We are being watched !!

[domesticgodessintraining]

A friend just called from the Middle East to say that the bored desperate housewives of Dubai are slagging us off ........

www.expatwoman.com/forum/messages.aspx?TopicID=171798

We don't have any of that stuff paid, and we don't get free flights home either. We were given a relocation package to come here and how/whether we spent it was down to us. When my DH negotiated his salary it took into account roughly what we expected to have to pay in school fees and rent etc, but everything comes out of out own pocket. Flights-wise, we got a flight each out here, and we get our final flight home. That's all.

Oh, healthcare though - we get that.

Joking about what? That my life is privileged? Of course it is.

I'm in my early 30's, employed to do something I love (and happen to think is reasonably worthwhile) at a level more senior to that which I would be employed at in the UK. I earn 6 figures and work school hours. My DC are getting a great education, we live in a big house with a pool and lots of help. I am able to indulge my hobbies, such as riding and have set up a local chapter of a UK charity extremely close to my heart, because living here gives me the time to invest in it.

We dont keep any assets here (although i dont see that as a bad thing ) apart from a car that we own. My DH's car is a company one. If we had to leave then we would be disappointed but as things currently stand we could survive on either of our salaries so hopefully when we leave will be at a time of our choosing. When that time comes we will return to our family home, the mortgage on which is almost paid off. We will both return to the UK better qualified and with more relevant work experience than we left with.

Most expats I know have kept close ties with their home countries, returning frequently and own property there, worse case scenario is you return to the life you were living before you left. I'm certainly not suggesting you or anyone is "jealous" but I would be foolish to deny that I have a good life and that makes me an easy target for that great British sport of being taken down a peg or two.

Omg this is all new to me!

LineRunner - Stop the Traffik are supported here in the UAE. The Body Shop (here it is owned by a local company) always has their petitions at the till and they actively ask customers to sign when they make a purchase.

And yes there is some irony here given that the UAE are big offenders, but it does show that there is an appetite to overcome this issue. Petitions are not often allowed here so the fact that this organisation is supported and allowed to publicly campaign to raise awareness is something I welcome and take as a good sign of the commitment to change.

?Oh! Reason not the need!? ? King Lear

Sandinmyshoes that is interesting I want aware of that, but then I avoid the body shop in the UAE because I cannot bare the hypocrisy of their heavily promoted whitening range

It's not just the Body Shop though. L'Oreal and Johnson & Johnson both have skin whitening products. (I'm sure they're not the only companies either).

Quite ironic that the darker skins are trying to be as pale as possible and the Caucasians are after a "healthy tan"

disclaimer:- not "all"

I have just read that the UAE does not have a sewage system all human waste has to be shopped away by truck. I find it incomprehensible that in such a new city they failed to see the need for underground sewage system.

horses, where they truck the human waste away to?

Not true. My sewage isn't shipped away by truck, most of the newer developments have underground sewerage systems. Many of the older villas have their crap collected by truck to be taken to the treatment plants.

LR, it's trucked away (or in my case, piped away by unground pipes) to sewage treatment plants. Just like the UK I imagine.

There are skin whitening products EVERYWHERE here - you can't move for them.

But then ask yourself it is really any worse than the British or American white woman's obsession with making herself look darker? There is obviously an optimum cappucino/toffee skin colour that everyone wants!

I've got the Farrow & Ball chart in front of me. I reckon it's Dimity if you're lightening or Smoked Trout if you're darkening

Hahaha - Smoked Trout doesn't sound terribly attractive does it? You'd laugh at me A my top half of body has taken on a pleasant golden glow but my legs are still sadly pastey looking.

I just don't tan easily. I have to accept it.

My legs are slightly tanned - enough that I don't mind wearing cropped trousers (or shorts, depending on where I am; not the mall, obviously) and my arms are a nice colour but anywhere from neck to thigh is blue!

Oh yes I realise there are skin whitening creams everywhere, but I kind of expect that from the likes of Nivea, loreal etc.

There is just something that sticks in my throat about the body shop advertising "natural goodness... be beautiful in your own skin...be yourself...look at our fab multi ethnic advertising" which combined with one of the widest skin whitening ranges I have ever seen, just really pisses me off

I'm surprised that the Body Shop sells skin whitening creams.

That's shame, as they are promoting Stop The Traffik and other great causes internationally.

www.livingsocial.com/cities/871/deals/265070-donate-a-meal-to-a-laborer-on-february-21

This an example of the small initiatives that expats do, should anyone feel like donating. Today is the last day to buy.