Job Discussion Forums

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

Hello all!

I've just been told that the apartment my school will be placing me in is in International City. He told me that it comes with all electronic appliances and basic furnishings. What do you folks know about this area? I've heard that it's kind of a cheap place to live... Are there any shopping centers nearby? Grocery stores? Can I get a taxi out there? Is the IC way out in the desert? Will I wish like hell that I was anywhere else, or will it be survivable?

orangepeel1

boxcarwilly · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Posts: 85

Would it be possible to disclose the school you will be working at?

MrScaramanga · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 221

International City is not a very nice place to live at all. It is not quite finished yet, in the middle of nowhere; it is near a sewerage treatment plant and residents there complain heavily of nasty smells and stinky yellowish smog... for more info see below, link to a recent Gulf News story. You might also do a google search.
http://www.gulfnews.com/nation/Society/10225546.html

I wish you luck in yournew digs...
MrS

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

Part of the reason I have wanted to move to Dubai is that I am a total homebody. I'm married, I study, I want to start a family in a few years and I don't drink. I won't be someone who spends all their money hanging out downtown, outside of the occasional dinner night with my hubby every few weeks. For this reason, I've been told that I will be able to save. However, my home is VERY important. I'm a Cancer, and anyone who buys into that would understand that home is everything to me. I can't take smog, burning trash, or pest infestation! I have to love where I live in order to work and freaking out does not describe how I feel about living in a fly infested, sewage filled, immigrant slum! I read the posted article, thanks to MrScaramanga, and it added to my fears.

One of the bloggers wrote that some clusters are better than others. Does anyone have thoughts about that? Is Spain or Greece better than Persia or China? Let me know so I can make the necessary requests!

orangepeel1

MrScaramanga · Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Posts: 221

I would definitely avoid the China, Persia, Morocco clusters, as they are very close to the plant. England is the cluster that was flooded... Russia is very gloomy looking. I guess that leaves France, Italy, Greece and Spain.

Mind you, if you are a homebody, you could totally make your apartment cozy and comfy with the right funishings. Some units have balconies. You should request that. Also, all units are one-bedrooms. The (in)famous Dragon Mart mall is located at the entrance of the development. There you will find knock-offs of just about any brand of handbags and soccer jerseys galore.

The nearest mall is at Festival City - about 10-15 minutes away by car. It is a brand new mall and has a decent supermarket. You can also go to the Mirdiff shopping center down Emirates road. It is convenient and a 10-15 minutes drive from IC. There is no real supermarket at IC. Don't know if one is planned even...

From the description of your lifestyle, you should be able to save quite a bit. Good news!

Good luck and try to make the best of it Smile

Anna Dubaya · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 23

Besides the fact it is located next to a sewerage plant, International City has a lot of sewerage problems within the buildings. I heard that apartments which were built to accomodate 2/3 people have to accomodate twice as many -- with stench resulting.
I read an article in Gulf News about how planned supermarkets at IC never materialized and no one knows if they ever will.
The word out here is that it is all Indian and Filipino lower middle-class workers -- I can verify that when I think of some of my students living there. They are kids at the very beginning of their careers as clerical workers, hence the apartment sharing and overpopulation.
Also it is in the middle of nowhere... but then the whole of Dubai is.

I Rub Ruchi · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Posts: 45 Location: USA

If you are going overseas just for the money, then you will go lose your mind.

Even in an ideal ESL country like Japan, you will not survive if you are particular and set in your ways.

You might have an apartment that you like, but will you enjoy the others who share the same building? They could be from Only God Knows Where.

People who do well and save in overseas ESL, need humor and or tolerance.

How will you fare if you see people beating their spouses on the Street (Korea)? Dogs Kept in tiny cages outside their door(Taiwan)? Peopel with gun racks in the cab of their car(Texas)? Yes, Texas is full of ESL positions that need filling.

I suggest you go, but be prepared for wild and zany experiences, that's the only way you will survive.

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

Thanks for the input everyone!

I Rub -I've spent 2 years teaching in South Lebanon so I'm a little familiar with trials and tribulations of working in the international community. You mentioned humor and tolerance... tab3an! Also flexibility, a hell of a lot of patience, and a sense of adventure! It's not just for the money...I will be teaching music which is something that I believe needs to be explored/discovered in the ME, but I am also after some stability, post war Lebanon took its toll on me, and a reasonable level of financial security... I want kids before I'm 30!

Anna -You are not the only one who has pointed it out to me that there is a strong Filipino/Indian population in the International City. What does this mean exactly? I'm not trying to call anyone prejudice, but it just sounds bad. There must be a reason, call me naive, but I'm not familiar with the people, or the area... I wouldn't think this is a downfall to living in the International City, but that several folks have mentioned it... Is the lower-working class of Dubai dangerous or something?

Mr. Scar- France, Italy, Greece, or Spain... Thank you SO much. Thats the answer Ive been looking for on two boards for a week now...And you were realistic but upbeat which I also appreciate. GREAT suggestion about the balcony. If they ever get something done about the smell, we might be able to use it loool... Also, I like to grill so I may be able to get away with sticking a barbecue out there...Ok, thanks for telling me about the Malls. Of the ones you mentioned, which one is the most reasonably priced??? I had assumed that Dragon Mall would be outrageously expensive because its the only one in the area... am I mistaken? Another thing, I'm totally obsessed with ethnic food and I was browsing the menus of Dubai late night... I'm so sick of Lebanese food I'm actually losing weight...The choices are really appealing, but they all referred to a "province" that they delivered to. What province is International City in?

Your the man! Thanks for all your help!

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

Anna Dubaya · Joined: 21 Dec 2006 Posts: 23

I agree with Mishmumkin, it implies a lot of unwanted attention because you are a woman. It does not matter age, size... It is not so much danger but rather a permanent sense of discomfort, and more of a culture shock than other parts of Dubai with mostly Western expats.
Dragon Mart is not a particularly expensive mall but it is mostly the center for all Chinese imports, from hairpins to washing machines, but no food per se. It is the kind of place you go to when you need to furnish your apartment or for cheap Xmas presents but not every weekend.
I am not sure who your employer is, but IC is low-income housing.

orangepeel1 · Joined: 23 May 2008 Posts: 36

Well I feel kind of bad you guys! When I decided to move to Dubai, the ghetto wasn't what I had in mind. Thanks for preparing me for the worst because I wasn't expecting it. I guess I will have to have a chat with my boss on Monday. I think asking her to find me new housing based on what I've heard will make me sound like a hoity toity and difficult employee. We have already had a fair deal of negotiations concerning other parts of my contract and I take the blame for not bringing this up sooner. I'm totally sure that she will say no to moving me, as I know the accomodations are being readied for me presently. I guess it would be best to request one of the clusters that Mr. Scar recommended, ask for a balcony, have my door double-bolted, and start up a car pool with my neighbors (if any of them are decent!).

I will let you guys know how it goes...
Orangepeel1

tmac-100 · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 137

mishmumkin · Joined: 01 Sep 2007 Posts: 929

tmac-100 · Joined: 23 Nov 2006 Posts: 137

I thought I was discussing soldiers in the last para I wrote. I also discussed "civilian" legal use of firearms (as in hunting), but that was in earlier paras..

I repeat that I don't teach ESL, so I guess others have more "expertise" in the language Wink

.

veiledsentiments · Joined: 20 Feb 2003 Posts: 17644 Location: USA

And the rest of us have no idea why you are even bringing up guns or soldiers or the laws of Canada??

Rub Ruchi also seemed to have missed the topic of the thread too and for some reason threw off something about eating dogs in Taiwan and people with gun racks in their pick-ups in Texas... two common facts that also have nothing whatsoever to do with the topic of this thread which is

Living in International City in Dubai...

so tmac-100... what do you know about this neighborhood and its sewage problems to help our original poster?

VS