After 7 weeks in Doha: Ten Things I learned

Gas stoves are the devil!  I have literally set shit on fire in my house trying to light the stove.  I have triggered mass panic in my building from leaving the gas on and forgetting to actually light the stove.  It is an accident waiting to happen for a clumsy person such as myself.  I swear being burnt on my arm from lighting the stove to cook wasn’t on my list of “things to do in Doha". I mean this is the wealthiest country in the world; you mean to tell me they cant get electric freaking stoves in all the apartments. 

      There are over 10 malls in the city of Doha.  It is bizarre because malls are really the place to be and seem to be the one stop center for family entertainment in Doha.  Depending on the mall you go to there may be: family arcade centers, ice skating rinks, bowling alley, movie theatres, and carousal rides.  Funny thing is that Qatari women walk through the malls as if they are on America’s Next Top Model with their five-inch stilettos and Fendi/Gucci bags.  I definitely feel underdressed when I walk in with my yoga pants, a t-shirt and sneakers.  Shit I’m not at work so why the hell do I need to dress up?  

      Drugs are banned in Qatar.  Rumor has it that selling or possessing drugs here is punishable by a 40-year prison term.  I know I was like wtf too!  So to avoid this (I guess) many people including Qataris smoke Sheesha.  It seems to be a Middle Eastern pastime that happens in the afternoons at cafes and souqs.  Sheesha is fruit flavored tobacco that is very inexpensive and readily available throughout Doha.  So with that said hash (weed) is what seems to circulate via black market and from what I hear the cost of hash is pretty hefty. 

      Qataris are the most impatience and inconsiderate people I have met in my short life.  They don’t like to wait for anything and when I say anything, Im being serious.  At the supermarket they will literally try to walk in front of you to pay for their items.  At money exchange places they will walk to the front of the line and put their money on the counter to get service first, although there is clearly a line of twenty plus people.  And driving whewww.....they don’t wait for pedestrians to walk and they don’t give any other cars the right of way.  Which explains why there are always accidents here and driving is so dangerous.  I thought NYers were coined the rudest people in the world….clearly not enough people have visited Qatar.  They have us beat by a long shot I assure you.

      

What do you mean no loc salons?

      There are no ethnic salons in Qatar.  I spent over $40 in cabs going from salon to salon trying to find someone who could do ethnic hair ie. Locs.  It is the worst thing I have ever experienced in terms of getting my hair done.  I had to resort to wearing a wrap on my head this week (which isn’t so bad b/c most women have their heads covered) but it was hot as shit.  Frankly if I am going to spend two years here in Doha I may have to either open up my own hair salon to serve the ethnic population here or cut my locs.  It is a heavy decision to make.

      This is random but here are the things that you cant find anywhere in Doha: Cheez-Its, Pumpkin seeds, Oatmeal, Greek yogurt, and hair grease.

  

      When I first got here I didn’t know how I would survive for 2 years with the selection of food that was available.  I couldn’t find a supermarket that I liked, with products that were familiar to me.  There were no bodegas in site for me to just pop in and pick up a bottle of soda or chips.  But Im happy to report that all of that has changed with time and touring the neighborhoods in Doha.  I have found the best hypermarket in Doha that reminds me a lot of Whole Foods called Spinneys and I even found a “few” bodegas that I will make due with for small items during the week.

      

     

      I spent too much of my life worrying about things, rushing to places, and stressing many things that I had no control over. Here no one rushes to go anywhere, people don’t let their work consume them, and they enjoy spending time with their families and friends.  Work is work, and then there is play.  Qataris sleep during the day (those who don’t work) and the ones that do go home and take an afternoon nap; and are out enjoying the nightlife.  From 1 – 4pm the streets of Doha are desolate and then starting 6pm the city of Doha is pumping (well definitely not nyc but they try).  And this is everyday not just the weekends.

      The Qatari women (both young and old) are quite interesting to watch and listen to.  The other day I was in a nail salon and as I got my spa manicure (which was awesome) I overheard some of them talking. They go back and forth between Arabic and English while speaking, but from what I could decipher they were talking about going out to a fancy party.  One girl described what she planned to wear and I was fascinated.  It’s interesting to me because the party she spoke of was for women only.  They get together, dress up, dance & talk without any men.  And apparently the men do the same thing here. I would love to go to one….I’ll keep you updatedJ 

      There is money to make out here.  I have my nyc hustler hat on already and I’m making some good connections with hopefully the right people so that I can do some consultant work.  My goal is to have a different position next year, which could potentially pay twice as much as I’m making now.  So I’m on my grind.  Doha might not have been a bad choice after all…..maybe I’m in the right place at the right time.