scalpalot

Greetings all

So, I've taken up an offer from HMC and hope to be in Doha in the next 6-8 months. I'm in Healthcare IT, hence HMC. I'll be leaving England to set up home in Qatar and am looking forward to the different experiences.

I'll be by myself for the first couple of years and hope the family can join me later, subject to my wife getting an appropriate role as she is currently in the midst of her specialist clinical training. We would then all like to be here together (children would be 8 and 10 then) for a few years at least. The rationale is -

1. We all live, learn and experience different cultures - specially the children

2. Build up a savings nest - this will really accrue once my wife is here and on a decent salary (hopefully).

Would love to hear from folks who've made a similar move. What are your experiences of working there and bringing up children.

Please don't hold back; all responses welcome :-)

Thank you

OleJanx

That's a very evocative subject heading...

co durham boy

You'll definitely experience all the cultures , well all the shit ones in any case . Look through the threads on Doha and do loads of research from as many sources as possible .

Don't rely on info from old weary dogs like us because you'll not even pack your suitcase

mikewot

http://britishexpats.com/forum/searc...archid=8413061

primularossa

As I said in other posts, yes you will experiment cultural diversity.

This is a challenge in many ways - for sure you will relativise many of your believes and will enforce some others. If you will be able to look behind the curtains without prejudices, you will discover both horrible and beautiful things. But always keep in mind the ethical principles you might have learned in your culture: they will lead you not to loose your direction - and always keep in mind all the hypocrisies that you might also have learned in your culture: they will let you understand that also the world where you come from is not the best possible and has lots of responsibilities.

And ask yourself: what is the effect of my being here on this system: can I do something to make it better and stop the bad things I see around? but this applies also in your home country and in any place of the world...

good luck!

co durham boy

Just come , make your money then leave . That's it in a nutshell .

primularossa

Uhm....there are lots of things to learn here....and lots of things to care about...I would not look only at my personal interests....maybe because I cannot stop thinking "I care"....

scalpalot

Thanks for your replies so far - they convey different sentiments and approaches to life in Doha. Much as I expected!

mikewot - sorry, that link doesn't work anymore. What search string did you use?

I'm quite sure there will be a lot to be frustrated about, nonetheless, it will be about making the most of our time there, while hopefully contributing in some small meaningful way.

I haven't come across much detail in terms of the quality of schooling as compared to say Grammar schools here in the UK. My initial feeling is that if we aren't happy with what there is on offer, we will (again hopefully) have the means of sending them off to a good boarding school overseas. But first, we would very much like for them to be with us and be a part of the local community.

Any advice, thoughts?

mikewot

Because your question is very open (and almost everything has been answered previously in this forum, including the meaning of life, the universe and everything) I decided on a non rocket science approach and entered 'Doha'