LadyBirdie | ExpatWoman.com
 

LadyBirdie

7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 07 April 2015 - 01:34
I used GB Liners to send some stuff over from the UK. It was a custom made box within a container, as I was only sending a bed and personal stuff over from our storage unit. No hassles and we used their door to door service, so you don't have to deal with Customs and removal men this end. They get good internet reviews too. Depends on how much stuff you have to send over really and whether you'd be sending furniture or just personal items. Also depends if the company you're working for is paying for your shipping. If they are, I would ship furniture and as much as you can to fill a container (or as much as is allowed)...if they are not, bring as little as possible and either rent a furnished apartment (after your initial accomm) or get a semi furnished place here and buy stuff from Ikea, etc. We have always had a 20ft container paid for by the company, so we shipped a 2 bed apartment full of stuff (mostly Ikea stuff from Kuwait..that we still have 8 yrs later!). We were paying silly money for a storage unit for residual stuff left in the UK, so decided to ship that over with GB Liners. All the best... edited by chizz on 02/03/2015 Thank you both for your replies. I think you're right Chizz, I have the added benefit of leaving things at my parents house (Bless them!) So I might take up that offer and just move with the essentials for the first few months and then once I move out into rented accom, have one on a furnished basis and then ship accordingly. Your message has been very helpful, thank you.
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 January 2015 - 02:21
Thank you so much for everyone's helpful replies and advice! Sorry I didn't mean to post and disappear, but things got crazy busy and I was preparing to go on vacation out of the country as well. One thing I didn't mention was that I will actually be leaving the US permanently (barring unforeseen circumstances), so I really do need to take a lot of stuff with me. I also must try to dispose of as much as I can before leaving. Still undecided as to whether excess baggage or freight shipment is the way to go for me, but I got some helpful information from here and have made some contacts. One of the shipment companies requested an in home visit to provide an accurate quote - so I will look into that once I'm back in the US. marycatherine - air cargo is a good suggestion and I will explore that option as well. My employer has now booked my one way ticket to Qatar, and the flight leaves at 7 am, which means I should be at the airport by 4 am if I'm traveling with excess baggage. that's a bit of a potential nightmare situation, but we'll see. pwb78 - your recommendation for the Samsonite duffle bags was really appreciated! That's a great idea and I know I will be investing in a set of those bags if I fly with excess baggage. thank you again to all of you for your advice. edited by fakhan on 23/12/2014 edited by fakhan on 23/12/2014 Hey Fakhan, What did you decide on in the end? How much of a hassle was excess baggage? Thanks
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 12 January 2015 - 02:08
Hi All, I received my offer I am very pleased that Sidra considered all the points I mentioned. I am really excited. This came in perfect time as I am on vacation in the Bahamas, definitely excited. I would like to know if anyone will be working at the Oncology Inpatient? Good luck all R Hi Rayegee, Did they offer you a higher pay in the end? I'm an Allied Health professional with an area of speciality and 10 yrs experience and I tried to negiotiate my pay but they said the best they can offer is 18,900 with transport 2000. I am seriously considering all options as having done some further research on cost of living, it seems to be rising.
7
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2014 - 03:19
Morning all I have been offered a staff nurse position at Sidra Hospital in Qatar as a British Passport Holder, I was quoted 17,000(basic salary) + 2000 (Travel money). Now with eight years progressive experience do you think this is reasonable for a comfortable lifestyle? secondly my friend with 2years experience was also quoted same amount, do you guys think if I negotiate for a higher salary they will withdraw my application? I read here http://www.arabnursingjobs.com/blog/ I can negotiate please someone help me to approach them in a polite way Thanks Hi Rayegee, Is your accomodation included in your offer? I think that it may be included. 17,000 as a basic with accomodation included isn't too bad but if they expect you to pay for your own accomodation then you will struggle. Milk costs about the same as the price of milk in the UK. I did a price comparison while out there and found that organic food cost more as well as blueberries (I like blueberries!!), most of the rest was about the same as UK prices. Clothes were slightly more expensive (few GBP compared to Marks and Spencers in the UK). If you are wishing to eat out everyday in a five star hotel restaurant then yes you'll struggle with your wages. Depending on the lifestyle your wishing to live you could easily run out on money on any wage. But if you intend on having half of your meals at home then I think you'll find that you can live comfortably with that. I recently went on holiday out there and that is what I found. high end restaurant meals cost the same as an expensive meal here but you can find some decent places to eat well within your budget. Also their food standards are much higher than most places, including the UK, where the London Metro newspaper often tells you stories of what reaturants closed down due to hygiene standards! Also in response to a previous message. Sidra will offer multiple exit visas to their staff.
7
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 17 November 2014 - 02:57
Hi Katya, Generally meal sizes are larger and despite living in West bay, you'll find yourself getting taxi's everywhere. In not too many words I would say pack slightly larger clothes as likelihood is you'll gain weight. In the summer it is too hot to be outside and so your only exercise is likely to be that in a gym but you are not to keen on machines, a bit like myself. There are lots of classes but it is a lot to do with doing your reserach into what your interests are. There is a Qatar stone that most people I met talk about, and it is quite easy to befriend a stone gain easily when you first move here.
7
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EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 16 August 2014 - 17:57
Hi Everyone, I am in an interesting proposition. I recently got a great job offer with Sidra and was in the process of visa application. I have not yet signed my contract but have received all the paper work etc. I currently am based in the UK and after I heard the news of the contractors leaving Sidra, and the delays etc.. I started applying for other jobs in the UK. I have just got the job for a higher paid job than the one I'm currently doing but its fixed term with possibility of extension (nhs status in most trusts at present!) Should I try to renegotiate or let things be? The fixed term will take me into April at the least. Sidra has matched my pre-tax pay from my current employer to there basic but it will be less than what I will be getting in my new job. The only reason why I am considering renegotiation is because Qatar is relatively expensive place to live probably more so for a single lone person as you will need to spend money to try and get out and meet people! What to do? Any thoughts will be much appreciated. I’m excited about Qatar (once the actual journey begins); I just hope it’s not a lonely dream! lol
7
Posts
EW NEWBIE
Latest post on 15 July 2014 - 22:29
Hello! This thread seems kind of along the same lines as some of the questions and issues I have had/am having. I'm a little concerned about some email mix ups that have occurred with myself and Sidra's human resources. An email with my passport attached was accidentally emailed to me and then recalled and I've had multiple people emailing to ask me for information I have already sent. I am a single woman who will be relocating alone so even though these incidents seem slight, it concerns me that these small incidents stem from a larger issue of disorganization and I'm VERY nervous about putting all of my everything into a company where I may get lost in the shuffle. Has anyone actually moved to Qatar with Sidra? If so, how did the move go? Did they seem to have everything together in terms of organizing your move? Do you feel as though Sidra "has your back" in Qatar? Thank you for any insight or experiences you can give. I am very much looking forward to this opportunity and want it to work out but am not willing to risk my safety for it. Thank you! Hi Dodgeball! So I'm in a very similar situation to yourself. I had somebody else's CV sent to me in error and then it was recalled after I notified my agency. I think it will be fine, well I hope (Always the optimist!)but I can only imagine there will be some teething problems. There will be thousands of people going through HR at the moment, compared to when applying for a position in a hospital so I can imagine some errors will be made. Your agency should be the only ones contacting you for paperwork requested by Sidra, least that is how it is being done with myself.