Dubairies of an EXPAT
Taking on the Golden City One Sand Dune At A Time
Home of the three Ds: dubai, drinks and disasters
scottish by birth. idiot by choice. join me as we laugh, cry and blush our way through life.
Scottish Takeover
While I may have been less than ecstatic about the middle of the night airport run alarm call robbing me of three hours of my beauty sleep, as I pulled up to DXB I realised I didn’t care. I was going to be ugly and tired for the foreseeable, but who really gave a fuck when it was all the price you had to pay to welcome your family to the golden city of Dubai!
Me Day
What do you get when you put twenty seven candles on a cake? You guessed it – my fucking age.
That’s right, it was officially me day (although I like to think that every day of the week that ends with a ‘Y’ is me day…) And it was also, officially, my first ever birthday in Dubai and my first ever birthday away from home. Cue sad music.
Single Pringle...But Am I Ready to Mingle?
Having officially checked out of the Heartbreak Hotel, it seemed my next destination was to the crisp aisle in Spinneys to pop the lid off my new life as a single pringle.
Heartbreak Hotel
It was official. I had checked in to the Heartbreak Hotel – with my over-puffed eyes and my tub of ice cream signifying that I was definitely in the right place. Despite my fun in the holiday sun having provided some temporary relief, it appeared that there was still more healing to be done.
The Best Way to get Over Heartbreak? A Giza and Amman
With Mr. Bluff having been considerate enough to end things with me before the October break, it was time to pick myself up and complete another Dubai right of passage – catching flights instead of catching feelings.
Mr. Bluff
Like poker, life is full of unexpected surprises. A constant game of trying to work out who you can and who you can’t trust. An idea that is especially relevant in Dubai and, more specifically, Mr. Bluff.
When life Gives You Lemons
With my love life turning out amazing, it was great to know that my work life was turning out just as equally as amazing after my ten days of isolation. Couldn’t be better actually.
Isolafun
After having managed to avoid Rona for a year and a half, she had finally managed to claim me as her next victim. However, while the thought of having to isolate for ten days had
previously sent me into a cold sweat, I was, in fact, very much looking forward to being confined to my apartment.
The Big C
Yip, it was officially Covid season as the perfect storm of the last of the volcanic summer heat, combined with the return of thousands of teachers and pupils, meaning that the big cun- sorry, I mean Covid – was making as terrifying a comeback as a one night stand that asks you out on a date…
Fresh Meat
The start of a new school year. An exciting time for teachers in Dubai, with a new school year bringing new school meat. And meat is definitely the best word to describe these new, fresh faced (most of them NQTs’) educators.
Sailing in Deep water
Relationships.
They either sink or float. They either take you on the smoothest of journeys; weathering even the roughest of storms or they crash into a fuck off giant iceberg. The question was: which path would mine and Mr. Buff’s take?
Reunion
I was back in the pissing down rain of Glasgow! But would it be the reunion I had hoped for, or had things changed?
Holiday
Never was there a more relatable lyric in music history than when Madonna stated: ‘We all need a holiday.’ And, surprisingly, this phrase is just as relevant when you live in Dubai. But where would my summer plans take me?
Summer Lovin'
Yip, it was the most sacred time of the year for
any school teacher – Summer. And Summer lovin’ certainly had me a blast as I ran, sprinted and near enough stampeded over children to freedom; something us Scots are always crying out for.
The Guide to survive
Somehow, I had managed to make it to the end of my first ever term in Dubai. How had I made it, I hear you ask? Large periods of binge drinking seemed to be a key factor for my survival. However, there were other – sober – factors that had also helped me to make it out of the private school battleground.
Ogre the Moon
With things between me and Mr. Buff only seeming to go from strength to strength, there was no question about the fact that I was ready to get hurt again – yes, Michael Scott from the US Office is my dating hero.
Falling Eid Over Heels with Dubai
They say one of the biggest changes you have to overcome when moving to a new country is culture shock. And Dubai’s culture is definitely very different from Scotland, but I’m sure I can get my eid around it.
Now Shut Up and Drive
With a public transport system that is, well, lacking, the only way to really get around is by car. But how do you even get a car in Dubai? And more importantly, would I survive on its mean, unforgiving roads?
You Had Me At First Swipe
After only just joining the dating scene, was my time perusing the pic ‘n’ mix sweet section about to come to an abrupt end?
Netball Newbie
With me finally beginning to get on top of things with work, I was ready to return back to my sporting love: netball. But, was netball ready for me?
The Three D's: Dates, Drinks and Dolphins
With my newly found friendships travelling full steam ahead, I felt it was now the appropriate time to introduce myself into the next aspect of the Dubai lifestyle for any single person: dating.
brunch
What is this phenomenon? Is it breakfast, or is it lunch? Well, in Dubai, it’s one of the most important meals of the day…
She Better Work!
With the pupils back from the Spring break, moving country and making friends was the least of my problems…time to work! But, much like Shrek when he meets Princess Fiona’s family, will I be able to meet the standards of private school education?
She Can Sit With Us
Surviving customs…Check. Meeting my new boss…Check. Settling into my new apartment…Semi-check. Friends…Cue my next objective.
There's No Place Like...Dubai!
Life packed and plane boarded. Finally, I was landing in the golden sand roads of Dubai. However, just how different would this city be from my rain battered home of Scotland? Read more to find out my first impressions of the sandy city.
Goodbye, See You Later and Hello.
Decision made. Dubai move impending, but how does anyone say goodbye to their nearest and dearest? Read to find out how tears, onions and the accordion created the perfect ending to my time in bonny Scotland.
The Plunge.
Change. It can be terrifying. But it can also be liberating. How can we decide which changes are good for us and which are bad? It’s a dilemma we have all faced. But this change…my change…would kickstart the rest of my life.
Sailing in Deep water
Relationships.
They either sink or float. They either take you on the smoothest of journeys; weathering even the roughest of storms or they crash into a fuck off giant iceberg. The question was: which path would mine and Mr. Buff’s take?
Sailing in Deep water
Relationships.
They either sink or float. They either take you on the smoothest of journeys; weathering even the roughest of storms or they crash into a fuck off giant iceberg. The question was: which path would mine and Mr. Buff’s take?