Job Discussion Forums

[suzannesmith009]

Can anyone please give words of advice and wisdom to living in Al Ain? I would greatly appreciate all the help! Thanks!

[High Plains Drifter]

Words of wisdom? You�ll find that people who contribute to Dave�s are quite happy to take the time to share their experience and knowledge, but you�ll get a much better response if you ask more specific questions. What are your concerns? What�s your experience? Do you have a family? What school are you considering? Any experience in the Middle East (or anywhere else)? The general consensus in the UAE is that Al Ain is a lot quieter than other cities in the UAE. That translates to less stress to some and boredom to others.

[bobsyeruncle]

You might consider joining the Al Ain expats email list to ask more detailed questions, and just to get a feel for life in Al Ain.

It's at:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/alainexpats/

or send a blank message to:

[email protected]

[veiledsentiments]

Hi Suzanne

Well, as I recall, you are/were at that fun place in Nizwa? After Nizwa, Al-Ain should seen a bit more lively. Have you been there? I always enjoyed visiting there when I lived in Abu Dhabi as it was much less humid.

Definitely check out the Yahoo list. And if you have any questions that can't be answered there, come on back. But, as Drifter says, it is easier to answer something specific...

VS

[tiberio]

Is anyone aware of a mosque in Al Ain where the sermon/khutba is delivered in English language?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated...

Kind regards,
Tiberio

[Gauguin]

Try adding this question as a new topic, Tiberio.

You'll get more feedback.

[Iamherebecause]

Al Ain is OK but there are certain things it seriously lacks: a decent bookshop; choice of live cultural activities such as theatre, concerts etc; the range of films you get in a big city; and choice of places to go out in the evenings.

For books I try to stock up when at home and then top up in Dubai if I can face it. Culture - I used to have the attitude that I would go to any live show that came to Al Ain as that was as good as it was going to get. British Airways Theatre Company: OK up to a point. Min Trio - well, after 3 times I got tired of them. Annual Music Festival - fantastic. But since i came back in August the only offering has been Absolutely Kylie (tribute show to some Australian) and I'm afraid I didn't go....

Cinema - there are 2 multiscreen places but the choice isn't great, sometimes both show the same films.

OK there are decent cheapo places to eat out. But there are only 3 hotels for special beverages (4 if you want to drive all the way up a mountain) which means wherever you go you always see colleagues/your boss/the person whose lesson you observed and HATED/your kids' teachers etc: not always a good thing.

[DesertStar]

Al Ain can be perfect for those who enjoy quiet places and/or are sick of big cities. Occasional trips to Dubai or Abu Dhabi would make a nice change...

Yep, you'll run into all the people you know wherever you go in Al Ain (ok, I'm exaggerating a bit )... and the two movies theatres show the same films most of the time... which really sucks!

I agree, stock up on books and music if you care, before you come here... stuff is quite expensive around here and not many choices...

Al Ain is beautiful and very clean... nice place for families with small children.

(ending on a positive note )

[wildfire]

bring your
books
and your yoga mat


DUUUULLLLLLLL

[ghost]

How safe is it to subscribe to western magazines - sports magazines? Ghost, for example, subscribes to ''Runners' World'' but is concerned that the minimalist clad runners (translation: wearing just shorts and tank tops) who are on the cover might be disapproved of at the Al Ain post office....and result in non delivery?

Also is it safe to order books and other goods through companies like Amazon.com?

Thanks for the feedback.

Ghost

[Sheikh Inal Ovar]

As long as the front-cover runners aren't jogging back from a Playboy Party, there should be no problems ...

[spicegirl]

Absolutely no probs with deliveries from Amazon. Just received a package from them today, books + DVDs. Only took 6 days (from UK). The ladies at the Al Ain post office open the package, check for something or other (never found out what), then reseal it and give it to you. Sometimes stuff comes from Amazon straight to your PO Box, without having to pick it up from the post office.

Other packages are dealt with in the same way .... ladies' swimsuits arrived, were admired by the PO customs girls, and handed over to me.

A few years ago, magazines used to have whole pages of pictures inked out by the censors (e.g. women's decolletes, etc.), but things have changed, and I haven't seen this happen for ages. Pix of men in shorts are much less likely to be offensive to any picky censors than those of women.

[NadiaK]

Most people in the UAE have good experiences re. deliveries from Amazon and the like, but some use Aramex's Shop and Ship service (see http://www.aramex.com/services/shopandship.asp) which allows you to order goods (incl. books and magazines) to a US and/or a UK mailbox and then have them delivered to your door by courier.

[ghost]

Thanks for the info. about subscriptions and ordering stuff through Amazon. Books, magazines and cd's/dvd's are certainly things that will make the passage of time much more enjoyable, especially for the books and magazines. And good to know that it is relatively safe to order stuff.

When ghost lived and taught in Guatemala (1995), there was no way it could use the regular Guatemalan postal service as anything of value (including foreign magazines and books) would have had little chance of arriving by regular mail. The situation in UAE, ''mashallah" appears to be more positive, in that regard.

Ghost

[Wigwam]

If your order from Amazon is larger than 10 items it may be stopped by customs who will keep at EMPOST and then require you to pay duty on it