Well, I've survived my first week here in Doha and it has been interesting to say the least. Work has been straightforward as I am doing things I am very familiar with just in a different setting and context. I am still borrowing stationery etc but at least someone has put an order in for some things for me today.
This morning, a slight drama as my driver failed to turn up to collect me at 7.30 am - we have some communication difficulties arranging this the evening before as he speaks no English and I speak no Arabic, however, I thought we had communicated 7.30 am ok. He is teaching me one word of Arabic and I am teaching him one word of English a day. The previous day I thought he was telling me he was 17 years old, but it turned out he had 17 members in his family. Anyway back to the lift, after an hour, I had to get the hotel limo service to take me to work - so a BMW limo with black leather seats duly turned up and I rode to work today in style.
A little story for Colin who I told that camels were never seen in the city because of the traffic. This was in the paper on Weds:
"Camel chaos on the D-Ring Road - (which is one of the major three lane freeways into the city): A camel that played truant from a breeding farm had jaw-dropping motorists slam their brakes hard, some in awe and some in excitement, as the animal ambled near a roundabout on D ring round on Saturday night. As the animal sauntered in the street, oblivious of the traffic chaos it was causing around midnight, someone had the sense to call the police who arrived soon to restore order. The animal was handed back to the owner of the breeding farm who had reported it missing earlier."
I went with Khawar to a Salsa party on Tuesday night which includes for the entry price of about £12, one free cocktail and one hour's cha cha cha class. This was exhausting but is not helped if your partner is even worse than you are. Khawar's dancing is impressive but she has been going for the best part of a year now.
We went to look at an apartment for me to rent earlier in the week and I signed up for it today. It is on the 18th floor of a block which is very close to work which means that I will be able to walk to work and not need lifts. Being independent will be great and I will not need a car. I am not able to get a driving licence until I have my residence permit and I cannot get a car loan until my 3 months probation period is up, so walking is best for now. Bearing in mind I will have to cross a busy road of course.
The apartment block has a large swimming pool, gym facilities, two restaurants and coffee shop, maid service and cleaning twice a week and rent includes internet access (4mb) as well with free wifi in the lobby, a parking space. It is one large room with an ensuite bathroom but no kitchen.It will do for a couple of months and give me time to look round for something else.
Met a guy at work who has decided to go home after only two weeks out here as a contractor. He has had a number of negative experiences - a car accident in his first week, not getting on with his boss, not been paid for his consultancy work etc and is not happy here but nevertheless a drastic decision. So it doesn't suit everyone and Khawar was right when she said that the most important thing was to be patient with the processes.
We had an interesting visit to a local community project - working with blind people in the community - we had to take an interpreter from our office who speaks Arabic and when we got there, the main man, was not there as he had got the days mixed up, he is a Qatari, elderly and blind so we had to sit and cool our heels for nearly an hour until he arrived. It was a great visit but they are in dire need of some help. They find it very hard to get volunteers - nothing changes. They have requested ICT equipment but have no technical support, trainers etc - is this ringing any bells with anyone?
Looking round the apartment the other day, something made us smile - in the lift going up to the 18th floor, on the floor o fthe lift was a very nice rug which said Tuesday - have a nice day or something along those lines and I said to Khawar - that's all very well but what happens on the other days. The lady who was showing us the room, told us that the rug gets changed every day so the day of the week is correct.
Well more soon.
This morning, a slight drama as my driver failed to turn up to collect me at 7.30 am - we have some communication difficulties arranging this the evening before as he speaks no English and I speak no Arabic, however, I thought we had communicated 7.30 am ok. He is teaching me one word of Arabic and I am teaching him one word of English a day. The previous day I thought he was telling me he was 17 years old, but it turned out he had 17 members in his family. Anyway back to the lift, after an hour, I had to get the hotel limo service to take me to work - so a BMW limo with black leather seats duly turned up and I rode to work today in style.
A little story for Colin who I told that camels were never seen in the city because of the traffic. This was in the paper on Weds:
"Camel chaos on the D-Ring Road - (which is one of the major three lane freeways into the city): A camel that played truant from a breeding farm had jaw-dropping motorists slam their brakes hard, some in awe and some in excitement, as the animal ambled near a roundabout on D ring round on Saturday night. As the animal sauntered in the street, oblivious of the traffic chaos it was causing around midnight, someone had the sense to call the police who arrived soon to restore order. The animal was handed back to the owner of the breeding farm who had reported it missing earlier."
I went with Khawar to a Salsa party on Tuesday night which includes for the entry price of about £12, one free cocktail and one hour's cha cha cha class. This was exhausting but is not helped if your partner is even worse than you are. Khawar's dancing is impressive but she has been going for the best part of a year now.
We went to look at an apartment for me to rent earlier in the week and I signed up for it today. It is on the 18th floor of a block which is very close to work which means that I will be able to walk to work and not need lifts. Being independent will be great and I will not need a car. I am not able to get a driving licence until I have my residence permit and I cannot get a car loan until my 3 months probation period is up, so walking is best for now. Bearing in mind I will have to cross a busy road of course.
The apartment block has a large swimming pool, gym facilities, two restaurants and coffee shop, maid service and cleaning twice a week and rent includes internet access (4mb) as well with free wifi in the lobby, a parking space. It is one large room with an ensuite bathroom but no kitchen.It will do for a couple of months and give me time to look round for something else.
Met a guy at work who has decided to go home after only two weeks out here as a contractor. He has had a number of negative experiences - a car accident in his first week, not getting on with his boss, not been paid for his consultancy work etc and is not happy here but nevertheless a drastic decision. So it doesn't suit everyone and Khawar was right when she said that the most important thing was to be patient with the processes.
We had an interesting visit to a local community project - working with blind people in the community - we had to take an interpreter from our office who speaks Arabic and when we got there, the main man, was not there as he had got the days mixed up, he is a Qatari, elderly and blind so we had to sit and cool our heels for nearly an hour until he arrived. It was a great visit but they are in dire need of some help. They find it very hard to get volunteers - nothing changes. They have requested ICT equipment but have no technical support, trainers etc - is this ringing any bells with anyone?
Looking round the apartment the other day, something made us smile - in the lift going up to the 18th floor, on the floor o fthe lift was a very nice rug which said Tuesday - have a nice day or something along those lines and I said to Khawar - that's all very well but what happens on the other days. The lady who was showing us the room, told us that the rug gets changed every day so the day of the week is correct.
Well more soon.
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