Expat Professionals Networking

Whats up everyone?

If you're reading this message, chances are that you're an Expat who has moved to the desert (haha). I myself got here from Beautiful Toronto Canada for a project. I am a Marketing Executive and have been here for about one month now. When I arrived, I was totally in culture shock. I was not able to set relevant expectations and felt like people over-promised and under-delivered.

I saw a pretty backwards(comparatively) country with no street signs, tonnes of new buildings but no sense of community, High earners employing (basically) slave labourers, Millionaires wearing the exact same clothes as lower-middle class, and overall people jumping out of new Ferrari and Lamborghini wearing cheap slippers/sandals.

**** However, after meeting some like-minded expat individuals I began to see the greener side of the grass. I have since realized that networking is so much more important to gain a personal balance while in Qatar (if you're from abroad) than anywhere in North America/Europe.

Its a small place, so you can get famous fast.

I was so out of my element that my professional life began to suffer. I had trouble meeting with clients, especially during the Holy month of Ramadan (understandably)and all in all, wanted to go back home.

Now that I have settled a bit I realized that life isn't so bad. Nights are beautiful, The country is rich with culture, The Islamic side of things is so amazing (state mosque etc.) and I cant complain about not paying taxes!People are peaceful, streets are safe, & weather supposedly gets nice soon. Plus our currency totally blows Qatari Riyals out of the water haha. Overall I feel that the next few years will not be as painful as I had initially believed.

Anyways the point of this rant is to be as authentic as possible, to tell my story, and to encourage anyone out there feeling sort of low. THERE IS HOPE! I for one, am suggesting a networking event, maybe coffee at a top place like the W Hotel? for Business Minded Expats to get together and share their experiences. We all have so much in common but the infrastructure here sadly is more inclined to isolation.

Together we can share ideas, solve business problems, and show each other the real top-shelf standard we bring to this country. How we look, speak, dress, and act defines us all especially in a business setting. I'm just saying sometimes being dunked in the desert can make you lack a bit of shine, but by getting together with cool laid back people who are expats and business minded; we definitely will jump back on our horses (or camels haha).

Hope this is making sense, feel free to question/criticize/comment I'm just being as honest as I can. I hope this humble idea takes off and helps out fellow expats that may be silent but are definitely feeling the heat!

Cheers,

Tan from Toronto..