After almost six blissful weeks, which seem to have evaporated in a flash, I find myself in what has become an all too often predicament: how do I cram my life into two (okay, maybe three) suitcases? My next adventure is taking me to a place that I’ve dreamed about all my life: the mystical Middle East, more specifically, Qatar. Ta-daaaah!

In these times filled with volatility and violence, I get almost the same reaction from people when I tell them I’m relocating to the Middle East; it’s a mix of shock and disapproval, and then often followed up with questions like “Aren’t you worried about terrorists? Are you scared of being bombed?” etc. While I think it would be naive to flippantly blow off these concerns, I also believe it is an error to shroud all Middle Eastern countries in an ISIS flag.

My goal is to upload a few more day-to-day posts about life in Doha (I concede I failed miserably at doing this in Vietnam) but I thought it might be fitting to answer some of the most FAQ I get about the country and culture before I get there. So here goes…

Where is Qatar?

Qatar is a small country in the Middle East which borders Saudi Arabia on the Southern edge and the Persian Gulf on its other three sides…yes, that means BEACHES! Doha is the capital city of Qatar. Doha is less than 400 kilometers from Dubai. Travel options from Doha are immense because it’s a hub for Qatar Airlines so feel free to visit me on a layover. Did I mention is has the highest per-capita income in the world…uhhh, do I get to reap some of this??

What is the population?

The population is roughly 2 million with most of the population being expat and foreign migrant workers (so this number fluctuates). Qataris account for only 13% of the population! With the 2022 World Cup slated to be held in Qatar I assume there will be an ever growing foreign population — that is, as long as their bid isn’t revoked.

Ok, the big one: Is it safe?

Yes. As I mentioned before most people are wealthy, including the expats and migrant workers who do not want to face deportation; this by default reduces crime rates dramatically. Although, it should be noted that there is some controversy over the treatment and rights of these workers. Still, according the UN, Qatar is the most advanced Arab state for human development which speaks to their forward thinking. I’ve included a link below that talks about Qatar’s “low profile” in the war against ISIS and explains why this country is not a target for acts of terrorism.

http://dohanews.co/how-safe-is-qatar-from-an-isis-attack-experts-weigh-in/

Do you have to cover up or wear traditional Islamic clothing?

No. Doha continues to be a progressive, albeit conservative, culture. At school I will cover my shoulders and knees and not wear tight fitting clothing. Outside of school I’ve been told I can wear Western style clothing but it’s wise to be mindful of the cultural norms. Stay tuned for more details on this hot-button issue. I’m on a few online expat groups in Doha and there is much controversy over what is deemed acceptable and respectable.

Where will you be working?

Oh, I love answering this question! I’ll be working for an off-shore Canadian school called Hayat Universal Bilingual School. All teachers need to be certified in British Colombia and we follow the BC curriculum. I will once again be teaching my beloved third grade and most, if not all, my students will be Qatari. After the horrible experience working at KinderWorld Group I’ve been blown away by how professional, helpful and kind the staff have been at this school — from the interview process and travel arrangements to the curriculum plan and teaching resources — they’ve gone out of their way to make me feel supported, valued and welcome. I have a feeling I will thrive in this school.

Where will you be living?

When I arrive at the airport a school representative will pick me up and take me to the pre-arranged one bedroom, fully furnish apartment about 15 minutes from campus in an area called Al-Sadd. There are three buildings which the school rents for staff. They’re stocked with everything from sheets to cleaning supplies. They even stock the fridge and pantry with some basic groceries. Some people love the idea of living close to co-workers while others are horrified. I’m not sure how I feel yet?

What is the weather like?

Oh, I hate answering this question. It is hot. Hotter than Vietnam. Can we stop there? Ok, I’ll endure the pain and go on…average temperatures peak at 42 degrees celsius in the summer and hit lows of 22 degrees celsius in the all too few cooler months. What’s even worse is that because it’s on a peninsula in the Persian Gulf, humidity levels are higher than you’d expect for a desert. Ugh.

Now, it’s homework time: please feel free to add in any questions you may have, below in the reply box. I’d love to research the answers or include them in future posts after I learn the answers first hand. Additionally, if you’re curious about any specific details about day-to-day life in Qatar include these too; this will help me with ideas for future posts.

As always, thanks for reading. Maʿ al-salāmah.

-K