The cosmopolitan environment, a great job, proximity to other interesting places to visit -- these are some of the things American expat J.C. likes about living and working in Doha, Qatar. Read his interview for more information and tips if you want to be where he is now.	J.C.

-Where were you born?

El Paso, TX, USA

-In which country and city are you living now?

Doha, Qatar

-Are you living alone or with your family?

I have a roommate, but I'm single with no kids.

-How long have you been living in Qatar?

Going on 4 months at the time of this interview (Jan 2011).

-What is your age?

30

-When did you come up with the idea of living in Qatar?

The short version: I was working in Arizona as a bartender and just through chit-chatting with a customer he mentioned working overseas as a contractor.  He gave me a lot of information and a few months later I was on a plane to Doha.

-Was it hard to get a visa or a work permit?

My company took care of all of that, so no.

-Was it difficult for you to get medical insurance before you went there or when you first arrived?

Also provided by the company.  I have amazing coverage, 100%, nothing out of pocket.  The hospital I go to here is like a palace.

-How do you make your living in Qatar? Do you have any type of income generated?

I work for an American company out here as a contractor.  Our contracts are one year long.  I got this job before I came here.  I had uploaded my resume to their site and a recruiter emailed me saying he had found a position for me.  However, this was one of about fifty jobs I applied for before I came here.

What tools did I use to get this job?  Well, the company's website, and a solid resume.  I have military experience as well as a graduate degree and a background in literature.  I used my writing skills to tweak my resume and market myself as best I could. 

-Do you speak the local language and do you think it's important to speak the local language? Pplease add your thoughts on local customs and whether it's important for expats to respect/observe local customs.

I actually do not speak any Arabic.  A funny thing about this country is that almost everyone speaks English.  Very few people here are from here, so everyone speaks English to be on the same page.  That being said, I do respect local customs whether I agree with them.  I'm here willingly so I abide by the rules.  There are certain things we can't do here that we do in the States that are very offensive to the locals; however, it is nothing out of the ordinary (flipping the bird, using the F-word, etc).  Furthermore, this country is pretty tolerant for the most part and very relaxed.  It's nothing like everyone back in the States pictures it, women do not have to be covered up here, you can go out in shorts and flip-flops, etc. 

-Do you miss home and family sometimes? Describe your favorite recreational activities there or those that are available.

I do.  However, I know that I won't be here forever and I'll see my mother and siblings again so it isn't too bad.  We stay in touch via Skype and email and such.  The things I miss most are baseball and bars with cheap beer.  The nightlife here is much more upscale than the relaxed, "dive-bar" type attitude that is available in the States.  That being said, I enjoy it very much; dressing up, having a nice dinner followed by drinks and a nice cigar is something I do regularly.  Other than that I play classical guitar and have already played at a friend's wedding here as well as practicing daily. 

-Do you have other plans for the future?

I get a decent amount of leave every year and I plan on visiting as many places as possible.  This year I plan on visiting Germany, Spain, Portugal, and Thailand.  If I end up staying here two or three years, I will have to find new places to visit, along with the occasional trip home to visit family. 

-What about housing, have you bought, or are you renting a home? How much do you pay for it?

I live downtown in a high-rise two bedroom, three-bathroom flat that I share with a co-worker.  The rent is expensive, somewhere in the neighborhood of 30K USD per year, so split between two people the rent would be over 1K per month.  The property and location is fantastic with a great view and access to everything, including the bay.  I'm also fortunate that my company takes care of the rent, so I am not out of pocket on living here.

-What is the cost of living in Qatar?

Mostly expensive.  Qataris have a lot of money and they like to show it.  Some things are cheaper, though, such as jewelry, imported (European) watches, and things like that.  Gas is so cheap it's ridiculous, I think it's less than 1 USD per gallon when you do the conversion.  My company pays for leased vehicles and fuel, but gas is cheap if you do have to pay for it.  Bars are expensive but restaurants can be cheap depending on if you eat at local type places or at chain restaurants.  Flying on this side of the world is cheaper than flying here from the U.S., so that's a plus.  A round trip ticket to Thailand is only about 600 USD round trip, and that's on the expensive side.

-What do you think about the locals?

Well, most of the locals aren't from here.  There are a ton of Sri Lankan people here and they are very friendly and respectful.  Everyone that works out here is very nice and polite and respectful, almost too respectful.  Everyone is "hello sir, yes sir, no sir."  At times I want to say "Don't call me sir, just say 'what's up, dude?'"

-What are the positive and negative aspects of living in Qatar?

Positives: A lot of money to be made, very modernized city with everything you need, "big city" living, close access to Europe, Africa, Asia, and an amazing experience and resumé material!

Negatives:  Traffic is horrendous and people drive like animals out here.  Also, the natives can be quite arrogant, impatient, rude, and obnoxious.

-Do you have any tips for our readers about living in Qatar?

Get a job with a company that will take care of your resident status and housing as much as possible.  Otherwise, life will either be very expensive here, or you will make very little money. 

-Do you have any favorite Web sites or blogs about Qatar?

There is www.qatarliving.com that has a lot of information on it.