This is the question Wendy and I have been getting as we start to inform our friends and family of where we will be headed to this summer. I have spent time talking with my old college buddy(who's job I am filling) about the stability in Doha. He has assured me that everyone is very happy in Qatar and that it is a "benevolent" country. I haven't been able to dig up any information that would make me feel otherwise. None the less, my American friends raise their eyebrows at the mere fact that we would head to ANYWHERE in the Middle East
It has become more of an issue as Bahrain gets into the protests. This is a bit unnerving considering Bahrain is just a hop, skip and a jump away. I came across a blog post that put my mind at rest.
The blogger did something I would have done. Tapped the opinion of the people. Living in Doha and having many Qatari twitter followers, she posted the question to her people. The result have once again confirmed any worries we may have about making the move.
Check out her blog, Sybil and Kristi's Qatari Adventures. They have some great posts about their time in Qatar. Especially helpful is their post on the current state of the middle east, here
The only time I ever felt any concern the whole time I lived in Qatar was the day after Reagan ordered the bombing of Gaddafi's compound in Libya. There was a bit of anti-American sentiment that went around, but it was never violent. The people who live in Doha were always very welcoming of us, and polite to everyone. I still, to this day, think of my years in Doha as one long vacation, even though I was in school at the time. It has been 22 years since I've been back to Doha, and I would love to see the city now. The Sheraton and the Ramada both had amazing Friday morning all you can eat breakfast buffets that I still miss. We would meet about five other families, and just eat waffles, omelets, and turkey sausage (never any pork products of course) all morning long. It was probably one of the happiest times of my life. I'm very jealous of your family and hope you love it as much as we did.
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