It's the Ex-Pat way...

It's totally safe to go to a stranger's house with your baby. Right? Only in another country would you go to a stranger's house, with your infant baby, to meet someone for the first time because you share a common interest: friendship. 

It's the ex-pat way.

I've been bitching and moaning about not having any mommy friends and now that we are officially here for awhile, it was time I did something about it. I had been trying to get in touch with the leader of a mom and baby group here in my neighborhood for quite some time. Finally someone reached out to me last week and luckily there was a group play date scheduled the following day and I was added to their Facebook Group. 

So I peeled out of my driveway last Monday morning headed for a stranger's house to socialize with 8 complete strangers and their babies. Everyone was so nice and welcoming, it was such a relief. There were even a few babies close to Riya's age, but it seemed like I was the only first time mom. Well, that's fine with me, now I had plenty of people's brains to pick! 

Picture from the first group play date. Riya is on the far left:) 

There was only one other person that shared my American accent and she was kind enough to tell me  there was an American Moms Facebook Group and that they were meeting for coffee later that week. Sign me up! 

That coffee was also a success. Sometimes it's nice to hear the same accent when you live in a different country. It's nice to chat with someone that has a shared loved for Target (without having to explain what that is). It's nice to exchange tips and learn about new places and activities available in Dubai within the first hour. 

It's the ex-pat way.  

I'm new to this mom gig and these Facebook groups have been beyond helpful for anything and everything. This week I've already had two one-on-one play dates and there's a group coffee tomorrow. I'd say things are definitely looking up! 

So I take back all the negative things I said about the American ex-pats and ex-pats here in general. Clearly, I met the wrong group of women. I was meant to be in the mom group, where everyone is nice and has no energy for drama because let's face it, we are all way too damn tired.