A Little Word of Advice on Expat Life | ExpatWoman.com
 

A Little Word of Advice on Expat Life

Nyla Maharaj-Ramkalawan has been an expat for many years, she told EW the ins and outs of how to make being an expat work.

Posted on

2 June 2015

Last updated on 14 June 2017
A Little Word of Advice on Expat Life

Nyla Maharaj-Ramkalawan is a seasoned expat. She talks to EW about how to remain a positive-minded person and embrace challenges to turn them into lifelong lessons!


Yippee!!! This was my reaction almost 14 years ago when my husband told me that he was offered a job in Mexico. We were expecting our first son at the time, so for me it was the most opportune time.  I have always embraced this privileged expat lifestyle as I know that the benefits are immense, especially for my two sons. There has always been something intriguing to me about the Middle East, and when the opportunity was presented to us to relocate to Doha in 2011, I advocated strongly with my husband and our sons to grasp the chance. At that time, we were about to celebrate living 6 years in the country that was accredited to being the happiest place in the world; and yes we were happy, but for me it was a time for a change, especially for the education of my sons.
 
After living in 3 different countries over a span of 10 years, I considered myself a seasoned expat and was ready to take on any possible challenges that were associated with the move to Doha. As it turned out, the transition was as smooth as could be. But then again, I am an extremely positive-minded person who embraces challenges and turns them into lifelong lessons. I do not worry myself too much over the way it should be, the way it is done in other countries and what could have been! I search for the positive element in each situation and adapt so that it is always beneficial to my family and I. This is the trait that I am striving to pass on to my boys, and so I practice what I preach. I am a stronger person today because of this trait.

My husband's company laid the foundation expertly for all the necessary documentation to allow us to reside here legally, and as such, it was smooth sailing in that area. We were also taken directly to our lovely and more than comfortable home directly upon exit from the airport. I cannot reiterate enough about the ample opportunities in all walks that are available here. We have to always remember that Doha is still a relatively young developing state; but in my opinion they have done brilliantly so far. Sure they have made some mistakes along the way, but whom from amongst us is exempt from mistakes? It is an inevitable cost of development. Many times in life we have to make mistakes in order to learn. In saying so though, I tend to refrain from using the word "mistakes" and use the expression "learning opportunities" instead.

Doha skyline

Now back to the opportunities. In addition to being a very privileged mum of two wonderful sons, a wife and the President of the Parent School Organization at my boys' school, I also manage my very own events company. For entrepreneurs like myself in this industry, Doha definitely is the place to be!
 
The only significant challenge that's worthy of mention is the dust that has been really affecting our health, and this year has hit us the hardest. You see, we all have allergies in some form or the other and so many would say that living in the desert is not the best place for us.  However, when we lived in Mexico and Malaysia, the insects and pollen from some of the indigenous plants there triggered reactions in Dylan frequently. And when we moved to Denmark, both Dylan and Darian were regularly hospitalized for severe lung infections. So, as I always say, there's no place that we can be exempt from the allergens.
 
As parents of school-aged children, the choice of schools should be among the top, if not the most prime, consideration  when you think of expatriation or relocation. Before accepting my husband's job offer, we did our homework by researching all the reputable schools that already had a presence in Doha. It is extremely important to my husband and I that our sons receive their education from internationally accredited institutions to facilitate the smoothest possible transfer to other schools. I will always be grateful to the HR Manager at my husband's company who told us about and encouraged us to apply to ACS Doha International School.


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Both Dylan and Darian have been amongst the pioneering students since September 2011 and we have been extremely pleased with their development. It is my hope that we can stay in Doha until the boys are ready for college. The high standards maintained, coupled with the individual attention afforded to students are remarkable. Apart from the academic advancement, students and parents alike have the added advantage of interacting with various cultures which can only aid in their social development in a positive way. This is a school that I would highly recommend to families with school-aged children relocating to Doha. Our community spirit is always at a peak as we truly appreciate belonging to something that is so phenomenal.
 
To truly reap the many rewards of the expatriate lifestyle, you have to embark on the adventure with a very open mind to change. You should never compare one location to another, and please never expect to find everything as it is in your home country. After all is said and done; as expats, we've all left our countries for a better lifestyle and Doha definitely affords us the opportunities for this. If you have school-aged children, please research the schools  before you arrive and start the process to  secure a place for them. Please also make contact with the parent community of your respective schools of choice, as parents are the best ambassadors!