Settling down in Dubai

Soon after my daughter’s fourth birthday, we decided it would be good for her to attend a pre-school. Many of our friends and colleagues recommended Dubai Infants’ School.

I talked to my daughter about our plans. I took her outside in the mornings so she could see our neighbor’s children leaving for school. She was happy when I told her there would be a playground with swings and slides and lots of storybooks because she loved reading and coloring.

We went to meet the head of Dubai Infants’ School. The staff was very professional and the school had good resources, though the school building was quite modest. I was very relieved when my daughter told me she liked everything about the school, especially her classroom.

On the first day as we drove to her school, I wondered if we had rushed in our decision. I felt much better after talking to other parents who were having second thoughts too! We wanted to stay a little longer at the school but were told this would only make it harder for the children.

At pickup time I wasn't the only parent to arrive early. The moment the doors opened we went in eagerly to find our children. My daughter was not in her classroom. She was sitting with a group of kids who didn’t have a happy first day at school! Everyone assured me this was normal, in a few days she would settle down. But in her case, the settling down didn’t happen for quite some time!

We now had a new routine. My little daughter would dress happily for school, take her backpack, sit in the car, but the moment we reached the Al Maktoum Bridge her expression changed. She knew her school was on the other side of the bridge. She didn’t say a word nor did she cry but she would give me a sad and reproachful look. I continued to pick her up from the office. In the mornings I had a hard time convincing my husband not to make a U-turn back to our house.

A parenting magazine I was reading suggested trying simple solutions for seemingly difficult problems. The next morning as we came to the Al Maktoum Bridge I told my daughter if she stayed in her classroom for the whole day instead of sitting in the “unhappy kids' corner” I would get her the giant chocolate bar she had been asking for. She couldn’t believe it. I can never forget that surprised and happy look on her face as she nodded and said she would stay in her classroom. And she kept her word!

At Dubai Infants' School: Waiting to pickup my daughter

From Dubai Infants’ School, my daughter moved to The English Speaking School which was a junior school in those days. Then on to St. Mary’s Catholic School where she stayed till she completed her “A Levels”. My son followed the same route.

Once both my children started school I had a lot of free time. In those days Dubai had many opportunities for women to work or start a business. There were private schools, daycare centers, medical clinics, boutiques opening all around the city and some became very successful. My priority however was my children and my home. I knew starting a business was a big commitment which I felt would have an impact on my children.

My children's School Reports from The English Speaking School

After completing my B.A. in Hyderabad I couldn’t decide whether to take a job or do further studies. I was with my father when by chance he met a friend of his, a Librarian at Osmania University. At his friend’s suggestion, I decided to take a degree course in Library Science which the university was offering for the first time. I feel this decision had a positive effect on my life.

Because of my Library Science degree, I got an opportunity to work at the American Studies Research Center in Hyderabad. This in turn helped me in getting a Librarian’s position at the British Council Library in Dubai. I worked at the British Council for over a year and gained experience in cataloging, ordering books, and helping young students in their research. I thoroughly enjoyed my job.

In 1974 when Rashid Hospital opened the administration was looking to hire a medical librarian. The Hospital Director came to know I was a qualified librarian and had worked at the British Council so he asked me to come for an interview and I was offered the job. Later, when there was a job opening for a Medical Record Officer, the administration proposed that I leave the library and take up the new position instead. I worked as a Medical Records Officer for the next sixteen years till it was time for us to leave Dubai.

Rashid Hospital has a special significance for me as my youngest daughter was born there.