Jennie and Eric's Adventures: March 2011

Sadly, our time in Doha has come to an end. When we first moved here, we thought it would only be for a few months so for us to have lived here 13+ months, really was remarkable. As we are being re-patriated to our homeland, we can't help but reflect on our amazing time here in the middle east.

When we first found out we were moving to Doha, we first thought, ummmm, where? We spoke to people who were already here, I did countless web searches to see what our new home would look like. I checked out "what to do in Doha" and strangely, one of the only things mentioned was walking along the Corniche (kind of like a boardwalk). We were nervous upon our arrival, uncertain of what our life would be like. Well, in just a few days in, we soon realized that while Doha is also called "Land of Almost" -- they've got all the American franchises but they're jussssstt not quite there, but after living in France, we'll take it -- so, Doha, for us, it is what we like to call Never, Never Land. We adjusted so quickly here and felt like we'd already been living here for months after just a few weeks.

Doha is totally a big fish in a small pond type of place. We have found ourselves being able to interface with so many people and things we'd never have an opportunity to in the States. We've met directors at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival and spoken to them at length one-on-one, we've seen some amazing tennis at close proximity (there isn't a bad seat in the house at the tennis stadium), we've traveled many places that we never imagined to see, we've gotten to go to fancy events and dress up like movies stars numerous times, we've gotten to go to swanky hotels on a regular basis, hung out by the beach every weekend, gone dune bashin' and tried out the singing dunes. We've celebrated an amazing National day and watched as people decorated their cars with such pride and drove around until they were blue in the face. In short, Qatar does it RIGHT! Everything is so top notch, we believe we're spoiled for life.

We've also made some amazing friends that have made our stay here unforgettable. Expat life is such that the friends you make almost become family and they're your support system while being so far away from home. To our Doha friends, we'll miss you all so much but we're so thankful to have met you and we are looking forward to meeting up in some corner of the world.

As I sit here writing this while waiting to board our plane (knew this was the time and the place, or I'd be too sad and depressed to do this in the states) I am reflecting on our time in Qatar.

Some things we'll miss about Doha...in no particular order:

Our friends.....we'll miss you all so very much

Our Villa

Beautiful, amazing sunsets in the desert (like no other- the sun looks so large and just cannot be captured by camera)

Running along the Corniche, driving along the Corniche and everything having to do with the Corniche

Four Seasons Beach Club (our home away from home)

The American School of Doha and all that it entailed

Driving on the street and realizing you've got a pick up in front of you with some sort of wildlife (camels, sheep, goats, etc)

Call to Prayer

"Mamsir"

"Madame"

Sunshine EACH and EVERY day!!!! ---and early sunrises

Toyota Land Cruisers and their crazy racing stripes

Seeing the trucks that say "Go Away" on the back

Being able to pass a police car while driving and it being no problem at all

Arabic Life, design

Total Doha Moments

Having a Doha Day

Gazing at the dhow boats from the Islamic Museum

THE Souk

Being able to get things custom framed for next to nothing

Being able to get virtually anything made (furniture, etc) or reproduced (ala Pottery Barn)

Finding a parking spot at your local supermarket and realizing you're parked next to a Lamborghini, Ferrari, Aston Martin or some other ridiculous car

Driving over a curb or median to get farther ahead in line or to pass someone

Driving over a dirt "road" as a short cut

Round Abouts

Qatar Airways

Being close to so many amazing destinations

American (or other) franchises written in Arabic

Any signs written in Arabic

Signs written in English completely wrong

Road Works

Being asked not to take a photo

Having to sneak a photo

Having to cover shoulders and knees

Seeing abayas and all their beautiful designs

Watching women who all wear the same thing make it their own by adding rhinestones, top of the line purses and shoes

Thoubs

Old men walking around looking like they've come from "Lawrence of Arabia"

Watching men riding camels on the lawn of the head of government's lawn

Being able to wear flip flops (or open toe shoes) every day of the year

Amusement parks in the malls

An abundance of White Cars

The Rugby Club

Our life here

Life here has really been simple with some flair. We're so thankful we've had an opportunity to live this life here and we'll forever remember our time here fondly. If we're not back before, we're planning on making it back for the 2022 World Cup. It'll be quite a place between then and now and we're hopeful that it doesn't change too much and lose it's charm that we love so much.

Leaving paradise was one of the most difficult things we had to do. Knowing that we had so many things facing us when as we headed back to Doha...packing up, saying good-bye and moving back to the US...geeze, talk about a buzz kill! Luckily, we were able to virtually forget about all this facing us until we headed out!

One of our last photos on our last day....

Our last night we got together with friends we met, Melissa and Dave from the UK. We had dinner delivered to our deck (we'd done this a few other nights alone and it was pure heaven) and then went to watch (and be a part of) the Maldivian drummers/dancers.