escape . I couldnt agree more, the situation for schools and rent is waaaaaaay out of control.
es you most probably wont get a choice of accomodation, you will be so pathetically grateful to have found something remotely approaching your budget that you will look past any reprocussions (sp?). I know someone who went with a huge wad of cash to pay the deposit as soon as they saw something they liked.
We used Crown to move, they were intially more expensive but I told them I wanted yto use them and how much Pickfords were charging and they came back just over the Pickfords quote. Great job, nothing broken or lost!! Maid to clean the house at this end, a man to do all the little jobs like pout the light biulbs back and stuff whiolst the others unpacked and put together all my Ikea flat pack. (We have Ikea here sadly I know this from experience). Find where hubby will be and we can advise from there re location and schools.. escape is right regarding schools, there are lots and places are limited you just have to hold your nerve. People will be registered at a number of schools.
It def helps if the co. can help with sorting things, everything in Dubai works on Inshallah time (ie very slowly). There is a new nusery opening in Um Suqueim in September, taking from babies upto 4. The lady is lovely and the whole place looks fab. If that helps?
Supermarkets, like home but smaller, Spinnys sells stuff from Waitrose! We do have M&S food but not much choice. No delivery to speak of but the man does pack your bags and put them in the car, while the other man washed your car ;-) DS misses Birds Eye chicken pies and Walkers crips. Otherwise you can get most stuff including PG tips etc. If you ahve anything you think you couldnt live without tell us and we will let you know.
Ramadan, is all of September this year. School hours are shorter to cope with the fasting, it will above 40. You dont have to fast, just not eat in public in daylight. shopping malls and hotels have screened off areas for you to eat behind. Because of this all the shopping malls stay open till gone midnight to encourage people to come out and shop! Generally I cover up in the mall as it is sooo cold but people do wear beach clothes like see through dresses and stuff. wholly inappropriate IMHO. Just be aware that if you do dress wskimply people will stare. Labourers for example may not have been home for yearws, it just provocation. I wear city shorts or longger shorts, linen trousers, crop trousers, strappy tops, I just try not to bust out all over. But you will see people wearing all sorts of things.
Good lifestyle for a while I think. We are using it as a staging post for travel. Middle East, Far East and Australia.
Ask away with anything else no matter how trival.
starmummy