Aussies in Qatar

I am part of a growing number of Australian expats, that have recently descended into Qatar. Most of us come from either trade or Oil/Gas/mining, and I am told a few of the banking professionals are imminent Aussies, making their mark in Qatar.

I am mid 40's the time in most Aussie males lives, where they ask themselves, WHAT Have I done with my life, it can't be all this complicated. Usually the answer comes in the form of a midlife crisis, some go off the track completely and then there others like me, who seek out a challenge and drop everything to pursue it. I found out about the opportunity to come to Qatar with around 3 weeks notice. QATAR they all said.."where on earth is Qatar", most Aussies don't know how to spell Qatar, let alone where it is, let alone why anyone would want to go there!!! I had to reshuffle my affairs set family in place, to survive without me, give notice of my old job and then come to terms that I would be leaving familar territory for some time. I now work in the burgeoning GTL (LNG, LPG) constructions going on in Ras Laffan, I originally signed on for a year, but recently jumped to another assignment that will see me here for the next 2 to 3 years, with leave every now and then.

The thing I miss about Australia, is the familiarity, you assured that when you go somewhere in Australia, the laws and customs are much the same in state to state, we don't all follow the same principals of life, ie Beer, football, fishing, cars and holidays at the beach, many of us don't even like to fish, but the others are fairly entrenched into Australian culture.
I feel that I am destined to return to Australia for good one day with an appreciation of the rest of the world, or at least this country, because of the solid network of support I find from lots of people from around the globe who've done things JUST LIKE ME...