what am I doing here phase
Dec 7th 2009, 4:39 am
#16
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Dec 2007
Location: Doha
Posts: 535
Re: what am I doing here phase
I was in Dubai at the week end and the weather was perfect. Really can't beat it - here in Jeddah it may not get as hot/humid in summer, but neither does it seem to get as pleasant as the Khaleej during winter.
Depends where you are starting from - after growing up on a Manchester council estate and then after some travels gravitating to a dead end northern mill town, coming out to Qatar over 12 years ago now was just fantastic for me. Qatar had a friendly close knit expat community back then - rugby club, dive club, Doha players, sailing club, HHH etc. etc.
Never looked back and have split my time overseas between the Middle East and West Africa.
I would now like to either get back to Africa - on a European salary it's a magical place - or the Far East, but at this stage I could never see myself going back home, ever. I'm the only one in the family to have moved on, everyone else still in the Manchester area - I'm the black sheep I guess.
Depends where you are starting from - after growing up on a Manchester council estate and then after some travels gravitating to a dead end northern mill town, coming out to Qatar over 12 years ago now was just fantastic for me. Qatar had a friendly close knit expat community back then - rugby club, dive club, Doha players, sailing club, HHH etc. etc.
Never looked back and have split my time overseas between the Middle East and West Africa.
I would now like to either get back to Africa - on a European salary it's a magical place - or the Far East, but at this stage I could never see myself going back home, ever. I'm the only one in the family to have moved on, everyone else still in the Manchester area - I'm the black sheep I guess.
Dec 7th 2009, 5:04 am
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,869
Re: what am I doing here phase
Keep your targets in mind. You are here to achieve certain things and don't let things get you down.In a few years you will have what you came for and when you look back from the comfort of your new life, your hard-earned comforts, you won't even remember the bad times.Maybe you won't even look back. Stay positive.
Dec 7th 2009, 9:39 am
#19
why ayeeeee man!
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Disco Gardens...
Posts: 11,370
Re: what am I doing here phase
I think if you have come out on your own and have been here just a few months then Christmas is a tough time, as you remember previous years with friends and family.
Everyone is different and some people never adjust and others are settled from outset. The army brat in me meant I fell into the latter category, but I happened to see some M&S Christmas ads online yesterday and even I felt a pang of homesickness.
As Spugsy said, once you have a good network of friends it all becomes easier as good friends here become an extended family. Obviously that takes time, but accept all the invitations as you never know when you'll meet great people. Despite the nonsense some spout about Dubai there are masses of really nice and genuine poeople here.
And a quick fix - look out of the window. It's a beautiful day and the daytime temperatures are perfect. In the UK, the days are short, cold, wet & grey.
Everyone is different and some people never adjust and others are settled from outset. The army brat in me meant I fell into the latter category, but I happened to see some M&S Christmas ads online yesterday and even I felt a pang of homesickness.
As Spugsy said, once you have a good network of friends it all becomes easier as good friends here become an extended family. Obviously that takes time, but accept all the invitations as you never know when you'll meet great people. Despite the nonsense some spout about Dubai there are masses of really nice and genuine poeople here.
And a quick fix - look out of the window. It's a beautiful day and the daytime temperatures are perfect. In the UK, the days are short, cold, wet & grey.
And that was enough, Dubai for most is a means to an end, get some good mates, enjoy the sun and have some canny holidays and you'll be fine.
Dec 7th 2009, 5:07 pm
#20
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 5,965
Re: what am I doing here phase
erm as a lingerie designer I design both bras and knickers- I am quite multi talented!
And yes may seem random that i flit from thinking about buying a car to wanting to go home- thing is I know I can't really afford to go home as would face a horrid tax bill and have nowhere to live.
Works been manic here working 14 hour days and learning to put up with office politics after being self employed for the last 4 years doing a job that I adore, is a massive culture shock- I'd forgotten how rotten it can be- just trying to rise above it and not get taken down by it.
One of my best friends at home has just seperated form her hubby and I just want to run home and give her a hug and have a good bitch session over several bottles of wine and then go xmas shopping with me mam.
I know it'll pass but sometimes I just feel very sorry for myself but Ive got myself here so need to make the most of it rather than pining for London.
Have my positive head on today so feeling a bit more upbeat.
Thank you all for the private messages of support though
xxx
And yes may seem random that i flit from thinking about buying a car to wanting to go home- thing is I know I can't really afford to go home as would face a horrid tax bill and have nowhere to live.
Works been manic here working 14 hour days and learning to put up with office politics after being self employed for the last 4 years doing a job that I adore, is a massive culture shock- I'd forgotten how rotten it can be- just trying to rise above it and not get taken down by it.
One of my best friends at home has just seperated form her hubby and I just want to run home and give her a hug and have a good bitch session over several bottles of wine and then go xmas shopping with me mam.
I know it'll pass but sometimes I just feel very sorry for myself but Ive got myself here so need to make the most of it rather than pining for London.
Have my positive head on today so feeling a bit more upbeat.
Thank you all for the private messages of support though
xxx
Dec 7th 2009, 5:16 pm
#21
Not an evil hypnotist
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,975
Re: what am I doing here phase
Comes and goes. Back in the UK last week I got to cycle, run, go to local pubs and play pool and the quizzy and drink real beer, hypnotise a few people and buy clothes that fit from M&S.
Don't get to do many of those things here.
There are good things about being here, but all the places I felt emotionally invested in - Korea, Finland, even Riyadh to an extent - Dubai isn't one of them.
Don't get to do many of those things here.
There are good things about being here, but all the places I felt emotionally invested in - Korea, Finland, even Riyadh to an extent - Dubai isn't one of them.
Dec 7th 2009, 5:30 pm
#22
ex-expat
Joined: Nov 2008
Location: in front of my computer - in sunny Sussex!
Posts: 2,162
Re: what am I doing here phase
yup... I "got it" about 2 weeks in and it took 6 months to wear off! At the moment I enjoy life in Dubai - which isn't the same as liking Dubai. I think the key is to enjoy it for what it is - and what it is is what you can see. Don't have too many expectations and you won't be disappointed!
Dec 7th 2009, 5:41 pm
#23
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,869
Re: what am I doing here phase
Another plus- At least you do women's underwear- if you did men's underwear you'd see lots of sweaty hairy men in their gruds.
Dec 7th 2009, 5:45 pm
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 5,965
Re: what am I doing here phase
Seven seas- if only you knew how hot that made me lol
and id actually work it so we had a gorgeous model- ( mind you hairy sweaty men work for me as well
) although not sure what my male boss would make of that....
actually scrap that- i have a certain level if hairyness they can be - hairy backs are my limit - off to the back sack and crack woman for that! Although if it was hugh jackman I wouldnt mind him being hairy- actuallY id just insist on having mr jackman as the fit model- Id even work for free then!
and id actually work it so we had a gorgeous model- ( mind you hairy sweaty men work for me as well
) although not sure what my male boss would make of that....actually scrap that- i have a certain level if hairyness they can be - hairy backs are my limit - off to the back sack and crack woman for that! Although if it was hugh jackman I wouldnt mind him being hairy- actuallY id just insist on having mr jackman as the fit model- Id even work for free then!
Last edited by kittycat1; Dec 7th 2009 at 5:47 pm.
Dec 7th 2009, 5:55 pm
#25
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 1,869
Re: what am I doing here phase
I never tire of hearing women say that to me.
See? Feeling better already...
But watch out, I'm sure a number of contributors will be offering to send you photos of their crusty y-fronts.
See? Feeling better already...
But watch out, I'm sure a number of contributors will be offering to send you photos of their crusty y-fronts.
Dec 7th 2009, 6:00 pm
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: May 2009
Location: Dubai
Posts: 5,965
Re: what am I doing here phase
Sevens seas and Im sure a lot of women say it to you
I'm actually thinking a lifesize cut out of Hugh would cheer me right up- whenever Im feeling fed up would just have to look at him and would feel loads better
ok looming on the edge of being an utter weirdo!
mm crusty yfronts- my favourite
I'm actually thinking a lifesize cut out of Hugh would cheer me right up- whenever Im feeling fed up would just have to look at him and would feel loads better
ok looming on the edge of being an utter weirdo! mm crusty yfronts- my favourite
Dec 8th 2009, 4:26 am
#27
Bored liberal
Joined: Feb 2007
Location: Over there ----->
Posts: 13,713
Re: what am I doing here phase
Sevens seas and Im sure a lot of women say it to you
I'm actually thinking a lifesize cut out of Hugh would cheer me right up- whenever Im feeling fed up would just have to look at him and would feel loads better ok looming on the edge of being an utter weirdo!
mm crusty yfronts- my favourite
I'm actually thinking a lifesize cut out of Hugh would cheer me right up- whenever Im feeling fed up would just have to look at him and would feel loads better
ok looming on the edge of being an utter weirdo! mm crusty yfronts- my favourite
-
Dec 8th 2009, 4:37 am
#28
Guest
Posts: n/a
Re: what am I doing here phase
I'm just counting the days to be honest
Dec 8th 2009, 5:14 am
#29
why ayeeeee man!
Joined: Jan 2008
Location: Disco Gardens...
Posts: 11,370
Re: what am I doing here phase
erm as a lingerie designer I design both bras and knickers- I am quite multi talented!
And yes may seem random that i flit from thinking about buying a car to wanting to go home- thing is I know I can't really afford to go home as would face a horrid tax bill and have nowhere to live.
Works been manic here working 14 hour days and learning to put up with office politics after being self employed for the last 4 years doing a job that I adore, is a massive culture shock- I'd forgotten how rotten it can be- just trying to rise above it and not get taken down by it.
One of my best friends at home has just seperated form her hubby and I just want to run home and give her a hug and have a good bitch session over several bottles of wine and then go xmas shopping with me mam.
I know it'll pass but sometimes I just feel very sorry for myself but Ive got myself here so need to make the most of it rather than pining for London.
Have my positive head on today so feeling a bit more upbeat.
Thank you all for the private messages of support though
xxx
And yes may seem random that i flit from thinking about buying a car to wanting to go home- thing is I know I can't really afford to go home as would face a horrid tax bill and have nowhere to live.
Works been manic here working 14 hour days and learning to put up with office politics after being self employed for the last 4 years doing a job that I adore, is a massive culture shock- I'd forgotten how rotten it can be- just trying to rise above it and not get taken down by it.
One of my best friends at home has just seperated form her hubby and I just want to run home and give her a hug and have a good bitch session over several bottles of wine and then go xmas shopping with me mam.
I know it'll pass but sometimes I just feel very sorry for myself but Ive got myself here so need to make the most of it rather than pining for London.
Have my positive head on today so feeling a bit more upbeat.
Thank you all for the private messages of support though
xxx
Dec 8th 2009, 12:05 pm
#30
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Apr 2005
Location: Melbourne
Posts: 4,553
Re: what am I doing here phase
Hi Oh Wise Ones,
Well I have been here for 3 months now and am currently going through the what the hell am I doing here phase- apparently its normal and everyone keeps telling me it takes a good 6 months to settle in.
Anyone have some wise words to stop me from jumping on the next plane home other than think of the money?
KC
x
Well I have been here for 3 months now and am currently going through the what the hell am I doing here phase- apparently its normal and everyone keeps telling me it takes a good 6 months to settle in.
Anyone have some wise words to stop me from jumping on the next plane home other than think of the money?
KC
x