# Today is my Twentieth Anniversary **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 1, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726 "2017-10-01T14:07:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **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:** [October 1, 2017, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/1 "2017-10-01T14:07:34Z")
I arrived in Saudi Arabia twenty years ago today. (I changed my user name during my one year in Qatar and cannot be bothered to change it back.) I am of mixed feelings on this occasion. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/2 "2017-10-01T14:10:02Z")
So are you an immigrant, or a permanent expat? ---
**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:** [October 1, 2017, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/3 "2017-10-01T15:12:22Z")
I am a long-term expat. I have lived outside of the US longer than in it. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/4 "2017-10-01T15:38:52Z")
I don’t mean to pry so feel free not to answer if you prefer not to but I am curious: do you work in the oil industry? That is the main reason I have seen Americans live in the Middle east for long periods of time and I was curious if there were others. ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/5 "2017-10-01T16:34:54Z")
Happy anniversary. I think! ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/6 "2017-10-01T16:51:10Z")
Happy anniversary! Since we are asking questions… What is the proper pronunciation of Qatar? I have heard ‘Cutter’ and ‘ca-TAR’. Also, which do you prefer - Qatar or Saudi? mmm ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/7 "2017-10-01T18:15:36Z")
^yeah, I wanna know that too. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/8 "2017-10-01T20:17:36Z")
Be careful crossing the street. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/9 "2017-10-01T20:30:38Z")
Happy anniversary! Today is my birthday, my husband’s birthday, and our wedding anniversary. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/10 "2017-10-01T21:07:50Z")
heh I remember 10 or 15 years ago you were tired of living in Saudi and thinking about leaving…how time flies … So are the roads more dangerous yet since the lift of the women’s driving ban? ---
**Author:** ![kayT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayt/32/3633_2.png) [@kayT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayT)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/11 "2017-10-01T21:42:13Z")
OP, why the mixed feelings? ---
**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [October 1, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/12 "2017-10-01T23:58:04Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > heh I remember 10 or 15 years ago you were tired of living in Saudi and thinking about leaving… I’m curious… is “Saudi” a correct shortening of the country’s name or should it just be “Saudi Arabia”? It’s confusing because “Saudi” is an adjective, right? ---
**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:** [October 2, 2017, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/today-is-my-twentieth-anniversary/797726/13 "2017-10-02T01:34:01Z")
“Saudi” is an adjectives. This is the Arabia that belongs to the Saud family. Mixed feelings? I am fifty-nine years old. I am making buckets of money and so I cannot really leave for another five year or so. My grandkids are growing up. I miss my dog. Mostly it is just mid-life crisis I suppose. After all, did your dad smile and dance about his life and job at this age? Welcome to being a breadwinner.