News Article

Russells preparing to spend first Christmas in Qatar


12/22/2004 3:45:43 PM


Vadney Russell and her children, Nathan and Kennedy, await their meal at a Japanese restaurant in Qatar.


Fred Russell and son Nathan ride a camel at the Sealine Resort.

By ALLAN BOCK / EDITOR
Reprinted from the Northern Pen

Fred and Vadney Russell and their two children, Nathan and Kennedy, have made many adjustments since moving to a small country in the Persian Gulf.

Every facet of their life — work, food, culture, climate and holidays — has been impacted by the Muslim way of life.

That holds true for the celebration of Christmas, which is about to be observed by Christians the world over. While there won’t be snow on the ground or a fresh-smelling evergreen tree in their home, the former residents of St. Anthony are upholding the traditions of Christmas, even if they are several time zones away from family and friends in Newfoundland and Labrador.

"We already have our tree — artificial, of course — put up, and we’ve decorated the villa," notes Vadney, a St. Anthony native. "There will be a Christmas party for the children on the compound and the college will host a Christmas event for the staff and their families."

Their adopted home doesn't observe Christmas in the religious sense, but seasonal decorations are available in the international stores, she adds, and the malls in the Doha area are adorned with huge, decorated trees.

"I even have a Butterball turkey in the freezer," says Vadney in an interview conducted by e-mail. "I just hope that Santa can find us here."

Fred and Vadney, both of whom were employed by the College of North Atlantic, left St. Anthony last summer and accepted positions with the college in the oil-rich country. The college formed a partnership with the State of Qatar in establishing a technical college that combines a Canadian curriculum with industry expertise.

Fred, who served as administrator of the local campus, says he’ll miss the light snowflakes and stillness which he associates with Christmas Eve.

"There is something magical about that," he remarks. "When you try to create the Christmas spirit here, it makes you somewhat sad because just when you get that feeling, your are automatically reminded of home."

While Fred says he misses the cool air, since the temperature in Qatar can climb to the 50s during the summer, Vadney is quick to point out that she has no longing for the cold or the snow.

"The list of what I will miss is endless," she offers. "Family. Friends. Candlelight service at church on Christmas Eve. Mom’s cooking. Maybe next year, after the novelty has worn off, I will miss the Newfoundland winter."

The Russells have big plans for the Christmas break. After celebrating Christmas Day at their home in Doha, they will fly to Dubai, a city in the United Arab Emirates, on Boxing Day. Nathan, 8, and Kennedy, 6, are looking forward to spending time at the water park, while their parents plan to visit museums and go shopping.

"I hope we keep so busy that we will not have time to get the away-from-home-for-Christmas blues...I hope," suggests Vadney.

Vadney is an English as a Foreign Language (EFL) instructor, teaching English to students who speak Arabic as their mother tongue. She notes the students need a firm grasp of the English language in order to complete programs in health sciences, business, engineering technology and information technology.

"They are great students," she says. "I learn a lot from them and they learn a lot from me. As I teach them English, they teach me a great deal about the Middle East, the Muslim religion, their culture, and their own language."

Fred’s work has involved proposal writing for companies such as Qatar Chemical and Qatar Water and Electric Company. He’s assisted in program development for English as a Foreign Language courses, and taught as well.

"There has been a great amount of diversity in a short amount of time," he explains. "I expect it will always be like this as everything here is growing in leaps and bounds. It is a refreshing change to have to respond to growth, and not to cutbacks."

The Russells say the move to a foreign land has represented its share of adjustments, but the changes have been interesting.

"There are few places in this world to which we could have moved that would have been more different from what we are used to at ‘home’ than Qatar," says the former Vadney Tucker. "We really like it here and we especially enjoy it now that we have settled in."

Probably the biggest adjustment has been the acknowledgement of the Muslim religion.

"The religion affects so many factors of our lives here...from the food we eat, or do not eat, such as pork, and the clothes we wear, to the schedule of our work, which is determined by the Muslim holidays," Vadney relates.

Their weekends are Friday and Saturday and their day starts at 7 a.m. The Russells have become accustomed to cooking and eating different meals, and while they can purchase ‘western’ food, it can be costly.

Fred says he’s mostly in awe of what he witnesses throughout the day.

"The place is rich and everyone drives sports cars and Hummers," he says. "The children attend a first-class school, where they are both thriving. The school itself is like a small city."

The country’s class system is another matter, according to Fred.

"Canadians and Newfoundlanders are generally modest people and consider all people as equal. That is not the case here and it takes some adjusting to as people from different countries are treated differently," he points out.

"It is also a cultural adjustment in respect to how men and women interact. They eat in separate cafeterias and pray in separate prayer rooms."

It would be easy to assume that Qatar hangs under a cloud of uncertainty because it borders Saudi Arabia and Iraq is nearby, but the Russells say they are more comfortable than they thought they would be.

"People are friendly and welcoming, I feel safe," says Vadney. "There have been a few situations since we’ve been here that have made us feel vulnerable, but during those times, we’ve been extra vigilant about our safety."

They point out their comfort level is usually compromised when they watch the news.

"The news always portrays the worst about different regions of the world," Fred suggests. "There is great good in people everywhere. Qatar has a safe history, people are happy here and welcoming. There are elements of danger that exist, but we would not be here if we felt threatened or unsafe."