Smell you later Doha

There are a whole load of emotions going on right now....

Smell you later Doha!

Doha College

Now it’s time for Oliver to say goodbye to his school, classmates and his teacher. Emotional. Oliver started Doha College as a little pre-schooler aged just 3. I can’t believe how fast time has gone and how quickly he has grown up. I can’t thank Doha College and his teachers enough for everything they have done for him. They have given him a great start to school and I couldn’t wish for better. 

During these last few weeks at Doha College, we have heard nothing but praise for our little man, which makes me so proud of him. When a teacher says to a friend "it's so sad to hear Oliver is leaving and it's such a shame as it's always the nice kids that leave", I know that he has made a great impression on everyone he has met and it makes me feel very emotional about living the expat life.

That being said, while it is such a shame he is leaving a great school so soon, (I really thought that he would be there for longer) it is the life of an expat child. When it’s time to go, it’s all change for everyone and nobody is sheltered from that change. It’s time to find that new school, it’s time to move on. 

First day at pre-school

Oliver's first day at pre-school

World maths day - year 1

Bye Beverley Hills Gardens 10

So that’s it. The packers have been and the house is empty (almost). Just a few last bits to sell or give away, but it’s done – finally. It is starting to feel real now. We are actually leaving Doha! We have one month left to enjoy Doha just as the winter is coming and the weather is starting to be bearable.

I am finding it so amazing how well Oliver has adapted to the change and how he is taking it all in his stride. Watching his toys get packed up and not knowing when or where he will see them next. It shows his maturity and his ability to cope with situations that other children will never experience. It shows what a well-rounded and well balanced little boy he is. He is an absolute little star.

I feel such relief that we are all done, but at the same time sadness that we are leaving our little home. We have lots of fond memories in this villa. After 7 years of being in Doha, this is the place which felt most like home. Probably down to the fact we made it our home with our own furniture, but also the fact that it became the family home. Or perhaps it could have all been down to Bailey’s bar, the best bar in Doha, where the fun never ends!

So we are now ‘homeless’ and I am left wondering what our next home will look like. Although the prospect of moving into a new house in a new country is quite exciting, it is also quite daunting as we literally have no idea about accommodation type or location. But hey, that’s life and for now we will be heading back to Sheffield for some Christmas cheer and to catch up with family and friends before our onward journey to our next destination. 

The curser is blinking at me

I have no idea how to put it onto paper. The emotions, the stress, the uncertainty, the worry, the stress and the stress.

I have been an expat for 7 years living in Doha, Qatar, but now we are on the move. It’s been a tough few months with uncertainty hanging over us, but the mist is clearing and we are leaving. Back to the UK for Christmas and then hopefully onward and upwards to Jakarta, Indonesia.

Doha was my first time as an expat, not counting travelling in Australia (which I plan to write about in a different blog sometime). Leaving the UK to come here was no big deal and I jumped on the plane, following my boyfriend with only a little bit of information about the country I was going to make my home. Seven years later it still feels it was no big deal, even though I got married here and had two children in this country.

But now it is a big deal, we are leaving. I am leaving everything I know and it’s not just for a holiday. We are giving up our home, the school places, my job, my furniture,our cars. We are moving with all our ‘stuff’ to a country I know nothing about, but when I look for information I am so overwhelmed that I can’t read. We have to find a school, find a house, find a friend. Now it feels like a big deal. I didn’t think I would feel like this about Doha and I didn’t think that I was so settled here. Yes, it felt like home, but it was always temporary – or so I thought.