Scottish Expats Living in Oman - Interview With Heather

The Duncans don't do anything by halves - as newleyweds, moving from Scotland to Oman in the Middle East these two have to figure out how to make a new life together in a whole new continent and a long way from home. Laughs, tantrums and adventures are what we are all about. Never in my wildest dreams did I think at 24 years old that I would be married, living abroad and a stay at home wife. I'm not sure how I'm going to do this? Heather's expat blog is called The Duncan Adventures (see listing here)

Here's the interview with Heather...

Where are you originally from?
Aberdeen, Scotland

In which country and city are you living now?
Muscat, Oman

How long have you lived here and how long are you planning to stay?
7 quick & exciting months, we plan to stay around 4 years and then who knows where!

Why did you move and what do you do?
My husband was offered a live in position here instead of rotating month on, month off. He works in the oil field and is very passionate about his job. I am a stay at home wife.

Did you bring family with you?
We brought our 1 year old German Shepherd with us.

How did you find the transition to living in a foreign country?
Desperate to get away from the UK i saw it as an extended holiday. Some things are very difficult to get used to but I use my blog to vent my frustration at things that I'm not used to. My transition was easy as I have always kept myself busy with hobbies and socialising.

Was it easy making friends and meeting people; do you mainly socialise with other expats?
Many people struggle to meet friends that they actually 'click' with and instead settle for people that speak their own language. I have met several wonderful people as I join groups and social events and eventually you find people that you enjoy spending time with instead of just settling for anyone. Be fussy and be whoever you want to be.

What are the best things to do in the area; anything to recommend to future expats?
There are so many amazing things to do here from visiting the turtle reserves to hiking through the Wadis. Keep your eye on local blogs and websites as they have the tips on upcoming events in the Sultanate.

What do you enjoy most about living here?
I love the fact that I don't have to worry about the rain or the snow. Growing up in Northern Scotland we don't have the luxury of so many outdoor activites. I may change my opinion on this during the unbearable summer months though..

How does the cost of living compare to home?
Living here is not cheap if you want a decent standard of living. Who wants to move abroad to a lower standard of living than their home country? Eating & drinking in restraunts can get quite expensive so look for local, traditional places to eat. When shopping for groceries watch the price on imported products as they cost much more than locl produce.

What negatives, if any, are there to living here?
Due to the fact that it is an Islamic country means the women must dress appropriately. When we are not brought up with the Islamic beliefs it can be difficult to adapt quickly. Also, as nice as the sunshine is the heat and and humidity can make life sweaty and uncomfortable.

If you could pick one piece of advice to anyone moving here, what would it be?
Be open to new people, places and experiences. You might just surprise yourself!

What has been the hardest aspect to your expat experience so far?
Being a white woman in a Middle Eastern country sometimes attracts unwanted attention and it can be difficult to deal with.

When you finally return home, how do you think you'll cope with repatriation?
The weather will be a huge change if I ever returned to the UK and the fact that I can't just pop down to the beach or arrange an outside dinner without checking 3 different weather forecasts.

What are your top 5 expat tips for anyone following in your footsteps?

1. Be aware of the cultural beliefs in your new country and behave appropriately.
2. Be whoever you want to be.
3. Embrace your new surroundings and get out to explore.
4. Don't rely on all your family & friends to be happy for your new adventure, jealousy and the feeling of abandonment can dominate your relationship with those left behind.
5. Join clubs, social events etc to find friends and others in the same position as yourself.

Tell us a bit about your own expat blog.
My friends & family back home were less than supportive about our decision to move to the Middle East, they didn't want to know anything about our new life and what we were upto. I struggled with that. I began my blog as a way of letting them catch up with our new life at their own speed without ramming it down their throats, it has now evolved into my sort of therapy. I enjoy people subscribing to the blog and the fact that they care enough that they want to read about my adventures.

How can you be contacted for further advice to future expats coming to your area?
People can use the "Contact Me" tab on my blog to get in touch.

Heather blogs at http://theduncanadventures.blogspot.com which we recommend a quick visit if you haven't been already. The Duncan Adventures has an ExpatsBlog.com listing here so add a review if you like! If you appreciated this interview with Heather, please also drop her a quick comment below.

Copy and paste code to display the Featured Expat Badge:
<a href="https://www.expatsblog.com/articles/1540/scottish-expats-living-in-oman-interview-with-heather"><img src="https://www.expatsblog.com/images/badge-featured-expat-150.jpg" alt="Expat Interviews" border="0"></a>

Feel free to have your say on this item. Go on... be the first!

• 
• 
• 
•