So having been living my Dubai expat life for just under a year now I’ve admittedly become more Dubai than I ever thought possible! How many of the ‘how Dubai are you’ list below can you relate to?
How Dubai are you???
You know you’re a British expat mum living in Dubai when…
1 – You convert everything back to sterling using the average divide by 5 rule.
2 – You first thought that the idea of having a nanny/maid was ludicrous but now you couldn’t live without one.
3 – Atleast one person in your household has a Camelbak drinking bottle. (If you don’t and want to be more Dubai 🤣 then get one from Mumzworld using code carey10 for 10% off – click here
4 – You accept the fact that people you and your kids make friends with could leave Dubai at anytime.
5 – You live in flip flops.
6 – Your kids don’t own a jacket.
7 – You’re baffled as to why they sell winter wear in Dubai.
8 – Yallah and inshallah are now part of your daily vocabulary.
9 – You complain about the heat and love it when it rains (except when you’re back in the UK).
10 – Everything is sandy but you just don’t care anymore.
11 – School fees and healthcare costs make you appreciate the UK education and NHS system.
12 – You have a pool on your doorstep but the novelty has worn off.
13 – You still check the NHS website when you have any medical concerns.
14 – You consider getting Careems/Ubers just to avoid driving and parking.
15 – You drive an American SUV, just like everyone else on the school run.
16 – You order in more times than you cook in a week.
17 – You’re always on edge awaiting the announcement of a last minute public holiday or school closure.
18 – You bulk buy squash in fear that it will sell out.
19 – You forget what it’s like to put fuel in your own car.
20 – Marks & Spencer food yellow stickers are life!
21 – Daiso Japan is your Dubai Poundland where you let the kids go wild and choose whatever they want!
22 – If somewhere doesn’t have valet parking you seriously consider not going.
23 – You give a list of things (including OXO cubes) for anyone visiting from the UK to bring in their luggage for you.
24 – You’re in a supermarket every 2-3 days restocking.
25 – At first you insisted on packing your own grocery shopping but now you’re far too Dubai for that!
26 – If it’s not on the Entertainer you’re not going.
27 – You wait till you’re back in the UK to buy clothes.
28 – You constantly have to keep reminding your kids about how lucky they are!
29 – You thought you could never drive here but after a week you were driving like you’ve always lived in the UAE.
30 – You no longer get road rage and just accept the fact that some drivers use their indicators and others don’t.
31 – Your kids say ‘mom/mommy’ instead of ‘mum/mummy’, ‘trash’ instead of ‘rubbish’ and ‘zee’ instead of ‘zed’. Even if they attend a British School!
32 – You become accustom to ‘Dubai time’ – 10 minutes might mean 1 hour and next week could mean next month.
33 – You have an air pollution/quality app on your phone.
34 – You’re always on the hunt for a good fish and chips and roast dinner!
What else?
Is there anything you’d add to the list? Or anything you agree/disagree with? Let me know in the leave a reply box below.
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