My feed
Premium

Please
or
to access all these features

Join the discussion and meet other Mumsnetters on our free online chat forum.

Chat

ME Expat moved back to Dorset.

5 replies

Linda13 · 31/12/2012 13:50

Hi all.
Dubai expat mum now living in Bournemouth looking to meet up with any Dorset expats for a coffee.
Look fwd to hearing from you.

OP posts:
Report
escape · 31/12/2012 13:52

Just saying Hi Linda - not Dorset, but lived in DXB for 3 years, still have a house and a business there x

Report
RAKpalm · 01/01/2013 00:50

Hi Linda

Happy New Year and hope you will have a fab year 2013. I have two homes. One in Ras Al Khaimah and one in Bournemouth. My husband and eldest son live in Bournemouth and I frequently visit. Would love to meet up with you whenever I come over. Next visit should be in February (10 days), April (18 days), May (8 days), July/August (2 months).

I have so far not been brave enough to return and join my husband. My kids and I love it here too much. Also, I had a mortgage until a few days ago. Finally managed to sell our house after 2 years of trying, so maybe our days will be counted here. All depending on my job circumstances.

My eldest son stayed in the UK in summer 2012 to start his GCSE's. I wanted to avoid taking the risk of having to move him in the middle of his GCSE's or GCE's in case I was to loose my job, war escalating in the Middle East or simply no longer being welcome in the UAE. We moved to Dubai in 2003 and were hoping to stay for good but little did we think that circumstances could change. So, now just going with the flow and hoping for the best.

One thing about moving back to the UK that I would find hard (apart from freezing all my bits off and having to heat the house 24/7) is not able to talk to someone about expat life in the UAE. So, when I saw your message on expatwoman, I joined mumsnet to be able to connect with you. No matter how different we both can be, I am sure that our past experiences from living in the UAE, will give us a great connection.

Two of my kids were born in Poole and one in Dubai. They went to Homefield school (private). When we moved to Dubai, they went to Horizon, Wellington, GEMS World Academy and then RAKESS. Finding school places in the UK for my eldest son was a nightmare experience with all good schools being oversubscribed and our catchment area (Talbot Village) having one of the worst schools allocated. Thankfully, the school we were able to pick in the end is working out to be excellent (Bourne Academy). Cross fingers, it will continue to be a success.

It would be great to hear from you. How old are your kids and which school did they get into (that's if they are of school age)?

I'm excited at the prospect of getting to know someone who moved from Dubai to Bournemouth. :)

All the best!

Report
DorsetKnobwithJingleBellsOn · 01/01/2013 01:14

how about just meeting anyone who lives here?

Report
RAKpalm · 01/01/2013 02:19

It's always nice to meet someone new but I guess some people who move back home from overseas would like to find comfort by talking about their past experiences. Many have their families and existing friends to keep busy with but being able to have a conversation about common ground from the past, can make settling back home just a tad easier.

I know of some ex-expats who were looked upon unfavourably when sharing anything about their lives overseas. It isn't easy for everyone to relate to the kind of experiences an expat had had and more often than not, are not in the slightest interested to listen. Having a conversation, like in my case about the UAE, would not be so easy with someone who had never lived there.

Report
Linda13 · 01/01/2013 15:09

Hi RakPalm..
Great to hear from you and would love to meet up in Feb. my husband is still working in Dxb and comes back every 3rd weekend... We have been back a year now and my son goes to Dumpton prep in Wimborne, he is feeling quite settled but I am not there yet....
We are living in Southbourne and kept our apartment in Dxb so are currently there for NY..
Very keen to meet up, let's book a date when your back...
Thanks for getting in touch. Lin

OP posts:
Report
Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.