Staying for the summer
Although my husband has been in Doha for over 3 months now, my 6 year old son and I just arrived a couple of weeks ago. Since we just got here, we don't plan to return to our home country at all this summer. My question is... are there any organized activites - like day or half day camps - for elementary school children? Most of the advice I have seen so far is for one time activities or 1 hour lessons. My son is extremely social and I'm concerned that the entire summer will be consumed with trying to entertain him.
Right now, we've been at the house during the week because I am still getting used to the driving (and trying to get insurance for collisions). But I would love for him to have some type of regular interaction with other children during the summer.
Any advice or information would be welcome.
Hi we as well are staying and we are from Miami, Fl. Hot there as well!! Glucas..we too are staying for the very same reason..we got here about 1 month ago and my husband had been here for 2 1/2 months before us..so yeah..we don't wanna leave him! We have a 5 year old(going on 35)! son and we do have friends here that are staying as well..they have been living here for 3 years and they suggest a lot of indoor things i.e malls..movies..etc..the good thing is my son enjoys the indoors as well as the out so hopefully it won't be too much of a problem! Well goodluck..and maybe we will meet?
hi we r also staying 4 the summer, however i have a 3.5 year old boy and a 6 month old baby girl. I am really keen to start a playgroup, don't mind having it at home if necessary, so please leave me a message in my inbox if u are keen. We have also just arrived and are not keen to home without Dad for another few months - we're only just getting back on track now. There must be a lot of moms and kids staying so lets get together, please, our kids are going to go crazy being indoors for 2 months, we can structure the play as well, painting, playdough, music, storytime, whatever. It really doesn't matter if the kids are of different ages, they all need to learn to play with older/younger kids at some stage so why not? I'm really not keen for my son to spend the whole holiday in front of the tv!!!
I am leaving on the 19th of June, and back to Doha on 2nd of August. I have a son will be 5 yrs old this coming october. Maybe we can set something up in August.
Ingensu ... are u staying or leaving for summer? Maybe we can do something together with our boys.
xxx
since you're from texas, i know some american families stay during summer. try to mingle with them, maybe they have set up some activities of their own. with regards to activities in doha, you can forget any outdoor activites temperatures here used to shoot up to 50 degrees.
With the schools and the colleges starting early, August may be busier this summer than normal. There should be people around because most schools have to end 1st semester before Dec 1.
Butterfly the Angel...
Ha ha ha ha, seriously I guess you are. With all and the complaints, I've found Doha livable after finding you here! Yes, Oman is beautiful and I bet one can live nicely there too, but I just got too used now to life here, and what p*.*me off from here is also applicable there, really!
Hello Ingensu!!!!
I didn´t know you were out of Qatar... C´mon, Oman is beautiful...
Hope you are well, kisses to M. and you.
The photo, yes, a Xmas funtion.... I was the angel
Hi BUtterfly!
I'm back! and believe it or not I am happy we landed in DOha and not in Oman... Anyway, I guess every country has its special charm or no-charm and we just have to learn to be happy and 'make the best of it'...
Can I ask you what is that for a photo????!!!!! Butterfly in a Theatralical production?
Glucas, Indeed most people leave, flee! during summer (that was also common in Houston were we lived too!) but there are many that decided to stay. This is our first time here and although we will leave July and August, I am sure there are plenty of activities for you and your kid. You can always check expatwoman.com and expatgossip.com, it won't take you a week to find the right company!
I have met already nice people there and most of the moms have kids in the age of yours. I cannot join many things because my son goes to preK and other activities and we live 'far' from most of the action spots :) but keep posting here and we might meet you. I know you are cautious with the email identity (me too, but rather because of my comments here about my frustrations in Qatar) but you will soon discover this is a very safe country.
All the best and do keep in touch.
There is always Western-style socialising if you go to the right places...
Most people flee, including Qataris. The government tries to persuade them to stay so there's this 'Summer Wonders' festival in the malls with music and stuff. Movies, too, of course. However, you won't meet or see many Western kids until September.
It's not just hot, it's humid.
So long as you've got a comfortable home and car with good ACs, you'll be OK, but Western-style socialising you won't get.
We're from Texas, so the summers aren't mild there either - however somewhat cooler. The money to return is not the issue, but I can't take my son away from his dad when they've been apart for several months already.
What do the local children do for the summer? Or does absolutely everyone flee Doha during July & August?
No... On a serious note. I strongly advise you to leave Qatar for the summer, your child will find it very hard to be indoors 24/7. Glucas, I don´t know where you´re coming from, but if money is not a problem, then LEAVE Qatar for the summer, at least July and August, take your child to you home country
And a good A/C
get him an XBox 360 ;)