Issue #41 Doha Family Magazine Summer 2022

EST.2012

THE PREMIER MAGAZINE FOR FAMILIES IN QATAR

Finding Your Doha Community

Doha Family Magazine 2022 Parenting Survey

5 Ways to keep kids cool and Entertained this Summer

ANNIVERSARY

ISSUE

SUMMER 2022 | ISSUE 22 | BROUGHT TO YOU BY DOHA FAMILY | DOHAFAMILY.COM

A Note of Gratitude

Dear Readers, On the occasion of our 10 anniversary, we at Doha Family Magazine would like to express our sincerest gratitude for sticking with us throughout our journey.

We could not have become what we are today without you. When our first issue came out in the summer of 2012, we sought to be a one-stop-shop guide to all the services parents in Qatar would be looking for. We had you covered, from nurseries, playgroups, and summer camps, to schools, swimming classes, and clinics.

But over the years, we've evolved into something more.

These days, you can find the voices of families and individuals across Qatar represented through our features and interviews. We bring you news and views that matter to you and invite experts to inform them with their perspectives.

We explore an array of themes each season, covering everything from parenting, education, and health to food, businesses, and the environment. And we've done this through rain or shine, especially in the last couple of years. We've ridden through the uncertainty of a pandemic and the looming excitement of the upcoming World Cup, and your response through it all has been heartwarming.

All this to say that none of this could have happened without your support, feedback, and commitment to keeping us the premier parenting magazine in Qatar. We are so grateful to be able to reach more of you than ever through our 200-plus distribution locations, website, and bustling social media platforms. We are so stoked to get to this milestone with you and look forward to many more.

With deep appreciation, The Doha Family Magazine team

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Contents

Summer 2022 • DohaFamily.com

LIVING IN DOHA 14 Dear Newcomer: A Letter to Just-landed Expats A heartfelt message to Doha’s newest arrivals 18 10 Life Lessons Learnt Living in Doha Lessons to carry with you wherever you go 23 Metamorphosis: How the Expat Experience Changed Four Mums’ Lives Stories of self-discovery and transformation 27 Finding Your Doha Community Real-life accounts of expats connecting at different life stages

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31 Doha Family 2022 Parenting Survey Learn all about the parents in your community 33 5 Ways to Keep Kids Cool and Entertained this Summer Camps, entertainment centres, museums, and more

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27 44

FAMILY MATTERS 41 An Unexpected Journey: “I Came to Qatar for a Month and I Still Haven’t left!”

How a single email led to life in a new continent 44 Guiding My Child and My Child Teaching Me: How Moving to Qatar Changed My Parenting A once frazzled cosmopolitan mum talks living more consciously 48 Why Expat Life Works for Us A local dad’s reflections on travel, family, and Qatar life

EDUCATION 50 How to Choose the Best School A long-term educator’s take

IN EVERY ISSUE 7 Editor’s Letter 9 Ask the Expert 10 News Bites 11 What’s On 12 Things We Love 13 Book Bites 55 Marketplace

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Main contributors LAURA POWELL-CORBETT is a banker turned writer from England. Besides writing, she loves discovering Doha, meeting new friends, and travelling the world with her three young children in tow.

EMMA MORRELL is a British mum who has lived outside of the UK for over a third of her life. She’s a family travel blogger and expat who is passionate about helping families to travel more adventurously and empowering expat women and families.

DR DEEPIKA an educationist and facilitator who is passionate about touching lives through her words. Working in DPS Modern Indian School, Qatar, she enjoys being surrounded by curious and inquisitive minds that give her the drive to see daily life with a different lens. These perspective shifts are often expressed in her blogs. She loves to explore world through writing.

Editor’s Letter

Hello Friends, it's me!

W

e've made it! It's been 10 years since we published the first edition of Doha Family Magazine. In honour of this incredible milestone, we wanted to express our gratitude to you for being a part of our growth and journey in a note on page 2.

Truly, we want this issue to celebrate you, the wider Qatar community, and the evolution of the expat experience in the last 10 years. To start, a long-term expat pens a loving letter to new expats that would resonate with anyone who has ever had to start again in another country (page 14).

She follows it up with the 10 lessons she's learnt living in Doha in an equally insightful and delightful piece (page 18).

If you're new here (or not!) and are still trying to get your head around making friends and finding your place, we hope the anecdotes on page 27 will give you the boost you need.

We've also included a list of heat-proof ways for your little ones to enjoy their first Qatari summer (page 33) and tips to help you choose their new schools (page 50). Speaking of schools, our parenting survey on pages 31–32 will give you a glimpse into what parents here

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

Issue 22 – Summer 2022 DohaFamily.com Founder

Roxanne Davis

Publisher / Managing Director Anas Outa Bashi

Editor

Tesneem Ayoub

Sales & Marketing Nina Hall

Sales & Marketing Coordinator think about them and many other aspects of Qatar life.

Elena Khomenko

Graphic Design:

Naser Nashashibi ( Naserarts )

We hope you are just as inspired as we are by these mums who've transformed their lives after moving here (pages 23 & 44). And what would an anniversary issue be without heartfelt personal essays?

We've got a couple on pages 41 and 48, plus more.

I always want to hear from you, so if you have any comments, questions, or article ideas, email me at editor@ dohafamily.com. And once again, thanks for sticking with us.

Tesneem

Editor Doha Family Magazine

For advertising or distribution inquiries, please contact Elena Khomenko at ads@dohafamily.com.

Editorial inquiries, suggestions, and submissions may be addressed to editor@dohafamily.com.

Doha Family Magazine is a free magazine published four times a year by Doha Family. It is distributed to over 300 locations throughout Qatar with a circulation of over 20,000 copies. Visit https:// dohafamily.com/distributionlocation/ to find the nearest copy.

Doha Family does not endorse or assume responsibility for any information, products, or services mentioned by advertisers or editorial contributors. Reproduction of any element of this publication without written permission from the publisher is prohibited. Copyright 2022 by Doha Family. Doha Family Magazine is printed by Ali Bin Ali Printing Press.

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Is the treatment for H.pylori in kids the same as the treatment for adults?

The first line of treatment for H.Pylori is the same for both adults and children, with differences in medication dosage and formulation (i.e. syrup vs tablets).

However, when it comes to repeated infections or resistance to the first line of antibiotics, this would require taking a different course of action to treat the condition in children.

The second line of treatment is different for children because the medication given to adults may not be suitable for kids. I hope this answers your question.

Best regards Dr Mamoun Alawad Division Chief of Gastroenterology Sidra Medicine

Have a question for the experts?

Send it to editor@dohafamily.com

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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THE LAST FIFA WORLD CUP 2022 TICKETS will be on sale from noon on 5 July 2022 to noon on 16 August 2022. The tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, and fans will be able to confirm their purchases immediately after payment. So far, 1.8 million tournament tickets have been sold. fifa.com

Island North. Meryal celebrates Qatar's discovery of oil and gas, and the rides are inspired by Qatari culture. The 280,000-plus square-metre waterpark is also home to 36 rides, including an 85-metre waterslide that the Guinness World Records recorded as the tallest in the world. qetaifanprojects.com

HAMAD INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT has bagged the World's Best Airport title for the second year in a row at Skytrax's 2022 World Airport Awards.

According to Skytrax, a world-renowned air transport rating organisation, these awards are considered "the most prestigious accolades for the airport industry". Winners are selected yearly based on the votes received in a large global customer satisfaction survey. skytraxratings.com

THE MINISTRY OF INTERIOR (MOI) launched the Qatar Digital ID (QDI) app, which is now available on Apple and Android. In its current phase, it gives users an alternative way to access electronic MOI services that currently require a plastic smart card.

It also uses facial recognition software to verify their identities and has a digital wallet section containing electronic versions of ID documents like QIDs and driver's licenses. The app is free to download, but users can pay QR 250 to set up a digital signature to sign off on online MOI transactions. moi.gov.qa

QETAIFAN PROJECTS has revealed that "Meryal" is the name of its soon-to-open waterpark in Qetaifan

WHAT'S ON THIS

CELEBRATE EXPRESS The National Museum of Qatar will be holding free Eid Al-Adha-themed guided tours for visitors to explore the cultural nuances of the holiday in Qatar. The tours will be held in Arabic and English, from 4 pm to 5 pm, with the Arabic one happening on 18 July 2022 and the English one on 19 July 2022. nmoq.org.qa/en/calendar/ eid-al-adha-in-qatar

Hyatt Plaza Mall is hosting ART FACTORY, a free-toenter planting, cooking, and art workshop for kids from 24 June 2022 to 15 July 2022. Each week, the workshop will have a theme, the first of which was "Little Farmer", which focused on planting. True to ART FACTORY's motto, "Keep Your Kids Busy", the sessions run daily, with activities happening almost non-stop from 2 pm to 10 pm. hyattplaza.com

TASTE

TOUR

There's nothing like summer brunch! Aramede Restaurant's Global Friday Brunch is packed with a wide selection of international foods and drinks from QR 280.

Stop by between 12:30 pm and 4:00 pm. To make a reservation, call 6641-5504 or visit the link below.

Water sports meets culture with AquaSports Qatar's Sunset MIA and Dhow Harbour Bay Kayaking Adventure. Gain insight into the Museum of Islamic Art's (MIA) history and architecture and learn about some of Qatar's top cultural landmarks (like Richard Serra's "7") while paddling through MIA park. The hourlong tour starts at 5:30 pm and is suitable for anyone with basic swimming skills.

Tickets are available to book online and cost QR 140 for adults, QR 90 for 12 to 18-year-olds, and QR 60 for seven to 11-year-olds.

opentable.com/r/ aramede-restaurantcrowne-plaza-doha-thebusiness-park-doha-2

paddleq.checkfront.com/ reserve/ Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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Bye Nits Bye Nits is Qatar's first lice treatment centre, offering customers of all ages in-house checks and treatments.

It promises complete lice removal in a single session with a three-step treatment approach involving head inspection, hair vacuuming, and nit combing. Bye Nits also offers at-home treatment kits and a range of lice-repellent products.

You can visit Bye Nits at its Duhail and Palms Mall branches. For up-to-date pricing, send a message to @byenitsqa on Facebook or Instagram.

byenits.com

These fun cookie decorating kits make the perfect edible gift. Each kit contains one to three cookies and eight food-grade felt-tip-like colour pens. You can choose between blank iced cookies or those with a pre-drawn picture to colour in. We were especially fans of their recent graduation-themed Class of 2022 range! Prices range between QR 22 and QR 36 for blank cookies and QR 27 and QR 51 for those with pictures.

Available via thesmartcookies.net

Epic: Kids' Books & Reading This reading app offers children under 12 access to over 40,000 fiction and nonfiction e-books on various topics. Some e-books come with a "read to me" option where a child can listen and follow along at different speeds. Parents can create and manage reading profiles for their children where they can select their interests and track their progress. You can read one e-book daily on the basic plan, but on the unlimited plan, you can access all e-books, audiobooks, and educational videos. At the time of writing, the unlimited plan costs around QR 45 per month or QR 345 a year with a 33% discount applied. Available via Android and Apple 12

Book Bites

By Kush Keshav, Grade 6, DPS Modern Indian School, Doha, Qatar Title: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Genre: Fiction Author: Roald Dahl

Charlie and the chocolate factory is one of the most-read children's books written by Roald Dahl.

It is a fascinating book because the story is all about a kid named Charlie who goes to a chocolate factory made by Willy Wonka.

Willy Wonka decides to give children a chance to visit his humungous chocolate factory by wrapping six golden tickets inside tasty chocolate bars. Finally, Charlie and five other children, each with a companion, go inside the gigantic chocolate factory to explore it. We also learn several moral values in the story. For example, we should be humble and kind, and we should not get overconfident while doing something.

Willy Wonka is my favourite character in this novel because he is the owner of the chocolate factory, and I would also love to own such a big chocolate factory.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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LIVING IN DOHA

Dear Newcomer: An Open Letter to� Just-landed Expats Most of us remember being the new person in town—wide-eyed with culture shock and bleary-eyed from jetlag. We remember all too well the loneliness and the overwhelm one feels in the hours, days, and weeks after landing. There is so much to say to the newcomer, yet it is hard to find the right words to say it. To anyone who has ever felt lost or alone in a new country, Emma Morrell dedicates this open letter to Doha's newest arrivals and her once newly-arrived self.

Dear newcomer, What did you think when you first got here? Did you arrive in early spring, before the scorching summer heat really kicked in, before you had seen the air wobble in front of you, and you wondered what all the fuss was about? Was it in the middle of one of the recent dust storms that meant you couldn't see West Bay from the aeroplane window as you taxied to the gate at Hamad International?

Had you been here before, or did you take this assignment, sight unseen, a leap of faith from where you were before?

We Were All You Once Some of us arrived just a few months ago in the new Doha that glitters with glass skyscrapers and shallow aquamarine waters around The Pearl. Some of us came 20 years ago and can still remember when the pyramid of the Sheraton was the only recognisable landmark in the city. Whether we're lifers in Doha or we're completely baffled as to why a junction with traffic lights is referred to as the "TV Roundabout", almost all of us can remember feeling how you feel as if it were yesterday.

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LIVING IN DOHA

Everyone Has a Story Maybe you're here for your job and nervous about doing business in the Middle East, and you really don't want to say or do the wrong thing. Maybe you've arrived with a brand-new baby, and you're worried about how to find nappies and paediatricians and new mummy friends. Maybe your kids are starting school, and you've heard the stories about all the good ones being impossible to get into. Or, perhaps you've got high-schoolers, and you're wondering how to navigate those teen years in a country where cultural and social norms are so different to yours. You might even be an empty nester, and you haven't the first idea how you're going to meet people now the link to a school community is gone.

Are you thrilled about a new adventure and excited to get stuck into a new country and a new culture? Or are you silently terrified because you didn't want to move here in the first place? Were you put in touch with friends of friends before you came? Or have you arrived here without knowing a single soul?

You might have come in from Europe, the States, or Australia, where you can get almost anything you want when you want. Those places have very different rules about dress codes and what you can consume where. You might have come in from a neighbouring GCC country and wondered how Doha compares to Dubai or Muscat, Riyadh or Manama. Where you lived before might have been "easier", or it might have been "harder" than it is in Doha. The truth is, the hardest place to live is the place where you have just arrived, but it's also the easiest because, once you're here, there's nothing left to do but get on with it.

Doha's Biggest Asset You might not know this, but Doha's biggest asset isn't natural gas, its medical system, or even the upcoming World Cup. The best thing about Doha is the communities that exist between the flashy new highways and dusty back streets. They live in the sprawling compounds and the towering high-rise condominiums, and they exist in schools, networking groups, and online forums. Your new best friends will be people you met on Facebook when you asked a question about playgroups. They will be other parents at the rugby club cheering your kids on from the sidelines. You'll probably even meet them in the school car park or at the gym you've just joined.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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LIVING IN DOHA

It Takes a Village Far away from everything and everyone you have known, these new best friends will quickly become like family to you, maybe even more so than your own flesh and blood. Can you imagine that? Perhaps not, but then again, you probably couldn't imagine asking an almost stranger to be your emergency contact at school. And the chances are you've just done that too.

You'll make friends who have been here for a lifetime and can tell you everything from the secret shortcut to school to the best paediatrician in the city. They will take you to glitzy brunches and tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurants that no one knows about. They'll be able to give you tips on the best beaches, perfect playgrounds, and the most awesome activities.

You'll make friends who are as new as you are to this sandy city, and together you'll compare notes on accommodation options, school waiting lists, and utility providers. You'll discuss the comparative differences in costs of living, debate which supermarkets sell your favourite home comforts, and share the sheer shock you'll feel when you walk outside on a 50°C day.

Adventures to Come With all of these friends, you will explore this tiny peninsula and everything it has to offer. Together, you'll set off at weekends to discover abandoned forts and towns, sand dunes that sing as you slide down them, and beaches with warm shallow water so blue you'd think you were on a tropical island.

You'll head to the Inland Sea to camp for the weekend and exchange travel tips on the best places to go while watching the sky set alight in a display of reds and oranges as the blazing sun sinks below the horizon.

On quieter days, you will meet up for playdates in playgrounds or catchups on compounds. You'll make carpooling arrangements for the school run or drop over for a cup of tea and a debate about career options for people who move all the time. When one of you is hospitalised, you'll look after each other's children. When your partner travels for work (again), they'll invite you for dinner. When that dreaded call comes, immediately sending you home frantic and anxious, they'll rally around to get your kids to school and meals on the table.

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LIVING IN DOHA

A Common Understanding Your friends here are the only ones who understand this life. They're the only ones who really get how disorientating it is to arrive in a country you hardly know and start again. They're the ones who recognise the anxiety of getting places in schools and transporting pets halfway around the world.

Your friends at home have no idea about the complexities of getting your biometrics done for your ID card, passing a driving test even though you have a licence at home, or just renewing an Istimara. But these ones do. You might think it's just you that feels the crushing loneliness of walking into yet another coffee morning or waking up to a day with young kids and no plans, but it's not.

We understand this life because we live it too.

Dear newcomer, were your worst fears realised, or did this unique country exceed your hopes and dreams? Or has it been, as it has for most of us, a wild and wonderful combination of the two?

Love, Your new friend xx DF

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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LIVING IN DOHA

10 D

Life Lessons Learnt Living in Doha

oha life—it has its challenges, and it has its rewards. Here at Doha Family, we live

for the good stuff and love it when we realise that expat life has taught us things we might not have learnt back home. To celebrate our 10th anniversary, Emma Morrell shares the top 10 lessons she learnt from being an expat in Doha.

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1. Life Is an Adventure When you arrive in a new place, everything seems so fresh and exciting. There's something about moving somewhere for the first time that makes us channel fresh energy into setting up a new life.

Saying yes to every invitation and opportunity is the best way to start your adventure in Doha. From exploring the beaches and sand dunes with new friends to heading to movie nights and theme parks with your family, there's more to do all over the country than may at first meet the eye.

Which, ultimately, begs the question: why didn't we approach life like this back home?

LIVING IN DOHA

2. Wherever You Go, There You Are Many people come to expat life expecting every day to be glamorous, and others come to escape their lives back home. But once you're here, you realise that neither of those things is possible 100% of the time.

Expat life includes the humdrum routine of school runs, sick days, and family arguments. Poor quality relationships, health problems, and issues at work can all follow you to Doha, and bad weather, horrible bosses, and friendship dramas can happen anywhere.

What we will also tell you, though, is that a bad attitude can absolutely guarantee a bad experience. We know that because we've all met the newbies (and oldbies) who are having a bad time of it. Those people might be harking over the good old days in [insert location that they loved], or they might be new expats who never wanted to move in the first place.

They might be going through marital problems or health problems. Perhaps they are facing pressure from home or inside themselves, causing them to second-guess their move.

Handling all these things gracefully is a skill that not many people—expats or not— can claim to do, but just being conscious of them is a great start.

You can't always know what the problem is or if you have control over it. What you can guarantee is that it will have a direct influence on your experience here.

3. Attitude Is Everything Bear with us here. A good attitude can't fix mould in your villa, a boss who bullies you, children struggling to adapt, or crippling mental illness. Any seasoned expat who has completed several successful assignments will tell you that a good attitude can't guarantee that the next post will also follow suit.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

4. Make Here Home Lots of people don't appreciate the value of making a home in a foreign land. Qatar has such a transient community, and many arrive not knowing how long they will be here. Indeed, they often leave other residences behind them in their countries of origin. Here's the problem: you'll never truly settle if it doesn't feel like home.

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LIVING IN DOHA If you can't afford to move all your possessions to Doha or want to maintain your family home, that's okay! There is still plenty you can do to make your new space feel like it's yours. Take the time to bring some familiar belongings with you, get photos printed and put up in your new place, or go shopping when you get here to make your new pad feel like a place you love. Your home should be your sanctuary!

That being said, you'll soon realise that a home is so much more than the four walls around you. The people inside it are what really counts—the love you have for each other and the memories you make together are the most important things.

5. Protect Your Physical And Mental Health Expat life, particularly at the beginning of a new assignment, can take a huge toll on your physical and mental health. The scorching summer months in Qatar make it hard to go outside and get fresh air or do almost any sort of exercise. Getting out of the house to meet new people for the umpteenth time is draining, and keeping a whole family happy, away from the

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network of family and friends that you had at home, doesn't always leave much time for exercise, meditation, or "me time". That doesn't mean any of it is less important.

As the saying goes, you can't pour from an empty cup. The benefits of taking care of your physical and mental health will have long-ranging benefits for your family, friendships, and overall Doha experience.

From indoor exercise classes and pampering sessions to coffee mornings and just hanging out with your new friends, any little thing to help preserve and improve your well-being is worth it.

6. People Make the Place Ultimately, the people you surround yourself with are the ones that will have the biggest impact on your life in Doha.

Living in a swanky compound or driving an expensive car won't do that, nor will any amount of retail therapy in one of the many malls around. What will make a difference is having lots of happy people in your life instead of negative people who will bring you down with them.

With so many expats living in the city, finding the people who light you up might take some time, but you will come across them in the end. Head to groups that do things you love or try that class you always wanted to take. Or, you could do something completely different! Just do

LIVING IN DOHA what it takes to find people with common interests. It can take time to find the right mix of people because, remember, just because you fit doesn't mean you belong, but persevering will pay off.

7. Patience vs Control Despite having little influence over many aspects of expat life, expats are closet control freaks. We try to regulate any part of our lives we can to offset the lack in other areas. But Doha will put your patience to the ultimate test. This will happen when you're figuring out how to get your driver's licence or why your rescue dog has two microchips. You will be pushed to your limit when you realise that your shipment has been held up in customs for an inexplicable reason or that the road you drove down yesterday has been replaced by a new one, so now you don't know where you are.

Yet, it will also make you learn that you have zero control over when you get that license, that two microchips are better than one, that your shipment will eventually arrive, and that there are apps like Waze to help your frazzled driving brain. What's more, you'll laugh about it all later! The truth is we didn't have control back home either, no matter how well we held up that illusion. And good things come to those who wait…or have wasta.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

8. Capture the Moment They say that nothing lasts forever, and nothing could be more accurate in such a fast-changing environment like Doha.

Every year, people leave and arrive, old roads close and new ones open, and we add another year of experience to our expat lives.

At home, these transitions and changes are subtler, and those "lasts" aren't always so obvious. We might not realise it is the last time going to that playground or the last time we will see someone. While the same can sometimes be said in Doha (looking at you, closed road!), we are often more acutely aware of our changing environment, which means we notice and appreciate those lasts more keenly.

As such, we find that we take notice (and photos) of the lasts, and we appreciate the little things much more than we might have done at home. Mundane routines such as regular play dates, evenings at the compound pool, and weekly carpools suddenly take on more meaning, and we feel the need to capture those moments in a way we might never have done but wished we had at home.

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LIVING IN DOHA

9. Time and Distance Aren't Linear Obviously, in absolute terms, both time and distance are linear, and generally, it feels true.

But in expat life, time and distance seem to bend more than at home. It seems incredible that friends who have long left Qatar but kept in touch seem closer to us than our neighbours.

In the same way, it seems inconceivable that the first month we lived here felt like it lasted 1,000 days, yet the two years that followed flew by in the blink of an eye.

Over time, you will learn that you can go five years without seeing friends and then spend two hours over dinner talking as if you were picking up from last week. Yet, you might also lose touch with friends from home after an awkward evening out where you realise that you no longer have anything in common. You might find that when faced with oh-too expensive tickets to get home for a funeral, you have never felt further away from home even though the distance has stayed the same.

10. You're Stronger Than You Think To invoke the wisdom of Winnie The Pooh, you really are stronger than you think!

How many of you have talked with friends back home and heard them say, "I could never do that"? Sure, they might be saying that in admiration of your resilience and bravery, or they could be giving you a back-handed compliment.

Whatever their intent, know that not everyone can do this life. When you feel like giving up, look at how far you have come and how you have done things that many others couldn't (or wouldn't) do.

You've left your home and everyone you know. You started again and found everything from housing and schools, to doctors and supermarkets, to playgrounds and social activities. You've done the small talk and navigated getting employment and dependant passes. You've suffered through homesickness and physical sickness, self-doubt, and other people's negativity. Yet here you are, on the other side! Those setbacks couldn't define you.

Instead, they made you stronger.

The life lessons this city teaches us are valuable and will last longer than most of our time here.

Strength, resilience, bravery, and perseverance are some of the best traits we can learn in expat life, and there's nowhere better to learn them than right here in Doha. DF

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LIVING IN DOHA

Metamorphosis: How the Expat Experience Changed Four Mums' Lives

By Dr Deepika

M

oving to a new country is one of the hardest decisions, but it can also be rewarding and transformative. Setting up in a new environment, learning more about yourself, and forming a community can only be described as metamorphic. So, on the occasion of Doha Family Magazine's 10 anniversary, here's a look into the journeys of four expat mums who turned their lives around and made a mark in the country they now call home.

academics, age is just a number. Despite that, it hasn't always been an easy ride. "The journey is full of ups and downs for a professional and working mom to manage work and family at the same time and when your relatives are not around," she admits. Reflecting on her decadelong stay in Qatar, Shima believes that being an expat has pushed her to realise her goals.

SHIMA SADAF: From Office Job to PhD Shima strongly believes it is never too late to pursue your dreams and that when it comes to Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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LIVING IN DOHA Shima also considers the environment in Qatar to be progressive and empowering for women.

With that in mind, she re-enrolled in university and started her path to a PhD. Her efforts came to fruition when she graduated earlier this year from Qatar university: "By the grace and mercy of Almighty Allah, I have been awarded distinction at the doctoral level [for my] PhD in Electrical Engineering." Additionally, Shima was honoured at a private graduation ceremony hosted by Her Highness the Wife of the Emir of the State of Qatar due to earning the title of Distinguished Female Graduate at the 45th Cohort: Class of 2022.

CHANDANA REDDY LOKA: From Stay-at-home Mum to Stage Performer Chandana distinctly remembers her early days in Qatar, almost 10 years ago, when she moved here with her husband and two-year-old son. She recalls feeling uneasy while also having the urge to connect with others—a relatable experience for many newcomers. Plus, her passion for dance and stage performance only magnified her desire to express herself and connect with others on a similar wavelength.

Eventually, she discovered that Qatar was home to diverse communities and decided to explore different community groups. As a result, three years into her stay, she joined the Indian Cultural Centre and Telangana Jagruthi Qatar (an Indian socio-cultural organisation), which she says "turned into [her] extended family".

Since becoming an active member of these groups, Chandana has participated in several cultural dance performances and other stage performances at various events. These have included Passage of India by the Indian Embassy 24

at MIA Park and the IAAF World Athletics Championship, to name a few. Dance has given her a sense of achievement and helped her make new friends and acquaintances. Reflecting on her accomplishments, Chandana says: "If not [for] the safe and secure environment of Qatar and the vast exposure it provides even for nonworking mums, it would not have been possible for me to create my own name and mark in this new country, which is now no [longer] new for me."

It hasn't always been smooth sailing for Chandana, who admits having moments of "cluelessness and darkness" while trying to balance pursuing her passions with her role as a mother. Nevertheless, her stance on going after what you love is clear: "Existence does not just mean survival. It is beyond [that]."

LIVING IN DOHA

NIMMI AFZAL: From School Books to Photo Studios Nimmi reflects on her decade-long journey in Qatar with fondness. The former teacher believes that living here paved the path for her to follow her ambitions and transform into the person she always wanted to become. "It's a journey of change for the better—metamorphosis, you see," she says.

When Nimmi first resigned from her role in the classroom, food photography was mostly a hobby, and her clientele was limited. Today, it's a full-time job. The mother of one is now a successful freelance food and product photographer for several emerging food outlets across the country and is financially independent. "Risks are involved, but the sense of achievement makes the plunge worth it," she says. Additionally, one of her photos was exhibited in Katara this year throughout Ramadan and Eid Al Fitr—a feat that filled her with pride.

Nimmi has come a long way from her days as a food blogger, which is where she first dipped her toes in food photography. Her experiences now drive her to motivate others to believe in their dreams and work hard to achieve them.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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SHALINI KAUSHIK KRISHNA KUMAR: From Employee to Business Owner Shalini moved to Qatar after her daughter graduated from university and embraced the transition with hope and determination. Still, as a long-term corporate employee whose life followed a routine, the move and the changes that followed were not so easy for her.

When she arrived, she tried to find a purpose in her new environment, which led her to work in a kindergarten. However, she soon realised that wasn't the answer and left a year later. So, after a period of introspection and a few ups and downs along the way, at 51 years old, Shalini found her new calling. So, she created her jewellery startup, Al Saha – The Label.

Al Saha – The Label sells hand and machinemade jewellery fashioned from threads, beads, pearls, and stones. Shalini says that her jewellery enhances her customers' outer and inner beauty and boosts their confidence at an affordable price. "Though beauty is who you are, jewellery is simply the icing on the cake," she opines.

Shalini describes her decision to make such a drastic change to be a "leap of faith" that needed "immense trust". Moreover, starting her business has not just been life-changing for her. Shalini also employs many women in India, giving them a shot at financial independence, which she believes makes "everyone happy in this bargain".

Despite being born out of her love for jewellery, starting Al Saha – The Label has not been easy.

Fortunately, she has found Qatar's e-commerce platforms to be extremely helpful. However, she still feels she has a long way to go. Starting up was difficult due to Covid, but she sees that things are falling into place slowly and steadily. Plus, she has found that her venture has helped her meet 26

new people and build a community, which she says has brought her immense happiness.

So how does Shalini feel about her move to Qatar today? "Qatar grows on you, despite being a quiet and peaceful place. You adapt to the place and gradually fall in love with the country—and it's mysterious."

Qatar has evolved tremendously over these years, and so have its residents. Everyone here has a story, and many have overcome significant hurdles and used them to change their lives and inspire their communities. The accounts shared here exemplify that no matter what happens in our lives and how far along we are on a particular path, we can always start again. All it takes is resilience and zeal—traits that inevitably come with being an expat. DF

LIVING IN DOHA

Finding Your Doha Community

By Laura Powell-Corbett

L

iving abroad is a fantasy for many, Why Community Matters but the reality is that it comes with its own challenges. Contrary to Social interaction is essential for humans to what some may think, it isn't like thrive. In fact, a 2018 article by South University permanently being on holiday. Real-life states that it's even good for our health. It "A strong network of support or strong creeps in, and many end up going through reads: community bonds fosters both emotional and major life changes while living away from physical health and is an important component of adult life." their home countries and communities.

Still, if you look around Doha, you can see all kinds of people getting together and forming communities. Here, friends really can become family. This remains true even if it seems like everyone already has their circle, and you're the outsider looking in.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

Despite this, finding a community may not always be a straightforward process. Everyone has their own values, interests, and personality traits, which means you can either click with someone or not. And more often than not, expat friendships are formed depending on your life circumstances.

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Support Through Different Stages

how isolated I was becoming in my apartment with a baby." But it's all paid off, as Stephanie reveals that she, her husband, and baby have all made new friends.

Stephanie* moved to Doha as a child-free newlywed. She secured a job within days of landing and formed a community with her colleagues. From there, she quickly built a network of friends with whom she could socialise, exercise, and more. These connections were a lifeline for Stephanie, who was often home alone as her husband worked as a pilot. However, things started to change once she discovered she was expecting her first baby.

While Stephanie's community remained supportive and loving towards her, she found that her priorities had shifted. "Friends would ring me up and invite me out for drinks or dinner, not realising that I just couldn't drop everything and leave the baby. I had my husband flying and no one to leave her with. It got to the point where people stopped calling because I was always saying no," she recalls.

Stephanie realised that her new circumstances meant that she was drifting away from her original circle. She needed to find new friends, so she made even more changes. "As a family, we moved away from The Pearl and into a compound, which I was initially nervous about, but living in the compound has made me realise 28

Stephanie is not alone—many other mums have reported feeling isolated and that things only worsened with the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tamsin, who had her third baby as Covid

LIVING IN DOHA

restrictions eased in early 2022, realised the need for a supportive community for all those who were having children during that time.

Having set up various Facebook groups to meet

what it was like to give birth away from home and Covid restrictions and to share hospital recommendations. "The beauty of Facebook is that we have such a range of mums joining, from first-time parents to old hands, and being online helps you ask those questions you think might be stupid—which never are—without feeling embarrassed," she says. Tamsin's group now hosts over 50 women of various nationalities who support each other online and during weekly coffee meet-ups.

Moving to a new country with school-age children brings a different dimension to finding a community. Alexandra, a mum to two young boys, moved to Doha a year ago and is finally feeling settled. Back home, meeting and befriending parents at the school gate was almost second nature, but that didn’t come as easily for her here. Fortunately, she discovered that playing sports would open up a world of connections, all while learning new skills. "The crazy part is that every class I attend, or sport I try, there is always a connection with someone from one of the other classes or sports that I do," she says.

people when she had her first two children, she decided to do the same again. And the response was phenomenal. Tamsin's group became a safe space for mums to ask questions about Summer 2022 | Issue 22

As your children become older, you might find yourself at another crossroads. Cathy* moved to Doha with her husband and youngest son, leaving behind her daughter, who recently began university. Having one foot at home with her child and the other building a new 29

LIVING IN DOHA life took its toll on her, so she turned to her community for help. As her son was older and more independent, her community was mainly centred around her hobbies and interests. "My biggest community builder has been moving into a compound and saying yes to everything," she shares.

On the other hand, Sarah*, a mum of four, found that making connections this time was very different from how she last remembered. It's her second stint in Doha, and now she is here without her children. Her lifestyle no longer revolves around the school run and being a "mum taxi". With her newly-free afternoons, she could be more flexible with how she socialised.

So, she joined the long-standing Tuesday Ladies Club, a volunteer-run organisation dedicated to serving the needs of expat women of all nationalities in Qatar. Through it, she says she has found other women who share the same interests and values.

You may think that community building begins and ends with those first intense days in a new country. However, as many expats can confirm, this is often not the case. You are forever adding to your network as life changes and new people join your journey.

Diana* has lived in Qatar for the last 15 years and has witnessed many changes throughout her life here. Her circle is also filled with other long-standing expats, which isn't unexpected.

The nature of the expat lifestyle means that people ebb and flow throughout the years, so long-standing expats often bond over still being here. However, this doesn't mean that they have stayed the same. Diana believes she is very different from the person she was when she first stepped off the plane 15 years ago. "While many of my friends are those longstanding expats who can reminisce about when there was nothing but the Sheraton, as Doha has grown, my family has grown, and naturally, 30

my friendship circle has grown," she explains.

Diana adds that being in Qatar for this long means that she can give newcomers the type of support she received when she was new to the country.

The Power of Yes

With everything said, it can take time to build a network of people around you that you know, love, and trust. It can take months, or even years, to feel settled, even if it looks like everyone around you has quickly figured it out. As the experiences above show, the key is to take that leap of faith and put yourself out there. Just say yes.

Say yes to the mum who asks if you fancy a coffee after noticing you looking a bit lost. Say yes to the teammate who asks you to try pilates together and the colleague who wants to grab dinner.

And if you find a new mum in a Facebook group asking if anyone fancies catching up, make her day and say yes to her too. Those yeses might just be the start of your Doha community journey. *Names have been changed to protect their privacy. DF

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Doha Family 2022 Parenting Survey We polled our readers to learn more about their lives and their parenting experiences in Qatar. Here’s what they have to say.

Gender

Length of time in Qatar

Top Five Nationalities 1. India 2. United kingdom 3. The Philippines 4. Pakistan 5.Portugal

Marital Status 98%

1%

1%

50%

41%

9%

Married

Separated

Single

Age Most common age group is:

Employment 50%

41%

9%

Work outside the home

Stay at home

Work from home

30–39

53%

Followed by: 40–49 20–29 50–59

35% 8% 5%

Number of Children

72%

72% have one to two children

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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LIVING IN DOHA Children’s ages

Activities

6–12

40%

3–5

35%

0–2

9%

13–19

14%

20+

1%

Just over 50% have said their children were born in Qatar

Life Satisfaction

23%

13%

are satisfied

are dissatisfied

40%

are somewhat satisfied with the activity choices available for their children

10%

are somewhat satisfied

8%

64% are at least satisfied with their lives in Qatar

are very satisfied

6%

are very dissatisfied

Family Time 75% feel they spend enough time with their families

Types of activities their children are interested in:

82%

Making Friends 35% agree that it’s easy to meet and befriend other families 29% somewhat agree 15% somewhat disagree 8% disagree 7% strongly disagree 5% strongly agree

are interested in sports

64% are interested in arts

44% are interested in gaming

32%

Satisfaction with School Choices 40% are at least satisfied with the school choices available in Qatar 29% are strongly satisfied 13% are somewhat dissatisfied 10% are dissatisfied 8% are very dissatisfied

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are interested in STEM

Quality of Life 66% wish their children had better social lives 51% want to improve their finances 35% wish their own social lives were better 34% want better work/life balance DF

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A

s summer temperatures continue to soar in Qatar, it is common to flock indoors to beat the heat. With parks and beaches largely off-limits during the day, you might be stuck for ideas on how to keep your little ones busy and having fun. Have no fear! There are plenty of places to go, from indoor amusement parks to museums. So, here's a rundown of kidfriendly ways to have a blast while beating the heat.

1- Summer Camps These supervised educational summer camps provide a daytime schedule packed with activities. Drop your kids off and relax as they spend their days living it up while learning new skills.

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LIVING IN DOHA #IAMEVO Summer Camp

Caboodle Pamper and Play

#IAMEVO camps are offering the chance to participate in sporting activities throughout the summer. They will be running a multisports camp plus a fencing and archery camp for children aged four to 11 from 26 June until 11 August.

From 15 July to 30 August, children aged two to eight can join Caboodle Pamper and Play's summer camp. Activities will centre around art, movement, and just having fun! A delightful, educational experience for all.

Cost: QR 750 per child per week with a 20% discount for school staff Locat ion: Doha College, Al Wajba; SEK Doha, West Bay; Park House, Abu Hamour Website: evosportsqatar.com Call: 4407-6772

Acorn Nursery Summer Camp For the younger set, Acorn Nursery offers an extensive play-based summer camp for children aged zero to four from 3 July 2022 to 18 August 2022.

Cost: QR 900 per week, QR 200 per day Locat ion: Acorn Nursery, Abu Hamour Website: acornqatar.com Call: 4038-7684

Cost: QR 900 for the first child, QR 750 for addit ional children Locat ion: Caboodle Pamper and Play, Doha Fest ival Cit y Call: 4407-6772

Fitness Factory X STEM Xplorers Summer Camp This collaborative effort between Fitness Factory and STEM Xplorers offers seven fun-filled weeks of education, entertainment, creativity, and fitness in their summer programme for kids aged four to 12, from 26 June 2022 to 4 August 2022.

Cost: from QR 680 weekly Location: Tower 20, Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar Call: 3399-6665

2- Trampoline Parks Trampolining is a great way to release energy and add an extra spring to your child's step.

Check out these parks for powered-up bouncy fun.

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LIVING IN DOHA BOUNCE Qatar

Rebound Qatar

BOUNCE Qatar is the home of freestyle jumping.

It hosts an extensive trampoline park with around 3,000 square meters of interconnected indoor trampolines, adventure features, padding, and airbags.

Trampolines, a foam pit, basketball, a velcro wall, zorb ball, and wall climb, oh my! This 600-squaremetre trampoline park is a great place to have fun and keep active indoors.

Looking for an added thrill? BOUNCE Qatar also incorporates X-Park, the adventure obstacle course for adrenaline hunters, and FREERUN, where the only limit is your imagination.

Cost: f rom QR 80 Locat ion: Tawar Mall Website: bounce.qa Call: 4408-6500

Jumping This 2,000-plus square metres of fun is Qatar's newest trampoline park house. Located in Place Vendome, it contains over 100 interconnected trampolines under a single roof for your kids to bounce to their hearts' content.

Cost: f rom QR 100 Locat ion: Place Vendome Website: jumpinot rampoline.com Call: 4006-0269

Jump Qatar Over 700 square meters of joy await at Jump Qatar. There is something for everyone at Jump, from its velcro wall to a ninja obstacle course, and it also offers free jumping and an extensive foam zone.

Cost: f rom QR 100 Locat ion: Gate Mall Call: 5037-2142

Rush Qatar Action Park This 2022 addition is the newest indoor action park for children aged four to 14. There's a lot to do with its trampolines, biplane, motorised ninja course, net course, and football cage that is perfect for friendly competition.

Cost: f rom QR 100 Locat ion: Gate 3, Mall of Qatar Call: 4028-5990

Trampo Extreme Jump to your heart's content across this indoor playground's connected trampolines, foam pits, monkey bars, and dodgeball zone.

Additionally, Trampo houses extensive soft play, a variety of clip' n' climb walls, and an enormous rope course in the form of a sky trail.

Cost: f rom QR 70 Locat ion: Aspire Zone Website: t rampo-qatar.com Call: 4499-8888

Cost: f rom QR 60 Locat ion: Mirqab Mall Website: jumpqatar.com Call: 4447-9713

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3- Amusement Centres If jumping around doesn't sound like your kids' cup of tea, consider this diverse range of entertainment centres.

Angry Birds World This indoor theme park, designed around the early 2000s phenomenon of Angry Birds, contains rides, attractions, games, and live shows that suit children of all ages.

Cost: f rom QR 100 Locat ion: Doha Fest ival Cit y Website: angrybirdsworld.qa Call: 4042-0444

Escape Hunt Qatar The pressure is on—the clocks are ticking, and adrenaline is pumping. You and your time are against the clock to solve the clues and escape.

Do you have what it takes? Find out at Escape Hunt Qatar.

Cost: f rom QR 150 Website: escapehunt.com/qa/qatar Locat ion: Al Thumama Call: 3355-5566

CurioCITY

FunVille

This adventurous playground caters to the curious minds of children up to age 12.

CurioCITY aims to help children learn about science, engage them in physical activities, and familiarise them with the routine activities of life.

FunVille offers a safe and secure indoor play area for children aged one to 10.

Cost: f rom QR 120 Locat ion: La Croisette 18, Porto Arabia, The Pearl-Qatar Website: centerof play.com Call: 7723-3233

Doha Quest Widely known as Doha's first indoor theme park, Doha Quest hosts over 30 rides and attractions. It is also home to two Guinness World Records title holders: the "Tallest Indoor Rollercoaster" and the "Tallest Indoor Drop Tower Ride".

With so many unique rides, from 3D Experiences to thrill rides and family attractions, there is definitely something for everyone.

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Cost: f rom QR 150 Locat ion: Doha Oasis, Msheireb Website: dohaquest.com Call: 4410-3444

Cost: varies—pay per att ract ion via a rechargeable card Locat ion: Barwa Cit y, Al Asmakh Mall, Cit y Center Mall Website: qatar.f unvillearabia.com

Gondolania Theme Park Iconic to Villaggio Mall, this complex boasts an ice skating rink, a bowling alley, a Venetianinspired gondola boat ride, and the Gondolania Entertainment centre, which features soft play, rides, and games.

Cost: varies—pay per att ract ion via a rechargeable card Locat ion: Villaggio Mall Website: gondolania.com Call: 4403-9800

LIVING IN DOHA Jungle Zone

Snow Dunes

This jungle-themed amusement centre contains rides, attractions, games, and soft play for children of all ages.

Cool down in the snow in Qatar's first snow dunes. There is plenty to do with 12 super cool rides and attractions for all ages and abilities.

Cost: varies—pay per att ract ion via a rechargeable card Locat ion: Hyatt Plaza Mall Call: 4499-9699

Cost: f rom QR 180 Website: snowdunes.qa Locat ion: Doha Fest ival Cit y Call: 4042-0444

KidzMondo

Xtremeland

This international edutainment concept puts kids in charge of a kid-sized city, taking on different real-life roles in corporate-sponsored businesses.

Your children will be learning through play via various age-appropriate activities in a dynamic setting.

Xtremeland offers a wide range of entertainment options: an amusement park, rides, games, and even a giant, soft play-based toddler haven called "Toddler Land".

Cost: f rom QR 90 Locat ion: Mall of Qatar Website: kidzmondodoha.com Call: 4482-6222

Cost: varies—pay per att ract ion via rechargeable card Locat ion: Mall of Qatar Call: 5037-2142

KidZania This 5,500-square-metre child-sized city needs no introductions. In this city, children aged one to 14 take on the roles of firefighters, doctors, chefs, and so much more while enriching their minds with every step.

Cost: f rom QR 95 Locat ion: Aspire Zone Website: doha.kidzania.com/ en-qa Call: 5037-2142

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4- Gaming Centres

5- Museums and Libraries

These fun-filled centres are the perfect treat for the game enthusiast in your life.

You can always count on Qatar's cultural sector for enlightening and entertaining experiences.

Keep this (completely non-exhaustive) list of institutions handy for educational days out.

Megapolis This state-of-the-art indoor entertainment centre offers an exhaustive range of activities for guests of all ages, including classic arcade games and virtual reality (VR) adventures.

Cost: varies—pay per att ract ion via a rechargeable card Website: megapolisqatar.com Locat ion: Medina Cent rale, The Pearl-Qatar Call: 4437-8444

Virtuocity This 1,100-square-metre hub of pure gaming pleasure houses 200 gaming stations, six escape rooms, 10 VR cubes, and six VIP rooms.

Cost: f rom QR 150 Website: virt uocit y.qa Locat ion: Doha Fest ival Cit y Call: 4042-0444

3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum The world's second-largest Olympic museum, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, combines informative exhibits with interactive sporting game opportunities.

Cost: f ree for residents Locat ion: Khalifa Stadium, Aspire Zone Website: 321qosm.org.qa Call: 4452-5200

Al Thuraya Planetarium Named after the Pleiades star cluster, the Al Thuraya Planetarium will take you on a journey through time and space.

Cost: f ree Locat ion: Katara Call: 4408-2067

Fire Station Home to various exhibits throughout the year, Fire Station has hosted the works of several big-name artists, including Picasso, Ai Weiwei, and the late Virgil Abloh.

You can keep up with ongoing displays and current artists in residence through its website.

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LIVING IN DOHA Cost: f ree for residents Locat ion: opposite Al Bidda Park Website: firestat ion.org.qa

Museum of Illusions You simply won't believe your eyes—visit and experience the impossible! This museum provides an intriguing visual, sensory, and educational experience through a variety of illusions.

Qatar National Library With over 120,000 print books in the collection—mostly in English and Arabic—visitors are almost guaranteed to find something to set their imaginations alight. Citizens and residents are eligible to become library members and can borrow up to four books at a time.

Cost: f ree Locat ion: Educat ion Cit y Website: qnl.qa/en Call: 4454-0100 DF

Cost: f rom QR 60 Locat ion: Gate Mall Website: museumofillusions.qa Call: 4020-6237

National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ) This cultural giant brings the story of Qatar and its people to life. Currently, the Pipilotti Rist: Your Brain to Me, My Brain to You exhibition is running until 20 December 2022. You can also find other family-oriented activities at NMoQ, including storytelling sessions, workshops, and tours.

Cost: f ree for residents Locat ion: Doha Corniche Website: nmoq.org.qa Call: 4452-5555

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FAMILY MATTERS

An Unexpected Journey: "I came to Qatar for a Month and I Still Haven't left!"

By Claudia Cojocea

W

hen I initially arrived in Qatar with my child in May 2021, we intended to stay for just one month. It's been over a year, and we have no (actual) plans to leave anytime soon. This is our story.

March 2019: The Beginning My family and I lived a comfortable continental European lifestyle. But three years ago, on what seemed to be a typical, light Saturday movie night, an important financial institution unexpectedly messaged my husband on Linkedin. It was in Qatar, and I honestly didn't think much of the proposal at the time because I knew little about the country. It seemed like life there would be far too different, so I didn't think I could end up moving. Soon, however, an Summer 2022 | Issue 22

offer was on the table, and arrangements were made. By the time I realised that our lives were about to change significantly, it was too late for me to do anything about it.

So, my husband accepted the contract intending to stay in Qatar for a year while my son and I continued our lives back home with my father's support and company.

2020: Covid and Major Life Changes

When Covid happened, the world changed, and so did our plans. My husband was stuck in Doha, so we only saw each other for a few days throughout the whole of 2020. But, as I previously stated, my father was with us, which reassured me that my child and I were safe and always cared for. This was until January 2021, when we found out that he was dying, completely out of the blue.

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FAMILY MATTERS

2021: "Visiting" Qatar Just three months after the start of his symptoms and a tragic diagnosis, my father passed away at the end of April 2021. I desperately needed hope, so my son and I boarded a plane and arrived in Doha on 24 May 2021. Because 24 has always been a lucky number for me, I knew that travelling to Qatar on such a special day would be a positive experience for our family.

After the pandemic changed our initial plans, we found ourselves a year later confused and unable to decide whether to end our story with Qatar or continue it. So, when my son and I arrived in here, we planned to remain for a month to see whether we liked it. If all went well, we would travel to Europe for the summer and return to Qatar in September. Once again, our plans were shifting at a breakneck rate.

Sun, Sand, and New Possibilities At first glance, Doha seemed to be a lovely city with its beaches, shopping malls, and locations like The Pearl-Qatar and Souq Waqif. Still, anytime we left our apartment, the heat was a cruel awakening. And the humidity seemed to only add insult to injury, especially during the 42

summer (though later in the year, when Europe was freezing, the temperatures in Qatar were more than delightful!).

Despite the hot summer weather, we felt that the people of Qatar really knew how to make expats feel at home in their country, and this aspect helped us a lot. Although I soon started to get used to the new climate, I still felt that my healing process was somehow stagnating. So, I decided to look for an exciting job that would take my mind off things and give me a new purpose. It helped that my husband was already here, as he knew the town, the locations, and pretty much everything else. We moved into an apartment by the beach, went out as much as possible, and I soon found a job! Success!

Now, almost a year later, I think back on everything I've been through recently, and it feels like I lived (and am still living) someone else's life. My life, especially pre-Covid, was starkly different to how it is now. I used to take the subway every day, where it was hard to breathe because so many people were going to and from work. I ate pretzels while answering several emails and went to meetings in small rooms with bad ventilation. Of course, there were all the glamorous events I'd attend back then as a blogger, such as product launches and fashion shows, but the negative feelings always won out.

FAMILY MATTERS

The GCC Lifestyle My life today is clearly very different from what it used to be, and it has its pros and cons.

Nevertheless, one of the things I like about this region is the strong sense of law and order. Everyone understands that they need to follow the rules. Understandably, some of them may feel rigid and difficult at first, but their significance becomes clear after a while. To me, all relationships need limits and boundaries to function properly, including the ones we have with the countries we live in. So this structure is ideal for me.

Therefore, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Doha is one of the safest cities in the world. And because I've always been concerned about my family's safety, I believe this country is the best place for me to live. Unlike back home, where I was constantly on the lookout, I am completely unafraid to go anywhere, at any time. A lost item will be found exactly where you left it, and no one will take it from your hands because nearly everyone here follows the rules.

2022: To Be Continued Living and working in another country can feel difficult, particularly at first. It is also not uncommon for exposure to new environments and cultures and being surrounded by people from all over the globe to leave us feeling bewildered and yearning for the comfort of our home countries. We have dealt with similar challenges as a family. Still, we have decided that as long as we are all together, we can ride out this adventure and observe how our journey in Qatar unfolds. DF

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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FAMILY MATTERS

Guiding My Child and My Child Teaing Me: How Moving to Qatar Changed My Parenting

By Leena Bathia

G

rowing up in the 1980s as a BritishIndian brought up by immigrant parents, I experienced a traditional upbringing.

I was raised with a rather authoritative parenting style. So, I strived to be the perfect child to be considered worthy. I yearned to be accepted and subconsciously mastered how to be the model child.

As I grew into an adult, this led me to feel a little lost and sometimes suffocated. Despite that, a single heartstring would always pull me towards connecting to and learning something creative and

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new—something from my childhood that I never fully explored. This yearning was so strong I tried to follow it, whatever the circumstances, without realising what was unfolding.

Years later, I realised that my heart was signalling to me subtle messages, and my true self was desperate to be free and live a more aligned life. Leaning into those cues would change how I saw the world and eventually parented, and moving to Qatar was instrumental to that process.

FAMILY MATTERS

A Busy Young Family in London As a mother of two in London, my daily life consisted of running, racing, and clinging on to just about anything to prevent eventual exhaustion. And I was not alone—this was the norm for many families living in the city.

My typical day would involve waking at 5 am, making dinner for that evening, getting my daughter ready, and dropping her off at her nursery. Then, I would take a chaotic commute to work for over an hour to get to my physically and emotionally draining job in a stressful hospital environment. The day would end with my rushing back to collect my daughter before 6 pm, giving her dinner and 30 minutes of free play, and finally, bedtime.

Multiple tasks and thoughts were racing through my brain every second of the day.

I had no quality time for my children, let alone to practise self-care or cultivate self-love, which is a core foundation of mindful parenting.

I felt blessed to have received 10 months of maternity leave to connect with both of my daughters. However, once this was completed, I felt I was back in the race and life as a mother felt challenging every day despite my parents' support. My inner self was yearning for something more, and I felt deeply lost and disconnected in many areas of my life.

New Beginnings in Doha In 2016, I received an opportunity to work in Doha as a full-time paediatric clinical pharmacist. Although I felt challenged by the psychological demands of my job and the working environment, I quickly noticed Summer 2022 | Issue 22

my ability to switch off more easily outside work. The calm nature and slower pace of life here almost forced me to be present in every moment. As a result, I really began listening and getting to know my daughters for who they were.

It goes without saying, the privileges many of us have in Qatar, such as home help and other benefits, can help to eliminate many daily stresses we may experience in our home countries. Daily travel is relatively straightforward, and convenience is at our fingertips.

This can undoubtedly give us increased quality time to spend with our children. I noticed I was more available to my daughters.

I realised how significantly our lifestyles could impact our parenting. I became a more open mother from being a blurry-eyed mother in London. However, a tiny part of me still did not feel fully content.

Unexpected Turns and Insights After three years, I was informed that my role as a pharmacist was being terminated. I came to terms with it very quickly and was preparing for our move back to the UK. However, to our surprise, a new path began to unfold miraculously and with so much ease.

I began my journey as an entrepreneur in Qatar, which led to having more quality time with my children. I also noticed my selfawareness begin to expand harmoniously.

At the same time, I had moments of flooding emotions as my childhood wounds surfaced.

Yet, I considered this the start and pinnacle of my journey as a conscious parent.

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FAMILY MATTERS

Evolving as a Conscious Mother Since then, I have chosen to commit to my healing and growth, connect to my intuition, and live the truest version of myself. As a result, I began to experience what felt like magic in my interactions with my daughters.

I started to really get in tune with their emotions and thoughts, and it became easier to stay fully present with them in every situation.

We often believe we are listening to our children when in reality, we are thinking about a million other things simultaneously. When your child wants to speak to you, pause what you are doing for a moment, look into their eyes and listen openheartedly. Really process what they convey. Doing this has led to so many "wow" moments for me, which, in turn, have given me so many opportunities to self-reflect.

I have observed that children are incredibly connected to their intuition and gifts and will simply tell you how it is. When I am racking my brain trying to determine why my daughter is going through a difficulty, spending quality, fully present time with her makes all the difference. During those moments, I tune into every inkling I experience.

Living consciously has sharpened this intuition, and I believe I now understand and connect with my daughters more than ever before.

As parents, our role is to guide our children in their life paths. Their journeys are unique, and if we invest in ourselves, we can have a significant positive impact on them. This will most definitely open the gate to their reaching their full potential.

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The best parenting school, in my view, guides you to fully embrace who you are, so you are centred and fully equipped to support your child on their life path. That's why I am committed to conscious parenting.

Still, none of this means that parenting is easy, especially with a strong-willed child. So often, when a difficulty arises, we jump straight to correcting our children, losing our patience, or getting angry with them. However, the conscious parenting school teaches that we can learn to manage our emotional triggers and control our impulsive reactions. Regulating ourselves around our children gives them the space to express themselves and allows their sense of self to flourish and not be hindered by feeling unseen or unheard.

FAMILY MATTERS When I face these challenges, it helps me to always remember that I am in co-creation with my children in every situation. So, I remind myself that letting them be who they are and nurturing their inner spark will allow them to grow into the best versions of themselves.

Tips to Help You On Your Conscious Parenting Journey

With everything said, no parent is perfect, regardless of how they describe their parenting style. We are all continuously learning how best to support our children in their uniqueness and wonder. So, have faith in yourself. After all, you can only do your best.

•Sign up for the Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids course with Dr Laura Markham.

•You can also sign up for Path of the Conscious Parent by Dr Shefali via Mindvalley. This course is free.

• Read Conscious Parenting books such as Happy Parents, Happy Kids by Dr Laura Markham.

•Spend 10 minutes daily in nature to help keep you grounded and connected to your intuition.

•Take 10 minutes for yourself in the morning before your children wake up (without your phone!). Use this time to stretch, enjoy a warm drink in your favourite calm spot in your home, choose a mindfulness activity, or even sing!

•When choosing an educational facility for your child, know that one size does not fit all, and each of your children may need something different. Use your intuition to guide you in this decision.

•Be a child with your child sometimes—this is so good for connection.

•Speak positive affirmations to yourself and teach your child to do the same.

•Fill your home with scents and ornaments that foster a sense of calm and create a healing environment. DF

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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FAMILY MATTERS

Why Expat Life Works for Us

O

ur expat life began in Thailand when my wife and I decided that we wanted to travel more. Living in well-connected destinations like Thailand and now in Qatar has allowed us to explore many countries while having a stable income. Not only did it open up so many travel opportunities, but it also really allowed us to get to know these countries deeply.

However, moving overseas came with many challenges, and having a kid in that process added

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By Dr Precioso L. Tano

another layer of things to consider.

Still, our experiences as a family were incredibly rich as each of us learnt about and adapted to a different culture and way of life.

FAMILY MATTERS

Our Jetsetting Lifestyle Travelling brought my wife and me together in the first place, so it was no wonder it continued to make up an essential part of our lives now that we were a family.

We are both originally from the Philippines— Cebu and Iligan—and we found the years we spent working and living in Thailand delightful.

We took advantage of cheap travel and weekend deals for flights from Thailand to Cambodia and other neighbouring countries like Laos and enjoyed exploring them together. We would also fly home at least once a year to the Philippines.

Our child eventually came along while we were living in Thailand, and we thought our travel days would soon be gone, but if anything, it had spurred us on to travel more! And thus, our journey in the State of Qatar began.

A Learning Curve We moved to Qatar—our home away from home—in 2014, with our son and cat. Relocating to Qatar for work was surprisingly a smooth transition, and we quickly learnt that foreigners make up most of the population. And although Arabic was the official language, we could get by speaking English as it is commonly used in business settings.

Yet, working and living in Qatar was not without its challenges, and after a few years, we decided that we were heading back to the Philippines. But the salary packages were attractive, and tax-free living was tempting. We had fallen in love with the expat lifestyle and have now been here for many more years than we originally planned.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

Our experiences in Qatar have led us to discover new foods, peoples, languages, cultures, places to visit, attitudes, and just living at a non-frantic pace.

Sometimes, the sweltering mid-summer temperatures make staying here frustrating.

However, like many others, we now use the hottest months as an opportunity to get away for a while.

Local Adventures and Takeaways For the rest of the months, we enjoy an outdoor lifestyle surrounded by friends and other families in parks, gardens, beaches, and other recreational, cultural, and historical places.

Over time, we started to explore locally and grew to appreciate the subtle beauty of the desert and places like the Inland Sea. We spent our days and weekends marvelling at the natural and manmade wonders that Qatar offers. The Corniche, Katara Cultural Village, Souq Waqif, The PearlQatar, museums, malls, metro stations, and stadiums are just the tip of the iceberg!

Moreover, living in Qatar opened our eyes to the beauty of cultural diversity. We also gained insight into how Islam shapes the country's values and how strongly they're preserved across the board.

With everything said, there are still so many things about this country we are yet to discover, and we can't wait to learn all about them. We know that there's so much more in store for us in our expat journey—and probably for everyone else living here—and we are excited to keep sharing our story as it unfolds. DF 49

EDUCATION

SPONSORED BY GEMS AMERICAN ACADEMY QATAR

How to Choose the Best School for Your Child

By Jordan Scheer

O

ne of the most important decisions an expat family will have to make is deciding which school is right for their children. It may seem like a fairly straightforward task, but the range of options available right now can make it difficult. As parents weigh the decision, it's crucial that they have all the facts to make the best choice for their family.

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Curriculum vs Methodology Before moving forward, it's crucial to have an understanding of the meaning of many of the educational terms used during school visits and enrollment discussions. Terms such as curriculum, inquiry-based, student-centred, and play-based are sometimes used without explanation.

The word curriculum is widely used but not always in the right way. Curriculum refers to what is taught—the actual content. For example, when a class completes a unit about the letter A or about insects, that is curriculum.

When it's looking at fractions or systems of

EDUCATION government, that is curriculum. Common Core is a curriculum, as is the National Curriculum for England (commonly called British Curriculum).

When you look at how something is taught, that refers more to educational philosophy, framework, or specific programmes that a school might purchase.

At this point, terms like student-centred, inquiry-based, or play-based come into play.

They all refer to a methodology or how a subject is taught. Having a student-centred classroom is an educational philosophy.

For example, the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IBPYP) is built on a particular philosophy. There can be IBPYP British schools, American schools, and so on.

So, when looking at schools, it is helpful for parents to understand the difference, so they know the correct questions to ask.

Which School Is Right for Us? While there are many options available— especially in a global city like Doha—two of the most popular options for parents are schools modelled after the American Common Core curriculum and the British curriculum.

No one curriculum is inherently better than the other. Each curriculum and school offer something different, and the best one for your family depends on several factors. These can include your home country, whether you intend to return there during your child's schooling, and where you plan for your children to attend secondary school and university.

That said, there are some key differences

between the two models and understanding them can help families make a more informed choice. These differences vary depending on the age of the students. The school years are divided into three age groups: early years (age three to four) primary school (age five to 11) secondary school (age 11 to 18) Summer 2022 | Issue 22

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EDUCATION In secondary school, the difference between the British and American curricula is dramatic.

The British system is a more rigid system of standards designed to prepare students to complete a predetermined series of exams that end with the student taking their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) exams. After completing this step, students may choose to continue with their A-levels, which serve as entry exams into the university system. The benefits are that all students have learnt the same thing, preparing them equally for the next steps. The American system, however, allows for a little more variation between students, depending on interests and academic ability.

Most American international schools give academically strong students the option to enrol in Advanced Placement (AP) courses across a wide range of subjects. These subjects and the exams that follow expose students to university-level content while still in secondary school. If they do well on the final exam, they can earn entry into elite European universities or even earn course credit at American ones.

The system is rigorous but flexible, allowing students to pursue their own interests in a challenging environment. If this seems a little confusing, it can be. If you are looking at options for your secondary-age child, reach out to a local American or British curriculum school and schedule a tour. They will be able to answer all your questions.

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But again, this is solely for secondary students.

At an earlier age, like in primary school, the differences between the British and American curricula are more easily explained. It's a bit of an over-simplification, but generally, the British system teaches concepts one full year earlier than the American system. For example, in an American grade three classroom, students will be learning the basics of multiplication and division. In the British system, that usually starts a year earlier.

EDUCATION In an American KG1 classroom (four-yearold students), you could expect to find a play-based environment where students are focused on learning social skills and fine motor skills and are learning how to interact with their peers. You can also expect a slight focus on letter sounds and number concepts. In the equivalent year at a British school, you might see students fully focused on academics and beginning to read and do basic mathematics.

The British system pushes its students earlier, believing that early exposure allows more time for skill and knowledge development and sets them up for a rigorous academic career earlier in life. This is not an indictment or endorsement of either system but rather a way to lay out the main differences so parents can make an informed decision.

Take-home Message Ultimately, families should make the choice that's best for them. Take a tour of the school and understand the curriculum that the school teaches and the philosophy that they use. Get a feel for the students and teachers and make sure it's an environment into which you would be comfortable sending your children.

Ask questions and make sure you understand what your child's day will be like. It's a vital decision, but armed with the right information, it doesn't have to be overwhelming.

The difference here is philosophical and mainly relates to when children are developmentally ready to learn certain concepts. The American system, while acknowledging that some students are prepared to learn these concepts earlier, opts to allow younger students time to ease into academics. Students begin school with a wide range of abilities and levels of readiness. In the early years section of a school, you will often have some students who start school already having the basics of reading while their peers may still be learning their letter names and sounds. This is to be expected and is normal. The term studentcentred classroom refers to a classroom that is set up to accommodate students of all levels.

In summary, the American system allows these students to develop at their own speed.

Summer 2022 | Issue 22

Jordan Scheer has worked in education for 17 years in five different countries. He has experience working in all levels of elementary and secondary school and with a variety of different curricula and educational programmes.

He is currently the Elementary Principal at GEMS American Academy Qatar. DF GEMS American Academy Al Wakra, Qatar Call: 4032-9000 Website: gemsamericanacademy-qatar.com

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