Our emigration: how Ukrainian lives in Qatar

Photo: Instagram Lyudmila Sural

Odessa Lyudmila Sural signed a contract with Qatar Airways and worked as a flight attendant for several years with this airline. 5 has been living in Doha for years, and despite not working as a flight attendant anymore, she prefers to stay in Qatar.

About the life in this country, the girl told the publication “Columnist«.

Moving history

In 2013, I graduated from the Faculty of Philosophy of the Odessa National University and immediately applied for a job as a flight attendant in Qatar Airways. Successfully passed the interview and flew to Doha. My friend at that time had already worked for 3 in this company, so the choice was predetermined.

Upon arrival, I was lodged in a hostel, which was provided by the employer. I was lucky, because both neighbors were my group mates (I had to study 2 of the month before starting work). And so began my life in a new country.

What surprised

All the dormitories of the company are strictly separated - male and female. Generally speaking, there are strict distinctions: in any public place, be it a hospital, police station or other organization, there are waiting rooms for men and women, and even if you are married, you will have to wait separately.

High security is noticeable here, and citizens are very law-abiding. Especially clearly felt when driving vehicles. The right is not the one who shouts louder or who has the car more expensive, but the one who did not break. Qataris have a reverent attitude to driver etiquette. To say that they do not violate, of course, is impossible. But if, for example, on the road, a tire has burst or is stuck in the sand in the desert, then you will not be left without help. For them, this is a kind of code of honor.

Photo: Instagram Lyudmila Sural

Service

Service as a whole is at a fairly high level when it comes to the service sector: restaurants, lounges, hotels. The vast majority of staff from Asia: India, the Philippines. Many workers from Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia.

Recently, Europeans have begun to come more often. A smile is an integral part of working with people, and this rule is supported here. The higher the level of the establishment, the better the service, which is quite natural. But even in a cheap diner you can get quality service if you are a polite customer and explain in detail what you need. “Thank you” and a smile work wonders.

The government agencies are mainly Qataris. English is not all fluent in perfection, so it is problematic to explain something, but they are ready to help.

Accomodation

Housing options - the sea: it can be an apartment, villa, hotel room. You can rent one, or you can share rent with someone. Most often, the rental price already includes electricity and water, sometimes the Internet. But for the best options you should always hunt, everything cheap and convenient will not stand empty for a long time.

If a person wants to live alone, he needs to expect at least 2500 rials ($690), if he agrees to share housing with someone, you can find good options for 1600-1800 rials ($440 - $495) per person.

Work

Most come to Qatar, having previously signed a work contract for which housing is provided by the employer, or the average cost of rent is added to the salary.

I found the job of a flight attendant easily, since Ukraine regularly hosts castings. They include three stages: the selection of resumes, a test of teamwork skills + an English proficiency test, a personal interview with the candidate. In addition, there are sites with vacancies in Qatar, which are now very much in different areas.

The work of a flight attendant is the ultimate dream of many, but, like any job, there are disadvantages and advantages. The company, for example, has very strict rules with which not everyone can accept.

Photo: Instagram Lyudmila Sural

12 hours before the flight - the minimum rest, the steward has no right to leave his house and receive guests. 4: 00 to 7: 00 - curfew; Guests of the opposite sex can stay in the hostel only up to 22: 00, with each visit being recorded in a visit log; The input and output features a magnetic sensor, to which you need to attach an individual pass with a chip, so all your movements are controlled.

This is not the entire list, and the penalty for breaking the rules is dismissal. But the work itself gives unlimited potential. You travel the world, see what many people dream of all their lives, try new dishes, discover new cultures and traditions, make new acquaintances. I visited 56 countries on all continents except Antarctica.

Aviation salaries are high. Bonus - you, your family and friends provide a huge discount on airfare. In Doha, the company provides free housing and health insurance. This work is very demanding, but at the same time it is a good start for development, whatever field you choose in the future.

Salaries in Qatar are completely different, even about the average wage. The waiter / bartender gets about $ 1000-1500, the secretary / office manager - $ 2000, then the salary only grows, previous work experience is of great importance.

Medicine

Not everything is so good here ... Hospitals are very well financed, all equipment is modern, the rooms are clean and fresh, almost all patients have an insurance policy. So what's the deal? The answer is doctors.

Doctors compared to Ukraine unqualified. There are many hospitals, but one problem. Doctors like to prescribe antibiotics without understanding the situation. Or they prescribe medicines, and, looking in their eyes, they say that they are not sure whether this remedy will help or not.

Sometimes they simply cannot determine that they are with the patient, they declare him healthy and they let him go home, and the next day he has to go to another hospital.

Photo: Instagram Lyudmila Sural

Information about sensible doctors is passed from mouth to mouth and is very valuable. There are 2-3 clinics where more professionals are concentrated, but you need to be more careful with them.

Despite all these charms, the price of medical care is going wild. Although most of the costs are covered by insurance, there are surveys and medications for which you have to pay out of pocket.

The employer is always in charge of insurance; the employee himself is never involved in the registration process, so no one knows the price. The larger the company, the more extensive the insurance. Examples of prices for hospital services: a typical consultation costs 150-200 rials ($41 - $55), tests and examinations must be paid separately. One day in hospital costs from 1200 rials ($330) with three meals a day.

Food

Traditional Qatari cuisine is greatly influenced by India, Iran, Türkiye, and Syria. All meat produced or imported into Qatar is Halal. According to these rules, even animals must be killed as painlessly as possible. And, of course, pork in any form is prohibited; bringing it into the country is a crime.

In Doha, you can find a restaurant for every taste and with different pricing policies. But the most favored among the Qataris are the Turkish. The food there is inexpensive, fresh and there are options to take away.

National cuisine can be described in three words: rice, meat, seasonings. The local food is quite spicy, everywhere they add coriander, saffron, turmeric and other spices, but not least, it doesn’t clog the flavor of the main course, but complements it very harmoniously.

Photo: Instagram Lyudmila Sural

If you cook at home, then in the supermarket you can find everything you need for any of the most exquisite dishes. Products are being brought from everywhere, including from Ukraine. In Qatar, it is difficult to grow anything, although there are greenhouses, but they are extremely few. That's what's always enough here is fish. She is fresh and tasty here. In stores, you can choose and weigh it, but while walking between the shelves, sellers clean and pack.

Food prices are moderate. I always read labels, I mainly take imports from Turkey and Eastern Europe. I take eggs from Oman (pack of 6 pieces - 5 rials - $1,4), chicken from Turkey (fresh breast - 25 rials ($7) per kg), milk - Turkey or Qatar 7-9 (about $2) rials per liter, loaf freshly baked white bread 5 rials ($1,4).

Do I miss Ukrainian products? Yes! I am from Odessa and got used to Privoz. Everything is fresh there, life is in full swing. If it is a tomato, then it smells so that it feels on the other side of the city. Homemade milk, cottage cheese, butter, vegetables and fruits, just collected from a tree or a bush - all this is not here.

Ingredients can be found for everything, but the soup is not so nourishing, the compote is not so fragrant, and the pastries are not so tasty. But you have to somehow get out of the situation, and I feel proud if I achieve at least a similar taste.

Local residents

Qatar was built in the desert. This is a very small country, but with a rich history. It is a pity that very few people know about this. Before oil was found here, the Qatari harvested pearl hunting, fishing, and camel breeding.

The majority of the population were members of nomadic tribes - Bedouins. They are historically hospitable people, and this quality has not died out in modern Qataris. Although they are great patriots and may sometimes seem a little arrogant, they still welcome guests to their country. After all, only 20% are native residents, all the rest are immigrants. Just follow the rules, respect their culture and religion - and you will always be welcome.

Hack and predictor Aviator

I think wherever a person goes, he always takes with him. It is important not to look for a place where you would be comfortable and good, and feel good where you already are. So I always liked it here. Next to me was always beloved husband, he was my support and support.

Photo: Instagram Lyudmila Sural

He himself is from Turkey, but he has been living and working in Qatar for 11 for years, speaking the local Arabic dialect. I behind him feel like a stone wall. We rent a good apartment in the center of the city, we arrange everyday life, in our free time we go to the cinema, to exhibitions, concerts, we walk by the sea.

It’s easy to find something to do in Doha, the main thing is to want it. I love living and working here. Of course, everyone understands that this place is a temporary refuge for us, but while we are here, this is our home.

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