Space and Time

One of the challenges of working here is communicating with family, friends and colleagues back home and in others locations. This is something that I have not previously experienced.

I never had much use for Google+ until I arrived here. I saw it a just another form of social media - which is something in which I have not actively participated. It's a generational thing, perhaps. But now I rely on it for one specific feature: video conferencing with my family in California.

Before I arrived, I became accustomed to the thought that Doha is ten hours ahead of California. Ahead meaning earlier. I devised a simple method for conversion which I call Plus Two. Pacific time is Doha time + 2, except of course that AM is PM and vice-versa.

Reversing that conversion is still a bit baffling. In Western culture we tend to create depictions of time from left to right. Perhaps that's because our language is written that way. Just think about the charts and graphs we create. But the world spins in the opposite direction. We move through space (not time) from East to West.

I created this illustration (using Microsoft Excel) to help with that visualization. It depicts the "working hours" in four different time zones. I video-chat with my wife every morning at seven o'clock. That's on the right side of the graphic. My colleagues in London start two hours later. There is a 2 hour overlap in my work day with U.S. Eastern time. My wife is at her job when my day is done. When she finishes her work, it's 3 a.m. here.

Here are some interesting notes on the direction of language scripting and numbering.

Doha Towers

Well I have been pretty busy with my work since my last post ten days ago. It is Monday afternoon. The "weekend" here is Friday & Saturday. I worked yesterday (Sunday) and I have the next six days off work, for the observance of the Eid-al-Adha National holiday. My work continues, in my hotel room, on a more relaxed basis.

I'll have more to say on both of those topics in the near future. For now, I simply wish to reiterate that Doha is a truly amazing city. The weather has started to change, and with occasional dry winds from the West, inland, walking outside is not uncomfortable. I have done that on several occasions, including an early evening sojourn. That's about all that I need to say. These photos speak for themselves...

Jet Lag

Saturday Afternoon

I've walked from my hotel, the Dovenpick, across the street and down a bit to the Hilton Doha. Another marvelously appointed accommodation. This is not my first visit to the Zawaya Lounge. Through the window there is an excellent view of the Doha bay and "The Pearl", that man-made peninsula were dozens of towers (hotels?) ring two circular marinas, much of which is also still under construction.

I am not, however, here for the view. The Zawaya is the closest place where a thirsty American can get a nice, cold beer. Outside, the temperature is 104°, and humidity a dry 15%. Also on the flat screen above me is English Premier League soccer. Manchester City vs. Everton. The score is 1-1. Appropriate considering that "futbol" is the reason I am here.

I digress. This post is about jet-lag and adjusting to the time difference between Qatar and my home in California. Doha is half a world away, ten hours ahead of Pacific time. 3:30 in the afternoon here is 5:30 a.m. there. Because of that offset, there are two narrow bands of time when direct communication is possible: morning and evening. I've just set up a Google+ Hangout and this morning enjoyed a long conversation with my wife back home. (MCI just scored. Now it's 2-1.) 

During the week, I start work at eight; that's 10 p.m. there. I get off at five; 7 a.m. there. That's difficult for both of us. In Qatar, as in other Islamic countries, the weekend is Friday and Saturday; the work week begins on Sunday, which further narrows the opportunity for direct conversation. I'm thankful for email, which bridges the time gap. Technology is my livelihood, and also my savoir right now.

This is my seventh day here in Doha. Anyone who believes this is a hostile environment is completely mistaken. I have the support of my new employer, KEO International, my professional colleagues, family and friends back home, and last but not least, a nice cold brew to help me feel completely at home.

(Manchester wins, 3 to 1.) 

Traffic

Doha is a wonderful city. The Downtown is a cacophony of iconic buildings. More on that later. It is, however, a city under construction. New towers going up everywhere, simultaneously with major roadway and utility work. Consequently, rush hour traffic is a mess. I have moved from the Concorde to the upscale "West Bay" where my office is located for that reason. I am now staying at the Movenpick Tower. Also more about that to follow.

There are major improvements underway to Al Corniche Street, which rings around the Bay of Doha. The work must be complete before the Festival of Eid-al-Adha, which occurs later this month.

I was assigned to a company driver who on Monday picked me up at 8:15 (because of my late arrival) and also dropped me off that evening. On Tuesday, my first full day of work, The 8.3 kilometer trip, took more than one hour.

Shemeer, my driver, is a perfect gentleman and also extremely patient. During all of our trips I never sensed any tension or frustration. On that morning, just getting to "the Corniche" was the major part of the trip. Gridlock. At times a two-lane street became three or four. Space between cars is measured in paint thickness. Owing to the weather, no one drives with windows open, so there is no gesturing or verbalizing as is sometimes seen in the U.S. Everyone seems to accept that these conditions are a necessary part of the city's growth. 


Road intersections in Doha feature "roundabouts" rather than traffic signals. Most of the time they are simple to navigate, but during peak traffic they can be exciting, to say the least. The required skill is to keep the vehicle moving while also weaving though, and sometimes dodging, the other cars.

I have seen some instances of driving over medians, sidewalks and curbs, and even driving on the opposite side of the road, but only one "fender bender". My new hotel is less than a mile from the office. I will be using taxis from now on, at least until I move into a permanent residence. 

Departure and Arrival

My flight to Doha is on Emirates, departing from the new Tom Bradley Terminal. I was accompanied to the airport by my dear wife and daughter. There was a short wait to check my bags, and I delayed my entry into the security check as long as I could.

At check in signs were posted that there was no food or beverage beyond the security check. Distressing, because I hoped for a beverage to relax before boarding. Once through (easily) I noticed that there is a great variety of eateries inside, but they are not yet open. Only one. A bistro style cafe called Vino Volo. Cabernet, $15.

The aircraft is a B777 300. Everyone boarding passes through the first class section, where passengers are cocooned into little reclining stalls that have every possible amenity at hand. Every seat on the aircraft has seat-back video, telephone and USB connector. Two aisles, eleven seats across.

It is a polar route to Abu Dhabi, passing over Greenland. The "ICE" system (information, communication, and entertainment) includes movies, TV, music, and news. I'm listening to the Beatles. Rubber Soul.

Emirates flight attendants are everywhere. According to the announcement, more than sixteen languages are available. They have just handed out little zippered cases containing a travel toothbrush, toothpaste and hand towel. It is one hour into the day-long flight.

On the ICE is a category called "boxed sets" that includes lots of Beatles, Bowie, Dylan, Hendrix and Zeppelin. Floyd, Stones U2. Now I'm into Beggars Banquet. I chose an aisle seat, to make it easier to get up and move around. Seat 43C. Luckily seat 43B is unoccupied, providing a spaciousness that most of the other economy passengers do not have. The beverage server has just passed by, and I'm now enjoying a 2012 Rasteau (red wine). Everything is free, except champagne. Dinner (or lunch) will be served soon. One of my favorite Stones tunes is now playing. Midnight Rambler.

6:50 p.m. (Pacific Time)

We are somewhere over Canada. Meal service has begun. BBQ chicken is the entree. Smells delicious. I wonder if there will be more hot towels to follow. Waiting for the meal, I looked over the printed entertainment guide. It is awesome! Hundreds if films. Thousands of songs, Thousands.

8:23 p.m.

Just finished dinner. Excellent meal, excellent service. I'm listening to a Van Morrison playlist. 34 songs.  Right now is "Moondance". A classic and also a favorite. The plane is somewhere over the North Atlantic. The lights have been dimmed. The ceiling of the cabin is backlighted with little pin holes like a night time sky. Cool. Oh, yeah. Another Rasteau with dinner. Time to relax....

Sleeping is on and off. I'm thankful for the earplugs and sleep mask. One of those horseshoe-shaped pillows would have been great. The little one they provide is supremely inadequate. I must have dozed for several hours. It is now past two a.m. Pacific time, ten hours into the flight. Passing over Scandinavia, and less than six hours to Abu Dhabi. Back into daylight outside, but the lights are still dim, any many are still sleeping. I will try again.

4:20 a.m. Sleep was elusive even though I listened to an hour-long in-flight sleep solutions recording, two times. We are passing over the Black Sea, and it seems incredible that the landing in Dubai is still three hours away.

5:30 a.m. I had a slight headache, I would say from the noise and intermittent sleep. When the flight attendants brought water and fruit juice down the aisle, I asked for relief and received two Panadol tablets. Hot towels again. They've started serving the "morning" meal. It will be 7 p.m. Local time when we land. Listening to Santana's "Supernatural". Now passing over Baghdad.

7:26 a.m. Omelet, fruit, potatoes, juice, croissant. I passed on the coffee. I need to sleep when I get to my final destination, the Concorde Hotel in Doha. Now 40 minutes until touchdown in Dubai. After six in the evening there.

On the plane in Dubai, waiting to disembark. Long line down the aisle. I'm in the 44th row. On our initial approach, when less than 100 meters from the ground, the pilot pulled up in a power climb, later explaining that another aircraft had not cleared the runway. We circled around, providing a marvelous view of the city as the plane banked to the left, and landed without incident.

Passing time at Gate B22 of the Dubai International Airport. The flight to Doha leaves at 10:15, and there's a one hour time difference.

Arriving in Doha, I was confused when we exited the plane by stair to busses, for transfer to the terminal. Later I learned that the new International Airport is not finished. Completion is scheduled for 2015. Inside were two very long lines, one for GCC countries, one for everyone else. At the end of the line, my passport and business visa were examined, and photo was taken. Next I recovered my checked baggage, and towed it through the terminal, past customs inspectors, finally reaching the public concourse. Even though it was eleven o'clock, there was crowd of folks waiting behind a glass wall, including dozens of drivers holding signs for their intended clientele. I walked along slowly; scanning each one until finally, near the end of the line, a sign with the KEO logo caught my eye. I nodded at the gentleman, who eagerly accepted the larger suitcase, and towed it to his car.

It was a short drive to the Doha Concorde, a marvelously appointed business hotel, where the check in was swift. I gratefully allowed the attendant to bring my bags to room 629, tipping 10 rials, my first transaction in the foreign (to me) currency. After a quick, hot shower, I climbed into the king size bed, twenty one hours after departing from LAX. 

Greetings

Greetings from Doha, Qatar.

I have joined KEO International Consultants as Senior Architect and BIM Manager for a project related to the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

At the request of many of my friends and colleagues, I have launched this new blog to share my experiences while living and working here.

My sincere thanks to everyone for their encouragement and good wishes.

~AJH