Job Discussion Forums

[lyndalorient]

Hi Every one.

I have asked alot of people and done a web search on this. Most of the people when talking about dress code refer to Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

However I am going to Al Ain which I understand to be much more conservative.

I talked with a girl similar to my self in appearance (blonde 22 petite) She said anything can go really for westerners (provided its not mini skirts or low cut tops)

There is another lady in Al Ain now and she suggest covering up all the time ie high collars, covered to the wrist and showing no leg. She says people keep staring and she feels uncomfortable. She says all the women wear the veil and she feels so embarressed and exposed when wearing normal clothes.

Is it really nessecary to have to cover up like that?. I think its possible this lady is home sick and maybe over reacting but i d still like to be warned in advance what its like

As when I visted Tunisia (admitidly much more liberal) I covered my shoulders and wore floor length skirts. To my huge surprise this was not at all nessecary as even Tunisian girls were going around in Bikinis and normal summer clothes. If anything Tunisians were wondering why my dress sense was so conservative around them.

I am packing now and trying to figure out what is best.

Can I ask the ladies on the forum to tell me if this would be ok considering al Ain is a bit more conservative than Dubai?

For school I have

-Black/beige/brown trousers
-Black white trousers (is acceptable to show the ankle whilst teaching?)
-Blouses to elbows
- long skirts
I am a bit stuck on what tops to wear in a classroom setting as I have to take the heat into account. My plan is to wear normal western tops but covered by cardigans. Is that acceptable as long as its to the elbow and doesnt reveal too much cleavage?

For socialising and out side of school I have

-knee length skirts
-Capri pants
-Dress (sleeveless but if I cover my shoulders its ok isn t it?


Also for bed time (again ladies would know this)

Should I bring normal pyjamas or very light? As I know air conditioning can be so strong.

Also Is air conditioning as strong as in the US. In florida I would be boiling one minute than frozen once I went into a shop. Is it like that in the UAE?

Also with regards jackets. What would you recommend? Normal black knee length, waist length? Or are jackets even needed in the heat. In any case I have to bring 1 jacket as I will be frozen in Dublin airport as we our having our coldest summer ever.

With regards fashion (very important) My friend in al ain told me there are great clothes so cheap and i shouldn t buy anything in Dublin as its such a ripp off there. But would the clothes be western in style?

Are colours like red and pink ok in work setting? again I heard wearing red is like a come-on signal.

Finally with shoes. Is it ok to show the toes? Its not considered disrespectful in more conservative towns. As I heard they assosiate flip flops with lower class. maybe its not true. In any case I d really appreciate some advice for living in a more conservative town.

Thanks in advance

[veiledsentiments]

Lynda,

I think that I would disagree with your friend that anything goes in Al Ain. It is a more conservative town and all the local women will be swathed in black other than their hands and their feet. I tend to think like the other woman, although I didn't go quite as far as she did. I kept my sleeves to the elbows and only wore long sleeves during Ramadhan (which is coming very soon by the way). But, the continuous staring of the men does bother some people more than others.

You can't compare it to North Africa at all... totally different culture and local dress code. When I was traveling around Morocco one summer, I was dressed much more conservatively than the women in Rabat or Casa.

Your work dress list sounds fine. For me the key to tops was sleeve length and not form fitting. Personally I lived in cotton. As to the casual dress list, it depends on where you are going and who will be there. Too much skin shown on the streets will bring unwanted attention.

You will control your AC in your flat, but remember that it can get chilly at night during the winter. So I would bring sleepware for all temps. And yes, everywhere tends to set their AC on total freeze!! I normally carried a light sweater... good for chilly buildings and to cover up in case of unwanted attention. You will probably only need light jackets.

I always wore whatever color I liked. As to the clothes shopping, I hear that it has improved, but I never saw anything I liked. I always took cotton fabric and used the cheap tailors. I wore sandals 365 days a year... flip flops are for the beach (and servants) ... and birkenstocks are for hiking...

Just my take...

VS

[stoth1972]

You will not likely be able to control the AC in your classroom, and it will FREEZE you out. Be sure to take a cardigan to school with you. Choueifat's big thing is that when you reach your arm up to write on the chalkboard(not whiteboard!) that your back is not exposed. They can be funny (and this varies from school to school) about 'cropped' trousers. Capris are out of the question, but even some of the school admins complain about the 'just above the ankle' look. No sandals that separate toes. Because the AC is so chilly you may want to choose your tops carefully (ahem). Sounds mad, but a male observer employed at the school told one of my colleagues after observing her that he could see her nipples through her shirt. Consider that you'll be leaning over desks all day, too, when working w/ the kids. There's a good chance you'll teach 8 hours of some other subject besides KG1 (i.e. older kids who need extra English). Wearing western tops that aren't too clingy or low cut w/ a cardigan should be fine.

Like VS, I think I wore sandals constantly. I think the woman you corresponded with may have been a bit overly sensitive. Sometimes it takes a while to get used to the culture, and yes, certain people stare more than others. It really isn't about your hair or your neck, but perhaps because you look unique to them.

Take some items for cold weather-you may want to travel to other countries during the holidays. Good luck, Lynda!! Report back with details on this board!

[veiledsentiments]

The majority of my blouses were made by my various tailors... two pockets in the front.

VS

[lyndalorient]