Qatar...

[Pandora II]

My husband is currently at 2nd stage interviews for a job with a big company in Qatar. If he was to get it we would be moving out there for a number of years.

The package is extremely good with a tax-free salary equivalent to what he has here (and pays tax on) plus a house, private school fees for Daisy, car and a load of other things.

Looking out of the window and freezing cold, grey London it sounds very appealing!

However before we get too far in I would like to find out more about the place and hear from anyone who has/is living their or has even visited. DH is likely to be flying out there in the next couple of weeks but that would be a couple of days at most. They are looking to appoint quickly so we don't have the opportunity of going for a holiday or anything.

I have lived in many different countries (last one was 8 years in Italy) all over the world - although never an Islamic one, I'm a flexible person and have no problems picking up new languages. DH hasn't lived outside the UK except for 3 months in the USA and is not a linguist. Daisy is 18 months and so it's an ideal age to move if we are going to...

 

[rosetta]

get ready for a culture shock.

i've never lived in qatar, but for many years in the middle east. i grew up there.

really, you'll only find out if you like it there once you've lived there a while.

lots of people cannot hack it, they miss greenery, it's too hot, the culture is too different etc.

it depends on how flexible you are.

there's a good chance i may go back to the ME, but i know exactly why i would go: to make money. More than i can i ever could in the UK, many times over. Serious sparkly money But right now, i get my kicks for working for the NHS, i like the idea of healthcare for all even if the system is not perfect

try and see. but be prepared that you may not like it, so have a plan B.

what is your career? and do you plan to persue it there?

 

[Pandora II]

I'm a jewellery, interior and textile designer and retraining as a gemmologist (will be qualified in June) but also have lots of experience in business admin, events organisation and until recently I was a politician - I do flexible!

I also like heat! I grew up in Micronesia on a tiny island so 36 degrees is my kind of ideal temp, although I see it gets to 46 C/115 F out there! DH doesn't like heat or humidity but says as longs as he has an air-conditioned house, office and car he will be okay.

We have our current house and a rental property here in London both of which we would keep, at the moment DH is unemployed (made redundant in October) but doing consultancy work so even if we didn't like it we wouldn't be in a worse position if we came back.

Are there some good books on ME etiquette or similar as I understand that it is easy to fall foul of that one! We're both secular humanists so the religious side might be interesting - although we won't be importing any bibles (would Richard Dawkins be a problem?).

Also, I keep pythons - would it be a problem to take them there or should I find them a UK home (BIL is a herpotologist and would be a potential if so).

 

[diva rose]

I used to live in Saudi Arabia for a few years and went to school there. And I am pretty sure Saudi Arabia is one of the more strict middle east countries. You need to be aware of cultural differences but within middle east, each country has their own culture and are very different. I've been to Dubai, Egypt, Libya, Tunisa, and none of them were similar. It's like comparing China to Korea or Thailand.

I heard Qatar is pretty modernised and wealthy. Life in the middle east can be very comfortable for foreigners if you are supported by a company and is an expact. If you work as housemaids etc - that is a totally different story.

Dubai is one of my favourite places in the world and Qatar is on my list of places to visit.

I would say go for it! You only live once and I do strongly feel experiencing life of other cultures is one of life's greatest gifts.
I've had the luxury of travelling around the world (thanks to my parents ), it is a wonderful experience to provide for your child.

 

[VRBeauty]

I haven't been to any Islamic countries in the Middle East (although I have spent time in the Muslim sectors in Isreal - does that count?) but I do recall seeing a documentary on Qatar a few years ago. Apparently Qatar's wealth is owned by a few families, one of which also rules the country. The ruling family is quietly instituting reforms that have the effect of modernizing the country and softening some of the religious strictures. The example that stuck in my mind was education for women. It struck me as a very interesting country.

 

[Blackpaw]

I havent been Pandora but ive spent a bit of time over the middle east and i really enjoyed it, id like to live in Cairo some day if the opportunity arose. Id guess Qatar is more westernized than Cairo, so if you're not one to shy from culture-shock (and i dont think you are), i think you could enjoy it for a time...

And they just won the 2022 world cup! so if you really really like it you could be there for that

 

[Indylady]

I've been to a few Middle Eastern countries but I haven't lived in any. I've been to Duabi, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Its going to be a fair amount of adjustment, but there are enough ex-pats around the MENA that you won't have a hard time finding 'community' should you feel too homesick.

I would go for it. I like living in new places; when I'm out, I am home-sick, of course, but when I'm home, I get adventure-sick too. So, its a give and take, just like day to day life of living and adjusting to a new country and culture. Lots of luck as you contemplate this big decision!

 

[Pandora II]

I havent been Pandora but ive spent a bit of time over the middle east and i really enjoyed it, id like to live in Cairo some day if the opportunity arose. Id guess Qatar is more westernized than Cairo, so if you're not one to shy from culture-shock (and i dont think you are), i think you could enjoy it for a time...

And they just won the 2022 world cup! so if you really really like it you could be there for that

LOL, and there I was celebrating that Britain HADN'T won the bid for the 2016 world cup...

 

[Pandora II]

I've been to a few Middle Eastern countries but I haven't lived in any. I've been to Duabi, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Its going to be a fair amount of adjustment, but there are enough ex-pats around the MENA that you won't have a hard time finding 'community' should you feel too homesick.

I would go for it. I like living in new places; when I'm out, I am home-sick, of course, but when I'm home, I get adventure-sick too. So, its a give and take, just like day to day life of living and adjusting to a new country and culture. Lots of luck as you contemplate this big decision!

We're now 100% certain that if DH is offered the position then we will accept it - he just has to get through the interviews and I believe that it is extremely competitive. I'm planning on not getting to excited in case he gets knocked out in the next round, the last 4 positions he's been shortlisted for he has come a very close second and he's in the final interviews for another 3 UK positions at the moment so I keep thinking our luck must turn soon! We should know before Christmas I think...

I have terrible wander-lust as does my sister (she's moving to Australia in March with her husband, 2 kids and what will be an 8 week old baby) - I blame my parents for dragging us up all over the world as small children: it was the 1970's before so many countries were descended upon by gap-year students and multinationals... I even went trekking in the Himalaya's when I was 7!

I am aware that parents/grandparents aren't getting any younger and I would miss them, but DH and I are a very strong unit on our own and we wouldn't have problems making friends or getting involved in a new place. I think it would be fantastic for Daisy to grow up in more than one country and hopefully learn to speak Arabic!

So, fingers crossed!

 

[JewelFreak]

Pandora, it sounds like an adventure not to be turned down if it materializes. I've never been to the ME but when we lived in Europe, knew a number of expats who had lived there. They all had good things to say about the experience & made close friends whom they kept in contact with. I gather expats in most ME countries tend to live in certain areas or even compounds so you'd have plenty of people to talk to -- before you learn Arabic. Hope it works out -- sounds like there might be some nice alternatives even if it doesn't.

--- Laurie

 

[rosetta]

Hi pandora, I came back to this to see how you were getting on.

from your attitude to the whole thing, i think you will be just fine if you decide to go! living in another culture is fantastic for kids, i thoroughly recommend it.

though living in the ME for 10 years still doesn't mean i speak any passable arabic, as we lived in our own little expat bubble

 

[Rough]

Believe me, it's better to stay at UK and to live also.
But...Qater is the place to make some money.
I do not really love arab street culture, but I would take the chance.
I lived in Europe and now living at Middle East, it's much different.

 

[Pandora II]

Hi pandora, I came back to this to see how you were getting on.

from your attitude to the whole thing, i think you will be just fine if you decide to go! living in another culture is fantastic for kids, i thoroughly recommend it.

though living in the ME for 10 years still doesn't mean i speak any passable arabic, as we lived in our own little expat bubble

Still waiting to hear about next stage - hopefully we'll know something more this week.

 

[Blackpaw]

I havent been Pandora but ive spent a bit of time over the middle east and i really enjoyed it, id like to live in Cairo some day if the opportunity arose. Id guess Qatar is more westernized than Cairo, so if you're not one to shy from culture-shock (and i dont think you are), i think you could enjoy it for a time...

And they just won the 2022 world cup! so if you really really like it you could be there for that

LOL, and there I was celebrating that Britain HADN'T won the bid for the 2016 world cup...

I hope you get to go! haha for the above, im not a football fan myself, though i did roll an eye at Qatar getting 2022 over Australia