Summer in Holland, Spain and Scotland

From July 18 until August 31st we escaped the hot Dubai summer and went to Holland (with two short trips to Spain and Aberdeen included).  Thijs joined us for our trip to Spain and spent two weekends in Holland before and after his trip to Houston.


It was nice to have some fresh air again.  The girls loved playing outside in the 'speeltuin' close to opa and oma's house.  For the first time in about 30 years they had kids ringing the doorbell to ask if Famke and Floortje could come and play outside.


Spain was great.  We had a really nice time with Nils, Saskia, Iris and Roos.  The girls got along so well, as did the adults :)  The speedboat gave an extra dimension to the stay as we were able to go to all the little bays close by and have lovely relaxed spanish lunches.


The girls and I also took a trip to ABerdeen (or actually Turriff).  It was nice to be back there again, it feels a bit like home to me.  Luckily it also rained on the Friday because it just wouldn't have been the same without.  We went to the movies, picked raspberries in the forest and visited Fyvie Castle.  Below some pictures of our holidays.

Dubai Timeline

You know you're a Dubai expat when...

... you can make your way around five different malls without a map.

...you have friends from 10 different countries.

... you can tell as soon as there’s a sand storm a’comin’.

... the taxi driver knows where you’re going.

... letters in local newspapers no longer seem like the rantings of the insane.

... you’ve stopped complaining about people tailgating you in the fast lane, and started complaining about people driving too slowly in the fast lane.

... you can recite the recorded Arabic welcome message from the RTA taxi number, word for word, and with a flawless accent.

... you say the summer ‘isn’t that hot.’

... you look round the lobby of a five-star hotel and yawn.

... you get excited and dance around whenever it rains.

... you don’t know how to clean your own apartment.

... you know that ladies’ nights are actually all full of blokes.

... you find it a real challenge to paint your own nails.

... you’ve forgotten how to fill up your car with petrol.

... you don’t know when you last walked more than 100 metres in one go.

 ... you consider anything below 30° to be ‘cardigan weather’.

... you think Ski Dubai is a perfectly normal concept.

... you’ve heard the same Dubai urban myths from 10 different people.

And you know someone’s definitely not a Dubai resident when…

1... they’re petrified of Sheikh Zayed Road.

2... they don’t know what baba ganoush/tabouleh/fatoush is.

3... they’re shocked at the idea of getting a cab from one side of the road over to the other.

4... they get their Burj’s confused (Al Arab and Dubai, that is).

5... they’ve been on the Big Bus Tour – and know more about Dubai than actual expats. 

Hot in Dubai!

Famke 8!

And that's needs to be celebrated!  Presents and treats at school on her birthday and a party after school on Thursday. Last summer Famke went to an african drumming summer camp and enjoyed it very much.  Therefore we decided to invite the drummers over to celebrate with us and Famke's friends.  Great fun!

Famke's cake and the 'cupcake flowers' for school

How many drums can you get in a KIA? Must be a world record!

Drumming away!

Famke's friends created an artwork for her, below the 'before' and 'after' pictures.

B Diploma!

Famke heeft haar B Diploma!  Dat kan in Dubai omdat er een nederlandse zwemjuf is die het examen kan afnemen.

Ik heb er mijn eerste YouTube filmpje van gemaakt:

Afzwemmen B Diploma

Floortje's Class

Even though the year is nearly finished, here a picture of Floortje's Foundation 1 'Cheetah' Class.  Only 3 more weeks of school to go... Then 11 weeks of holiday!