July 20 2006
-Where were you born?
Beirut, Lebanon
-Are you living alone or with your family?
I live with my husband.
-In which country and city are you living now?
Dubai, UAE
-How long have you been living in Dubai?
Five years
-What is your age?
I am 30 years old.
-When did you come up with the idea of living in Dubai?
Seven years ago, when I wanted to travel. I love adventures and exploring new countries.
-Was it hard to get a visa or a working permit?
Always!
-How do you make your living in Dubai? Do you have any type of income generated?
I work in a medical centre. It took me a few months to find this job through the newspaper ads.
-Do you speak Arabic and do you think it's important to speak the local language?
I do speak the local language, but in Dubai it is not necessary as 30% of the population speaks the Arabic (local) language and the rest speak English,
which is the main one.
-Do you miss home and family sometimes?
I miss home and my family a lot, but we try to stay in touch and see each other every two years. I keep myself busy through my job and my activities. I love the ocean and all kinds of sports like cycling, sailing…
-Do you have other plans for the future?
Yes, I would like to travel to another country again.
-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?
We are renting. Rents differ depending on the area, but usually you can say that people can rent a decent house with two bedrooms for 100,000dhs per year.
-What is the cost of living in Dubai?
It is a bit high compared to the rest of the world.
-What do you think about the locals?
They are very friendly. If you ask them for a cup of water they will invite you for dinner!
-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Dubai?
The positive aspect is that it is very cosmopolitan -- my husband works in a company which has 37 nationalities! Can you imagine the rich cultures, traditions…
The negative aspect (according to me) is the traffic: people are not very patient on the roads, they are a bit aggressive. But I guess it is
a city after all.
-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Dubai?
It is a great country, with lovely people and great weather -- it is always sunny, it rains less than a week per year! And people are from everywhere, so it's a real cultural salad!
-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Dubai?
my blog is : www.mirfieldlifeasweknowit.blogspot.com
my fave blogs are:
http://sessygoba.blogspot.com/
http://mandjadventures.blogspot.com/
http://www.wendyswanderings81.blogspot.com/
