UmmSalah | ExpatWoman.com
 

UmmSalah

UmmSalah
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Latest post on 02 September 2015 - 21:27
Marroosh how long ago did EYES tell you that? I heard recently from an English woman that she used to use her CACHE 3 as you mentioned (to work as a KG teacher), but because KHDA now requires PGCE&QTS she had to work as a supply teacher instead - or something like that. I'm new to Dubai and the teaching scene and have very little understanding of British qualifications so I'm interested in getting myself up to date!
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 02 September 2015 - 21:23
Here's a good thread comparing 3 places offering the qualification: http://www.expatwoman.com/forum/topic229836-cache-courses.aspx "In Dubai, there are 3 companies that are providing this qualification: 1)EYES 2)City and Guilds (Quality matters4children) 3)Arabian child I did it with City and Guilds, and my friends did with EYES and Arabian Child. City and Guilds is the most affordable one comparing with these two. Teachers are dedicated and they don't allow to pass until you meet the criteria. My friends are very happy with Arabian child as well, so I think that is the best for you to call these 3 companies, and decide according to the price or location and timings. EYES is the most expensive one as far as I know. Qualification is ABSOLUTELY the same and recognized by KHDA. "
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 02 September 2015 - 21:09
Do you mean a bachelor's degree or a master's or a teaching qualification/credential? What nationality are you (it may be best to pursue the qualification related to your country)?
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 02 September 2015 - 21:06
It would probably be best to call them to be sure about the steps - but their site does seem to say that ("Will be eligible to apply for CACHE Level 3 Diploma for the Early Years Workforce (Educator) or Child Development Associate Credential").
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 27 August 2015 - 00:17
My Satwa dreams were destroyed by a phone call from the school to go in for some paperwork :P But in brighter news, the GPS decided that its battery was fine and didn't need to be replaced! I think the heat gets to it, lol.
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 26 August 2015 - 09:48
I love your comment, AdventurerB! And I've had exactly the same experience in the past 5 years of living in the Middle East. I think media is taking its toll on the current generation unfortunately, but for the most part every woman knows that she is inherently attractive and can put herself together beautifully. Much less shame and self-consciousness.
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 26 August 2015 - 08:36
Fabulous. My kids would endure anything for a paratha :D Oh, are there clean bathrooms anywhere? (perpetual optimist here.... lol) And would shops be open in the next hour?
UmmSalah
172
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 26 August 2015 - 07:58
Great! I actually love that mall... and I have never loved a mall in my life lol. It's so unique!
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 26 August 2015 - 07:54
You cannot imagine how fast I deleted my post after reading that :o I thought it was legal as long as you're renting from the owner and not subletting?
UmmSalah
172
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Latest post on 26 August 2015 - 07:38
I think a lot of people simply don't use carseats in taxis for that reason. (Like in NYC taxis - it's not illegal). The service Careem can send a car with carseats.
UmmSalah
172
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 25 August 2015 - 20:40
A family in my kids' karate center is starting there, but I don't know anyone else! How did you decide on it, being a new school and all?
UmmSalah
172
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 24 August 2015 - 22:00
Hi :) In 2010 we moved from Cali (Bay Area) to Egypt, and after 5 years there, we moved here to Dubai 9 days ago. Let me assure you that moving to Dubai is a much easier transition than moving to Egypt :D :D It's a city designed to host people like you: English-speaking foreigners who have a skill and can bring it here to work. It's very well-designed, comprehensible, professional and extremely safe. Pretty much everyone speaks English -- probably more so than in parts of Cali :). You'll never have trouble finding anything you need or being understood. You can enroll with the State Department: https://step.state.gov/step/
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2015 - 23:09
Big moves are very hard on little ones and can make them feel quite insecure... I personally don't see any wrong or harm in having him fall to sleep in your bed until he adjusts to the new environment. I've done that with my kids in similar circumstances when they were younger and moved them to their own beds after they're deep asleep -- it makes it easier for everyone. Another option could be to transition him out of your bed by putting a mattress for him in your room, so he feels the security of being in your room but at least he's in a separate bed. Just be patient with the process - he needs some time to adjust and won't stay in your room forever :)
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2015 - 19:55
I'm looking for about a 1/2 kilo of organic raw cocoa powder -- are there any health food stores with better prices than the others? I can get it for $10 on Amazon so I might shop&ship it if it's more than 70dhs or so here.... Any recommendations for the easiest one to access around the JLT area, and later Mirdiff where we'll be moving after a week?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2015 - 18:23
I would use Airbnb - we're in one now until we find a permanent place ourselves, in a spacious 1 bedroom in JLT for only $85/night. Just find a place near where you want to be that has a lot of positive reviews, and it will be a great experience. We've found places through airbnb in several countries and have never been disappointed.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2015 - 05:03
Great advice all.... after checking GPS reviews and prices in stores and Dubizzle I'm convinced about navigating with a smartphone! (Never mind that I've been committed to never having one... :p) Besides Google Maps, the RTA's SmartDrive and the Sygic app (on sale now till Aug 31) seem worth checking out since they can be used offline (no data) but are supposed to update frequently. Anyone used Sygic before? It's had good reviews on a lot of forums. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sygic.aura&hl=en As an aside... what's a good entry-level, less-expensive Android phone to get? I want something good enough so that it doesn't annoy me but priced so that it won't make me cry if it breaks... mom of 3 here with an extensive phone-breaking history! My husband is thinking an old model of a good phone like a Samsung Nexus 3, and we've heard we could find old models like that in Satwa - does that sound like a good idea?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2015 - 04:46
Thanks, I'll definitely check out Decathlon in the future!
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 23 August 2015 - 04:44
Yes, definitely take a good prenatal vitamin with folic acid! I don't know that brand - but if it's for ttc I assume it would also have the necessary components of a prenatal vitamin? I always took Rainbow Light brand - not sure if it's available here.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 August 2015 - 21:10
I think the word you're looking for is "viable." Wow, 16 weeks! I love that.. no need to see pregnancy as an emergency medical condition :)
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 August 2015 - 20:20
How about a library? http://www.theoldlibrary.ae/ -- open 12-4 most days in the summer.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 22 August 2015 - 20:19
No advice to give, but 4 weeks is not too late at all :D It's typical to schedule your first antenatal appointment after 8 weeks for both doctors and midwives in the west, unless you experience any unusual symptoms.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2015 - 10:46
The minimum age for grade 1 according to the UAE ministry of education is Dec. 31, 2009. My daughter is supposed to be going into grade 2 but she was born Dec. 17, 2008, and I thought that might be a problem, but so far we've heard that they can be flexible for people close to the age requirement if they're transferring in at that grade level.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 21 August 2015 - 10:24
My kids have always worn StrideRite (ages 1-8, so far!) - I consider it the best US brand of kids' shoes, by far! They're very comfortable and NEVER wear out, people reuse them for multiple kids and gift them when done with them. Here's the Dubai location - I just called to check availability of black uniform shoes for my kids, and they said they have the StrideRite Regan and Marina for girls, and a few styles for boys, all under 200dh (I think one was 120, one was 170...): Al Ghurair Centre New Extension, Al Rigga Road, Dubai 04 2595404
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 18:40
dannnng.... we used to pay 10egp for a belt. like 4.7aed :p And that much could buy 2 uniforms!
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 11:47
Any new experiences/opinions about the Creative Science schools? Have the best teachers been moved from the British section to the American section?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 11:36
As for options for registering with an accredited program, I personally would register with Clonlara for the flexibility, since they are accredited but don't have a set curriculum -- and I like to pick my own. They basically advise/evaluate your resources and student work to ensure they fulfill the requirements, and the transcript/diploma don't mention "homeschooling." For an online homeschool with online classes taught in real-time, I've heard of Gateway Virtual Academy but have no personal experience with them and would check to see if they're accredited yet. The fees are low and I've known a few women who taught for them. It's geared towards western Muslims so Arabic & Qur'aan are taught. http://gatewayvirtualacademy.com/
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 11:14
Is it generally worth going to Satwa for alterations of any kind? How do the prices differ from more expensive areas like JLT?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 11:13
Very interesting thread! Are there any FB groups for homeschoolers in Dubai? With 3 kids, putting them in the mid-range school we like will require me to start working when the 3rd is school age (we can only afford 2 on my husband's salary), and I'm not sure I want to do that. I've always used my free mornings to do the shopping, cooking, cleaning etc, so I'm ready to take them to after-school activities and help them study in the evenings -- which has included a lot of additional work in subjects that I felt our previous school was weak in (plus all aspects/subjects of English since they learned in the local language), so I've used a variety of supplementary curricula and am comfortable with teaching them. I can't imagine working full-time and then returning to cook, shuttle kids around, help with homework, etc -- especially since I'm a teacher and would be exhausted by the end of the day! My husband likes to have them in school for the socialization/school culture, but I'm not sure I'm willing to make such a big lifestyle change for that, especially since we enjoy learning together anyway.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 10:44
I called Go Sports in Dubai Mall and the gi there is 175dh... so a little less, but maybe not worth the side trip! How about belts -- do dojos typically include the next color belt in the belt test fee? I didn't bring my kids' orange and yellow belts thinking that I would buy them here as we did in our previous country, but it seems that they can't be bought separately from sports stores?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 00:02
For those of you who mentioned opting to buy clothes online, does it actually usually come out to be cheaper than buying here, considering the shipping costs? I'm a newbie and can't believe I just spent $55 on my son's next size of karate uniform when I could have gotten a good one for $20 on Amazon... now I'm thinking, S&S would have cost what -- $9 per 1/2 kg? So maximum $20 for shipping, for a total of $40? I wouldn't mind saving $15 every time I buy something like that...
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2015 - 23:51
We attended our first class there a few days ago and were really impressed by the professionalism and organization in comparison to our previous place :) Thanks for the rec! The uniforms they sell are 200dh -- is that about what I should expect to pay anywhere? (where we come from, they cost about $10 :p)
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2015 - 16:44
We've been in Dubai for 5 days now and have set up admissions appointments for my 6-year old and 8-year old to enter grades 2 & 3. We're applying to UK & IB curriculum schools, and since they haven't experienced either of those curricula before, I'm a little nervous that they won't pass, especially since we're entering the school market so late in the game! Can anyone give me an idea of how they will be evaluated, what the expectations are, etc.? They're native English speakers but have studied the Egyptian national curriculum (with quite a lot of additional teaching from me in English and all around) -- so I would say that they're strong in math but possibly weak in spelling or writing in general in comparison to kids who have studied fully in English.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 18 August 2015 - 16:10
Here is someone who seems to offer teen parenting courses in Dubai: http://www.sarahcapon.com/Course_Fee_Teens.html And you might give this organization a call as well, since they have parenting education: http://www.counsellingdubai.com/index.html If you can't find a workshop, the book "Positive Discipline for Teenagers"ight help you find a new approach - here's an excerpt from it: http://www.positivediscipline.com/articles/teenagers.html
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 20:37
How about GAP? They tend to have more normal/classic clothing.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
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Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 20:22
Has anyone tried the Mio GPS Classic 306? It's on souq.com for 449 aed.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
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Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 19:48
Any new advice about this? Especially the closest place to look near JLT (cluster C)?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
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Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 19:22
Great!! I really really hope that works out for us as well.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 13:54
My son is 8 and has been in karate for almost 2 years, and I'd really like to find the right place for him to continue. Are there any good options in and around Mirdif? The drive to the World Black Belts Centre in Business Bay doesn't seem too bad (~20 min), so should I just go for it?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 13:34
^Is that for sure? We moved here 3 days ago and have been told that schools won't accept us without visas, and the schools we're interested in aren't open for registration until Wednesday/Thursday so I haven't been able to find out for sure. My husband's iqama is still in process, so ours is probably 2 weeks away. We came early on tourist visas (US passports) to sort schools, so I hope you're right!
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 12:48
Sounds great! Are they still next to Mazaya centre, and is that their only location?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 14:34
Out of curiosity, what exactly worries you about it? I assume you would let your kids either ride a schoolbus or have a driver who takes them to school -- what exactly is missing in this scenario that makes you uncomfortable? (My husband is beginning work as a manager at Careem, so consider this market research :D ) I see it as a private limo - cars and drivers are licensed, documented, registered, and the car is tracked in real time so you know it's on course. For me, I see that as being safer than hiring a driver myself.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 13:43
I probably would start considering it at age 7, but depending on how responsible/street smart the kid is.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2015 - 16:01
Did you go for Mirdif, as we're considering it as well? I've heard that the Dubai Public Library in Rashidiya is an easy 10 min drive from Mirdif: http://www.dubaipubliclibrary.ae/en/aboutlibrary/Pages/Visitus.aspx
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2015 - 15:56
Is anyone searching in Mirdif right now, any tips? It looks like we're going to be looking for places in the peak times :/ My husband's visa is expected to be issued in the next week, so add another week to that for the iqaama and we won't be able to sign until late August.
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2015 - 15:46
oh no! Thanks for the heads up, I'll definitely bring ours then :)
UmmSalah
172
Posts
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Latest post on 08 August 2015 - 15:45
Bump, did you try it out?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2015 - 12:48
Have you liked Al Salam from your experiences so far, and will you continue into their school?
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2015 - 12:41
How about DesertCart, has anyone tried that? https://www.desertcart.ae/ "We have a one off shipping fee of AED 25 on all orders. However, if your order exceeds AED 250, shipping is on us!"
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 08 August 2015 - 12:38
Where can I go for reasonably-priced natural wood building blocks, and about how much do they sell for? I got a set of 100 blocks for $10 on sale in TRU in the US and am thinking of bringing them along, but they're heavy -- would be great to free up the luggage space!
UmmSalah
172
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 04 August 2015 - 17:40
Does anyone know the fees for British Islamic Nursery in Sharjah, and are its hours really 7:30-12:30 only (as listed on their website) -- I can't imagine that they don't have after care for parents who work?
 
 
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