Travel5 | ExpatWoman.com
 

Travel5

Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 05 October 2014 - 09:35
We are supposed to move into our villa on Tuesday, but it needs to be cleaned first. I don't have a vacuum cleaner, mop, broom, etc. because our shipment doesn't arrive until Tuesday. I want to have the villa cleaned on Monday (tomorrow). Are there any maid services that can bring their own vacuum cleaner and supplies (or at least the vacuum cleaner)? I know this is last minute, but I thought the owner was supposed to have the villa cleaned before a new tenant moves in, but it wasn't done. The villa is new construction with no landscaping, so it is in need of a really good clean. Thanks for your help!
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 September 2014 - 12:49
Hi Nickyb. Thanks for the input. Have you seen many families around with kids? Its probably hard to tell this time of year because everyone is staying indoors.
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 May 2014 - 17:07
If you were given the choice of working and living in Dubai or working and living in Abu Dhabi, which one would you choose?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 May 2014 - 13:27
Hi Busybee2 -in what way is the housing different?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 03 May 2013 - 08:50
Toots - Does that mean that the cooling bills are higher in Jumeirah Islands because they have their own cooling plant?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 April 2013 - 08:33
Anyone? <em>edited by Travel5 on 23/04/2013</em>
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 April 2013 - 17:02
Do you get to take the $95,100 foreign earned income exclusion PLUS the foreign housing exclusion? I think the answer is that the housing exclusion is part of the income exclusion, not in addition to it, but I thought it was worth asking. Does anyone know?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 April 2013 - 16:30
Thanks for the replies. I ended up contacting GWA and they have spaces available. I also looked into UAS, but the location of GWA seemed better for me.
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 April 2013 - 15:10
We are on the waiting list at American School of Dubai and will soon be on the list for Dubai American Academy, as well, but the waiting lists are very long. Does anyone have any feedback on Bradenton Prep? I may need to shift my focus there in order to get places. Thanks for your help!
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 29 January 2013 - 10:02
Do the drivers typically live-in? Is it common for expats to have a driver? Do you find them through agencies like you do a maid? We have not yet moved to Dubai, but all of the talk about crazy drivers on the roads makes me nervous to drive myself. I've seen a lot of threads on maids, but not as much information on drivers.
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 January 2013 - 04:31
Thanks Buckeye. If you don't mind sharing, what do you think the pros and cons are? Do you know if the graduating ASD kids have a hard time getting into college in the US?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 January 2013 - 10:19
My question was more about a comparison between Top Dubai schools vs a western education. Is it widely believed by expats that the education in Dubai is inferior? So people are choosing to return to their home country for their kids to go to high school? I don't live in Dubai yet, so I am not saying this is my opinion. I'm just asking the question to those that already live in Dubai. <em>edited by Travel5 on 16/01/2013</em>
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 January 2013 - 09:29
Is there a way to objectively determine how good a particular school in Dubai is? I am considering a move to Dubai. My oldest would start in 7th grade and we would try to stay until she graduates high school. Reading these posts makes me question wether that is the right thing to do. The other choice would be to move back home to Texas. The public high school is free and is nationally ranked. The offset would be giving up the chance to save up money while in Dubai. Is it widely thought that Dubai private schools are inferior to a Western education?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 15:06
Yes, the whole family was born in the USA, so we have American passports. The school websites don't have a specific cut off for people applying from outside of Dubai (we are still living in Australia), but they have all of the paperwork now. The school search is a little tricky because DH is going through the interview process at the end of the month, so our move is not 100% definite. But from what I've gathered through this and other forums is that schools fill up very fast and places for next year will be finalized in Feb/March. I don't want to agree to a move if we can't get all 3 kids into a good school. I hope to stay in Australia until July, since that is the break between 1st and 2nd semester for Australian schools (Australia is currently on itsn "summer" break between school years). Then move to Dubai in time to start the 2013/2014 school year. But, the Dubai schools mention having "assessments" done. I'm thinking that means we have to fly to Dubai for that before they will offer us a spot. As anyone heard of them doing the assessment through your existing school? (I asked via email, but didn't get a response to that question). Also, DH's job would be in Jebel Ali (if he gets it - fingers crossed), so I'm thinking ASD and DAA are in a good location for that. We could then live in Springs/Meadows or the Palm Jumeirah. I'm not sure about UAS in Festival City - have to check a map. CAS looks like it only goes through grade 8 or 9. DS will go into grade 7, so I would rather have a school that goes through 12th grade.
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 January 2013 - 04:06
Thanks, SunDevil. That is really good information. The IB curiculum actually sounds pretty impressive.
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 08:13
little crocodile - I think you're right about them being very similar at the elementary level, but my oldest DD is not that far from high school years.
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 14 January 2013 - 04:09
Hi SunDevil. I don't have anything against IB curiculum. I guess I just don't really know anything about it. I was looking at American curiculum just to try to get some consistency. My oldest DH started out in school in Texas (public school, so I assume it was American curiculum) and now we're in Australia (private school, Australian curiculum). We will be in Dubai (if all works out with DH job interview) and then possibly back to Texas. I thought it might be hard on her if I brought another curiculum into the mix, but I'm getting the feeling from this forum that maybe I shouldn't be worried about that.
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 15:05
I think that UAS also uses the IB curiculum. I just thought that I would need to find a school that follows American curiculum so that it would be easier for my kids to transition back to the United States. Maybe that isn't the right assumption. Are there any teachers on the forum that could shed some light on IB versus curiculum of your home country?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 12:43
I think that CAS only goes through 8th grade. I have a DD that will be going into 7th grade in 2013/2014, so I would rather that she not have to change schools again. I would really like to be in a school that all three of my kids (DS/DD twins in 1st grade and DD in 7th grade) could go to for the duration of our time in Dubai (however long that will be???). I don't really know much about IB curriculum, but the Gems World school looks really nice (on the internet at least). I suppose the fundamentals would be the same. Do you know why people left the American schools to go to Gems World?
Travel5
20
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 13 January 2013 - 12:24
We are trying to get a spot (actually 2 spots - twins) for 1st grade and they basically said we should apply elsewhere because the waiting list is really long. It seems like there aren't as many choices for American curriculum. Its either ASD or DAA. I don't know what we will do if we don't get in either school.
 
 
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