Can anyone help us? We will be moving out to Qatar in August. What is there to do for nearly 15 year old goths who is not really into sport and thinks his life is over now that we are dragging him off to the middle of the dessert?
Dohagirl. Thanks for that last comment. You have hit the nail on the head. He will be fine at school re his image. He understands that he has to conform to some degree. He has even agreed to buy some white clothes and much to my amazement - sandals. Last year we went on holiday and he insisted on wearing full goth regalia - then complained about the heat...
You might have to convince him that it's ok to wear the Goth stuff around the house, but at school he's going to have to conform or else he's going to have to be homeschooled. Granted at the school I worked at, boys had hair to about their chin and that was ok.
Just try to tell him that Qatar is the best place in the world to become jaded and unhappy with Western civilizations morals and values. He'll suddenly understand the music he listens to all the more and actually have the life experience to back up his life style.
This culture might change his philosphy and attitude. He doesn't know what in this desert. Maybe kindiness and peace in this country change him? Schools also would be agreat Idea. I agree with Laudgi7.
Hair style .. Well, I used to work in Qatar Foundation and I have seen boys with a bit long hair in Qatar Academy. But I have no idea weather it is allowed or not.
some schools are stricter than others (obviously) my belief is that doha college is generally not strict (i think generally a number 3 was the limit but i am sure there are people with longer it is just a regulation written on a handbook) now others will be worse american school would be laid bak too (can wear own clothes; but its american system) but many other are significantly stricter, seperate gender classes, im not sure which are segregated but i know QIS and Qatar Academy are from 13+
Seriously worried for my poor baby. He has not yet got a school as the company are supposed to be sorting that out. Although he accepts wearing a uniform as his current school has one he has stated his absolute refusal to cut his hair. His current school are quite relaxed about hairstyles and lots of boys over here (England) have long hair. Is it the same there?
Thanks Dohagirl for the job info. I had a feeling it would be like that. He will just have to develop his entrepeneurial skills and become an odd (!!!) jobber.
i think a big problem might be to get schooling for him. .. not necessarily becaouse he's goth but want help, there are big waiting lists for most if not all schools in doha and many would avoid being able to have 'problematic' students which might make some studentsuncomfortable, esppecially young ones (and some parents)... that being said practically all have uniforms (so i am starting to diregard my own comment now) but if he's already accepted in one i do not think one will reject him.
so all in arrange for a school there are quite a few (and more need including another american school because of the influx of americans recently as the current asd has limited space to expand.
I'm a vegetarian, and living in Qatar is no problem at all. Veggie food is easy to find in grocery stores and at Western restaurants. (McDonalds even serves veggieburgers! They're totally addictive!) When traditional food is served, there is always enough mezze (appetizers like hummus and baba ganouj) to get by. The only difficult time has been going to meals at people's homes, since it is a little rude to refuse the food that's served. My husband ended up eating meat once because he was graciously offered the choicest part of the lamb didn't feel comfortable saying no.
It's been a long time since I was a 15-year-old goth, though, so I can't help you out on that front!
Winnie, your son will have a bit of a problem here fitting in. The compounds tend to be like REALLY small towns, so all of the kids are sort of carbon copies of each other (from my experience) and he won't be able to find a job. My brother has tried desperately and no such luck. All of the jobs that he would get back in North America are taken by Asian labourers who are paid next to nothing. No place here will hire a Westerner for a customer service or manual labour job.
Lol, seriously! Like alright, even winnie would agree with me here, no one would like a neighbor whos always depressed and self-mutilating, now THAT would most probably be a step down the social scale.
And winnie you know i was just messin with ya on the last post, Lol. He's gonna be alright, i have alotta friends between age 14-18 who are gothic and they seem to be doing fine. Get him a guitar n some drums, you know, he'll be great! As for the sports, *ahem* summers up so no way, Lol.
PS. i was recording a 114*F temp a couple days back :|
well i'm not into alot of sports too... i spend most of my time on the computer and internet checking security of servers and wireless access points in qatar.... :p they can find friends like them and go to malls or to clubs meet new people go play some computer games network games..... and if you buy him a quad (4-wheelers (americans don't get what quad is) you'll want to go to desert every weekend because it's sooo much fun with the quads... i used to go every weekend with a friend of mine its so much fun.....
there are other stuff that other teenagers do which i don't know about and i'm not bothered to know because i'm living fine like this :D but letz see what the others can think of...
Ok. Thanks everyone you have all done a pretty good job of freakin me out now.
So what other joys does a 15 year old have to look forward to in Qatar when he's not into sport?
Do the schools put on social occasions for them.
I hear the social life in the compounds can be good but i suppose that depends on whether they see having a goth as a neighbour as a step up the social scale or down.
Thanks for that. Yes he is keen to get a job. I presume at 15 he should not have much problem.
thanks Loudgi7 for the site I will try that. Indeed watch out from September on for a very tall slim bloke dressed in black. He is very ameniable and would probably be quite happy for you to come up and ask him about his philosophy on life.
Also what is it like for vegetatians out there...as if being goth wasn't enough...
There is not a whole lot of goth going on here; it will be difficult for him. Hopefully he'll make friends at school or on your compound. And I'll enjoy spotting him at the mall.
i used to know some people who were goths ... not fully but partially (if u get my drift) .. but they past the phase... they will be some but it will certainly be a lot harder than ur home actually if u google 'goth qatar' i got http://gothic-lips.deviantart.com/ apperently some girl from qatar ... so there u go! i'd like to see him and his friends on a friday in the souqs (or any day or even a mall) it would be quite an experience
I agree...unless you're in a compound full of other Westerners...but he faces the risk of all the other teenagers being "trendies" and he'll be ostracised for being a goth!
But hey, being a goth means not caring what people think right?
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Dohagirl. Thanks for that last comment. You have hit the nail on the head. He will be fine at school re his image. He understands that he has to conform to some degree. He has even agreed to buy some white clothes and much to my amazement - sandals. Last year we went on holiday and he insisted on wearing full goth regalia - then complained about the heat...
You might have to convince him that it's ok to wear the Goth stuff around the house, but at school he's going to have to conform or else he's going to have to be homeschooled. Granted at the school I worked at, boys had hair to about their chin and that was ok.
Just try to tell him that Qatar is the best place in the world to become jaded and unhappy with Western civilizations morals and values. He'll suddenly understand the music he listens to all the more and actually have the life experience to back up his life style.
Oh common for God sake! There is more about it!
This culture might change his philosphy and attitude. He doesn't know what in this desert. Maybe kindiness and peace in this country change him? Schools also would be agreat Idea. I agree with Laudgi7.
Hair style .. Well, I used to work in Qatar Foundation and I have seen boys with a bit long hair in Qatar Academy. But I have no idea weather it is allowed or not.
He must meet friends .. this is very important.
Good luck ...
some schools are stricter than others (obviously) my belief is that doha college is generally not strict (i think generally a number 3 was the limit but i am sure there are people with longer it is just a regulation written on a handbook) now others will be worse american school would be laid bak too (can wear own clothes; but its american system) but many other are significantly stricter, seperate gender classes, im not sure which are segregated but i know QIS and Qatar Academy are from 13+
good luck ........
Winnie
Seriously worried for my poor baby. He has not yet got a school as the company are supposed to be sorting that out. Although he accepts wearing a uniform as his current school has one he has stated his absolute refusal to cut his hair. His current school are quite relaxed about hairstyles and lots of boys over here (England) have long hair. Is it the same there?
Thanks Dohagirl for the job info. I had a feeling it would be like that. He will just have to develop his entrepeneurial skills and become an odd (!!!) jobber.
i think a big problem might be to get schooling for him. .. not necessarily becaouse he's goth but want help, there are big waiting lists for most if not all schools in doha and many would avoid being able to have 'problematic' students which might make some studentsuncomfortable, esppecially young ones (and some parents)... that being said practically all have uniforms (so i am starting to diregard my own comment now) but if he's already accepted in one i do not think one will reject him.
so all in arrange for a school there are quite a few (and more need including another american school because of the influx of americans recently as the current asd has limited space to expand.
I'm a vegetarian, and living in Qatar is no problem at all. Veggie food is easy to find in grocery stores and at Western restaurants. (McDonalds even serves veggieburgers! They're totally addictive!) When traditional food is served, there is always enough mezze (appetizers like hummus and baba ganouj) to get by. The only difficult time has been going to meals at people's homes, since it is a little rude to refuse the food that's served. My husband ended up eating meat once because he was graciously offered the choicest part of the lamb didn't feel comfortable saying no.
It's been a long time since I was a 15-year-old goth, though, so I can't help you out on that front!
Winnie, your son will have a bit of a problem here fitting in. The compounds tend to be like REALLY small towns, so all of the kids are sort of carbon copies of each other (from my experience) and he won't be able to find a job. My brother has tried desperately and no such luck. All of the jobs that he would get back in North America are taken by Asian labourers who are paid next to nothing. No place here will hire a Westerner for a customer service or manual labour job.
Sorry
d000d! Emos r teh ghey!!11!1
Lol, seriously! Like alright, even winnie would agree with me here, no one would like a neighbor whos always depressed and self-mutilating, now THAT would most probably be a step down the social scale.
And winnie you know i was just messin with ya on the last post, Lol. He's gonna be alright, i have alotta friends between age 14-18 who are gothic and they seem to be doing fine. Get him a guitar n some drums, you know, he'll be great! As for the sports, *ahem* summers up so no way, Lol.
PS. i was recording a 114*F temp a couple days back :|
well i'm not into alot of sports too... i spend most of my time on the computer and internet checking security of servers and wireless access points in qatar.... :p they can find friends like them and go to malls or to clubs meet new people go play some computer games network games..... and if you buy him a quad (4-wheelers (americans don't get what quad is) you'll want to go to desert every weekend because it's sooo much fun with the quads... i used to go every weekend with a friend of mine its so much fun.....
there are other stuff that other teenagers do which i don't know about and i'm not bothered to know because i'm living fine like this :D but letz see what the others can think of...
Ok. Thanks everyone you have all done a pretty good job of freakin me out now.
So what other joys does a 15 year old have to look forward to in Qatar when he's not into sport?
Do the schools put on social occasions for them.
I hear the social life in the compounds can be good but i suppose that depends on whether they see having a goth as a neighbour as a step up the social scale or down.
bbb8 - emos are fine. Ignore EquinOx
Winnie
why what do u have against emos?
As long as he's not Emo. God please no more Emos!!!
He'll be fine methinxs. Lots of salads here and tons of hummus
oh man he's soo screwed haha! but don't worry, you find whackos even in the middle of the desert so he'll find some friends easily :P
Thanks for that. Yes he is keen to get a job. I presume at 15 he should not have much problem.
thanks Loudgi7 for the site I will try that. Indeed watch out from September on for a very tall slim bloke dressed in black. He is very ameniable and would probably be quite happy for you to come up and ask him about his philosophy on life.
Also what is it like for vegetatians out there...as if being goth wasn't enough...
Send him out to get a job, a touch of the real world might help.
There is not a whole lot of goth going on here; it will be difficult for him. Hopefully he'll make friends at school or on your compound. And I'll enjoy spotting him at the mall.
i used to know some people who were goths ... not fully but partially (if u get my drift) .. but they past the phase... they will be some but it will certainly be a lot harder than ur home actually if u google 'goth qatar' i got http://gothic-lips.deviantart.com/ apperently some girl from qatar ... so there u go! i'd like to see him and his friends on a friday in the souqs (or any day or even a mall) it would be quite an experience
I agree...unless you're in a compound full of other Westerners...but he faces the risk of all the other teenagers being "trendies" and he'll be ostracised for being a goth!
But hey, being a goth means not caring what people think right?
Oh.I'm afraid he is right..
Oh yeah,for a 15 year old goth?THIS IS THE END OF THE WORLD! ..
Im sorry!!
Anyway, let see what other members think.I wish you all the best.