We have some really big news to share with everyone. We’re moving! To where you ask? Have you heard of Doha, Qatar? If not, you will know about it now because that’s where we’re moving to! It looks like we’ll be living in another country by July, providing we get all the details worked out.
My company has asked me to take a position in Doha and for my career and for our family it’s a fantastic opportunity. We have seriously thought about all the pros and cons and ultimately decided this is absolutely the right thing for us to do. There are tons of benefits of going overseas and we are very excited about our future. We are expecting it to be a 2-3 year assignment, but if we need to come back sooner we can, or if we decide we want to stay longer, we can.
Of course we are very nervous as well, and there are a few details we need to work out like my work schedule and Charlotte’s therapy. This move will challenge us in a whole new way. We will be living in a different culture and experience a completely different way of life. We will get to travel and see quite a bit of the world for much less cost than if we stayed in the states.
Several people may be shocked and probably concerned about our safety, especially since you may not know about Qatar. First you can check out the Connor Family blog since they have been living in Doha for a few years now…I went to college with her. If you want to see what Doha looks like, go to Google Images and search Doha Qatar. It’s a beautiful city.
The Qatar Embassy website has tons of pictures and information about the country. According to CIA World Factbook, Qatar is ranked #2 in GDP per capita. You can see the rest of the list here. Qatar is considered fairly westernized and safer than many major cities in the U.S.
Women have several freedoms in Qatar, including the right to vote and travel without a male companion. I am not required to cover my hair or face, although I will likely need to be aware of any of clothing that isn’t conservative (no bare shoulders, tight clothes, shorts/skirts above the knees, or low cut tops). They have a large security and police presence, especially at places where Americans congregate (hotels, parks, malls, etc.). There is a large expatriate community there and we would likely live in what is called a compound. It’s basically a gated community similar to suburbia in America.
Needless to say we are very excited and a bit nervous. The next step is for me to take a business trip to Doha to meet the managers and get a feel for the business unit. We will also be working on figuring out our options for Charlotte’s therapy as well as other details. The next several months will fly by!
