May be moving to Abu Dhabi and a HSer Hi Moira and Everyone Else In Abu Dhabi and UAE, Please forgive my ignorance in advance about things abroad in general, but my husband is in the process of interviewing for a job in Abu Dhabi and I am trying to get some info about living there. We currently live in Chicago, USA and I have been homeschooling for about 2years and am beginning the Classical HS method this summer with my oldest. I am really excited about the possibility of moving to another country and having my children (and me) experience a new way of life. I have some basic practical questions that I think other mothers, especially homeschooling mothers, could answer better than anyone else. Is anyone still checking this thread? Thanks, Katherine
Hi Katherine Welcome aboard. Is there any specific questions you need answered about life here in the UAE and homeschooling. We currently live in Dubai, but will be moving to Sharjah in coming weeks (or Ajman or RAK....still not decided where !!) Regards Cyn
Hi Cyn, Thanks for the welcome. My husband' interview is next week. I should know if I have any questions about moving to the UAE soon. Fingers crossed! Katherine
Hi Everyone! Wow!!! I'm so glad to have stumbled across this site. I've been surfing the net for info on HEing in Dubai, on and off the past 8 months, and so far have only came across lonesome postings that is mostly out of date with it's odd one or two replies. I was convinced that homeschooling in Dubai will be lonely, hence wasn't that keen to move to Dubai when hubby brings up the subject of working in Dubai again. Well, I'm really grateful to have found you guys. So it seems like now I have the option to consider either go to Dubai with hubby, or base my and 7 yrs old son back home in Malaysia. We're currently in UK. So, any opinion will be greatly appreciated, from where to live to what type of accomodation to........ anything really! So, what's it like homeschooling in Dubai? Do you have to register your child with the local goverment? Is books expensive over there? We read alot hence utilised the local library alot too. What can kids do in Dubai? With Best Regards, Sharon
Hi Sharon and ANOTHER big welcome from the UAE !!! No, you dont have to register your child with the Ministry of Education, as you are an expat.(its meant for children of Emirati parents) In Dubai, there is a small but good library that we use . It is located next to the Mall of the Emirates. Housing will all depend on budget.Is your husbands employer paying for a housing allowance? The Emirates are a very family friendly place. There is very little crime here. There are lots for kids to do, but it depends a lot on the weather. I find about 5 months of the year really, really hot (with July, August and some of June + Sept the worst). A lot of expats leave over summer, but we always stay. In the nicer weather, there are parks, and lots of activities around such as swimming lessons, tennis, karate, music classes etc. Im happy to help with any questions you have. You cam also find me on expatwoman.com Click on the Dubai/Sharjah/Ajman board, and you will find thousands of women in your position !!! Soooooo glad you found this site. The expat site is handy for all of your questions re expat life, and this site is a MUST for all of you homeschooling questions !!!! Cheers Cyn
Thanks Sgilli3 Hi Cyn, Many thanks for your quick response. Dubai sounds good. We're still not sure what to do yet. But I'm grateful to have found this site, and will continue to pop-in to keep track on the homeschooling scene. Even if me and son don't follow hubby to Dubai, we will be visiting regularly, so I hope to meet some of you HEing families during our visit. With Best Regards, SharonBugs.
Welcome! Welcome! welcome! Hi Katherine and Sharon, I agree with Cyn that UAE is really safe. I just shifted to Dubai early Mar, but now back in Malaysia for summer hols leaving my DH alone there. For the past few months, I really enjoy hs my DC in Dubai and seeing my DC develop new friendship with our neighbours in the apt building be it expat's children from India, Iran, Iraq, Canada, Africa, etc. Dubai has turn quite an international quarter, I would say. Cost of living is pretty high, so we cook our meals daily. the rental of accomodation is extremely high in Dubai, Lower in Abu Dhabi. In my area, one bedroom apt cost Dir8000. A meal for a family of 2 adults, 3 children under 12 and an infant in Chili's or TGiF (Friday's) would be Dir150 - 180. (1US = 3.68Dir or 1 MYR = 0.85Dir, varies) Over here, there are Carefour hypermarket (cheaper for getting groceries), Hypo Panda hypermarket, IKEA furniture shop etc. There's a state of art library coming up in Dubai near Mankhool Rd and existing one near the creek. Books are pretty expensive here. Just bought the Narnia series cost Dir49.90 each book. I order my hs books to be shipped here. Hope that helps. Again, welcome to homeschool Spot. Sharon, If you do come to Dubai, I really want to keep in touch with you. I'm in Malaysia now, you can ask me anything at all to clear your doubts. I will Private message you my email add. We may phone each other too.
Welcome to the Newbie, I have to say, I lost track of which one of you it is. Reading about Dubai sounds very exciting. I wish you well and look forward to hearing about your adventures over there.
We are... Thks. It will be me, Cynthia, Lorraine, Melissa and Moira already in UAE. Katherine and Sharon may be joining us in UAE.
Hi all! I just thought I'd introduce myself! I recently decided to homeschool my 7 yr old son and we will be starting in Jan 09. I have two other children, older DD is 5 and younger DD is 16 months. I am SUPER excited to meet all of you and feel relieved that there are others out there who are doing the same thing. Im looking forward to getting to know all of you through this site. It would be fabulous if we got a hs group together in dubai. All of a sudden, I dont feel so alone....how exciting!!!!! Best, Fatima
