork done as I can before I leave. Is this a form that has to be filled in or is it simply a letter that has to be written by my husband? Do you know where I could get a pro-forma or example fromfrom? I don't know if there is one and I have never come across one online etc I imagine other posters will comment and give advice It isn't a form no but I believe it has to be written a certain way and some government organisations want it translated into Arabic the correct way Whenever I needed an NOC from DH it was just a letter along the lines of: I 'name' holder of British Passport No. ??????? have no objection to my wife 'name', holder of British Passport No. ?????? and then saying whatever he has no objection to. In my case it was working :) He only ever signed something in Arabic once I was temping and needed a labour card. edited by Geordie expat on 10/03/2014 Thta's great, thanks. Does it have to be on company/headed paper?
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 15:59
I am a woman :) and I will be sponsoring my daughter for her visa. To do this, I need a ‘No objection certificate’ from my husband. Does anyone have a pro-forma they can give me? Go to one in the typing shops and get it in Arabic also ( Incase they require this) Thanks for the reply, but I have not arrived in Dubai yet; I am trying to get as much of the paperwork done as I can before I leave. Is this a form that has to be filled in or is it simply a letter that has to be written by my husband? Do you know where I could get a pro-forma or example fromfrom?
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 10 March 2014 - 13:45
Thanks for the advice!
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 23:33
Hello! I will soon be moving to Dubai and could do with some help on getting the documentation sorted out. The 2 that seem to be most difficult are getting my marriage certificate and child's birth certificate legalised and attested. This has to be done by (a) the UAE Embassy in the country of origin, then (b) translated into Arabic and then (c) attested by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in UAE. Can anyone recommend an agency who can halp with this? Thanks! (Apologies if this is a repeat of an earlier post, which seems to have disappeared!)
Spook
70
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 06 March 2014 - 16:57
Hello! I am just about to move to Dubai and am looking at the paperwork that is required! The 2 most complicated appear to be getting my marriage certificate and child's birth certificate legalised and attested in (a) the UAE Embassy in the coutry of origin (b) translated into Arabic and (c) attested by the Foreign Affairs Ministry in UAE. I am sure that loads of people must have been through this, can anyone advise on the easiest way to proceed, or recommend a company/individual who has done the same for them? Thanks!
 
 
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