The Good, The Bad, The Ugly...4 Months In

It's hard to believe Colin and I have only been here for 4 months. We started making ourselves at home right off the bat, so it seems like we've already made a home here.
Culture shock is a good way to describe my attempts to adapt here. Some things are easily accepted, others take awhile to get used to, and there are a few that will probably always annoy the pants off me. Hence the name of the blog: The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly. Disclaimer: most of these are generalizations, so there are exceptions in most cases. Just not convenient ones.

So here we go:

The Good


:: Being together as a family. I knew I married that guy for a reason :)


:: Familiar products, restaurants, and retail chains in Dubai.

:: Everyone speaks English, though in varying fluency and pronunciation.

:: Friday brunches.

:: Businesses will communicate with you by SMS (which they say instead of text).

:: Tax. Free. Income.

:: Car washers in the parking decks.

:: Fresh baked bread is cheap and plentiful. And they will slice it for you.

:: Spices are also cheap and plentiful.

:: Pull tabs on Coke :)

:: Living 3 blocks from the ocean (we should really go there soon).

:: Learning lots and lots about the Middle East, Islam, and lots of other cultures.

:: The pork section of the grocery store.

:: Slingbox. Best invention ever.

:: The metro! Convenient public transportation and no need for car seats.

:: While everyone at home is complaining about 20 degree weather and ice, it's 70 here and I'm wearing shorts.

:: Techonology that allows me to call, chat, and video chat with family 8,000 miles away.

:: Living above a 24-hour market.

The Bad

:: Living above a 24-hour market. (I know, but it's good & bad)

:: American imports, especially food, are expensive, and become a temptation.

:: No U-Haul.

:: Grass has been replaced with sand. I miss grass.

:: They don't sell chicken broth.

:: Chicken in the store is generally defrosted, so you can't re-freeze it for later.

:: Playgrounds with swings are a rarity.

:: Diet Coke tastes gross.

:: Disappointing lack of office and craft supplies.

:: Alcohol is generally only served in hotels.

:: Taxi drivers are likely to have no idea where they are going.

:: Medical insurance claims aren't generally filed by the facility, so you pay and file for reimbursement.

:: Stores are in perpetual state of restocking (most often right in front of something I need), but you will find an item one week, and won't see it again for a month.

:: Even in September, it was 110 degrees outside all day. Summers here give new definition to "sweltering".

:: Having marble floors is making me realize I didn't vacuum enough at home!

:: Sales on grocery items usually means the item is going to expire tomorrow.

:: Something in the water here makes your hair frizzy and brittle. Note to self: buy a filter.

:: No pork pepperoni on pizza...it's all beef pepperoni.

:: Windy day means a sandy day
The Ugly


:: The nanny = maid situation. I suppose it's cultural, but I can't seem to wrap my head around the quality of childcare in this country...even expat children.


:: Region-coded DVDs....this isn't specific to Dubai, it just annoys me a lot.

:: Setup fees, which I know are always a part of moving to a new place, but I still dislike them

:: Customer service here, um, stinks. Here's a hint: if they tell you they will call back in 5 minutes...they just want you off the phone. Don't fall for it.

:: Shortage of speech and occupational therapists = wait list.

:: Shipping costs...ugh.

:: Not sure if it’s the education level or it’s cultural, but people here don’t think outside of the box very often.

Some Other Observations

:: No drive-thru fast food. But, I've yet to find a place that won't deliver.

:: KFC is the McDonald's of this country.

:: Probably cultural, but there isn't a lot of friendly banter in lines (= queues) or when spotting another stroller (= pram) - pushing mom in the mall. Some cultures, namely the Eastern world, believe that eye contact is provocative. Among Western expats, I think it's partly snobbery and otherwise insecurity. The population here is quite fluid, as most employees are on a 2-year contract, so I often wonder if people are uncomfortable getting "too close" to someone who may be leaving. Just a speculation.


:: Many strollers have actual bassinets on top. Babies up to toddlerhood are often found sleeping through the malls. One day I'm going to ask one of them how they convince their children to sleep in public.

:: No car seat laws! Kids bounce around in the back seat of very expensive cars going wayyy over the speed limit. We only have one car, so I walk and take the metro anywhere possible, but in the case that I need a taxi, I actually have to sit Colin in my lap and strap the seatbelt over both of us. If anyone knows of a stroller that holds a toddler car seat, please, please tell me.


So I guess in conclusion, I'm hoping the next few months are better since a lot of the bad stuff is in regards to being a newbie.
Happy New Year!