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Expat Interview With Jolandi - South African in UAE
| Published: | 27 Jun at 9 AM |
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Filed: Interviews,United Arab Emirates
Jolandi Steven finds it hard to stay in one place for too long, and relocating with just a suitcase, an adventure she cannot resist. As a result she has lived in Germany, Taiwan, Korea, Kenya and Zambia. She finds living in another culture both challenging and enriching, and a way in which to broaden her understanding of life that mere travel could never accomplish. With her husband, she is discovering a United Arab Emirates that is steeped in beauty, history and diversity. The desert landscapes have captured her heart, and curiosity serves as a GPS to guide her through life in this tiny corner of the Middle East where rapid economic growth has changed the physical and cultural landscape forever. Jolandi's expat blog is called Dreaming in Arabic Jolandi's expat blog is called Dreaming in Arabic (see listing here)
Meet Jolandi - South African Expat in UAE
Where are you originally from?
South Africa
In which country and city are you living now?
In Al Ain, also referred to as the Oasis City, in the United Arab Emirates
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
My husband has been in the UAE almost 3 years, and I have been here almost 2. We enjoy it here and would like to stay for at least another 7 years if at all possible.
Why did you move and what do you do?
My husband received a good job offer and I joined him. I write educational material for a small publishing company in South Africa and can work from anywhere, and as I am keen to explore different cultures and places, I did not hesitate for a moment to relocate.
A date palm farmHow did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
It was in many ways much easier for me to make the transition as my husband was already settled before I arrived. As with moving to a new place, even in one's own country, it took a while to get my bearings, but as English is the language most people communicate in, it helped a lot as I did not have to battle with a new language as well.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
There are many opportunities to meet new people and to make friends. My husband and I are not very social, and prefer a quiet life, but we often meet and interact with expats. We have a couple of very good expat friends, but as we do not stay for very long in one place, making good friends can be a challenge. The community in general is a transient one, and people often do not stay for very long. We first lived in Ras-al-Khaimah before moving to Al Ain a year ago, and because of the nature of my husband's job will have to move around the UAE regularly. I am also blessed with a dear Emirati friend that is like a sister to me. It is not easy to make friends with the locals, as they are very reserved. They are also in the minority, unlike most other countries.
Swimming in the Arabian Sea at sunsetWhat are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
If you enjoy the outdoors, joining "Al Ain Weekends" is a great way to see the area and meet new people, as they have regular excursions and hikes. A stroll in one of the many oases that dot Al Ain or camping in the desert are great ways to experience the outdoors. As the country is not very big, a weekend away to visit and experience a different part of it, is easy to accomplish. As the summer months are extremely hot, it limits outdoor activities, but the excellent weather during the winter months make up for it.
What do you enjoy most about living here?
The fact that it is such a safe place to live in.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
One has to take many things into consideration, but we find that we can have a much better quality of life here, as we can do so much more with the money we earn here compared to what we could do with it back home. Housing is expensive, but we get a housing allowance and petrol, of course, is really cheap.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
One often cannot always find the same products on a regular basis, so I have learned to stock up on those things I really like when I see them. It really is only a minor irritation and can hardly be considered a negative though.
Desert coloursIf you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
Do not allow the value system you grew up with cloud your experiences here. Be open-minded, and you will be surprised in the most wonderful ways.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
The six months my husband and I spent apart just after I arrived in the UAE. We lived in Ras-al-Khaimah at the time, but as he had to start working on a new project in Al Ain, I only saw him over weekends.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I think I will struggle with adapting to a life where violent crime is a daily occurence. Here we never think twice about personal safety.
There are many opportunities to get up close and personal with camelsWhat are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?
Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
I started blogging simply to keep my friends and family up to date with what we were doing, and as a way to keep a journal of our life here. I am finding that I learn to appreciate the culture and history of the country much more by writing about it. My blog documents my impressions, experiences and insights of the culture and the country, through simply living life and exploring our immediate environment.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
Simply leave a comment on my blog.
Jolandi is a South African expat living in United Arab Emirates. Blog description: Follow Jolandi Steven's adventures in the UAE as she records the surprising, memorable, unusual, as well as the mundane life has to offer in the desert.
Meet Jolandi - South African Expat in UAE
Here's the interview with Jolandi...
Where are you originally from?
South Africa
In which country and city are you living now?
In Al Ain, also referred to as the Oasis City, in the United Arab Emirates
How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
My husband has been in the UAE almost 3 years, and I have been here almost 2. We enjoy it here and would like to stay for at least another 7 years if at all possible.
Why did you move and what do you do?
My husband received a good job offer and I joined him. I write educational material for a small publishing company in South Africa and can work from anywhere, and as I am keen to explore different cultures and places, I did not hesitate for a moment to relocate.
A date palm farm
It was in many ways much easier for me to make the transition as my husband was already settled before I arrived. As with moving to a new place, even in one's own country, it took a while to get my bearings, but as English is the language most people communicate in, it helped a lot as I did not have to battle with a new language as well.
Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
There are many opportunities to meet new people and to make friends. My husband and I are not very social, and prefer a quiet life, but we often meet and interact with expats. We have a couple of very good expat friends, but as we do not stay for very long in one place, making good friends can be a challenge. The community in general is a transient one, and people often do not stay for very long. We first lived in Ras-al-Khaimah before moving to Al Ain a year ago, and because of the nature of my husband's job will have to move around the UAE regularly. I am also blessed with a dear Emirati friend that is like a sister to me. It is not easy to make friends with the locals, as they are very reserved. They are also in the minority, unlike most other countries.
Swimming in the Arabian Sea at sunset
If you enjoy the outdoors, joining "Al Ain Weekends" is a great way to see the area and meet new people, as they have regular excursions and hikes. A stroll in one of the many oases that dot Al Ain or camping in the desert are great ways to experience the outdoors. As the country is not very big, a weekend away to visit and experience a different part of it, is easy to accomplish. As the summer months are extremely hot, it limits outdoor activities, but the excellent weather during the winter months make up for it.
What do you enjoy most about living here?
The fact that it is such a safe place to live in.
How does the cost of living compare to home?
One has to take many things into consideration, but we find that we can have a much better quality of life here, as we can do so much more with the money we earn here compared to what we could do with it back home. Housing is expensive, but we get a housing allowance and petrol, of course, is really cheap.
What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
One often cannot always find the same products on a regular basis, so I have learned to stock up on those things I really like when I see them. It really is only a minor irritation and can hardly be considered a negative though.
Desert colours
Do not allow the value system you grew up with cloud your experiences here. Be open-minded, and you will be surprised in the most wonderful ways.
What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
The six months my husband and I spent apart just after I arrived in the UAE. We lived in Ras-al-Khaimah at the time, but as he had to start working on a new project in Al Ain, I only saw him over weekends.
When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
I think I will struggle with adapting to a life where violent crime is a daily occurence. Here we never think twice about personal safety.
There are many opportunities to get up close and personal with camels
- Do not hesitate to try new things.
- Be open-minded when meeting people. The UAE is extremely cosmopolitan, and coming in close contact with different cultures is very enriching.
- Learn more about the history and culture of the country and region.
- Always remember that you are a guest here, especially when feeling frustrated when things do not happen the way you are used to.
- Show respect towards the locals and their culture through the way you dress and behave, as it is an Islamic country that holds different values from what you may perhaps be used to.
Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
I started blogging simply to keep my friends and family up to date with what we were doing, and as a way to keep a journal of our life here. I am finding that I learn to appreciate the culture and history of the country much more by writing about it. My blog documents my impressions, experiences and insights of the culture and the country, through simply living life and exploring our immediate environment.
How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
Simply leave a comment on my blog.
About the author
Jolandi is a South African expat living in United Arab Emirates. Blog description: Follow Jolandi Steven's adventures in the UAE as she records the surprising, memorable, unusual, as well as the mundane life has to offer in the desert.
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