Local fare - this one is for you, Dad

Last February, on the blower with Dad:

Me: "Dad, it looks like we will be moving to Doha in Qatar next month."

Dad: silence..... then "What will you do for food??"

Weeeeeell, what can I say, but that the US has exported its finest to Qatar. Seen at local malls in addition to your usual MickyD's and Starbucks are Hardees, Burger King, Cinnabon, Pizza Hut, even a Baskin Robbins for ice cream. Upscale restaurants include Applebee's and the one and only restaurant where staff proudly show off their flare and where your's truly worked as a hostess back in the day... TGI Friday's. Sadly, our Heart of it All Bob Evan's has yet to make it to the ME.

I am starting to understand why everyone is telling us to beware of puttin' on da poundage (yes, we both inhaled a burger and fries, nevertheless).

French readers, don't snicker: a Hippopotamus is scheduled to open imminently. A HUGE sign over the future restaurant boasts that the Hippo is "France's favorite steak house". Hmmmm. OU PAS!

Mom and girl shots

Mamma and girl, hanging out.

(like now - Louise is on my lap as I try to type and hang on to her at same time).

Minutes before landing in Doha

Doha is...

... a 45 minute flight from Dubai (probably 20 minutes of which are actually spent in the air).

... 7 hours by car, should we ever wanna do a road trip!

Quote of the day

"Everyone in Doha gets fat."

-- words of warning from one American to yours truly

The effects of the 5-min walk to City Center

City Center mall is located a mere 5-minute stroll from the hotel, in the heart of West Bay. This is the film that I shot from my iphone just after getting there and plopping down at Starbucks. Read: happy to be alive!!! More about the lack of sidewalks and crosswalks later.

Hanging out by the pool while Papa works

Sunday afternoon by the pool

View from our 9th floor room

Dough-HA

Our new Extreme Expat Experience has officially begun! Torn between a YIPEEEE and a EEEEEK here, the idea of this blog is on the one hand to keep friends and fam updated, and on the other hand, to allow me, the desperate Qatari housewife to share, vent and process. Bonnie, Amir - thanks for pushing the idea.

We arrived in Doha last Friday from Mauritius (fab holiday). Since, CULTURE SHOCK! During the little time we had to prepare for this move, we hit YouTube and web sites, pooring over pictures and films of our future home, with Dave pointing out the different landmarks.

Quick geography class:

Qatar belong to the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council - on map in green) and lies on the Persian (or Arabian) Gulf, opposite Iran. Its only land borders are with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the rest is 563 km of coastline.

Roughly 85 km wide and 180 km long, the peninsula is home to approximate 1.2 million people, the majority of which live in Doha. Qataris are outnumbered 4:1 by expats.