Nubian Arrives in Oil Rich Desert

So i decided to start the blog earlier than i planned because my friend Susie (who i owe a great deal to for planting it in my head that i could work in the gulf earlier than i had planned and hooked me up with the right person to talk to which later lead me to find this job and apply for it.) encouraged me to start it now after telling her a little story and gave me the title for said blog. I liked the title so much despite the fact i am on 4 hours of sleep/11 hours in the last 48 hours that i was inspired to start it this evening.

Thursday, February 12th 7:30 pm - I walk through the gates of Doha International airport looking for my name and alas the driver i had last time on my interview visit greets me at the door and we drive for an hour in a thick grainy fog where he drops me off at the door and hands me an envelope with the keys to my car. His friend points to the tan Nissan Altima and jumps into the SUV waves good bye and i head back upstairs to the second floor. As soon as i open the door, I see 13 boxes sitting in a corner with my name and a listing of contents on each box. I can't believe my stuff really arrived before i did. This door to door service is incredible! I'm exhauted from my direct flight from JFK but I'm so excited i start ripping open boxes and it feels like christmas with recycled gifts.

I walk around my new home, wow, it hits me..this is MY home. I will be living here for at least a year and possibly up to three years if i choose to stay in this apartment. I open the back door and look out onto the American School Doha classrooms and pool and squeal with excitement how HUGE the patio is. Sangria Party at apt. 226! HEY!!!!

I go to bed around 11:00pm and set my alarm for 8am. I decided to tackle my biggest fear of living here: Driving in the crazy Doha madness. Driving around Doha is INSANE!! i mean absolutely insane but i am really proud that i managed to get my ass up early in the am and drive with the aid of what i would soon discover is a crappy map. I got lost tons of times trying to find where my job is but managed to get home with ease once i decided to give up and follow my instincts. That was the only time i later would find out that my navigational instincts would ever work in this strange roundabout, 2 kilometer long street with a mosque on every corner and palace every five blocks city. Oh boy do i have a story about getting lost...i'll save that for my next post.