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anaxiforminges
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 136
Location: UAE
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 Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 6:20 pm Post subject: The Electric Coffee Appliances Test |
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Yes folks, that is a poor attempt at punning on Tom Wolfe's classic...
Nevertheless, now that I have your attention, I do want to talk about 3 things in the title of the thread.
Since I have a generous shipping allowance, I will be shipping many of my effects, including appliances, stereo, and other items not included in the furnished housing.
1) So, given the 220V in the UAE is it easy to find affordable voltage converters and plug adapters?
2) I'm a coffee fiend and a purist to boot. Is it possible to find unground coffee beans in standard grocery stores, or better yet, organic beans?
3) Is it common to see electric surges (strong enough to "fry" electronic equipment?)
Shokran!  |
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Afra
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 389
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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Yes to 1 and 2 and no to 3 in Dubai.
There is a specialist organic shop in Dubai and many supermarkets sell organic products including organic coffee. |
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anaxiforminges
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 136
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Afra wrote: |
Yes to 1 and 2 and no to 3 in Dubai.
There is a specialist organic shop in Dubai and many supermarkets sell organic products including organic coffee. |
Excellent! I don't know how I'd live without my morning fix of organic java. |
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Afra
Joined: 02 Feb 2003
Posts: 389
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:05 pm Post subject: |
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| Remember to take some to work; most colleges sell the most appalling brew! |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Jul 23, 2009 8:38 pm Post subject: |
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Not all appliances function well on a converter. I know you have a generous allowance, unlike us poor TEFLers...  but if it is based on weight, I would take books before most small appliances. Just sayin'
A surge can happen anywhere and I still ran most things like electronics using a grounded strip just in case. Surge protector stuff is readily available. Don't take a TV... US system won't work there. Same with DVD players. (though most laptops are all system and will play all DVD systems.)
VS |
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anaxiforminges
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 136
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:25 am Post subject: |
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| veiledsentiments wrote: |
| Not all appliances function well on a converter. I know you have a generous allowance, unlike us poor TEFLers... but if it is based on weight, I would take books before most small appliances. Just sayin' |
I'm but a low-ranking midget in the academic totem pole...
Shipping company says I can pack up to 50 2-cu-ft boxes, which means a whole lotta books with space to spare. Definitely plan on plugging almost everything to a circuit breaker powerbar. |
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15yearsinQ8
Joined: 17 Oct 2006
Posts: 462
Location: kuwait
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:26 pm Post subject: |
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you can have coffee beans mailed to you (aramax.com or other spelling) get a store front po box/forwarding address while you're in the states or aramax will do it
also starbucks and all the other chains are here - they'll probably have organic
converters are now the size of a cola can and cost about 45usd - my son got one so he could recharge by psp in the usa - no more big heavy box types - i do believe- go to an electronics store in the usa or gulf or they'll have them at airport dutyfree shops |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject: |
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| anaxiforminges wrote: |
I'm but a low-ranking midget in the academic totem pole...
Shipping company says I can pack up to 50 2-cu-ft boxes, which means a whole lotta books with space to spare. Definitely plan on plugging almost everything to a circuit breaker powerbar. |
WOW!! I only had two shipping allowances (out of 5 employers)... the first was for 100 kgs (which meant about 5 boxes)... and the other would reimburse me to 2 excess suitcases on my flight.
With 50 2cuft boxes... I could ship all my worldly possessions and probably have boxes left over... and why would I want to?  All those moves through the years made me a minimalist. (of course... you likely have spouse and kids to pack for too)
VS |
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anaxiforminges
Joined: 15 Apr 2009
Posts: 136
Location: UAE
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| Posted: Fri Jul 24, 2009 3:14 pm Post subject: |
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VS, the shipping allowance, to be specific, is 200kg by air freight or the equivalent by ocean freight. The 50 2cu ft boxes is by ocean, which takes about 5-7 wks. to arrive. The advantage of "snail" shipping is that it's based on volume, not weight.
So, the equivalent by ocean freight is 4 cu meters. It didn't sound like a lot until I asked the company to explain the equivalent to me in number of boxes. Then my wife and I were pleasantly stunned.
We're giving away most of our furniture to charity and friends. Minimalism, here we go! 
Last edited by anaxiforminges on Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:57 am; edited 1 time in total |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sat Jul 25, 2009 1:12 am Post subject: |
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Minimalism will set you free!! 
VS |
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