I have been 'friends' with Angelique Vlieg online for quite some time now. Owner of Shopaholic, an online magazine about Kids Fashion. I don't really know her, except that I saw her a few times in real life at an event. Nice, smooth, beautiful girl! She has been living in Dubai with half of her family for a while and all those fantastic photos that she spread on social media drive me crazy. Intrigued by the fact that 'someone' has exchanged his or her possessions here in the Netherlands to live in Dubai, I asked her if she would like to tell me about this adventure. And she did…
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“Say honey:what do you think of Dubai?”
That's how it started. It was actually always there. My husband has worked in Germany for 20 years and for a long time in Switzerland. After working in the Netherlands for two years, I already felt it coming on all sides. My husband was “getting bored”. It was obvious that he missed life abroad and that his passion was simply bigger than the Netherlands. And such an opportunity only comes once. So we went… to Dubai. To live with half of our family in Dubai. That was a bit less…..
We have four kids. Two teenagers and two little ones aged 7 and 5. The teenagers were not amused:to say the least. The eldest of 21 is still studying and I understand very well that he did not want to come. My 18 year old daughter was a different story. I had, and still have, a lot of trouble with that. It feels unnatural anyway. Your children should leave the nest and not the other way around. Fortunately, she has a very good shelter and it is fine. But still… it gnaws. And I miss them. Fortunately, they come this way on all holidays.
Read also: moving with children, from plan to reality
Of course the two little ones had nothing to say, they just go along. And let's be honest, they could do worse. Dubai is so child-friendly that my children have been walking around with a big smile on their face from day one. After two weeks of “vacation” in Dubai, they went to school. Then that big smile disappeared for a while. Because, gosh, it's difficult to communicate if you don't speak English. With a lump in my throat I took them away and they were so happy when they saw me again when I picked them up. My heart broke. Although they looked really cute in their school uniform. But really:it's true… children are so flexible. After about six weeks, I can actually say that they are also having a great time at school and that half English/Dutch sentences are already flying around our ears during their conversations with us.
Read also: Learn to speak English from an early age
My fifth child Shopaholic.nl, my online Kids Fashion &Lifestyle magazine, went along of course. Because I think a blog is the easiest “job” that you can just move with. Even abroad. Living in Dubai is therefore no problem, as long as I have internet, my macbook and my iPhone, then I am "zen" because after almost 3 years of Shopaholic I still am very happy with my work.
I don't do shopping alone. I wouldn't be able to do this without my "dream team" of 8 bloggers because we work with almost exclusively Dutch brands. All reviews, our best-read blogs, are shot and written in the Netherlands and will remain so. I edit and coordinate the website from the snow-white beach and the azure blue sea with a fresh fruit cocktail in my hand (just kidding, of course). And I do the administration and maintain contacts.
I also write columns for a glossy magazine from my own region. I can tell you:I am quite busy with that. Unfortunately, I miss all the kids fashion fairs in the Netherlands, Italy and France and all the fun events that bloggers are invited to and where we always have a nice chat. Too bad… I mainly follow everything via what's app and by reading other blogs. I do that on my iPhone on a beach bed under a palm tree. So yes… every disadvantage has its advantage, let's just say.
Just to remove any prejudice about Dubai:women are allowed to work here, drive a car, we don't have to wear veils and yes… we also drink wine. Although that is not allowed everywhere. Dubai is very western. Logical with 85% expats! In addition, Dubai is also extremely safe and clean and I feel it is a privilege to live here. Most expats live in Dubai in compounds. So do we. Think of it as a large neighborhood with playgrounds, sports fields, shopping centers, swimming pools, catering and a school. We also still cycle to and from school every day like real Dutch people, while most children are brought in large SUVs.
We are enjoying life here in Dubai to the fullest, because we don't know how long we will stay here. Just like the tourists, we view all the highlights, the best beach clubs, amusement parks, restaurants and malls. Only we don't have to do that in one or two weeks, because we have the time. We just live in Dubai! I still think it's a crazy idea, but Dubai really is our new "home". Although I can also look forward to our summer holiday to the Netherlands:eating stroopwafels, Zeeland boluses and stew endive for 8 weeks. But above all enjoy my two big children and my family and friends again. I can even look forward to a heavy downpour 😉 .
But until then I'm just enjoying the sun here in Dubai!
Love, Angelique
Follow her adventure on Instagram:Mydutchdubai
