Dubai - Ask me anything

[Brit]

For @vtcupcake.

I will go to bed in the next hour or so, but I will answer in the morning for 'late night posts'.

Things seem pretty normal here, but my idea of normal may have shifted?

[Deleted]

You've talk a bit about how meat is really expensive. Have you adapted to the primarily vegetarian diet?

Are you living in the city itself, suburbs? Are there suburbs?

Are questions about your DD off-limits? Just curious how life is with a wee one overseas.

[Brit]

I was just inspired to finish a blog post that I had been pondering. It is about a recent dinner that I had with a Saudi woman. May be an interesting read.
eatrunbrit.com/2014/05/07/an-unlikely-dinner/

[wambam]

Have you made friends there?

What socially have you noticed as a woman? Is there anything you can't do in public? Or do those rules not apply to "visitors"?

[sadlebred]

1. Can you wear "American" clothing most places in Dubai? Do you ever have to put on "traditional Muslim dress" to go out in public?

2. What is work like? Just like working for an American/European company?

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 12:43:39 GMT -5 @sessalee said:

You've talk a bit about how meat is really expensive. Have you adapted to the primarily vegetarian diet?

Are you living in the city itself, suburbs? Are there suburbs?

Are questions about your DD off-limits? Just curious how life is with a wee one overseas.

I eat mainly vegetarian unless we go out for dinner or lunch is ordered in for meetings at work. It is going well although I think I feel sluggish if I forget to take my vitamins for a few days. Might just be psychological though.

We are living on a man made island in the Persian Gulf. It is huge, about 7.5 miles around the ocean facing edge. It isn't downtown, but there are more than thirty tall apartment buildings on the island and tons of resort hotels and restaurants as well as hundreds of villas.

Dubai definitely has a downtown and suburbs.

[mrshandy]

How did you end up in Dubai? Your H's work? Your work? What's a typical day like?

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 12:49:35 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Yay! Thank you!

1. What was the biggest adjustment you had to make (aside from adapting to the weather), personally and for your family?

2. I have a pretty sheltered view of the Middle East, mostly from friends and family members that served over there and have worked on women's rights campaigns. How do you feel the environment is there for you as a woman vs. you as a professional human being?

3. What's the one thing you wish you had 24/7 access to that you don't? What's one thing that you have newfound access to that you didn't before, and now can't live without it?

4. Is anything that you did in the States considered "taboo" in Dubai, and if so have you attempted to do it anyways?

5. What is the percentage of ex-pats vs. residents there? Who do you interact with the most?

6. How is your DD doing living there?

That's it for now. I'm just very curious. Feel free to ignore any or all of this

1. I don't feel like there have been many adaptations except for eating a lot less meat. :-)

2. Dubai is a pretty liberal place, I think I have fair opportunities as a woman, but I can't say how that would change if I wasn't an American working for an American company. There are some challenges with lower income women sponsoring their families resident visas, they have to earn more money and have a better job designation than I man would. That is the main thing that I see on a day to day basis.

3a. Walmart. Or Amazon. It is a toss up. I have to go to like 43 stores to find/purchase the things that I would normally pick up at Walmart or buy from Amazon. A close third is Brooks running shoes - they aren't sold here.

3b. The ocean. I have a private beach. I keep my SUP on the beach across the street from my house. I went surfing before work yesterday. It is basically like being in vacation every weekend.

4. I don't show my upper arms at work. I could, but I would rather err on the side of being conservative. I also wear sweaters/pashminas over my maxi dresses when I go to the mall or grocery store. I probably don't HAVE to do those things, but it is absolutely more respectful to do those things.

5. Dubai is about 90% expats. The majority of the expats are from South Asia. I don't think I know a local. My neighborhood has people from all over, probably predominantly from Europe and the Middle East. There are definitely Indian enclaves and Philippino neighborhoods because of the huge populations from those countries.

6. I think DD likes it. :-) She enjoys her daycare a lot more here. We have great parks for her to ride her scooter or bike and she is taking ballet classes. (Which my wallet doesn't like - Special Dubai pricing)

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 12:57:39 GMT -5 wambam said:

Have you made friends there?

What socially have you noticed as a woman? Is there anything you can't do in public? Or do those rules not apply to "visitors"?

Yes, mainly with people at work or with the other daycare moms who share the same beach with us.

H and I are not supposed to hold hands in public. We didn't really do that in the US anyway though, so NBD.

In my neighborhood I feel comfortable running in standard warm weather running gear, but I would never venture to the store like that - it would be too uncovered.

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 12:59:54 GMT -5 sadlebred said:

1. Can you wear "American" clothing most places in Dubai? Do you ever have to put on "traditional Muslim dress" to go out in public?

2. What is work like? Just like working for an American/European company?

1. I wear normal clothes. I try not to wear things that would make my grandma blush. ;-)

I will probably go to Saudi eventually for work and I will be required to wear an Abaya and Shayla (black cloak thingy and matching head covering) to leave the airport there. That is probably the most conservative country in the Gulf.

2. I work for an American company here, so it is pretty much the same as it was in Indiana. The office looks the same (better, actually) and the code of conduct/company values are the same. We are often heralded as one of the best companies in the world to work for from a diversity perspective, so I think it just naturally extends to here.

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 13:10:42 GMT -5 mrshandy said:

How did you end up in Dubai? Your H's work? Your work? What's a typical day like?

I got hired for a job in Dubai with the same company that I was working for in the US. My H also works for them, so he just asked to move. It worked really beautifully except that he works nights (to meet with people in the US).

6AM - Coffee and run
7:30AM - Shower and drive to work
8:15AM - 5PM work
5:30PM - Get home, change, get DD from daycare
Normal evening stuff... Dinner, bath, DD bed, TV, internet

[Wines Not Whines]

Are you staying in Dubai indefinitely, or are you there for a specific period of time?

Is your husband working? Did he find a job there, or is he telecommuting?

What were your families' reactions to the move? Were they worried about being far away from you and their grandchild?

How often do you come back to the US?

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 13:30:48 GMT -5 Wines Not Whines said:

Are you staying in Dubai indefinitely, or are you there for a specific period of time?

Is your husband working? Did he find a job there, or is he telecommuting?

What were your families' reactions to the move? Were they worried about being far away from you and their grandchild?

How often do you come back to the US?

I am signed up for three years, we will see what happens beyond that. Yes, H is telecommuting, which actually gives him much better work life balance.

Our families were all 'omg the Middle East is scary'. Then they visited Dubai and were like 'Dubai is awesome!'. They don't like that DD is far away, but we lived halfway across the US anyway, so we FaceTime, just like we did there.

I have been in the US since September. It looks like I will go back for a week in December. I could go more often, but we have been using out vacation to go other places. (Thailand in two weeks!!!) In theory I could go home three times per year.

[Brit]

I was thinking more about the clothing thing... If it is ok to wear to a Catholic church in Italy, it is ok for most any public place in Dubai.

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 13:46:49 GMT -5 @vtcupcake said:

Thank you so much for doing this brit. I am really inspired by how well traveled your entire family is, and your worldly perspective on life is really awesome.

I'm blushing. It is all by chance really. I have been lucky to have a usually open mind and a big enough appetite for risk.

If you asked me 10 years ago, I would have assumed that I would be toiling away on AutoCAD at some engineer-y job in Pennsylvania right now.

[thom]

1) Can you start blogging more?? {I know you're crazy busy with a toddler and no family around. Plus I didn't realize your H worked nights, but that makes sense.}
Anyhow, I was thrilled to see your new post in my inbox. Sounds like you had a neat experience & made a friend.

2) Do you think your H will try to finagle baby ducks into your Dubai building/grounds this spring??

3) How are YOU doing? Do you ever feel homesick / overwhelmed, or has the adjustment been mostly good?

[lauren170]

Can you post a few pictures? Would love to see some

[shauni27]

Yes, please post pictures and blog more!

Tell us more about your job or the field you're in...or is your Dubai location hiring?!

[Stingyshark]

I want to see what DD looks like these days! She must be SO BIG! (but I totes understand not posting her pic here..this is not a safe place!)

[MrsE]

Do you expect to do anything differently during Ramadan? As an aside, DH and I decided against a stopover in Dubai last year because it would have been during Ramadan. Are the restrictions really for everyone or do expats get a pass?

Do you like Dubai better than C India?

Also, how (and where) is Duke and what did you do with your house (sell, rent it out)?

This is an awesome AMA!

[Brit]

May 7, 2014 22:37:44 GMT -5 thom said:

1) Can you start blogging more?? {I know you're crazy busy with a toddler and no family around. Plus I didn't realize your H worked nights, but that makes sense.}
Anyhow, I was thrilled to see your new post in my inbox. Sounds like you had a neat experience & made a friend.

2) Do you think your H will try to finagle baby ducks into your Dubai building/grounds this spring??

3) How are YOU doing? Do you ever feel homesick / overwhelmed, or has the adjustment been mostly good?

1. I will try to. I have felt more inspired lately. I have recently acquired a responsibility to blog at work and as I have been writing those posts I have been thinking about my neglected blog.

2. I don't think we will do ducks this year. I don't think it would be possible here. He has been kayak fishing a ton though, so some things never change. I think he misses our pond.

3. I like it here. I feel like I am on vacation every weekend. My job is really fun. DD likes daycare and is enjoying swimming a few times per week. I am a bit scared of summer coming, but it's all good. Sometimes I feel like there is a lot going on, but that is mostly a result of H's travel, not anything to do with Dubai - I try to maintain the perspective that if we are all safe and healthy, then not much else is truly important.

[Brit]

May 8, 2014 7:10:03 GMT -5 Stingyshark said:

I want to see what DD looks like these days! She must be SO BIG! (but I totes understand not posting her pic here..this is not a safe place!)

I will post her on my blog soon.

[Brit]

May 8, 2014 7:34:24 GMT -5 MrsE said:

1. Do you expect to do anything differently during Ramadan? As an aside, DH and I decided against a stopover in Dubai last year because it would have been during Ramadan. Are the restrictions really for everyone or do expats get a pass?

2. Do you like Dubai better than C India?

3. Also, how (and where) is Duke and what did you do with your house (sell, rent it out)?

This is an awesome AMA!

1. Yes, Ramadan is a game changer. We visited Dubai during Ramadan while we were in India. You can't eat, drink, or chew gum in public during daylight. No restaurants are open except for maybe one in each big hotel. You can eat in your house obviously. I will probably not eat at work out of respect for fasting people, but we will supposedly allow it in one of our cafeterias. There are short work days for the month of Ramadan, I think we will work 9-3, so that is a huge bonus.

2. I like Dubai and Chennai differently. Dubai is certainly a much easier place to live, but I do still find myself thinking about a move back to India someday. There is just something magical about India. I guess if I had to pick one of the two as a forever home, I would pick Dubai.

3a. Duke lives on a farm in Kentucky. He was adopted by a lawyer/farmer and his wife. Duke's new 'dad' works from a home office and Duke sits with him all day while he meets clients. I imagine that Duke is loving this.

3b. We are still trying to sell our house. Gah. It is a super cool house, or at least we think so, I am still not really sure why nobody else wants it. (Or maybe it is like moms never thinking that their baby is ugly?)

[shauni27]

this is my favorite AMA thread of all time. Dubai is on my bucket list for sure, plus I love living vicariously through such an adventurous person--while I say I would love to drop all of our "responsibilities" at home and move across the world temporarily for a job, I think I am too boring to actually do it.

[thom]

I am so happy Duke found a nice home. I bet you miss him and he misses you, but I'm sure he's happy in KY too. Plus I am certain his new family is thrilled w/ him. I hope they also dress him as a lion for Halloween.

Ramadan sounds rough. Are strict followers allowed even water during the day?

[lb2006]

my IL visited Dubai & Abu Dhabi last year to meet their adopted daughter's birthparents (from afghanistan).  It was very interesting to learn about the culture for not only UAE but for Afghanistan.  There were many shopping trips to prep for this trip and lots of education on do's and don'ts for both cultures.

Thank you so much for sharing!