2009 was a year of settling in and feeling comfortable in our new country of residence.Although we moved to Qatar in August 2008, it took us a while to start feeling like we were at home there. Once the cooler weather came, we spent more time exploring Qatar. We familiarized ourselves with most of the restaurants and shops in our neighbourhood, as well as in the Souq, or traditional market. We also got out of the city for outings that included digging desert roses (rock formations) in the middle of nowhere and renting a 4-wheel drive vehicle to explore the country outside of Doha. We really felt like we’d made Doha home while showing the sights to Darren’s parents who visited for a week in April. We had a great time hosting them and would love to do it again for anyone who wants to visit the Middle East!
We both settled into our jobs this year as well. Darren started his Qatari teaching career in January by teaching two classes of male students who are trainees of Qatar Petroleum. Since then he has continued to teach these QP trainees and has also taken on audio recording responsibilities at the college. Larissa spent most of the year outside of the classroom working on various curriculum-related projects, and has enjoyed the change of pace at work. Perhaps the greatest evidence of our feeling of being settled into our new teaching environment is the well-received presentation we gave at TESL Ontario in Toronto this December in which we discussed some of the challenges and rewards of teaching Arab and Muslim students.
When we think back on 2009 we might also classify it as the year of traveling. In March we spent a weekend in Dubai, and another one in Kuwait. In April we traveled all around Jordan. And when the summer came we visited family and friends in Zambia and various parts of Ontario. Then in the fall we were off for a week in Prague. We feel really blessed to have been able to see so many different areas of our world this past year. Each destination introduced us to new experiences, sights, people, and ideas, and we’re grateful for each of them.
In 2009 we also developed a new appreciation for relationships. We were able to reconnect with some old friends through our travels and via the Internet. We also got to visit with good friends in Ontario while we were “home” in the summer and at Christmastime. In addition, we met interesting people with whom we hope to keep in touch in Prague and Zambia. And of course we continue to get to know our new friends in Doha better.The most difficult part of living abroad for us is being away from our close friends and family. We’ve learned to appreciate our valued relationships and while we hope to develop similar friendships in Qatar, we’ve also renewed our desire to maintain our ties to our “kindred spirits” back in Canada.
2009 was also a year of creative exploration. Larissa tried her hand at silk painting, Palestinian embroidery, pottery, and belly dancing. While not naturally talented at any particular one, she enjoyed experimenting with each of these art forms. Darren took a short course in Adobe Flash and spent countless hours designing and re-designing his website www.shirtbug.net. Designing t-shirts has provided a good creative outlet for Darren, even if it may never become a source of income.
One last thing that 2009 will be remembered as being is a year of preparing for change. While on summer vacation in Canada we found out that we’re expecting our first child in April. We’re thrilled and nervous and really have no idea how different 2010 will be. Through doctors’ appointments, research (i.e. reading books, talking to people with children, etc.), and Larissa joining an ex-pat mum’s group in Doha, we’re trying to prepare as much as we can for this drastic change in our lives. We also moved from our apartment to a 3-bedroom villa on a compound in order to surround ourselves with other parents and children. We’re looking forward to how we will grow as a family over the coming years.So, it’s been a full and wonderful year. We hope your 2009 was something worth remembering, as well. Thanks for joining us on our journey. We truly are more thankful than ever for each of our family members and friends.
MERRY CHRISTMAS!Love,
Darren, Larissa & Baby Conley
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