By Maria Cometti
Over 10,000 residents call the DQ home. Meet Your Neighbor profiles interesting people in our international DQ Community. Learn about the diverse experience, interests, and backgrounds of DQ dwellers. Read on, and Meet Your Neighbor.
Can you tell us about yourself?
I moved to Riyadh from my hometown of Chelsea, Quebec for work at the start of the 2016-2017 school year. After a stint teaching English in Sapporo, Japan, I knew that I wanted a rewarding career that would allow me to live in interesting places and experience new cultures. That dream became a reality after completing teacher’s college at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ontario. The first couple of years of classroom teaching were spent exploring the rugged beauty of Canada’s North working on a remote First Nation’s reservation in Northern Ontario. After gaining enough teaching experience I was able to land my first outdoor education job back in Japan. After years of teaching in the outdoors I can’t imagine going back to classroom teaching and I feel lucky to have found a career where my hobbies and work intersect.
What brought you to Riyadh?
After attending an international school job fair in Toronto I was offered the opportunity to start an outdoor education program at King Faisal School here in the DQ. KFS is a great school and I jumped at the chance to create a program at a well-established school using the International Baccalaureate curriculum. Opportunities for travel in and around the Gulf and an attractive employment package also played heavily into the decision to move here.
How long have you lived in the DQ?
I moved here on August 26, 2016 so I’m still a bit of a newbie here in the DQ. So far so good and I plan on sticking around for a while.
What were your first impressions of the DQ?
I was shocked by how beautiful and lush it was. I never expected such an amazing garden oasis in the middle of the desert. For the first week of my contract I was living in a huge brand new apartment close to the DQ by exit one. As soon as I saw how amazing the DQ was I knew right away that I had to move here.
What’s your day like in the DQ?
After getting ready for work I walk or bicycle through the beautiful gardens to Kindi plaza for a cup of coffee at Dr. Cafe. Then I continue on to my school which is located next to the American embassy. Most days at work I’m teaching students outside either on campus or in the wadi on the other side of the wall from the school. A few days a week I help organize after school activities which involves taking my outdoors club back outside or organizing a sport in the gym. On school nights I usually stay in the DQ relaxing at home or going back outside for a bike ride or a stroll.
What do you like most about the DQ?
Without a doubt the walking/biking trail around the perimeter. The trail is really fun for mountain biking and the views of the wadi and city are incredible.
Where are your favorite places to visit in Riyadh?
Wadi Hanifa and the areas on the outskirts of the city where the urban sprawl hasn’t taken over yet.
Any tips for your DQ neighbors?
Remember to get out of the DQ often. Living and working in the DQ has been great but my most memorable times spent in the Kingdom so far have happened outside of the walls.
