First Impressions

We have been here one week and I am finally able to access my blog! I know that many of you have been wondering how Mia, Paul, and I are adjusting...first of all, the strenuous plane ride direct from Chicago, along with the time zone change is physically exhausting and disorientating. In my case it is especially so since my recent surgery resulted in the loss of 44 lymph nodes on my left arm.  I wore a compression sleeve which greatly helped, yet I still had a lot of swelling. It took nearly a week for the swelling to go away.

Once we arrived in Doha, the whole transition process, including customs, went smoothly.  We took a taxi to our villa which allowed us to get a good overview of the city.In general, the best phrase to describe Doha is "under construction" since building is taking place everywhere! The downtown area (city central) is defined by very innovative and colorful skyscrapers and fast pace traffic. Most buildings outside the downtown area are made of various shades of sand-colored stucco and all are walled, homes as well as offices and shops. The signs on offices and shops are very discreet, so there is a sense of privacy everywhere along the roads, palm trees and various flowering trees dot the walls and sand is everywhere (we are in a desert after all!). Our villa is part of a gated community (as much as I dislike admitting this!) of several homes with a very clean, pretty, large swimming pool and community building in the center.  There is also a shared  play area and trampolines. The interior of our villa is so spacious and offers much possibility for decorating, although it would take a few years to really complete that task.  The ceilings are very high, and all of the floors are ceramic tile. It will not surprise my children and mother to know that the second day here, I swept and washed all of the floors (there is the "sand-dust problem" here), despite the fact that somehow it is beneath expat women to do cleaning. Well, I did want it done right away. We have new appliances (the washing machine also functions as a dryer?!) and everything is top grade. It feels strange to be in such a new place after living in a home that is over 100 years old for the past 12 years. We have a brick patio (walled) outside the kitchen with three flowering trees. Very pretty.

Mia has insisted that we go swimming every day since our arrival.  This has been a good way for me to exercise by doing laps and she is getting very confident in the water. Paul leaves early for work since work days begins earlier here than at home. Since we are near the equator, the sunset doesn't change much from season to season, so now it is dusk by 6:00 p.m. I am so glad that I managed to fit all of Mia's American Girl dolls in our suitcases (and accessories) since she has spent several hours every day playing with them.
She has also been chronicling our experience in her drawings--she's actually making a mural. The American school is still on break.
One evening we went along The Corniche (walkway along the Persian Gulf) where Mia roller bladed and we bought fruit smoothies.There are many more Arabs in traditional dress here compared to Abu Dhabi or Dubai. Although there are families strolling along together, it is not unusual to see several men or several women in traditional dress walking together or sitting together.  In fact, it is very commonplace. Children are very welcome everywhere and given a lot of freedom. There are people from all over the world here, but especially The Phillipines, Pakistan, Africa, and India. Doha is very different from Abu Dhabi, yet both are very different from home. It's a new world for us.