Relocating to Qatar?
Asalam Alaikom,
My husband's job may be relocating us to Qatar and I have a few questions if someone could offer me advice. I am an American who reverted to Islam 5 years ago, my husband is an Egyptian Muslim and we are currently living in America. I have never lived abroad and I am kind of nervous. I have traveled a lot and I am very familiar with many other cultures, this is not the problem. I am mainly worried about how I will adjust to simple things like not being able to find certain brands of shampoo, clothing, food items, stuff like that. I am very used to just hoping into my car and going to the local WAL-MART where they have everything you can imagine! :) Are american products readily available or do you have to find them in a speciality market? Are they very expensive? Should I just overpack and have my family send me care packages? LOL!
Also, we are Muslim but we are very open. I do not wear hijab and I dress like a western woman, not overly revealing but I do wear jeans. Am I gonna have a problem with this? I don't have a problem covering if I have to, but I think that should not be the reason for one to cover. I hope moving there will make it easier for me to accept this part of Islam, but it is hard for me right now living in America, especially coming from a Christian family. My husband and I also love music and my husband smokes Shisha. Is this a problem there? I have spent a lot of time in Egypt and they are very open about these things and was just wondering how it compares there?
Also, I am a mother to 2 little boys. A 4 year old and a 18 month old. I want my kids to leard Arabic and Islam as well as English. I feel the more education you have the better! Is it easy to obtain this goal for them or will they be in school 7 days a week like it would have to be here in the States, with American school, Arabic class, and Sunday Islam classes?
How is the cost of living there? How much should my husband expect to make for us to have a comfortable life? He was offered a job in Dubai and the pay was nothing compared to the cost of living there so he declined it.
If anyone could help me I would greatly appreciate it!
Shokran, Umm Moustafa
LOL! Uh, Yeah that is definately not me! Cool, thanks I was really worried about that! I love my blue jeans and letting my hair down. Is there like grouped areas in doha, like for example, china town, where people settle together? or is it pretty mixed? Plus do I have to live in an apartment or is there American style houses? I think they are called villas? They have them in Egypt but most of them are outside of the city.
as far as you dont wear bikini while you walking in Doha road you will be ok :-) kidding
honestly ... qatar have very relaxing dressing code compare to other places like Saudi. I wear normal cloth when i am out and it is ok. Just certain people think they are in hawai so they wear minimum clothing lol.
Ok I will thank you very much!
do some 'search' , cost of living have been discussed lots of time on this forum.
good luck with the moving