Notes to self: Do it yourself

I waited for seven minutes for a lift outside my flat today. I waited for so long that I almost, almost considered finding out where the stairs are (I've shamefully never used them) so that I could walk the ten flights down instead. But I didn't. Like a typical Dubai resident, I waited and got annoyed instead. And nearly missed the bus.

It's the same situation where I work. People wait for the lift to take them up one of two flights of stairs — when a fair few might do well to walk a few flights every now and then. My friend and I joke when we are out in a mall and the escalator is broken: "What? You mean we have to walk up the stairs? Unbelievable."

We are lucky to be spoilt in Dubai. It's easy to get used to waiters pulling out chairs for you, hotel staff opening your taxi door, staff packing your shopping in Spinney's and having your groceries delivered. Even though you live next door.

Sometimes though, it gets a bit too much. I flat share, and we have a maid who comes in and cleans our common areas about once or twice a week. I can never remember what days she comes but I don't think it really matters anyway. If I use some crockery, then I spend two minutes washing it up. Simple. My flat-mates seem to have a different idea. I found the sink packed with stinky dirty dishes on the weekend, so I left a note to ask them to wash their things up. When I next saw them, they were moaning that the maid hadn't come for a week. It hadn't occurred to them for a moment that they should clean their own plates. As if that isn't bad enough, we own a dishwasher, so there really is minimal effort involved in keeping the kitchen tidy.

I even know of someone who dropped a jar of jam on their kitchen floor. It broke and they decided that because the maid was coming the next day, they would leave it for her.

For some, living in Dubai means being able to afford luxuries they wouldn't be able to in their own countries. Flats with pools, balconies overlooking the sea and sporty cars are all relatively affordable. But why is being slothful considered a sign that you've "made it"? I read in the newspapers this week that British football player (and love rat) Ashley Cole didn't even know how to iron or make two-minute noodles until his wife showed him. He had such a privileged life that he never had to learn. Is it just me that finds this disgusting?

I think it's a minority but if we start to think that luxury means laziness and that money can buy us out of taking responsibility for our own actions, we are in danger of becoming the expat brats that some international media think we are.

While it's great to be able to afford a maid, especially when your job is too demanding to give you time to take care of the house, it's important to be considerate. I went for a run on the beach this weekend and picked up around 30 plastic bags and put them in the nearby bins. I suppose the reckoning was that somebody else would pick them up. Living a more luxurious life is great, but consideration for your flat-mates, partner, maid and environment is even better.