First off there isn’t much sand. More dusty dry rock than sand. It is hot. Mercifully it’s near the equator so the sun sets at about six in the evening. But it’s still hot after sunset. As a consequence the only thing that moves fast here are the Ferraris, Lamborghinis and Mercedes sports cars that weave in and out of traffic. The pace of life and the people are peaceful and leisurely.
Orange Socks (well one was green, but…) and the Missus arrived as scheduled 7:15 in the morning. Recognised the moment they came through the terminal doors from the tarmac as the only likely ‘new faculty’ (as Orange Socks is now often referred to as) by an Indonesian girl dressed in a maroon coloured uniformed. She led the expat couple into a lounge where there was a welcoming coffee machine. The Indonesian took the passports and luggage receipts and disappeared to clear immigration and have bags collected. Two double espressos later a Filipino girl ushered Orange Socks and Missus passed black robed Qatari female immigration officials, an Indonesian porter followed wheeling their luggage by-passing customs to our Indian driver. Mercifully the waiting air-conditioned car was but twenty yards from the terminal exit. The heat brought memories of standing too close to a pottery furnace at school. It was 8am and the temperature was in the mid 40s.
Other than the weather-beaten sign outside the government meteorological department everything seemed either freshly built or in the process of being built. The sky is cloudless and the landscape both featureless and fascinating. One would be forgiven for thinking that Armstrong and Aldrin had filmed here in July 1969. At the large compound they were met by the first Qatari person they were to speak to (Well sort of). Who proceeded to speak in Arabic (and why not?) and wrote down in Arabic a number to call. Fortunately the Indian driver uttered something making the Qatari laboriously write the number in a script that could be read by a non Arab. With no further ado he handed over one key and walked out. The driver told the most recent Qatar immigrants to be downstairs at half eight the next morning.
The number of the apartment is 24-7. (Apartment 24 unit 7). The hope is that the number is not some indication of the work load to come .The apartment is big. The Lantau flat would fit into the bedroom. And there are three bedrooms. Only one ensuite though. (Shucks). One extra bathroom and another shower room/cloakroom, a huge kitchen, really huge. Dining room area smaller than expected. Table only seats six; the chairs would accommodate obese guests though. The TV is old and hardly works and the two sofas and two arm chairs need a step ladder to climb into them. But it’s all free. Bedding in the master room. Bread, apricot jam, cream cheese spread, condensed milk and plenty of water in the fridge. And plenty of dust. All left for Orange Socks and the Missus to enjoy.
Next morning the relocated couple were picked up at 8.30am on the dot. Took about an hour to get to the campus. A few other ‘faculties’ picked up on the way. Land so flat! Impossible to find any way back. Spent over five hours being processed - what the university call ‘orientation’. Opened bank account (will be given credit card next week – no questions asked!), laptop and a salary advance given. And medical booked for the next day. Or so was thought. Next morning about ten new faculty and their families were taken to the government medical department where it was discovered that the charming gorgeous-eyed Qatari clerk had entered the wrong date on all our forms – It would seem that even the locals get confused working on a Sunday. Though this was more than likely Ramadan inspired. People party and feast most of the night here during Ramadan. Then no food nor drink until sunset.
A very laid back place, though again, this may be Ramadan inspired. Nothing really opens until sunset at the moment. Administrative activity (want for a better word) happens before noon. After that it is siesta time. Charming locals, friendly and a very international community in the compound all working for the university.
Down side? Food is slightly more expensive than Hong Kong’s Wellcome and ParkNRob but there is a far wider choice (other than pork and booze) and the quality is far far higher. Orange Socks and the Missus were dismayed to learn that not even the 5-Star hotels serve alcoholic drinks during Ramadan. A month of enforced abstinence! Probably not a bad idea any way.
