Global Perspectives: A SLP's Journey Working Abroad #13 (Location:Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates)
Tammy is originally from South Africa and moved to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates to work as a SLP in a pediatric clinic. Continue reading to learn more about her experience working in the UAE. Thank you Tammy for sharing your experience!
What are your name, pronouns, and your job/professional title?
Tammy Lakey (she/her); Speech and language therapist
Tell me about yourself. Where did you initially move from (before you worked abroad) and what graduate school did you attend?
I am originally from South Africa and attended the University of Pretoria where I obtained my degree in Speech therapy.
Why did you become a SLP?
I always joke that speech therapy found me. I researched it as part of a project in high school after my mom actually showed it to me as an option and was intrigued. I wasn’t sure what I wanted to study after school so I applied to teaching and on a whim I applied to Speech therapy too. I got into both but I have always been fascinated with medical professions and so the choice was an easy one! I learnt about what it entailed as I went along my 4 year course to be honest. No regrets whatsoever.
What city and country do you currently work in, what setting do you work in (e.g., international school, clinic, university, research, etc.), and what age range do you currently work with? How long have you been working abroad?
I currently work in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates. I work with the paediatric population in a clinic set up. I have been here since March 2019.
What type of cases do you typically work with (e.g., AAC, multilingual, articulation, Autism, feeding, cognition/swallowing, etc.)?
I work with a wide variety of cases including Autism, stuttering, language and language learning difficulties, articulation, and apraxia.
Where did you apply for this SLP international job and how was the application process?
I met someone at a wedding who worked for the company I work for now. She encouraged me to apply to the company directly. At the time I only had one year of working experience and the UAE requires two years so I had to wait a bit after contacting them initially. I sent an email to recruitment and had an interview. We chose the UAE as my husband’s parents have lived here for years so it was an easy choice.
What did the process look like for you to move abroad (e.g., obtaining visas/work permits or sponsorships, finding a place to live, moving, SLP licensure, etc.)?
I was very lucky that the company I work for helped me with a lot of the paperwork to get here. I had to upload documents on a data base called Data Flow. Once that was approved I could fly over to do my exam which at the time was an oral exam. It was the most stressful experience of my life but I am happy to report I passed it on the first go. It has since changed to a computer based exam. Once I obtained my license, my company issued my residence visa when I arrived in the UAE. The first few months of being here were spent in hotel apartments as we tried to find a more permanent place to live. The initial move was quite expensive and because I work for a smaller company they did not help me much with initial expenses.
What motivated you to pursue work opportunities abroad as an SLP?
As much as I love my home country we wanted to do something a bit special and do some traveling which is near impossible living in South Africa. The tax free salary doesn’t hurt either ;)
How does the pay rate, cost of living, and quality of life compare to living in your home country?
The cost of living compared to what I earn here is very good. We can do things much easier and without thinking about it too much. SLP’s generally get paid quite well here as we are in demand.
What specific challenges do you face working abroad as a SLP?
The working hours were tough for me to adjust to initially. I went from working in a school setting until 2:30PM to working until 6:00PM almost 5 days a week. The UAE is not somewhere you come if you want a relaxed quite life unfortunately and I learnt that the hard way.
What are your favorite things about working abroad as a SLP?
Working with so many difficulties nationalities. It has been such a culturally enriching experience for me. I have literally worked with kids from all over the world and that has been amazing. Working in a multicultural work place has been awesome too. I have learnt so much! The second thing is being so free to travel basically anywhere in the world from here.
What are the most significant differences between practicing as a SLP in your home country versus abroad?
I don’t think there were significant differences but one thing I had to come to terms with was that not every one is trained the way I am. SLP’s come from all over the world here and they come with their own unique thoughts and preferences. Even though our fundamentals are the same the way we execute it is different from country to country.
How does your experience working abroad influence your perspectives on diversity and cultural sensitivity in speech-language pathology?
This is the best possible place to be immersed in different cultures. The UAE consists of about 80% expats. It has taught me tolerance, patience and gratitude. Coming from South Africa affectionately known as the Rainbow nation, I like to believe I already had some of these qualities and moving here just enhanced them on a more international scale.
What advice would you give to other SLPs who are considering working abroad for the first time?
Just do it. I was hesitant and scared initially but I would not trade this experience for anything. Do your research about the licensing procedure and possible companies you will work for. Moving abroad is a big deal and the last thing you want is to find yourself in a terrible situation. Make the most of the opportunities you will have to travel and explore. Be open minded and it could be an incredible experience for you.
If applicable, how do you handle homesickness or any potential challenges related to being far away from family and friends?
To be honest the first year was the worst for me. I wanted to go home everyday. Luckily I had my husband here and some family around. The pandemic happened and I had my first baby away from my family which was very tough for me. We weren’t able to travel for months and nobody could come over to us. But we got through it and now I can’t imagine myself living back home. I speak to my family daily and have regular video calls. I have had family members visit and we visit SA at least every 6 months which makes a big difference. This of course has to do with the accessibility of the UAE. It does get better I promise!
Can SLPs contact you for more information? How can they contact you?
tamlynbrown12@gmail.com; Tammy Lakey on Facebook
