Can someone help me understand?

We all have a choice, make like a tree :)

Hey gmrleb - I've just taken the dog for a quick stroll round the block and it's bloody freezing! 50degC all year my arse ;-)

gmrleb Doha was never a party Place...and It will not be so in the future.

Socially you become inactive if you dont have a mate and a car. Cause without car you cannot move and with out mate you cannot enter entertaining malls/clubs when you have your day off (Fridays & Holidays).

The only place for single male is Corniche and that too is off limits on certain days.

The climate is bad 6 months hot and when its not hot its humid. 4 months cold and becomes dark so you cannot go out much.....

But dont you think you are damn lucky.....Lucky that you dont have to spend your entire life here?

Are you not lucky to be online on one of the most happening sites of Qatar or Middle East? To be among some of the most terrific guys & girls from all over the world present on QL.

just follow the FIOFO rule (Fit In Or Fark Off).

gmrleb... though some of your points are true, there is a better way of stating those in a more diplomatic way without disrpecting others points of view.

before you chose to stay here, im sure you are well aware of the pros and cons, yet you still chose to stay.

ii personally hate that bachelor thing here, but i tend to appreciate other things Qatar is offering ie. stable economy and kinda free tennis events, its had to get a vip seat though.

if you're purpose is only to criticize, dont bother, just search other threads., it COULD HELP YOU UNDERSTAND WHY AMIDST THE NEGATIVE'S, EXPATS STILL CHOOSE TO STAY.

_________________

veni, vidi, vici.

What are you on about? It's nowhere near 40degC at the moment! I'd say that at an absolute maximum only 4 months of the year are what you'd consider too hot. It is definitely not 40degC all year round.

You asked for peoples input, so don't turn round and say you don't appreciate their opinions.

Yes dandrough, i need to see a shrink so i can get answers as to why people like you are ok living in a country where it is ok to hold another dude's hand at the mall, but you get the stink eye at the slightest public display of affection.

Tallg, are you sure you are talking about Qatar? It may not be 50 degrees all year long, would you settle for 40 degrees?

How about nightclubs not letting single guys in on Fridays and Saturdays? Or malls not letting in single guys on a Thursday night?

I am really not asking for perfection here, but i don't appreciate the fact that someone tries to impose their opinion that it is so swell in Qatar.

You need to see a shrink.

Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for yourself.

U SAID "I am honestly surprised that suicide rates have not skyrocketed here".

ANSWER: alot, actually wants to commit suicide, but unfortunately, their to tired from work hey haven't got enough time to do so.. and everytime a worker ask suicide pills, doctors here usually give them fanadol "the wonder drug".. it can cure everything, head ache, heart ache, even homesickness..

but there are some people, who has time to do it, but they want to die by jumping over a bridge away from anybody to see.. but im sorry, they have to wait 4 years more before the qatar-bahrain causeway would be completed.

life is not a destination, it always had been & always will be a journey.....

gmrleb - you seem to be deliberately trying to find problems.

It's not 50degC here all year. For over half the year the weather's great. And anyway, you can't blame the weather because you must have known full well what it would be before you got here!

I've been to plenty of parks and beaches where I didn't need a "chick" to get in.

Your description of the bars sounds like many a bar all round the world!

Life's what you make of it. If you're looking for it to be sh!t, it probably will be.

felt the same thing... and still somehow feeling the same thing..but most of the points here are true...

yes, i've been using QL as substitute for my social life. (quite weird but i cant do anything, i dont know anyone here, perhaps this a start.)

yes, one country is different from the other, when you choose to stay, you experience the advantages and disadvantages of so many things.

i.e. i love the accessibility US brings, but i also love the feeling of isolation i feel here(LOL...this is the perfect place for soul searchin,,, and since i got here i was spared from hearing news related to britney spears)

yes, i havent made friends here and it adds up to the reason why im sharing the same emotion with you, socialization here is way different., but still "happiness is dependent on onself."

yes, economic wise, this is the most stable place on earth for now, and i chose to stay. LOL...

_________________

veni, vidi, vici.

....I don't actually want to live in the US (per se) but my husbands family (who are wonderful LIBERAL Texans - yeah, they're out there! THEY didn't vote for the AntiChrist!) all live there, the house prices are very low and I get to live in the warm countryside for my summers.

But yes, happiness is a state of mind.

Also, yeah, good schooling should be a given, but this way I get to CHOOSE where my kids get schooled. It's a bit of a lottery in the UK/US.

I agree, the heat's WAY over the top in the summer, but then, my folks are shivering their butts off in Staffordshire and grumbling about paying the heating bills.

Everything is relative. I say again - CHOICE. If I don't like it, I get to say 'Thanks, it's been great' then go work somewhere else.

Peace! (and beer!) Woohoo! QatarLiving rocks!

XX

P.S. Everywhere has an underbelly, but being a mother of small kids I don't usually frequent bars etc so I don't get to see it. I don't walk around with blinkers on but y'know, y'live the family life and y'miss stuff.

....I won't be dragging my happily smiling arse back to the UK any time soon! It's become one of my favourite tourist destinations! Too bloody expensive!

And I won't be fukcing it up - long trousers and long sleeves at Villagio every time! LOL!

XX

I would like to thank all those who weighed in. I appreciate the opinions of those who are really chipper and happy about life in Doha, which i still think it really blows. And beccakinn, thank you for weighing in, but being able to breathe "clean" air and sending kids to good schools is not exactly my idea of a great life as i expect those to be basic human requirements. I am not saying that these requirements are available everywhere but Qatar is the richest country on earth and the least thing they can do is provide this. I am sorry, i am not one of the guys who thanks others just for doing their job.

With all due respect, the "public parks, beaches, bars" here in Doha don't really qualify as public parks, beaches, and bars. I have no idea if you've been outside Qatar, but what exactly is the use of a public park when it is 50 degrees out most of the year and what use is the beach if you are not allowed in unless you're with a chick, and what use is a bar that is poorly ventilated with bad music and packed with prostitutes.

Abmor said "we don`t have a puplic parks, beaches, bars,"

These things are all here. How have you not found them?

Alexa watever u said made a lot of sense.

I dream of a better tomorrow where Chickens can cross the Road without having their motives questioned - Unknown

I agree with gmrlb; we don`t have to look for the happiness in the place that we are living in, because IT SHOULD BE THERE AUTOMATICLLY !!!!

while in Doha we are digging the earth to find a peace of joyfull or a shape of smile, whenever you turn around you find nothing because Qatar is still a small country and not yet developed like Dubai, we don`t have a puplic parks, beaches, bars, and 100% freedom.

but this is our fate, and we have to accept it anyway.

Dear gmrlb: save your money and go back home before you regret the time you lost in Qatar.

Life is just like a chess, if you don`t make the move... you will lose the game .. again .. just like this.

You make some good points. Happiness is dependent on many things.. Apart from your wish to live in the USA, I applaud you..

beccakinn, i like your attitude..

..and Editor.. this is exactly my point!

happiness is in your INNER world...

*********************

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

happiness you can find it everywhere. Its just on the person perspective how to view it.

Don't go back to the UK at all, because some of that "well remunerated account" will be drain real fast with UK Taxes YOU WILL HAVE TO PAID BACK!!!!!

Then your smile will be become a sad one....

The Seven Words You Can Never Say On QL by George Carlin

Just don't fcuk it up like the last few people on some of the forums have or unlike america you will have no choice! your azz will be back on a plane to the UK before you know or worse thrown in prison.

I am always excited to go to sleep! In anticipation of the new experience I will find awaiting me.

Dear All

I am originally from the UK and now teach in International Schools. I have lived and worked in 4 countries on three continents (S.Asia, S.America and Scandinavia) and my 'home' is in the US. I've been in Doha for 6 months and I am very happy here. The benchmarks for my happiness are as follows:

1. I breath pretty clean air (we could've gone to work in Beijing - but! JeepersCreeper! you can chew the air!)

2. Aside from the ludicrous driving (by no means the worst in the world!) this is a very safe place - no guncrime like S.America.

3. My children are receiving a fabulous education (and I mean SUPERB) from highly qualified and experienced teachers at QA primary school. They are very happy here.

4. We are well remunerated and send more to invest, each month, than most US/UK teachers could hope to earn in a month!

5. I can afford to travel.

6. Every day I meet wonderful people from all manner of countries. We have friends from Australia, NZ, Uganda, Sudan, SA and the UK.

There are many other things to appreciate here, especally compared to other Gulf states - Skype, beer!, freedom of movement!

And yes, I have CHOSEN to be here and can CHOOSE to leave.

Don't you think that having choices is the biggest luxury of all? Yes, there are plenty of things I could moan and complain about - same as all the other countries I have worked in - but things here are very heavily weighted to the positive.

So, I am happy.

I'm very lucky.

Happy Eid!

BK

All had been said and done.

Bottom line, it is how you appreciate what you have now and what are your goals in life are.

Find peace of mind and heart.

Find time to think deep.

Then uplift your spirit and be more religious.

THE BEST OF ALL "LEARN TO COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS AND BE SATISFIED WITH WHAT YOU HAVE."

GOD SENT YOU HERE AND FOR SURE THIS IS THE BEST PLACE FOR NOW.

I hope these helps.

CHEERS.. =)

What exactly is it that you are looking for that your not finding in doha? You just have to find out what it is you are looking for and I am sure you can find it in any country. I used to feel the same way here in canada, I found that after my daughter left my home that I had no friends and I was alone. there were other younger women with smaller children. I found I had nothing in common with them after my daughter left. I walked into a church one sunday morning and that day changed the rest of my life. I met friends in the church that were my age and I joined a gym group that these friends were a part of. From this group I did many fun sports, activities and got to know many people. I am now never alone and if I wanted to do something as simple as going for a bowl of soup with someone all I got to do is call one of them. anyway why don't you try to find something like I did and who knows you may end up having the most unforgettable time.

I am always excited to go to sleep! In anticipation of the new experience I will find awaiting me.

Britexpat said:

I think a pertinent question is "Is there any country where people are really happy ? and by happy, i mean enjoy all the aspects of life? "

I think you will be more than happy, If INS grant you a permanent VISA in the USA.

The Seven Words You Can Never Say On QL by George Carlin

i live in my own world... so i am fine... actaully I am fine everywhere...coz I am not depending too much on surroundings...

*********************

“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

lol genesis, i want a happy pill too...

I agree with brit...i would only add that the most diffiult part for me is being away from my family and some lifelong friends i have.

cheer up, things could be worse..

I'm happy...in fact i have just come in laughing....

but then i am blessed with great friends and like my job.

Friend..I love Amerika.. Please give me a green card..

bring on the prozac ;)

Happy holidays everyone & Eid Mubarak

gmrlb, you said my thoughts... I have only two years of Qatar experience. I do respect the counry, the people, the traditions, but for me it is antysocial and totaly unemotional country .... I wanted to find not money only in Qatar , but my happines . And i still want..There is no people ,there is no comunication.. I dont think there is happy people in Doha ... Sorry , guys , dont mean to affect anyone ...just searching for my place.. And ,sorry gmrlb, cant find positive answer ... I wish you to find it soon...

The same question filled my mind when i saw the way things are around here but what i concluded is that Qatar has been there before i came and every country have there own way of organization.so this is Qatar for you accept it and blend with it.

If you are not happy with the "influence the society is having on you", then you have to question why you are here. It cannot be good for you in the long run..

LOL, i actually had to order that tea online through a long channel of middlemen!

I am doing pretty ok financially, but i am still a human being who does not live in oblivion toward the world around him. I am not saying i am Mother Theresa but you and I are part of a society that influences us on a daily basis, the difference is that i am not very happy with the influence it is having on me.

By happy, i didn't expect a utopia. Don't you think that living in Doha could change a person for the worse, even if it is just a phase of life as you say? It could be different for you since ur were not born and raised here.

I guess, as with any country, there are the fortunate and the less fortunate (though these levels of fortune (or lack of) vary from country to country). I think there are far worse places you could be in the world than Qatar.

I guess I'm one of the lucky ones. "Emotionally, socially, financially" I'm doing ok. And I'm guessing you're not, though I've no idea what your situation is as you don't give anything away.

Perhaps the pimping business aint treating you too kind, or perhaps you still aint found your Mr. Jones tea.

I think a pertinent question is "Is there any country where people are really happy ? and by happy, i mean enjoy all the aspects of life? "

We all have differing priorities and aims in life. Most people come to the Middle East to make money and build a better future for themselves. Therefore, Its short term pain for long term gain.

However, I have worked in New YUork and London. The faces of commuters in the morning are no different to those in Doha..

is this really the healthy way to lead a life? Whenever i visit another country or go home, i feel like a prisoner who broke out...it's like we are too institutionalized and almost afraid to get out of the system.

"can someone help me understand how do people get through life in Doha: emotionally, socially, financially"

well, for some or most of us here in QL, the answer for socially getting through life in Doha is QL

just keep visiting QL, have an open mind and participate and for sure, your social life will start rolling