marycatherine | ExpatWoman.com
 

marycatherine

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Latest post on 03 February 2016 - 18:35
Have both BBC first and itv but I am in doha
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Latest post on 03 February 2016 - 07:57
Any money making business activity means you need to set up and register a company. You cannot run a business from your home legally, which means you'll need to rent some kind of office space. It isn't easy to set up and run a business legally (nor is it cheap).
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Latest post on 02 February 2016 - 22:01
Contact KLM airline. They are the best airline IMHO for pet friendly relocations and pricing especially if you are on the same flight. (Excess baggage ).
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Latest post on 02 February 2016 - 21:56
Contact KLM
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Latest post on 02 February 2016 - 21:56
Contact KLM
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Latest post on 15 January 2016 - 06:34
Welcome. I would suggest you do a quick search here as your questions are often asked/answered. One key piece of information needed to give you suggestions is the location of your husband's workplace. Traffic is dire here and you want to locate where commutes both school and work are doable
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Latest post on 07 January 2016 - 21:30
If you do not advise your nanny ( or anyone else visiting your home) that a concealed camera is in place and get their permission to film them, such cameras are illegal in the GCC including UAE. I know a couple who had to leave Qatar when they ordered one online. CID called them in and they had 7 days to leave the country (sans camera).
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Latest post on 01 January 2016 - 10:29
Thanks very much for all the suggestions. Am in process of contacting these companies for quotations and terms and conditions. Regards
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Latest post on 03 December 2015 - 12:13
Are you being sponsored by your husband? If so, he has to give you a letter to get an alcohol permit (as well as a driver's license, etc.) It wouldn't be necessary for your name to be on the contract in these circumstances to my knowledge. Here's the EW link with info http://www.expatwoman.com/dubai/monthly_Finance_EW_guide_to_getting_an_alcohol_license_9557.aspx
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Latest post on 14 November 2015 - 20:08
Cast iron
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Latest post on 01 November 2015 - 07:00
Thanks very much AJA - I'll put them on my list
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Latest post on 29 October 2015 - 07:53
Not meant to be negative, more to portray the Doha experience in a realistic way. You can be miserable at home, here or Timbuktu. Life is what you and your family make it. People come for the $$ or to further their careers (more the former than the latter in my experience) - and manage to be happy while they are here for the most part. But this isn't home and never will/can be - if you read the threads about the Kafala system on the Doha News website you'll be able to understand the lack of enthusiasm expats have for Qatar as a great place to live. Will I get out and enjoy myself this weekend, you bet. But not because I'm in Qatar necessarily, but because I can find/make my own fun nearly everywhere I've lived.
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Latest post on 28 October 2015 - 19:01
In my experience and in my industry, people come to the GCC mainly for the $$$. Some may benefit in employability from their experience here (oil and gas?). Do I resent this? No. It's buying me a lifestyle in my home country that I will enjoy. However, it is a symbiotic relationship. Qatar is paying for what I want when I leave. I am contributing to Qatar's progress while I am here. Should I be grateful to Qatar for this? Why? Is Qatar grateful to me for my efforts/input while I am here? All that said, it is unlikely you'll have regular contact with Qataris while you're here. You'll socialize with other expats mostly. You will learn a lot from other expat expats and your horizons will be broadened. good luck with your decision
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Latest post on 28 October 2015 - 13:00
If you already have contacts teaching in Ontario, perhaps your best bet is to ask them what you need to do? Perhaps there are people already in their system who qualified outside of Canada? I know in my province (not Ontario) you need to have a qualification equivalent to an undergrad degree in your area of teaching (history, geography, physics, math, etc.) and at least a one year Bachelor of Education degree (total 5 years - 4 for the undergrad, 1 or possibly more, for the education degree). Summer school wouldn't cut it in my province, I don't know about Ontario. I think people were trying to keep expectations of teaching realistic in their comments. It is difficult to find full time/permanent teaching work in the public school systems across Canada.
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Latest post on 28 October 2015 - 12:53
Blue413 is talking about Dubai which is night and day compared with Doha (I've lived in both cities - including during the construction of the metro in Dubai). Driving in Doha is very bad, and getting even worse almost on a daily basis. If you are at all nervous on the road, you'll find this traffic turning your hair gray. As for cycling? You'd have to have a death wish. Cyclists have no rights here and there is no margin for on the roads. Pedestrians are often seen as targets - but that's more an issue around the fact that the municipality does not consider walking as a viable option/activity except within parks. Do I drive here? Yes, but I am able to pick and choose when I do so for the most part. I leave for work at 5:30 am to avoid most of the single vehicle idjits. However, I have to contend with the minivans and buses loaded with labourers and lower paid workers, including the drivers who drive like they do "at home" which apparently means they don't have to obey basic traffic laws or common sense. A friend installs an airhorn on each new vehicle he has acquired over the years - it helps. If you do decide to drive, practice on Friday mornings when the roads are mostly quiet (especially if you go out early) so that you can figure out where you are, and where you need to be, landmarks and viable routes. I did that when I first arrived nearly 20 years ago and it is the same advice I give newcomers so that they're "only" dealing with the morons on the road rather than trying to also figure out where they want to go at the same time. I have also driven in Europe (including Italy) and Mexico for extended periods - they are tame next to these bozos.
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Latest post on 26 October 2015 - 10:14
Check with KLM (who I highly recommend when you relocate anywhere with a pet). The dog can travel as excess baggage and the charge may vary slightly depending on the size/weight. I travelled from Canada from Montreal to Schipol to Dubai on KLM with 3 animals and it cost USD1500 for all three several years ago. They are usually very helpful when you call them or email enquiries.
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Latest post on 09 October 2015 - 07:24
We'll have to agree to disagree then lalala. I have the opposite experience to yours.
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Latest post on 09 October 2015 - 07:23
Has your husband been offered a "with family" contract? If so, the employer should be sorting out your entry visa (not a tourist visa) which would be converted to a family residency visa once your husband has his residency. If the PRO is any good, and the company wants your husband badly enough - this can be done in a matter of weeks usually. No need to exit. Tourist visas can be extended one time only I think for a further 30 days but I may be wrong on the number of days.
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Latest post on 08 October 2015 - 06:45
Romain, be very careful with your employment contract then. Most companies have policies that prevent double dipping (where both spouses collect the same benefits from each of their employers). In my company, married couples have to fill out a form stating that their spouse (employed elsewhere) does not receive similar benefits such as housing, flights, education, transportation, etc. This could even cost one of you your employment if one of you works for a government or quasi-government organization. I do know of instances (colleagues) who tried to game the system, got caught, and had to repay all those benefits.
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Latest post on 23 September 2015 - 19:51
OK what exactly after the visit to NASA is educational? The only thing from the OP's original posting I can ascertain is how to take idjit parents with more money than brains for a financial ride. Take the kids to Florida yourself as a family when on holiday if you're so inclined. To be honest, most will forget by June what they supposedly "missed out on" in February. Don't get taken in. Your kids might sulk in the short term, but they'll learn something in the process. School trips for skiing and south to beaches during the March break were the norm in my country. Needless to say, I didn't get to go - and I suffered nothing by not going with the 14 out of the 286 in my year being left behind. Parents really need to grow a financial teaching spine in this part of the world IMHO added: My sister participated in another GCC country on trips to Europe, none included "fun" destinations, they were part of their IB studies and had to be included for grading purposes/evaluations. They were interesting in that they visited industries and companies to see how they operated and products and services were delivered.
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Latest post on 18 September 2015 - 07:14
As an FYI for Romain and others who may have questions about the 6 month rule in future. For the majority of expat workers, the government requires the employed spouse to have 6 months of bank records (local) before that person can apply for RPs for their family. However, for the majority of Western expats, this rule is not always enforced, usually at the request of their employers. If your company has a good PRO and the company wants you here badly enough, the RP process may be expedited and the 6 month rule waived after the employer applies for the waiver. HTH
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Latest post on 17 September 2015 - 11:29
If you are running this club from your home you should be aware it is illegal to do so. Businesses of any kind must be registered/licensed. Do people do so? Yes. But you should be aware of any possible consequences if there were an emergency or accident and a child was hurt or if nosey neighbours report you, you could be in real trouble.
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Latest post on 17 September 2015 - 11:25
white antelope, you are posting on the Doha forum, not the Abu Dhabi. Very kind of you to try and help the OP
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Latest post on 13 September 2015 - 05:54
No matter if he's gold or polka dot - if the cheque is drawn on US bank it must be sent back on a collection basis to the bank that it is drawn on for payment. This is done because the banks here have no way of verifying sufficient funds or the signature on the cheque. This is extremely expensive and time consuming. Do you still have a bank account in the US? Can he send it back to be deposited there and withdraw funds with a debit card? Is there someone trustworthy he can endorse this cheque over to for deposit into a US bank at home? Or, better yet, can he return it to his ex employer and request that it be re-sent as a bank draft drawn on a UAE bank (yes it can be done, it is substantially cheaper than collection and the draft can be cashed at the UAE bank it is drawn on). And then all he has to do is to have subsequent payments forwarded in the same way.
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Latest post on 10 September 2015 - 07:53
I would strongly suggest the first thing you do is secure places for your children before deciding where to live. Places in good schools can be very difficult to secure (some people wait years for their preferred school) depending on the year needed. Once you have a confirmed school placement, then you can decide which commuter battle you wish to engage in. The school run or the one to your husband's employer. Commutes that would take 20 minutes on a Friday morning can easily become an hour or more during rush hour here. Traffic is dire and getting worse with all the construction going on and most of it is scheduled to last at least a year and probably longer (i.e. the airport is still not entirely complete, although open, and is now nearly 10 years behind the initial planned schedule). Depending on the PRO at the employer, you may be waiting for your and your children's residency permits to be processed for several weeks up to 2 months (they can't be processed until your husband's has been completed). The Supreme Education Council has ruled students cannot be enrolled until they have their RP in hand. Some schools may allow the student to enroll if the RP can be shown to be in the works. If you do a quick search on here, there are others who have direct experience in dealing with the schools. My advice, start calling now.
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Latest post on 05 September 2015 - 08:22
A friend's cat eats melon, loves it.
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Latest post on 05 September 2015 - 08:20
Getting mail sent to a PO Box can sometimes be hit or miss in terms of timeliness. I've received letters in 2 weeks, or 2 months, and I know some who have received items 18 months after they were mailed. It doesn't happen too often but it does happen. Anything you will need quickly, send via courier or shop and ship which is cheaper but can take up to 5 - 7 days.
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Latest post on 31 August 2015 - 13:20
I tend to side with the OP. All things being equal in status at work, as a single person I feel I am being shortchanged if my married with children colleague is getting larger (villa vs flat) accommodation paid for by the employer and annual tickets for family members. Rationale, if you wanted to take a vacation with your family in your home country, you would have to pay for all the fares and you would decide how to spend your money on your home yourself. Here, my married with children colleagues get better accommodation and their flights paid for the family. So they are better off financially than I am. I agree that the itemized package based on marital status and number of children is disappearing, probably because of the perceived inequity.
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Latest post on 21 August 2015 - 03:35
Unless the child is in a registered/licensed nursery type of facility, home care is unregulated, unlicensed, uninsured and uninspected. Being all 4 of these things are required by the municipality. Does it happen, sure? You want to risk your child's well being? Only you can answer that question.
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Latest post on 20 August 2015 - 00:00
Remember if you buy a machine from the US - it works on 110v (it is 220v) here. You can buy a transformer but you have to be careful of the wattage. I don't know what the Vitamix wattage is but I imagine it is pretty high in order to be powerful. You may find it difficult or impossible to find a suitable transformer that won't blow the motor on the machine
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Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 23:58
I can second the recommendation for Desert Princess. As a bonus to having a qualified stylist or technician, you can actually call them, make an appointment and it will be honored (not always easy or the case in other salons).
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Latest post on 19 August 2015 - 23:56
You will not be allowed to drive a rental longer than 7 days (possibly 10, I'm not sure) using your current license. You cannot get a Qatari license until you have your RP. From what I understand, you [i'>may[/i'> be able to rent for a longer period with the use of an international driving license. Be sure you confirm this with someone who KNOWS - the PRO at your or your husband's employer will be able to provide correct information. You don't want to be caught out as driving illegally (and therefore uninsured) and having an accident. If you are familiar with traffic/driving habits here, you will be doubly sure you don't want any legal/insurance issues. Do not take the local car rental agents' opinions, they're worth nothing should you have a problem
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Latest post on 17 August 2015 - 23:40
The only caveat I would add to whether it will be dry or not is because Christmas is a Christian holiday and of course the Prophet's birthday is not - there may be a decision made in favour of the Prophet.
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Latest post on 15 August 2015 - 22:39
You may want to remove the original post with the name & phone number as well as the quotation including the info. Especially if this person is unaware of the posting. Trolls and bots lurk here and it could cause her quite a headache.
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Latest post on 15 August 2015 - 22:38
IKEA? you should be able to check their online catalogue
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Latest post on 15 August 2015 - 22:36
Get the number of a reliable driver. Taxis here are mostly dirty, the drivers are unhappy (they are not treated well by their employers) and 75% cannot drive safely because they are trying to make their quota. Your PRO or work colleague should be able to give you the number of someone to get you started.
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Latest post on 15 August 2015 - 22:34
Technically, the SEC (Supreme Education Council) requires the child to have their RP before enrolling. In practice, some schools (not all) will allow the child to attend if the parents can prove the RP is in process. That said, [i'>getting[/i'> a school place be more difficult than any of the other challenges. You need to get on waiting lists and making contacts at your preferred schools. There are several threads discussing different schools, just do a quick search and you may find answers to your questions there.
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Latest post on 15 August 2015 - 22:30
I don't know when you visited but if it was during July or August - be prepared for traffic to be much worse as people return from holiday and schools start. I'd be more concerned with proper maintenance than modern looking in a villa. You want to be living in a villa/compound where the landlord/property manager is reliable and responsive as well as having capable handymen. The school situation is the same as it has been for years. Good schools and certain years' places are always at a premium - get on the waiting list for ones that are recommended (I don't have kids so can't comment). You will want to be as close as possible to your children's school in order to minimize the school run - that might mean a brutal commute for your husband if you don't choose wisely. Get the school places, then start looking at where you prefer to live. You should contact the PRO at your husband's company for assistance and advice - hopefully he's a good mandoop/fixer.
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Latest post on 15 August 2015 - 13:39
Technically, the emirate that issues your RP (because that's where you're expected to live and maybe you did, when you first arrived) issues the alcohol permit. As another poster said, get the no objection cert from Abu Dhabi. When I got my alcohol permit (and I had to get a new one every year when I lived and worked in Sharjah) I had to go to the main police station and talk with one of the senior officers who authorized the issuance of the permit. Your PRO should be able to advise. Ask him first before you get tied up in knots dealing with Abu Dhabi authorities.
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Latest post on 12 August 2015 - 20:41
You will find the roads will become much, much, busier and more crowded in the next 2 - 4 weeks as holidayers return and the school runs resume. You ain't seen nothing yet.
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Latest post on 12 August 2015 - 18:37
The jeweller is in The Centre (the oldest Megamart in town) near Jaidah flyover. If you google Megamart The Centre you should be able to get a map. The name of the shop I [i'>think[/i'> is Gem Centre?? It is a kiosk (they all are there) in about the middle of the open shops area nearer the rear of the building. It has lots of loose stones (they are a Sri Lankan mostly sourced shop. If you can wait until I'm back in Doha in the next 2 weeks I can give you the definitive name of the kiosk - it has an octagon shaped counter where most of the others are just rectangles if that helps.
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Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 21:50
You can try Bareeze as well for embroidered fabric.
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Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 21:48
I would be very careful. If the larger, more reputable rental agencies are following insurer's requirements, you don't want any unpleasant surprises if you go with a smaller company that says "sure, no problem" until there is one. Check the rental agreement VERY VERY carefully - I understand your disappointment, However, imagine the problems if you are involved in an accident and discover afterwards that you are not properly insured. In this country, that can mean criminal charges and/or jail time depending on the severity of the accident and who is at fault. You do not want to spend any time in an Emirati jail or trust to the local legal system.
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Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 21:43
I do use a place in Doha and they are trustworthy but much more expensive IMHO than for similar, quality, work than one can find in Dubai. I found that some in the old gold souq were not competitive (to put it mildly) and generally saw white, Western customers as easy pickings. For that reason, I will not take a chance on any of the others. Perhaps someone else has had happier experiences and will post.
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Latest post on 09 August 2015 - 21:41
Don't know where you're getting the idea that traffic from "up north" is not too bad. There are a lot of people who live up north who commute daily to Doha. Traffic in general in Doha is extremely bad and only getting worse. That said, if the location of these villas is where I believe it to be, you may have a less than horrible morning commute. However, the pickup will be worse IMHO as you will be trying to use the expressway (usually) and that will be jammed coming from Wakrah and the old airport area going back towards your home.
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Latest post on 01 August 2015 - 16:47
Has anyone considered this is a security issue? With the use of technology so prevalent and the mobility of the population, perhaps the authorities have required all the various ways of "tracking" residents are being updated?
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Latest post on 01 August 2015 - 13:55
Hello & welcome bye: I'm neither under 30 nor as fit as I want to be (but I am working towards changing that). I know there are several running groups in Doha - one runs regularly in the very early morning on the Corniche - you might try "running into" them there - the hard-core people do run year round. Another place you might try is Aspire Park in Al Waab. I will be returning to Doha in about 3 weeks. I have lived here nearly 10 years so if you need some info on where to find various items, just let me know. If I don't know one of my colleagues will. One of the bigger downsides to Doha IMHO is that you can't do all your grocery shopping in one place most of the time because you will find yourself going to A for X and to B for Z and C because neither A nor B had what you wanted at that particular point in time. It's sort of like foraging for your food.:)
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Latest post on 30 July 2015 - 00:30
What kind of business license do you hold? Are you insured/bonded? My pets are very important to me and anyone coming into my home will need to meet certain criteria.
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Latest post on 28 July 2015 - 00:54
I can't help with the nursery question. As for what to bring, it would help if you could decide on what you think you can't live without (or your husband or son) or any special foods, etc. and ask if they're available. What I think is indispensable other people may think I'm crazy to bring with me.
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Latest post on 27 July 2015 - 03:39
"just a few boxes" yet they required a container? As for the consignment being held up for 3 days, any freight forwarder agreement I've been privy to allows for up to 5 business days "storage" not including being held for customs. Sounds like your friend got ripped off or didn't read their agreement carefully before signing off on the shipment. As for cleaning the container - that's laughable. Relocation costs for your cats sounds fairly regular depending on where they are going and who is providing the documentation and delivery to the airline. Is this a vehicle your husband has rented all along or a one off? If the latter, very reasonable no matter how often/long he has rented with them in the past - in North America, it would be considered competitive. Did you do any price comparisons/get quotations before moving? Are your moving costs covered by the employer? If the latter, it could be a deciding factor in quotations/costs (most moving companies ask if your move is covered by your employer, I always tell them no).