Kumasaki

Hi all,
I'm Cal, I'm 24, and I'm from the UK. I'm an English teacher and I am flying out to Qatar tomorrow to teach in a school in Doha.
One minor issue is that I've literally put my life in a suitcase and am flying to the otherside of the world for a fresh start, I'm doing it entirely on my own, and I have also never been to the Middle East before. So yeah, it would be great if I could get to know some people to share this new and exciting experience with!

Thanks everyone!
Cal

co durham boy

There's plenty young teachers in Doha exactly in the same boat , you'll have no issues meeting people .

Qatar is definitely an experience that's for sure !

Kumasaki

I'm glad, thank you for your reply! I can't wait to get out and explore the city!

scrubbedexpat141

Say yes to a lot of stuff to start with, go out, meet people, enjoy new opportunities.

I had spent 3 days in Dubai before I moved but was lucky that I knew a few people. It doesn't take long to make good friends though and you'll be wise to keep options open to groups or circles of friends initially. Those who you are buddies with in the first few months might disappear to the wayside as you learn they're dickheads.
Just keep meeting new folks, go on brunches, day trips, house parties, meet ups etc etc.

The schools are generally great at making people socialise, it's a shame you've missed the initial bonding stuff so may find it a bit harder but remember - lots of people have done the same so lots of people know how you feel.

Give it a few weeks and get through the 'what the **** have I just done' downers you'll inevitably get when you miss home. Stick with it and enjoy.

Dubaiexile

Very serious, sensible and helpful head on today Mr Scamp, I am suitably impressed...not even a PS what the ***k did you go to Doha for instead of Dubai!!!!

co durham boy

People who generally hit Doha first really like it as that's there first dealings with the Gulf . There were loads of expats there when i was Doha that hated Dubai , i could never really get my head around that concept to be honest but once you're in Qatar a while the whole thing unravels quite quickly.

Doha is like one of those piss poor shabby Bulgarian beach resorts thats pretending to be like Santorini .

UKCityGent

Maybe that explains why I hate staying Dubai longer than a day or 2, with a passion (although I had a little stint in Dubai with my old company for 6 months before I moved to Kuwait).

Millhouse

Have you been to Oxygen in Kuwait? Is it any good? I want to go.

UKCityGent

Oxygen the gym or the coffee place ?

Millhouse

The gym. I almost stayed an extra day in Kuwait just to go.

scrubbedexpat141

Mate, I privately hated the first 6 months in Dubai on my own before the Mrs came and I was lucky to turn up with instant mates.

Being alone far from home ****ing sucks. I don't freely admit it but in those situations I'll suffer from anxiety quite badly. This Sydney trip not excluded.

The obsession runs deep...

UKCityGent

Ive not been to that gym - so many open and close quickly. I prefer the old spit and sawdust places - go in there do my work and get out. I do want to try that electro muscular stimulation centre/gym here - I cant see any permanent gains though !

Millhouse

My dad did this once, he had a heart attack the next day. Not saying they are connected but...

Oxygen is the training and drug house for Big Ramy.

UKCityGent

Ah - thanks for the heads up for the EMS - sorry to hear about your pater


No idea who Big Ramy is - I think ped in Kuwait are a common place - I remember parking at a gym first time here and in the car park I was stepping around needles !!


There is a rumour that many bodybuilders come to Kuwait for the top ups of ped !

jam25mack

I tried EMS a year or two ago. I was very skeptical. The workout certainty made me sweat buckets but I was most interested to see how a felt the next few days.... and the answer was brutal! My whole body was definitely feeling it. I'd say its likely decent for toning what you already have but can't see any growth coming from it.