It’s been almost a month since I left my best of friends, family and beautiful Naples home to become an expat in Qatar. Welcome to my new world.

Week one was filled with jet lag, general disorientation, getting used to the light switches operating upside down, finding products that I recognized in the local market, unpacking and repacking for a week in lovely Cyprus.

Week two, a Cyprus wedding.  The 22 hour flight from Miami to Doha provided plenty of time to absorb the commitment this amazing man has to have made this trip every other month for 8 years!

Week three, back to Doha to greet our Chainsaw  and begin finding all the conveniences that will make our empty villa our home. Kitchen wares, beds, washer/dryer, sofa, tables, chairs, small appliances, large appliances…oh my gosh, details…all the little things that we normally take for granted being in drawers, closets and garages need shopped!  But not until Stephen gets home from work because I have no drivers license yet, and no idea when I will work up the courage for this traffic, not to mention we count the number of roundabouts to the next turn in absence of recognizable street signs.  The days are filled with learning how to use everything from measuring cups to washing machine based on the metric system.  No “cups”, “inches”, “miles” or “Qarter Pounders with Cheese”!  The evenings still filled with shopping. Palm trees and bougainvillea lend welcome familiarity, but the wildlife somewhat unfamiliar…

Week four, our villa is starting to feel more like home and I’m beginning to find my way around our neighborhood.  The sight of vehicles left running, keys in ignition with AC on while dining or shopping is becoming almost normal enough, where gas is 25 cents a gallon…

I met my new Doha dentist for a consultation, checkup and x-rays.  Lovely gentleman and staff, highly recommended, all speak fluent English, in and out in 40 minutes, total price…$27.00 US.  The medical center houses dentists, oral surgeons, peridontists, etc. all in one facility, making it easy for them to consult, recommend and schedule needed care within a very brief period of time.  While initially concerned at seeing my new dentist take a cigarette and coffee break after my exam instead of shaming me, I think the service was as good as I’ve received at my Naples dentist, who I still adore.  The list of things that I don’t know that I don’t know keeps growing!

Thanks for stopping by!  Check in for further updates…