First Post

I've never considered blogging before - it seems like an impersonal, self-centered way to communicate (like sending a regular newsletter, all about you, to your friends). Please know that this blog will not replace personal communication - I still intend to send personal e-mails, and hope that you will e-mail and let us know what is happening with you back in the USA.

We've been in Qatar about 2 1/2 weeks now. Weather is definitely hot and humid - evening we arrived I stepped out of the plane and my glasses fogged up (like they do when you open a warm dishwasher). The humidity has gone down since our arrival, but the heat remains. We are told that the weather will be downright pleasant in a month or so. Looking forward to that.

We've all been busy since our arrival - Andy working, and the kids and I trying to keep busy. Things seemed strange at first - brown landscape, construction everywhere, traffic circles, fully robed women, men in long white robes and headdresses - contrast all of that with beautiful malls with indoor ice skating rinks and ice tubing hills, stores like Banana Republic and The Gap, and American restaurants/fast food everywhere (Chili's, Applebee's, TGI Fridays, Pizza Hut, McDonalds, Burger King, Dairy Queen, Dunkin Donuts, Baskin Robbins, TCBY, Ponderosa, Hardee's, Arbys, Starbucks). The Qatari people love American food - not such a great thing for them. Anyway, the eye and mind adjust fairly quickly and now the Qatari dress and landscape are just part of the background.

Our house, on a compound with other Westerner's, is very nice. We have 4 large bedrooms, each with its own bathroom. Floors are marble and tile. Compound living is nothing like home ownership - we have very little responsibility. If something breaks, clogs, burns out (like a ceiling light) we have only to call the on-site maintenance crew to get it fixed. I have set up maid service for a good cleaning every other week - 4 hours for 100 Riyal (about $27), I fear we will be spoiled!

Main frustrations have been getting our stuff from the USA - due to a mixup somewhere our air and sea freight did not start their journey until a couple of days ago. Our air freight, which should have arrived 2 weeks ago, we be in Qatar on Sept. 1 - then it has to go through Customs. We hope to have it by Sept. 5th (a month from when it was packed). No word on when our sea shipment will arrive in country - but we don't expect to have it before mid or late October. Other problem has been getting DSL in the house. Qtel - the sole phone and internet provider -insisted DSL was working - we couldn't get it to work. Finally, after arguing this with Qtel for days, they sent someone to the house. At least he seemed embarrassed when he discovered that the DSL wasn't turned on - and got it going that day.

Due to construction at the kids' school - start of school has been delayed from Sept. 4 to Sept. 9. Too bad - kids were looking forward to meeting more people at school. But we have been managing to keep busy. The heat keeps us in the house until 3 or 4 in the afternoon - we then head to the Compound pool with the rest of the community. Rest of the day we read, watch TV (we have cable, with Cartoon Network, a novelty for us), play cards, visit with other families, play computer games, argue with Qtel, etc; Have sent up dance classes for Erin, she starts next week. Have also made contact with the local Boy and Girl Scouts. Know we will be very busy when school starts.

All for now - take care and keep in touch,
CB