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Santiago Matamoros
Joined: 23 Jan 2009
Posts: 26
Location: Spain
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 Posted: Wed Nov 25, 2009 3:51 pm Post subject: Qatar: Pros and cons |
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Hi everyone!
I am going to be interviewed for a teaching position in Qatar. What are the pros and cons of living and working in Qatar? For the record I hold a Cambridge CELTA and a postgraduate diploma in education.
Any help appreciated. |
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Snowed In
Joined: 24 Oct 2009
Posts: 12
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| Posted: Thu Dec 03, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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The driving. Drivers cut you off not only on the main roads but also the round-abouts  |
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lollaerd
Joined: 03 Jul 2009
Posts: 337
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| Posted: Mon Dec 14, 2009 11:15 am Post subject: |
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| Snowed In wrote: |
| The driving. Drivers cut you off not only on the main roads but also the round-abouts |
Absolutely. Driving here has become a nightmare. When I first came to Qatar about 7 years ago driving was not bad at all. It usually took you 15 - 20 minutes to get to where you are going but now you can be held up in traffic for 90 minutes or more. Yesterday it rained but a lot of nutters just sped along the roads as if they were dry. Naturally there were some pretty bad accidents. Many roads don't have gutters so there is flooding in some places when there is heavy rainfall. I don't know if the metro will really solve the problem as some families own half a dozen vehicles or more. What's worse some individuals own 3 or 4 or more!! all for their own personal use. |
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tuckerg76
Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:04 am Post subject: What about motorcycles |
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| How about driving motorcycles in Qatar, prices ok? Do they require special licenses? |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject: Re: What about motorcycles |
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| tuckerg76 wrote: |
| How about driving motorcycles in Qatar...? |
Only if you have a serious death wish...
VS |
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GypsyKat
Joined: 26 Oct 2010
Posts: 7
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| Posted: Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:24 am Post subject: |
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I know several people who own and drive motorcycles here. They do require a special license and I suggest you get in contact with Harley Davidson Qatar, as they're very helpful when it comes to anything motocycle related in Qatar and will probably suggest several clubs and groups you can join.
As for the pro's and con's, it depends on what you're looking for. Qatar is quiet, safe and a pretty friendly place overall. If you have any kind of imagination at all you can find plenty to do and people to meet. One of the con's is the driving, but you get used to it.
I've loved my 5 years here and would recommend Qatar to anyone. |
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tuckerg76
Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 12:43 am Post subject: |
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| @ VS... I've driven motorcycle for over two years in South Korea (my current commute back and forth to work is 20 km each way). I think I can handle myself. @ gypsy thank you for the info, it's nice to know that some people actually reply to questions in posts. |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 2:31 am Post subject: |
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| tuckerg76 wrote: |
| @ VS... I've driven motorcycle for over two years in South Korea (my current commute back and forth to work is 20 km each way). I think I can handle myself. |
tuckerg: Pls. send me yer vitals via PM. I'm a part-time psychic and I can smell a huge insurance payoff in my future...I promise to share half my winnings with yer family...
NCTBA |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 3:10 am Post subject: |
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You ain't seen nothin' yet, Mr Tuck76... The worst thing that you can do is overestimate your abilities and preparation for driving in the Gulf. You will be sharing the road with gigantic 4WDs flashing their lights in order to be able to reach maximum speed to that next light... and you damn well better get out of the way... fast. And they never look to see if you are there when they decide to change lanes at often 70+ mph. They will expect you to avoid them... even if it puts you into a guardrail or the traffic heading the other way.
I too have had friends who drove a motorcycle in Qatar, and none of them considered it a pleasant experience or recommend it. They limited the times and the places that they drove because of the dangers. And they said to mention that for much of the year it is too danged hot to even think about it. 
VS |
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Never Ceased To Be Amazed
Joined: 22 Oct 2004
Posts: 3500
Location: Shhh...don't talk to me...I'm playin' dead...
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 3:48 am Post subject: |
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Hush, VS! I'm looking at a chunk of change here! 
Tuck: Send the details and then, go boldly who no sane person has gone before!!! Remember: YES, YOU CAN!!!
NCTBA |
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tuckerg76
Joined: 17 Jun 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:35 am Post subject: |
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@ VS thanks for the further input on driving, I didn't take much from the first death wish comment as it can be found on numerous sites as it relates to driving in Korea as well. Knowing that you've had a number of friends try it out provides more pause for thought. In all honesty, to anyone riding I bike I would remind them to be very defensive minded regardless of they are. Assume the guys driving nearby are incompetent and adjust accordingly.
I'm not hell-bent on getting a bike before I go over, this is just the early research, find out about cost, insurance, licensing etc. From there if it is possible investigate the driving culture (first hand) and then judge whether or not I think i could handle it. |
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veiledsentiments
Joined: 20 Feb 2003
Posts: 17644
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Dec 02, 2010 4:05 pm Post subject: |
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Probably checking out the routes that you would be driving daily so that you know who you will be sharing the roads with... when it comes to describing traffic in various countries, all is relative.
VS |
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sharter
Joined: 25 Jun 2008
Posts: 878
Location: All over the place
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| Posted: Sat Dec 04, 2010 11:52 am Post subject: the op |
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Pros-money, beach/pool lifestyle, good restaurants, desert camping, good shopping.
Cons- driving (it's worse in Libya), high alcohol prices in the bars, students can be a bit dim especially at QP,which is where I worked as a direct hire employee.
I'd recommend Qatar, it's a nice, sedate little place. Unfortunately my wife buggered off and I left. |
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paperback
Joined: 25 Nov 2010
Posts: 116
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| Posted: Sun Dec 05, 2010 2:44 pm Post subject: Re: the op |
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| sharter wrote: |
Pros-money, beach/pool lifestyle, good restaurants, desert camping, good shopping.
Cons- driving (it's worse in Libya), high alcohol prices in the bars, students can be a bit dim especially at QP,which is where I worked as a direct hire employee.
I'd recommend Qatar, it's a nice, sedate little place. Unfortunately my wife buggered off and I left. |
Seconded. Most important is a well-paying job with housing. If you don't get this, you'll be up shite creek. A lot of wives bugger off around here. Too many rich types around who eye them at the hotel pools. If that happens, you're out of luck. So the rest of us end up with sweet little ladies from the far east. |
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paperback
Joined: 25 Nov 2010
Posts: 116
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