Hello, my name is Tiffany. I moved from the US to Qatar almost two years ago for my job. Part of the reason I came to Qatar was to travel and learn about different cultures.
When and how did you decide to move to Qatar?
I decided to move to Qatar after I was offered the job in 2013, but had applied in 2012 so this was a long time coming.
Is it complicated to settle down there?
Settling in was easy because our HR department does a lot for you, for example my apartment was provided and was furnished.
Have you ever lived abroad before? How many countries have you visited?
Yes, I lived briefly in the Turks and Caicos Islands. I have visited 10 countries including Qatar and will be going to France in June.
What do you like the most about Qatar?
There are so many expats here and enjoy meeting new people from all over the world.
How is/was the cultural shock?
I didn't find the culture shock to bad, but I am very flexible.
What are the main differences with the US, your home country?
The biggest difference is that when I moved here the roads had lots of roundabouts and I was not used to those.
Do you miss anything from your homeland?
Customer service. This sounds strange, but customer service here is hit or miss and sometimes gets lost in translation too. People aren't being rude, it's just done differently here.
Any 'memories of an expat' you would like to share with us? Your best souvenir? Or maybe your worst experience?
My best souvenir is all the friends I have made that now live in other countries. I plan vacations around that now!
What does your typical day as an expat in Qatar look like?
Mine is pretty normal and is very similar to what it would be at home. I go to work and run errands after. Sometimes I go to dinner with friends, but it's pretty similar.
When did you start your blog? For what reasons?
I started this blog right before I moved here to document my move for friends and family and for it to develop into a travel blog.
Did you make new friends with your blog?
I have! There is a blogging company here called, BloggingME, that has introduced me to other bloggers and it has created a great community.
Why did you register on https://www.expat.com and what do you think of the website?
I saw a few of my blogging buddies with the link on their sites and I wanted to see what it was about. I have found some great blogs to follow on this site!
Which advice would you give to the other Expat blog members who would like to settle in Qatar?
Be prepared for everything to take longer than it should and that it will all work out in the end! Also, ask lots of questions before you sign your contract relating to housing, transportation allowance and travel allowance. These things are all fairly standard with a job contract here and you need to make sure it is enough to live on.
