Missing Qatar
I've tried to explain my friends how Doha is... I just can't get it right.
I arrived back to Madrid early in the morning on Wednesday, after a very tiring flight and minus one iPod. My friend was waiting for me, it was also very early for him. He belongs to the global-crisis-hitting-hard-on-Spain's statistics: unemployed. So he was very kind to come and collect me from the airport. We went straight to the Metro and he started asking me about Qatar. The truth is, everything I could say about Qatar was not even close to what it really is. You have to be there to understand, to appreciate it. The hot, hot days, when you feel like a very oversized hair drier was blowing straight to your face. The long and beautiful Cornish, displaying the magnificent Gulf. The Qataris, strolling slowly in shopping malls, women covered from head to toes, and men dressed in thobes. The laborers, during the week, working their backs off building the modern city, in the intense heat. The call for prayer, so Middle East, so charming, and so mystique.The laborers during the weekend, like ants in the surroundings of the souqs, wearing their nicest clothes, only to walk around or sit under any shade they can find, sometimes holding hands in brotherhood, wondering how their people are back home, and with hope that all their exhausting work can give them a better life...
How could I explain the amazing Souq Waqif? The crowded alleys with unique shops where you can find everything. The beautiful smell of the ouds, and the smell of arabic perfumes whenever someone passes by. As I met with each one of my friends, I just stopped trying to explain all the things that my eyes and heart have seen and felt. "A very interesting place that you have to actually see by yourself in order to understand it" is my answer to "so, how is Qatar?". I'll write about it for them, I'll try very hard to find the words that can describe this unique place and how is compared to other places, not better, not worse, just different. Very different.
I'm enjoying the things I can't enjoy in Doha, like partying till dawn with the very loud spaniards, the traditional 'fiestas', enjoying a concert, dancing with my friends, walking around in the streets along goths, punks, old couples holding hands, young families with kids running around with ballons, hipsters, tourists. Stopping for a coffee or for a beer, shopping, bearing the heat in short sleeves and dresses. Yes, I'm having fun, but somehow, I miss Doha, and I can't wait to come back to finish with my time over there.
this is oddly interesting !!
You\re most welcome QatariLady =)
Donosa thank you for your positive feelings and touching words.
Qatarita.. Well said
All others..Very interesting
Thank you Rich
Owwwwwwwww mexicooooooooooooooooo
Would love to go there.... now THAT is "unknown' territory to me.
2 Weeks ago I spend quite some time with a Mexican lady, wow... what a beautiful character.
Gracias Senorita, hasta luego!!!
**be forgiven hehe
Yes you can, sure you can!
I'm not from Spain, I'm from Mexico actually... Spain is like my second home....
Well Donosa, maybe my opinion is not entirely fair. As I have been in quite a few countries but surely I have not seen all.
I am not negative, more honest, yet I understood you might experience my post as negative, hence the apology.
Qatar lacks a great deal when compared to
- Tunis (Medina, Carthage, Sidi Bou Said, Souse etc)
- Lebanon (Byblos, Bekaa, Downtown Beirut, Farajah etc)
- Morocco (Agadir, Casablanca)
- Syria (Damascus)
- Jordan (Petra)
Qatar to me is a melting pot of cultures that unfortunately has very little cultural heritage.
I can understand the impressiveness of stepping into another culture opposed to the Spanish, man if I am in Barcelona I always wonder why the South of Europe has such a rich culture opposed to the North. Italy, Spain, Croatia, Greece... love 'm all. Love the peoples.
Anyway, again my apologies for 'bursting your bubbleof positivity' I am sure I can be forgiven :-P
Ok Dude. So what is this for you? Europe?
Sorry, for me this is way different from what I've seen before, and MAYBE for you, apparently who has seen all there is to be seen, this is pale.
For me this is a big change already.
I'm tired of people who are negative.
thanks anyway...
It seems Donosa has bever been to a real Arabic country...... I personally find Qatar very very pale when it comes to culture.
Sorry Donosa for the negative undertone, nicely written story though.
Thanks for sharing Donosa, and have a nice vaca in Madrid! Hopefully you can bring some cooler air back with you when you return to Doha.
thank you for reading Ajay ;)
I completely agree with Donosa, very nice writing of the thoughts, Qatar is unique in many ways. of course there are some negative things, like everywhere else in the world & that is what LIFE is about.
I left QATAR a year ago, and when reading through Donosa's post, I really felt that Yes I am missing something...
Thanks Donosa for the thoughts...
ENJOY
Yet another beautiful post ruined :(
rahsoft
You appear to disagree with Gregtumbull finding Qatar generally a safer place to live than western countries.
Everyone keeps moaning about the road accidents which are a fact, but what of the other crimes that are almost unheard of in Qatar in comparison to the ones you have to constantly protect yourself from back home?!
Muggings, hold ups, murders, rape? Just to name a few…Unless you’re a native of some sleepy secluded village on the outskirts of a countryside then you ought to know better to claim otherwise….coming to think of it, I take that back, the countryside is where police finds the bodies of unfortunate murdered children, when is the last time you heard of a child murdered and dumped in the dessert in Qatar, Local or foreign?
Ive traveled almost everywhere and until recently Qatar was almost crime free.
I am saying this as a Qatari national who has vivid recollection of old Qatar Living – and I'm not referring to this website
I never labeled the English as racist; I'd appreciate if you would refrain from misquoting me. I said and I'll say it again that many expats constantly rant about Qatar and often not sparing its Nationals, the same nationals that welcome them and I have every right to recant my own personal experience growing up in England and often hearing them mutter very audiably "bloody foreigners"
I ask you how you would feel if we spoke to you or your children in the very same manner and I'd appreciate a little respect towards us and our country in return.
As for the Aryan supremacy inclinations, well there's a simple litmus test that one can perform on ones self in order to decipher if one is afflicted with such tendencies simply count the number of times you've muttered inaudibly something akin to" bloody Arabs" and if you get ONE, then voila! There's your answer
I'd like to know what aspects of Qatari society you're referring to that will take longer to "catch up?" catch up in relation to whom or what?
Who said that criticism should not be raised…there you go off again accusing me of something I didn’t say, why not quote me, Anyway my earlier post is just a few posts above for everyone to read for themselves!
Off course everyone has the right to voice ones opinion and criticize so long as its constructive criticism that we can All benefit from, its what and how some people criticize, this is something that should be far from disdain and cynicism and to be specific yet again I will POINT OUT CLEARLY what I do not care for:
Those who rave and rant about how much they don't like Qatar, and how much they wish they want to go home (y'all know who you are) again I reinvite them to relocate and spare us the hypocrisy.
BTW, I don't understand how you gathered the notion that we as Qataris don't take kindly to criticism or that we are 100% content with the way things are being run here in Qatar... I'll quote myself
" Believe me I know Qatar is not perfect(and im not referring to YOUR perceived notion of perfection either) we have many opinions on many issues you don't know of
Yes the 'expatriates' are brought here at our invitation to work, weather it's to "further a career" or for good old material gain or both.
Don't you find it rather haughty to say "Most of us have no issue imparting our knowledge and expertise to Qatari's" …..Actually you are being paid to; kindly refrain from making it sound altruistic like 'great white man' is doing us a favor!
While you're at it, we expect no less than a mutual respect that should at least match the expertise you speak so highly of
When you say "otherwise we do leave and Qatar is the poorer for it" –save it for your employer! I'm sure you speak for yourself as many multi nationals with healthier attitudes and shinier credentials will fill your place in a heart beat, unless you haven’t noticed there's a recession going on and good jobs are in high demand.
Ill end this message with one last world, I'll have you know that there are many highly skilled Nationals who have earned their post graduate degrees from some of the top universities in your country, so we aren’t short on quality, just quantity… for now.
Another reason the government wants to invite expats is because they seem to want some type of social integration; a bridge between both worlds- a policy to promote tolerance and coexistence….something that apparently is lost on those bitter ranting western supremacists masquerading as normal people…and you guys know who you are ;)
Donosa
It was nice of you to write about how you felt.
Some will say its delusional as this was a short trip abroad. we all feel nostalgic about places we leave behind because we forget the bad things about it. I know I did when I once returned to Uk after a 2 year gap.
So I would say carry on with the positive thoughts you have, so long as you do not lose sight of the reality. That way you will have a balanced viewpoint here and will not receive any shocks
There will always be some expats who are never happy wherever they go and I make a point to avoid such people where ever I live.
gregturnbull
The idea that somehow Qatar is so safe for western expats families (why just the west) is delusional. Qatar is not as safe as people would like to think ( the fatalities rate on the roads is higher than some countries with more cars), read novitas articles on the recent pedestrian accident.
I have to say to qatarita that not every expat western or otherwise is on some cushy salary. My standard of living is lower here than my former homes and I did not come here for the money( its piss poor compared to other places) but rather for my wife careers( and she knows a damm sight more than the western expats).But for now I make Qatar another one of my homes and make the best of it and see it for the reality it is. I always believe that when you move countries you trade one set of problems / benefits for another.
Kindly do not label all English as being racist or even hint at Aryan supremists (that is extremely offensive) and as you said “You do have the option to simply go home.”
Qatar is not considered as some godforsaken backward country but rather as a developing country, sometimes measured in the number of years needed to catch up ( 10 years etc). I do feel that perhaps the rate of progress for Qatar is too much because it is easy to use wealth to build cities and facilities to modernise, but society takes rather longer to catch up especially when you feel overwhelmed by 3 or 4 times the number of “guests” here
I do feel that I have the right to criticise about certain aspects of this country especially when a local runs me off the road in his glorified tank of an SUV whilst he is on the mobile phone , all because i could not get out of the way fast enough for him in the right hand most lane. I have even heard Qataris criticise aspects of Qatar such as the labour laws and even the driving skills ( lack of). This may be due more to their exposure to the rest of the world and therefore a more rounded view of the world( something that most expats will eventually find)
Qatar is far from perfect and criticism has to be raised in order to make changes. The way criticism is raised may be challenged, but not the fact it’s raised. I really don’t want to hear the excuse “if you don’t like my country then get out” because the expats were brought here by Qatar. For now Qatar needs us far more that we need you. You only have 62,000 qataris in the labour force and even if they were all highly skilled, that would only fill less than 1/3 of the jobs . This labour force increases at the rate of 3000-3,500 annually. So you have a long wait to say goodbye to us. BTW these figures were quoted in the media from the ( I think it was the labour ministry). Most of us have no issue with imparting our knowledge and experience to Qataris provided we don’t get abuse back (otherwise yes we do leave and Qatar is the poorer for it). This relationship of course works both way.
Donasa
When you come back, please follow up with your impressions on coming back and how it all compares with Madrid (pros and cons) and at the end of the day just be yourself.
aplogies for the long comment :)
Regards
!! ;)
Thank you donosa
olah komestas
grathias
+*+what you called for the third one?+*+
viva la de español..
"There are three types of men:
One who makes things happen;
One who watches things happen;
One who wonders what happen."
+*+another hatred again?+*+well!for qatarita chilax gurl+*+just enjoy the thread+*+about those expat enjoying their salary+*+just like what youve say+*+all i can say to them is a solemnly thanks+*+yeah a lot of our fellow countrymen have their master degree+*+some of them is qualified+*+but not that kind of expert+*+you are lucky you grew up there in england+*+just come home and serve our country+*+and show to us+*+what degree you have been finish+*+show your skills here in our own country+*+for the expat here+*+we must be glad coz they are here in our country to help and serve us for our progress+*+we have so called+*+british workers and other white asses working in our beloved country+*+chilax gurl+*+
+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*+*
Would you like a Qatari persons response?
For those who don't like it here...
How is it that "Britexpat, notsoglad & Stone Cold" and any the of the others who smugly sneer at Qatar do it ever so conviniently from behinds their very comfortable chairs & fake names.
Im not one for disrespect, but I usually dont walk on egg shells either,especially when stating the obvious; I find it highly indignant & uncouth to be that ungrateful & rant the way you do while enjoying the fat cushy salaries you get every month.
I'll have you know that MANY Qatari's with Masters degrees and above don't get the same salary you do?
Nor the extremely attractive perks and bonuses, all of which is what no doubt lured you out of your 'civilised home' and brought to to our 'Godforsaken backward country' to have to put up with the horrors of our 'fake souq' (which btw is only half fake or rather its restored, the other half is still original)
Qatar - A country which not only is accomodating but we as the Qatari nationals are at least courteous, hospitable & welcoming towards you being here.
Which is far more than what I can say when I was growing up in England, as we were vehemently reffered to as 'foriegners' while you ironically glorify yourselves as 'expats' (Arian supremists anyone?)
If anything you should be grateful & if you can't bear it then maybe its time you do your 'patriotic' duty to rise above it all, unclench the money and head home.
Our government has gone out of its way within a short period of time to make our country comfortable for you, changes that fyi were not all easy ,some of which are still contravestial!
Believe me I know Qatar is not perfect(and im not refering to YOUR percieved notion of perfection either) However it IS evolving and for all of us being able to witness this is a rare opportunity and its obviously been made well worth your while.
By all means, have your little say & voice your opinion but be pragmatic about it, there is no need to be disdainful, condescending & disrespectful.
You do have the option to simply go home.
Donosa, the piece you wrote was beautifully poignant and I cound't have described that 'missing' feeling better when I too nostalgically recall what I still refer to as my second home.
Well said gregturnbull , and for all the others who are either realistic or the ones who genuinely like being here; you are more than welcome to consider Qatar your home as it is mine.
Well, I guess it's just a bad day 'cause I decided to quit the crap company, I want to break up with you-do-not-know-who = my other half, and I really want to go home NOW.
Of course not!! Not hard feelings!!
Are you feeling down or something??? Hope everything gets better for you...Un besazo para ti =)
Nothing personal, darling. I'm really really tired of a lot of crap going around and the comments made me yawn. Not your text, it's really very nice!
Just I had enough of this place, I wish I had met you at some point so you made me see the nice bits. I am sure you are a true jewel (en serio) and what a pitty I could not meet you earlier.
Have a great time, wherever you go, I'm sure you will. No hard feelings, right?
I just arrived from MAdrid... and i have to say, this time was harder to leave than ever =...(
The good news for me is that I'll be back there for good in September... =)
notsoglad: why the yawning?
zzzz zzzzz zzzz
I just wanna say :
Appreciate where you are and be thankful.
you want to know what good about Qatar?? Leave it and you'll know...
happy life to you all...
lovely writing donosa .. qatar indeed is a good place .. thought of making some money for 2 years and came here and its 8 years now and still v r here .. its moreover like home ...
I left my ipod (very silly of me) in the plane toilet when I went to get changed.. when I realized I left it there, 15min had already passed, and at least 10 people had gone in =...(
Of course, the flight attendants wouldn't help me...
buuuuhuuu... I miss my iPod =..(
Thank you so much for your kind words =) Glad you liked it!!
gregturnbull: I agree with you!
Thank you again everyone!!
Some expats whine about being here. Why are they here then? Just for the money? If you are that unhappy then just go home, it's not worth being unhappy, life's too short. And the rest of us are sick of listening to the whining. Of course everyone has their gripes, and you can get a good laugh talking with each other about some beaurocratic problem you've encountered, but it's those 'professional' whiners I am talking about, the ones who would be unhappy ANYWHERE (including back home). If you met these people back in their home country you'd hear all sorts of whinging about trivial rubbish.
Life is what you make it wherever you are. There is plenty to do here if you join some club or society, involve yourself in sport, socialise, go to the beach etc. Most western expats can have their families here, and those I know love it as it is so safe. Personally I finb it fascinating watching Qatar slowly but surely grow out of the desert.
donosa - You come to Doha... tht thread was a Hit...
You not in Doha... this thread too is a hit...
Hmm.. Born with some real good talent.... you know to pull the right cords...
And people feel connected to the text...
Oh did I mention it was a Good post...
It was.. really.. touchy... n made me think...
But for me Doha has been a Heaven...
I come from a Metropolitan.. so I like the calmness here..
And thks to couple of frens... they make me feel at home.. :)
___________________________________________
Reality is a Illusion Caused Due to Deficiency of Alcohol
I'm sorry, I didn't read your previous post, but I can assure you that I feel loved, VERY MUCH loved by my friends in Spain... i can't explain how much, how happy they were to see me again, how much fun we have together, and how many things and experiences we share. And I can also assure you how much my family and friends love me back in Mexico. I actually don't feel that in Doha... It really upsets me you saying that I don't have a life anywhere else, just because I don't write about how much I miss Spain and Mexico. Sorry, but I don't have to share those feelings, as they are the same feelings all of us here in QL have. I'm sharing something different, just for the sake of writing and period.
All I'm trying to do is to have a positive perspective on things, and believe me, I feel blessed with my life, humble, but my life, and it is mine to enjoy it wherever I am, and don't feel embarrassed to share it.
There's nothing wrong with missing Qatar while being in Madrid... sorry, I have the time of my life here, just miss these little things on Doha....
thanks for posting...lovely writing....
Doha works for me I like it too...i feel sorry for others who arent so happy here
y si quieres festejar hasta la madrugada aqui en doha vente a las renuniones de los latinos. :)
Donosa,
It seems you've touched a nerve here. Good for you to ignore the nasty comments. Is your computer equiped with a special filter? I just got mad at you writing 'missing Qatar' when you are in Madrid!!!!! otherwise, I agree with you that it is easier to thrive in a place when one has a positive attitude. Maja!
Im not sure what you saw here, but in the 8 months or so ive been here things have changed, bars closing, uneducated power corruption and lies, SH1T driving etc. Now dont get me wrong, i undertook the research before i came and knew a fair bit about the place, however it is starting to wear a bit. It really wouldnt surprise me if the Expat community get on the next plane home, as i know some are actually doing, and im looking already. let um get on with it...
SpikenButchsMom, thank you, it's a pleasure for me to write whenever I get inspired =)
You will like it, even with its flaws...
i'll be on vacation soon and i'll see if i'd "miss" Doha like you do :-)
last time i was in spain was almost 20 years ago (no, i'm not that old!), i know it's a nice place ... so enjoy your vacacion!
How long did you stay here? Working or study?
Hahahahahahahahahhaahahah
hehe I know I'm lucky for being in Spain right now.. only I thought I would come here to enjoy the beautiful chilled weather... only to come to "the never-seen-in-june HOTTEST weekend of the year so far, temperatures reaching 40˚"...
It's like the heat follows me =...(
Thank you all for your nice comments for my post.
Donosa, of course, if you come from Mexico, how do you expect to feel when you are in Spain? It is not always easy to cope with us.
For all the others, it is not bitching around, I agree that to see things with the pink shades help to feel better and to enjoy but you do not need to be so cheesy. You are a good writer, nevertheless, a clap to your essay, primera plana in QL, of course, everything nice stays there forever and the nasty other comments need to be digged out even if they had more hits.
And to tell you the true, I think that if you miss Qatar it means you do not feel beloved anywhere else, that the superficiality, easiness and comfort of the everyday life here (for you) overcomes whatever feelings you ever have before. I agree that to make ‘good’ friends is sort of easier than in other places because we clinch to whoever to feel better, we are after all social animals.
Is it not the money that makes it great, right? Really? Try living in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Morocco, Tunez, for the half of it… Or simply here, with the salary of a supermarket cashier, would you love it the same? Or like a single guy regardless of your job being sent away from the Malls *and even the souq, because you are ‘alone’…. Yes, my friend, enjoy your life here because it means you have no life somewhere else. Bad news: it is not for ever, a least not for you, so make the most out of it :-)
go home for longer when I go on leave.... I told him cause I cannot wait to get back to my home, my life and my dogs in Qatar...
No matter how much I might complain - I do love this place.... and like Donosa, I also cannot explain why...
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
cant explain doha, because its different? i think doha, in terms-culturally, its between dubai and riyadh lifestyle in terms of lifestyle so. its the middle of middle east, for now.
i dont know. whatever. im tryin to enjoy.
"give the man a half of a fish, you'll feed him for a day. teach the man how to catch fish, be sure to let him sign a franchise clause."
Yup... second-home. Something about this place I'm going to miss. The nicest thing would be to build a time-machine and go back into the 90s. Doha was really unique back then.
Guys..
Whats wrong with you all?
Why this place makes you crib so much?
Or simply for the heck of it - you just want to join people who suffered due to few sick labor laws.
All those people who lack that sense of understanding the beauty of their surrounding - I wished you should have been here just 15 years back to experience real 'Gulf'.
Surely the life-style & the comfort you all are in today, I challenge, if you can get all that back in your respective home countries.
Tell me frankly - in any other country do you have the guts to honk outside a cafeteria & order that hot cuppa tea wherever you parked your car? For that 1 shevrama or just 1 can of coke - poor guys follow you, so that you enjoy the super cooled air inside your vehicle.
Guys, you are in The-Gulf; you get water bottles delivered at your door step, never there was potable water shortage.
Govt is spending millions of 'dollars' in planting-replanting those trees after almost every 10 months, maintaining that lovely greenery & flowers while you drive.
You saw world celebrities here from a shortest possible distance. Football heroes, hot singers, Tennis champions, even Marcel Khalife performed live infront of you for a petty fee's.
All this is for us friends, not for local Qatari's - Do you get me?
Friends - stop cribbing, crying, complaining.
Every global city has its charm - Qatar certainly has it.
From this moment, just look around, gather the beauty of everything your sight can cover - trust me - you will fall in love with your own self.
Donosa, I could very well understand your sentiments, your lines came straight from the heart simply bcoz you are pretty close with Life. It was pleasure replying to you here. Stay hooked onto QL & you will not miss Qatar, I promise - hehehe
Anything I can help you with locally, just drop me a line :)
With love & blessings,
- Yp -
+974 6989650
It feel good to hear good things about Qatar... I love this place...not ONLY the money..
That's for sure...
You can't teach experience...
You can't teach experience...
But I do make more money here...
You can't teach experience...
Thank you donosa, nice reading your post
Tienes suerte que estas en Madrid en vez de aqui!
Party on and have some sangria and paella for me!
I know that all of Qatar is Rre-made... I know, and I'm sorry not to agree with your thoughts, I do not dislike it THAT much...
Come on people, I also bitch about the heat, and the Landcruisers, the lack of human rights with the laborers.... But that doesn't blind me at all from the good things about Doha... and I'm sorry if I go against your feelings about the place... but maybe it is my way to be happy wherever I go, and I don't feel embarrassed to say it or feel that way.
There are lots and lots of threads talking about things people hate about Qatar, so if you want, go ahead and complain there.
For once people, look at things from a different perspective, maybe you find yourself enjoying your life without bitterness.
Thank you for keeping the thread positive.
I miss y'all, too. Back soon!
Mandi
Haha wow britexpat angry today huh??? I'd advise therapy but that too is flawed in Doha xD !! what would QL do without you xD
I thought I was in Doha...
Donosa, Guapa, keep hold of your positive attitude for as long as you can, for the cynicism will creep in over time.Enjoy life with the Madrillen~os and dont forget to paseo on sunday. Hopefully I will be getting my desayuno de Cerdo in 4 weeks time in Andalucia. Lets hope the weather stays good! Suerte y besos
I am looking forward more than ever to my arrival next month.
As for all the negativity here, mija-
Illegitimi non carborundum
Please keep writing your beautiful observations - you are a pleasure to read.
well said and its soo spot on.what happened to your IPOD?
i really cnt blame you from missing doha.
why do u people complain so much about qatar and never try to appreciate it like donosa does. i am quite sure almost none of the expatriates who live here comfortably could ever afford the style of living (that r so used to in qatar) in their home countries
**********************************************
you have not lived until you have found something worth dying for
I think Donosa got it right, very nice writing, this place is unique in many ways. of course there is negative stuff, like everywhere else in the world. So the bad equals out the good ... Life is what you make it.
ENJOY
I am not having the hen syndrom but what the h are you talking about? Really, excuse me but, inguesuuu, the sun must have really affected you.
Maybe back home we know things are a bit though (do you still go to Mexico) but this is just a Fatamorgana my friend. It's like saying 'I miss Disneyland' , of course, one miss the blitz , the glamour of the fakely reproduced souq, did you know it is re-made? when I arrived here there was a REAL souq that was tore apart to make this one?
missing Doha? it will be over soon, don't worry...
*********************
“You become responsible forever for what you have tamed”. Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
donosa - I found what you wrote very touching! I suppose after a while, it becomes home. Even though we sit and bitch about so much here!
I go home in August and I cant wait! I'll probably be in your shoes, having to try and ëxplain" Qatar!
Whatever you vividly imagine, Ardently desire, Sincerely believe and Enthusiastically act upon, Must inevitably come to pass.
You can't teach experience...
Ok, so if you keep seeing the bad things about the place where you live... you'll never be happy, because the memories of 'home' are nothing but memories, an illusion... so be thankful of being where you are and take advantage of the things that make it different. I don't think any expats are staying in Doha forever... Sorry guys, for trying to see the beauty of the places I go to, instead of trying to point out just the flaws.
If you cry because the sun is gone, your tears won't let you watch the stars...
Ooh I want to go to Madrid!
Half of your last paragraphs should convince you "Dont" come back if you can find life elsewhere.
Has anything changed in the last years? I checked the threads from 2007 and things seem sooooo similar. Any hope? Would I ever get used to THIS?
Don't come back. Apparently, driving is terrible. Land Cruisers rule the roads. The locals don't care about the Expats. Workers are abused. Women are harrassed and dress code is not advertised properly, leading to miscommunication and abuse.
I'll give everything to be in your shoes!