FAMILY MATTERS
An Unexpected Journey: "I came to Qatar for a Month and I Still Haven't left!" By Claudia Cojocea
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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. 41
