# How is Paul Doing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [March 19, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022 "2009-03-19T14:42:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022/1 "2009-03-19T14:42:06Z")
We have a Friday/Saturday weekend here, so I have just finished my second week in Qatar, and my first week of classes. It is time to report in. I like Qatar. It is very different from Saudi Arabia. This was driven home to me when my bags appeared at the carousel in record time. Then a woman stamped my passport. I was out of the (spotless, air-conditioned) airport in ten minutes. Things are cleaner here. We have the same brown desert dust as Saudi Arabia, but there is no litter. The cars are smaller, newer and better-maintained. Also of course women drive here. I got to my apartment and found it stocked with food and the internet up and running. Over a few days workmen changed bulbs and whatnot to bring the place up to snuff. I even got a vacuum cleaner. After week of paperwork and so on I got to the school. It is a mass of small buildings with open walkways between them. In the springtime it is ideal. I bet it is hell on earth in the summer. But, so far so good. The delivered my car the other day. A small Lancer. Still it is free; you cannot touch that. They assigned me a class, eight women I will work with for the next two months. Very bright young ladies, I have now actually taught to an Arab woman after twelve years in Saudi Arabia, imagine that. In any case, I suspect they are just letting me start off slowly. Apparently, school goes into slow mode in July and August. I think I may be home then. (I will try to stick it out however. I need to get back into money-earning.) While walking somewhere on the campus the other day, something (perhaps the time zones) snapped into place. I was remarkably at peace to be back in the region. Something familiar about the place. Still the difference from Saudi Arabia are striking. People here are happy in some way I cannot put my finger on. Why did I waste all that time in Saudi Arabia? So in summary, I am doing well at the moment and am happy to be back at work. I hope to keep my nose clean and my head down at least until this recession is over. ---
**Author:** ![Pullet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/edb3f5/32.png) [@Pullet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pullet)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022/2 "2009-03-19T14:49:49Z")
Glad things are going well! It’s going to take a bit to get used to your new user name, though 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dottygumdrop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Dottygumdrop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dottygumdrop)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022/3 "2009-03-19T14:51:28Z")
Congrats on the move back to the region (and to a much nicer part of the GCC, at that!). I am glad you feel happy with the move! ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022/4 "2009-03-19T15:15:30Z")
Congratuations, **Paul**! Clear up for some of us ignorant Merikans: How is the last word in your new user name properly pronounced? I heard “ka-TAR” in the past, but now I’m hearing “kutter.” ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022/5 "2009-03-19T15:18:51Z")
In Arabic, either is correct. In I use Guitar. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022/6 "2009-03-19T15:37:02Z")
If you need to decorate your new place, there’s a special on [used carpets](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7952003.stm) this week. ---
**Author:** ![Desert\_Nomad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/desert_nomad/32/177_2.png) [@Desert\_Nomad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Desert_Nomad)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2009, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-is-paul-doing/490022/7 "2009-03-19T15:56:21Z")
Congrats on the move back. I miss living in the GCC, but at least get to travel back to the region for long periods. If you haven’t been there yet, there is a nice little outdoor restaurant at the opposite end of the Corniche from the Sheraton. It is right next to a small marina and a great place to go before it gets too hot which it is likely to do in the next few weeks. I’ll try to remember the name of it.