Where to start?
Hi All,
It's been great looking through all of the items in the forum, and has been hugely helpful in us making the decision to move! I was out there last week, and got a great feel for the country, however making the move as opposed to spending a weekend are two very different things!...Anyway enough waffle! The questions that we'd love your collective counsel on are:
1) Are there good compounds out near the golf club, and would I get anything for 15K QAR or below (2/3 bedrooms)?
2) We have an 8 month old baby boy; can anyone recommend childcare facilities/creche?
3) Is anyone aware of Rhythym and Time and Water Babies classes?
4) My budget for accomodation and Transport is approx 15K QAR, is this reasonable?
and last, but by no means least,
5) having lived in the Caribbean before, my better half is eager to know if her hair is going to go ridiculously frizzy due to the humidity???? : )
Thanks, and look forward to your responses,
BCA
I also have long hair so I would like to know what I should bring for hair care, oil or hair wax? In Europe I know it's hair wax that works for me but in tropical climates it's oil. So what works in Qatar?
Like others have said - near the golf course is the more high-end area of Doha - West Bay. 15 is low for housing and car. The bigger compounds with more amenities will cost between 20-25. You could get a stand-alone villa for 15 or a villa in a smaller compound but neither in West Bay I imagine. Maybe in the Al Markiya area which is pretty close to the golf course and near Landmark Mall. Grocery store in there and a new Carrefour opening soon.
Childcare - my child goes to Starfish Lane Kids near Landmark Mall and not far from the golf course. It's a really great place and the staff is excellent. They take kids starting at 1 year. Maybe a waiting list so look into it as soon as you get here (any nursery for that matter).
Music and Water -
From the latest issue of Mums the Word:
Waterbabes – Baby & Toddler Swimming Group 5 – 24 months
Waterbabes is a fun programme, which helps your child learn life saving skills, organised by qualified British Swimming Teachers Association instructors. A 6-week programme is Q240.00. To book your please contact Anita Baldwin on 5833402 or email: [email protected]
Music for Me - Parent & Child Music Class
*Music for Me Music Classes are a toddler/preschooler and parent music class for children age 9 months to 4 years.
*Classes include Classic songs, Finger Play, Marching & Movement, Bells, Maracas, Egg Shakers, Puppets, Scarves, Balls, Rhythm sticks & a Parachute.
* Morning: Sunday 10:45 to 11:30 Laguna Beach, West Bay (near Qatar University Roundabout) Wednesday 9:30 to 10:15 Alfardan Gardens, D Ring. Thursday 9:00 am to Laguna Beach West Bay
*Afternoon: Sunday 3:30 to 4:15 Laguna Beach, West Bay Sunday 4:30 to 5:15 Laguna Beach, West Bay Thursday 3:45 to 4:30, QIPCO compound, West Bay near the golf club * Fee: 200 QR for 8 week class sessions includes music CD, 20% discount for siblings. Non-residents of Alfardan Gardens pay 5QR more per class (40QR total) for the Wednesday morning class only.
* For more information, please call or email: Monica Muschalik [email protected] 483-6939 554-2309
If you would like a copy of the whole newsletter send me a PM with your email and I'll forward on. It's a newsletter produced every other month by a woman here. Helps keep you up-to-date on what's going on for moms and kids.
Hair - not a problem.
Good luck with the move!
nope but i have a long hair with pony tail .. so i keep on reading about hair .. to know how to take care of it .. that's all .. i don't have experience about that .. i wasn't a woman b4 .. lol
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My Music: http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/LittleGuitarist
My Photographing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ram8982/
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
Napoleon Bonapart
Out near the Gulf club is considered a high class residential area and villas cost a great deal more out there than in other places.
QR 15.000,-- is not a lot for Living and transportation - but I assume you will buy a car here anyway as renting over a long period will be very expansive and althought there are a lot of taxis they seldeom are available.
One other thing you may like to think about you have a wife and baby and living out there will be difficult for them to get into town, my advice is look for something where is is not far for your wife to go to the supermarket if she needs something urgently.
One thing is to think practically when coming out here it is difficult to live without a car.
thanks for the explanation ram and btw are u by any chance a hair dresser??(just curious)
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
Water is a natural component in the chemical makeup of hair. Some is
actually boned within the hair protein and some is simply absorbed by the
hair. Ordinarily, elevated humidity causes the hair shaft to swell. In dry
conditions, it shrinks. When subjected to very dry conditions -- low
humidity and/or excessive blow-drying -- the hair can lose water essential
to its structural strength. The result is brittle hair and the "frizzies."
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My Music: http://www.showcaseyourmusic.com/LittleGuitarist
My Photographing: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ram8982/
"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."
Napoleon Bonapart
with regards to the hair part well my hair seems to be behaving itself very nicely here in qatar than it did back home (back home is hot n humid all yr round, where as qatar is drier altho we do have humid spells too but at the end of the day am happy with hair here than back home)
life's too short so make the most of it, you only live but once.......
15k for accommodation AND transport might be a bit tight. For 2 or 3 b/r's and a modest car though, you might manage. Out near the golf course you'll pay a (huge) premium for the location. If you're willing to be about 5 miles away it would be a lot less unreasonable.
As for the frizzy hair, it's not a problem in our family.
Welcome to Qatar!!
*** Light travels faster than sound. That's why most people appear bright until they open their mouths.