The 12 Days of Doha

Photo sourced from Life Abroad By CatieAnne

It’s been three years since we made the move to Doha, and it remains to be one of our best decisions as a family. I give the same spiel often when talking to people about why we love Qatar; great school, great weather (apart from those few blistering months), true friends and huge opportunities. G loves his job, and I’m enjoying a little more balance with being there at school pick up while establishing a career from home. Our children now live in a world where a play-date involves collecting friends via a door-knocking expedition and returning home when the lights come home.

Having been an expat in several countries, I’ve noticed one common denominator. The ability to whine. So in the spirit of holidays and having a laugh at all things Doha, I bring you, the 12 days of Doha.

On the first day in Doha
my true love gave to me
a LandCruiser heading straight at me.

On the second day in Doha
my true love gave to me
2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the third day in Doha
my true love gave to me
3, 3rd degree burns from my seatbelt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the fourth day in Doha
my true love gave to me
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me

On the 5th day in Doha
my true love gave to me
 FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the 6th day in Doha
my true love gave to me

Six hours queuing at Immigration,
 FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the 7th day in Doha
my true love gave to me
Seven hand drawn maps to my house,
Six hours queuing at Immigration,
FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the eighth day in Doha
my true love gave to me
Eight foreign journalists writing about Doha from their hotel rooms,
Seven hand drawn maps to my house,
Six hours queuing at Immigration,
FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the ninth day in Doha
my true love gave to me
Nine left hand turns from the far right lane,
Eight foreign journalists writing about Doha from their hotel rooms,
Seven hand drawn maps to my house,
Six hours queuing at Immigration,
FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the tenth day in Doha
my true love gave to me
Ten signatures to pick up my child from kindergarten
Nine left hand turns from the far right lane,
Eight foreign journalists writing about Doha from their hotel rooms,
Seven hand drawn maps to my house,
Six hours queuing at Immigration,
FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the 11th day in Doha
my true love gave to me
Alcohol at The Pearl, no wait he didn’t, yes he did, oh no he didn’t…
Ten signatures to pick up my child from kindergarten,
Nine left hand turns from the far right lane,
Eight foreign journalists writing about Doha from their hotel rooms,
Seven hand drawn maps to my house,
Six hours queuing at Immigration,
FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

On the 12th day in Doha
my true love gave to me
Twelve passport photos for my Qatari ID,
Alcohol at The Pearl, no wait he didn’t, yes he did, oh no he didn’t…
Ten signatures to pick up my child from kindergarten,
Nine left hand turns from the far right lane,
Eight foreign journalists writing about Doha from their hotel rooms,
Seven hand drawn maps to my house,
Six hours queuing at Immigration,
FIVE PORK SAUSAGES♫ (all the way from Germany)
4 trips to 4 separate supermarkets,
3, 3rd degree burns from my seat belt,
and 2 wooly goats in the back of the
LandCruiser heading straight at me!

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Comments

  1. Priceless gifts, every one! Thanks for the laugh, Kirsty! Funny how many of these I can relate to.

  2. Cute!

  3. Fantastic! I can relate to many of those, especially the supermarket one!

  4. Hahahaha, 4 trips to 4 different supermarkets – the story of my life! It is a good day now if I don’t have visit any supermarket in a 24 hour period. I refuse to go on the weekends now, tell my hubsand he can go, I have been 1,284 times during the week, so it is his turn.

    Plus 6 hours in immigration, oh yes, same in HK.

    Love it!

  5. What fun – I’ve only seen the airport in Doha, but this doesn’t tempt me, I’m afraid.

  6. Superb Kirsty!
    Vani

  7. Fantastic – can relate totally to the supermarket! I will be in Doha on Friday night for 45 minutes then its off to Melbourne – we are on the ‘home stretch now, just 5 more sleeps for both of us……. xx

  8. thanks for the laugh!

  9. Groovy Grandma says

    My daughter (WSDN) sent me your latest blog as she thought I might enjoy it. I certainly did – i lived in Riyadh for 10 years, and your 12 days of Christmas had me in fits of remembered laughter. I guess it is one of the ? joys of being an ex-pat in a foreign land especially one in the Muslim world. However I too have enjoyed my time as an ‘expat nurse’ on foreign soil and wouldn’t have missed it for anything. Days 7 & 9 were particularly delightful.

  10. Thanks for the photo credit! Great blog! 🙂

  11. THIS IS A GOOD ONE!!! I LLluuurrrvvvv it! :))

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