As I am celebrating my one month anniversary in Qatar, I have been thinking a lot about my living situation.
After landing in Doha, I was informed that my permanent housing was not yet available but that I would be put up in a hotel in the meantime.
2 hours after landing halfway across the world, I was stepping into my own three bedroom hotel apartment. Read more...
Although it is sometimes very sandy and dusty (and I am craning my neck all the way to the left), sometimes I can see the downtown skyline from my living room.
I also own the saddest dead basil plant in the world.
That is what the living room looks like after the cleaners have come
and this is what it looks like when I attempt laundry.
We have a very efficient washer/ dryer combo that leaves my clothes damp from the steam every time. I have yet to buy a clothes rack so laying flat on the couch will have to do for now.
I am very hesitant to buy big things yet because I have no idea when we will be moving into our new accommodation. The apartments are, to my knowledge, ready to be moved into. Yet, there were renovations done to the property over the summer and my employer has to now go in and check for safety. In a country where "Inshallah" is one of the most commonly used phrases, I am not betting on this happening any time soon. I have quickly learned that "Inshallah" means approximately "If Allah wills" and is used when no one quite knows when anything will get done. This has been used in terms of my housing, drivers license, residence permit, paycheck, etc. It could be very easy to get frustrated at the lack of urgency that is so prevalent in the States, but the way of life here is much more laid back. Things will happen when they are meant to.
I guess I am not meant to have a driver's license.
In the meantime, I am keeping my cool and living in this hotel room.
I am incredibly lucky to have gotten this job and if learning to be more patient comes with it, then it is an extra perk. There are many perks to living in a hotel, including the cleaning service, the room service, and easy accessibility to a lot of places.
My first bedroom is being used as a closet, which is pretty similar to how I used my bedroom and my brother's bedroom at home (Sorry Sam!).
This is the creepy hallway I pretty much never go down. It leads to the second full bath and king size bedroom.
.. and here is the best room of all! Although I cannot seem to figure out how to turn my aircon up from 19 degrees (66 degrees Fahrenheit), it is very cozy. I brought my own jersey cotton sheets, which was an amazing decision. I assumed that my new employer would set me up with a queen size bed, but I was wrong. My bed is a king size, although the sizes are different from even an American king. My fitted sheet is a bit snug but it works!
For those who know me at all, you will not be surprised that this was one of my first purchases in Doha. Collected from the local Ikea, I simply could not resist this wrinkly face. Of course I miss my family and friends, but crawling into bed at night without my dogs has been really hard. Over the summer, I rarely slept without Lola on my feet inching closer and closer until she was sharing my pillow. This little guy is no Lola, but he reminds me a bit of home.
The biggest downside of living in a hotel is the loneliness. Coming home to a huge three bedroom hotel room lacks greatly in the comforts of being home. As it is not permanent, we cannot hang up pictures or much personalization and that has not helped with homesickness. Moving across the world without knowing anyone is hard. I have been incredibly lucky because my new coworkers are honestly amazing and in this short month, I feel very comfortable and pleased that everyone is so down to earth. Everyone comes from different places and different experiences (I thought I was well traveled until I met some of my new coworkers!). But, coming home from work to an empty room can be incredibly lonely. I have put up a few touches from home but cannot wait to decorate more and make myself feel more at home.
A jewelry holder is one of my purchases I am waiting for my permanent apartment for...
This is one of my favorite things I brought! The lighting does not do it justice, but the skyline of San Francisco created with students' fingerprints is perfect for a teacher living abroad! It was created as a fundraiser for my old elementary school and it has been the perfect addition in Doha.
Hopefully I will be updating about my home for the next two years soon... Inshallah!
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