10 things Qatar could do to an expat
The very first time you were packing your bags to leave to Qatar, you’d have had a mixture of emotions running through you. Starting from excitement at the idea of moving to a completely new country from the deep dread and sorrow of leaving home, you’d have felt it in a myriad different ways.
But, once you’re in Qatar, it doesn’t take long for the country to creep into you.
Here are some things that this nation does to an expat-
1-Where did all my hair go?
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Yes, you’re not alone. Qatar does this a lot to almost all expats. The hair that you once loved, will start to fall and turn gray before their time. And very soon, you’ll become the expat who has lost it.
2-The rolling fat around that tummy.
(Source:clickondetroit.com)
Gained a few pounds around the waist line? So do we all. Many an expat will be full of woeful tales about the slim waist line they’ve lost in these desert plains.
3-Is that how cold water feels?
(Pic courtesy:SCA)
Ever realized that you very rarely get cold water running in your tap? Qatar makes you to almost forget how cold water feels. Water is of three temperatures here- scalding, hot but not scalding, warm.
4-I see only brown.
(Source:qatarliving.com)
Let it be houses or buildings, there’s only one colour here and it’s brown. In no time, you forget about the other colours.
5-Caution driving is gone!
(Source:tracieonthego.com)
You’d truly be the expat of Qatar if you have forgotten about all the cautions you took while driving back at home. Driving here is easy!! Just drive no matter how until you reach your destination.
6-What’s with all the roads and the not so round roundabouts?
(Source:qatarconstructionnews.com)
Roads and routes here are ever changing. There won’t be day without a road under construction or some huge roundabout being built.
7-Care for some Karak and Shawarma?
(Pic by WildPeeta)
When you realize that sometimes you have the urge to bite into a Shawarma or sip a Karak, then you’re absolutely the complete Qatar expat.
8-Petrol? Expensive? Nah!
(Source:Getty Images)
Qatar can make you forget how pricey petrol is back at home. Do we even know, after a certain point, how much a liter of petrol is in Qatar?
9-Everything else? Cheap? Nah!
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Yes, this country can make you to think that you could buy something (anything except petrol, for that matter) for a lesser price back at home. Ever rolled eyes at your house rent? Join the club.
10-Is Sunday a holiday for the rest of the world?
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Finally, an important thing Qatar makes you forget is that Sunday is a holiday back at home.
Bonus-
11-By the time the climate reaches around 20 degrees, when you start looking for your sweater or jumper, you truly know you are the perfect Qatar expat.
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However, life in Qatar, like life everywhere else, is challenging yet fun and different. One has to experience it in order to understand it fully.
Brit i wouldnt know much about this, but filipina bits couldnt possibly compare to shotputter bits :-)
Filipinas have bumpy bits just like my Cuban Shotputter
No..I found Filipinos to be quite joyful, interesting & good people ..
True, Filipinas are only after your money!
I am continuosly watching people living in partitioned flats in several flats in Matar Qadeem despite of government warnings. Women leaving their small babies n little kids in pathetic Malayali and Filipino baby sitting centers. People go crazy once they get jobs.They get married bring well educated wifes and force them to do jobs and manage home and little babies too. Maximum Keralites and Filipinos are aftre such double salary money.Sorry but I am not bashing them but this is a very true sad fact today. I feel sorry for little kids who are forced to stay in stinky tiny flats full of other kids untill their oarents collect them. Loads of such baby sitting centers are running in Mansoura Muntazah area.
For BritExpat, not sure I agree with your comment about the urge to get spouse a job once here. I know of many instances where spouse worked in home country and relished the thought of not working anymore and had no eagerness to do so once they arrived, despite the working spouse encouraging them to - swings both ways I would say (and I see a lot of new arrivals in my line of work)
Some say you 'll ve difficulty in baby making.
& for those who are not happy ..They can return to their homeland ..
No body is forced to stay in Qatar ..
simed1: Whilst i agree that the roads aren't paved with gold, I would suggest that most of the expats who have come to Qatar have left better off financially and have been able to realise their dreams (to some extent)
I lost almost 30% of may hair within less than 3 years omg! what will happen in the next 5 - 10 years .
Enamor your right you get really excited and the dreams start to glare and glow in front of your eyes like an ambulance light ! but as soon as land here you feel the need cry on the this mirage . and if you have a family here forget about those fantasy dreams like building a house and business back in your country ....
People accept offer letter like greedy aliens.Once settled they start crying like overfed baby. Dish is sakty n spicey n overcooked.
this is the post i liked so far.... i completely agree with all above views... still i don't know... why all houses are brown color even plenty of colors available in shops. some times expensive land cruisers also with brown paint on the road. for hair fall, the climatic air in qatar is fully polluted by chemical gases due to petro industries are very near (mesaieed) to the residential areas not more than 50km is the great cause. greenery is not enough to consume the gases and fumes. good thing in qatar, when your car stopped in the high way, many people especially youg men are trying to stop their cars and ready to help include police men. i experienced whenever my car tire got puncture. only we can do here is enjoy the difference with rest of the world. cheers..!!!
Poor Rizks. At least now he knows that it was the water to blame for his baldness.
On the positive side :
12: Qatar helps most expats fulfil their dreams
great topic i love it :-) grown up here and also lived in every other gcc country...a few thoughts:
- the hairfall is from the chlorine i guess; and happens to people who are not used to it...my family all have our hair and unbelievably, i start shedding when i head to my own country with its fresh sweet water lol..
- acchabaccha: buddy, yes there was a time when people left their homes unlocked and cars running...my mom left the car running once, forgot all about it and the car was still there next morning :-) that time is long gone...a guy recently posted here about how his car got stolen on C-ring road while he went to the ATM...
- omar: the new wave of qatar's residents aren't very friendly...i hate that...but you'll always get a smile and salam from me and others of my vintage...we'll also give you way on the road and wave our thanks when you do it for us..
- as for the visa and immigration scene,may god keep me blissfully ignorant of that whole world...i'll leave qatar the day i have a wife...unless there's some way i can just pay someone and have them do it for me...i sure as hell am not getting in those lines and climbing those mountains..
- shawarma :-) :-) :-) -) ....just makes me smile that word :-) :-) :-) :-) ....but yeah uae shawarmas are exponentially better than qatar...but still :-) :-) :-) :-)
overall, yes, qatar and the gcc have their issues, but for me, qatar is home, its people are my family and if and when i leave, i will leave a part of me behind and take some of qatar with me...thanks for reading if you did get this far :-)
OMG !!!!!
What about the visa hassle that every expat go thru ....
35 days and my visit visa application to call family here is still under review... Is this nation ready for world cup when there will be millions applying?
Bad water
What's the reason for hairfall ??
Hairfall isn't good ...
Forget people you don't know ever giving you a smile at you or even talking to you.
How can we forget about talking all good about Dubai.... and finally says Qatar is peace full and money saving country ;) and hence Qatar is best :D
I think Acchabaccha is living in a time warp. Times are changing and crime although still low is on the rise
They did it in the light of the day in my friend's apartment, accha!
Yes! Two months in Qatar and already experienced all of them. Especially the conversions before purchasing any item.
No one ever enters your home even late in the night if you have forgotten to close the doors.
12: As soon as you get off the plane, there is an urge to hire a maid and get a job for your spouse
10 khubas for 1 Riyal is the top pick.