Oh, how frustrating settling here is. Of course, this is the first time I've started over completely in a new country (and very different culture), so I suppose it is not out of the ordinary. Still, though, it would be nice if it were a bit easier.
To begin with, of course, we had to enter under a tourist visa, because for some reason, Chandler's work visa got hung up. That put him behind the others in beginning the Residence Permit process. After much stress, he managed to get caught up, and yesterday finally received the all-important RP. While Americans generally have to go through driving courses and take a test to be awarded a driver's license here, he was fortunate enough to run into someone who was able to take him before a Sheik, who, by signing something, allowed him to avoid that whole process. Now the RP process can begin for me and Cricket. This includes a chest x-ray, a blood test, a blood-typing, and fingerprinting. And, hopefully, I will be able to also skip the driving mess.
It seems as if we have looked at a hundred different housing options, some of which were almost perfect, but always missing some important piece. Though it has, reportedly, come down quite a bit in price in the last year or two, housing is wildly expensive here. We have been looking at options with monthly rent between 11K-18K a month, which roughly translates to 3-5 thousand dollars. Yes, the highest-priced option was absolutely luxurious, with one of the most beautiful views in the world, but below that things quickly get downright shoddy. Thankfully, the company provides 10K a month in a housing allowance, which helps a great deal. Four times we were quite ready to sign the papers, but in the end we have finally settled on a compound villa. There are certain drawbacks-- it is quite far from downtown, so it will be difficult for me to pop down to the Corniche to run or ride, or make a quick trip to Souq Waqif. The upsides are that it is a brand new compound, absolutely full of kids, nice amenities, close to Cricket's school and the nicest mall in the area (not to mention a Krispy Kreme), and we will literally be right across the street from a coworker who has an 8 year old daughter who will be attending the same school. And, inshallah, our conjoined-balcony neighbor will be another coworker. Once bills are factored in, it will likely be at the top of the price range, but the perks should be worth it. Hopefully we will be able to move in at the beginning of next week! FINALLY, out of the Ezdan! If I could ululate in print (or, you know, at all) I would!
As for cars, the progress is slightly lagging. In less than two weeks our work-paid rentals will end. When we haven't been looking at villas or apartments, it seems, we have been visiting dealerships. The banks here really force you towards new cars-- as if the absolute automotive torture we saw during the World Cup celebrations wouldn't do that on its own. Our bank, QNB (which we were ushered to because they will be a sponsor next year), does not offer loans for cars older than three model years. So, when we found a "certified" 2007 Volvo XC-90 at a fantastic price and with low mileage (or, would it be kilometage?) , it was a no go. With some poking around, we were able to find a bank that WOULD loan for such a fantastically old car, but, as Chandler pointed out, if we leave here even in as little as three years and want to sell it, no one will be able to get a loan. The two new cars that were at the top of our list were an FJ-Cruiser and a four door Wrangler, which are similar prices. We were ready to agree on an FJ when we did the math and discovered, while they sell for $25K in the States, the price here translates to $10K more. Chandler has a dream truck (the Ford Raptor, which a good friend tuned and then raced, stock, in the Baja 1000) and I, of course, am drooling over another Evo, and though we could technically afford them, we are slightly more rational than that... look what having a kid will do to you. So at the top of our lists are now Kias and Hyundais. We figure we'll go for cheaper cars and be able to get two, rather than share a very nice one. Of course, nothing being easy, the bank will not give a loan until your first paycheck is deposited, and that is not scheduled to happen until the end of the month-- which would force everyone to stay in temporary housing and pay for rental cars after our first month is up. But, after much pressure, it sounds as if the company will give everyone their December pay early so we can attempt to get settled. Further frustrating (and constraining) is the fact that they pay for the days Chandler worked here in November has been in limbo for almost two weeks-- turns out the UK bank sent it to our US bank in Qatari Riyals, which they refuse to deal in, and rejected. The UK bank, however, didn't think to alert the company. Hopefully it will arrive in our QNB account shortly.
While it is frustrating, all that goes in to settling down, when most companies just provide it all for their employees, I met a woman by the pool the other day who moved here from Texas with her two young children when her husband got a job in the government, and they have no allowances at all for housing or cars or school. So yes, I am, in the end, very thankful.
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