Business class & Blonde Hair

I am here! I have arrived in Doha, Qatar. What an incredible ride! Tim helped me get the 3 bags the size of me for my checked bags luggage to the check-in desk. Once I walked the red carpet (Qatar Airway's colors) for business class and handed my luggage over to the very nice lady across the counter, it was off to security. I have to admit, I cried a little bit as Tim and I hugged one last time. The tears did not last long as one of the TSA agents told me "I like your hair". From what my friends and colleagues have told me, this will not the be the last time someone marvels at my blond curly locks as they are a rarity in the ME (Middle East). More on that later...

Qatar Airways is suppose to be the 5 star hotel in the sky & they proved it. From warm moist towelettes infused with lemon at the beginning of the flight, to fine Godiva chocolates after my tiger prawn dinner, to the personal television, and do not let me forget the massaging chair that folds down into a bed. The flight was smooth sailing. It felt like we were not even moving. The only time I could tell I was on a place was somewhere over Iceland(ish) we hit really bad turbulence. That was a VERY scary couple of minutes. It woke everyone up on the plane. Once we got into calmer Sky, it was back to sleep in my Qatar airways pajamas (yes, they provided us with a comfort sack which included white pajamas that looks like something my grandfather might wear-very comfortable). By the time I woke again, it was 5pm Qatar time and only 2 short hours left until landing.

Once I was on the ground, things got even better. There was a nice lady holding a sign that read "Mr. Courtney Scott" outside the airplane. She guided me into a shuttle, and then into a special lounge. She took my passport, Visa, and luggage information and said she would be back shortly. Within 15 minutes she was back and I was following her as we cut through the loooooong lines of immigration and customs with a man wheeling my bags behind me. She took me straight to my company drive, Mohammad, I was in-and-out of the airport and on Qatar (hot humid) soil within 30 min. Now that is what I call service!!

My apartment is really nice. I have a great view of bright blue water and boats. I could get used to this! I worked out this AM in the gym facilities on site. It is way to hot to run outside here. I had two missions today: find a grocery store and converters for the my laptop. This turned out to be an all day excursion. It went something like this:
Step 1) Convert US dollars to Qatar Riyal. $150= 540 QR (approx).
Step 2) Call only cab company in Qatar. Once confirmed, I have to let reception at the building know so they will let him onto the premises.
Step 3) Take 15 min taxi to City Center. (good thing we are not allowed to drive. There are no rules for the road. I saw people drive in two lanes, drive on the shoulder, etc)
Step 4) Once at City Center, I have to find my way around. This 6-level mall is HUGE and puts the Houston Galleria to shame. There is an ice rank and an ice slide that goes down several levels of the mall. Unlike the US, one the flagship stores was Carrefour (aka the grocery store).
Step 5 )Ignore ALL the stares. I stuck out like a sore thumb. I think I only saw one other blond person in the entire mall. No one said anything, just a lot of long stares.
Step 6) Grocery shop. I do not even know where to begin. I was shocked by the amount of cheese in everything. They do not have any "faux" cheese like back home, so it is fully dairy or nothing. I obviously went with nothing. Tons of desserts as well. Good thing most of them are made with some sort of dairy, so no temptation there. My cart was empty compared to the damage Tim and I can do back home at Central Market (I miss it already). I tried to buy chicken, it was in the section labeled "Chicken parts". Gross! I thought about making salads, but the only dressings they had were made with a milk product, so I bought balsamic vinegar and will use that. There was a nice fish market, but the two men behind the counter were chatting and were telling customers away because they were busy. I did manage to find some hummus and pitas. I am very excited to see if it tastes any different than back home.
Step 7) Carry my 4 heavy bags through the mall to the front entrance to catch a taxi. There were taxi drivers waiting at the front door. I used the first driver. Apparently, because there is only 1 cab company in Qatar, there is also a limo company. This gentleman was part of the limo company (although he drove a Toyota). The cab ride home was double the price of the cab there. I argued with him when we got to my apartment. He said that the rates were higher for the Limo company. I had many thoughts going through my head and I kept them to myself. Instead, I handed over the money and took it as a lesson learned.
Step 8) Unpack and go relax by the pool.

Wow! I am tired. That took all day. Tomorrow is my first day of work and I am really excited. More to come in those pink pumps....

PS.Texas heat has NOTHING on the ME.