Doha is the fifth city I've lived in across three countries over the last six years. I never set out to live such a nomadic life, but that's where fate has taken me. There are so many advantages to expat life, but those first six months in a new country can be lonely too. Here are … Continue reading 5 ways to meet people in a new city
Category: Arabia
Dean and David: A hipsterish vibe and healthy food
Very quick foodie post - I had dinner with some friends at Dean and David on the Pearl last night. The menu has lots of Asian dishes, many of them vegan or gluten free. The set up almost feels like a cafeteria style - but a very funky one. It had a very young, lively … Continue reading Dean and David: A hipsterish vibe and healthy food
Doha vs Dubai… (Part 2)
One of the most common searches that leads people to this site is Doha vs Dubai, a post I wrote shortly after I arrived in Doha in February 2015. Six months in, here's a more thorough update on this tale of two cities. I moved to Ruwais, Abu Dhabi, where I spent two years, in … Continue reading Doha vs Dubai… (Part 2)
Fun and festivities: Celebrating Garangao
Traditionally, on the 14th night of Ramadan, a children’s celebration called Garangao takes place across the Gulf. Children dress up in traditional clothes, sing the Garangao song and their neighbours give them sweets and nuts. Last night, I attended a corporate Garangao event. There was falconry Characters from Khaleeji cartoons Super cute kids … Continue reading Fun and festivities: Celebrating Garangao
Five-year-old kids explain Islam
Back in 2009, when I first moved to the Gulf, I worked as a teacher in Abu Dhabi. I taught Grade 1 kids, five and six-year-olds everything apart from Arabic and Islamic. When they ran back to me after Islamic, they would tell me little bits of what they had learned, but occasionally I couldn't … Continue reading Five-year-old kids explain Islam
Doha versus Dubai: That is the question
Edit: I wrote this post shortly after I arrived in Doha. If you'd like to read a similar post comparing Doha to Dubai written six months later, click here. As soon as people find out I moved to Doha from Dubai, they want to know all about it. “Which do you like better?” they ask, … Continue reading Doha versus Dubai: That is the question
An introduction to Islam by six year olds.
So, I chatted to four of my grade one kids about Islam the other day. They come from Pakistan, Indonesia and the UAE. Here are some of the bits of information and insight they gave me. They love Allah, a lot. Allah lives in a star in the sky, and he can see the whole … Continue reading An introduction to Islam by six year olds.