Who are you?
Hi, I’m Leona, a luxury family travel blogger at Wandermust Family.Until recently we have been based in Qatar for three and a half years.
Where, when and why did you move abroad?
We moved three and a half years ago to Qatar and have only recently moved back to the UK. We moved to Qatar because of the work opportunities it afforded us. We had always wanted to experience living life abroad so when the opportunity came up we jumped in with both feet!
What challenges did you face during the move?
For us, the move to Qatar was pretty seamless. The biggest challenge when moving to Qatar is getting used to the pace of things. The move and the recruitment process were quite slow, especially in comparison to the London scene.
Were there many other expats in your area?
Qatar is a small country but is primarily made up of expats. Wherever you are coming from you will find a vibrant expat community from your home country.
What did you like about life in Qatar?
One of the things I loved most about living in Qatar is how family friendly it is. My little one was born in Qatar and we loved how easy life in Qatar is for families.
The other thing I loved about living in Qatar is the travel opportunities it afforded us. Qatar is optimally positioned to travel to Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia and we made full use of being in a different part of the world.
What did you dislike about your expat life?
There wasn’t anything in particular about Qatar expat life I disliked but there are things that all expats dislike such as missing family and friends. This is true for any expat though anywhere in the world.
What was the biggest cultural difference you experienced between
Qatar and life back home?
When we moved to Qatar I thought there would be more of a culture shock than there was. I think however the greatest challenge for me was getting used to the Middle East summer which can reach up to 50 degrees. Having to adjust to a largely indoor summer lifestyle definitely took some getting used to.
What advice would you give to anyone following in your footsteps?
What I would say to anyone thinking of moving abroad, not just to Qatar, would be do to it. Expat life can be challenging anywhere but it brings with it so many rewards and new opportunities.
What are your plans for the future?
At the minute we are planning a big round the world trip with our little one next year. After that, we are settling back down in London for a little while. Another expat move will never be off the cards though.
You can keep up to date with Leona's adventures on her blog, Wandermust Family.
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