So it's a done deal, then. I am definitely moving to Dubai. The offer was too good to turn down and no matter how much we love Doha - it's packing time.

I will leave my heart in Doha when I move. Too many memories and special places, great friends who promise to keep in touch, great moments and 4 years of my life will be remembered and treasured.

We'll be moving by the end of February. One month is all I have left here, and while the realisation of the deadline and the list of things to do before I leave are somewhat shocking, the anticipation makes time crawl in slow motion. It seems like it's been ages since I came back from Cyprus, and it's ages till I get paid in the end of the month.

I wonder what is waiting for me in Dubai. Will I love it or hate it? Dubai is one of those places where there is no room for "in between". Most people fall into "either/or" categories when it comes to loving or hating it. I hope I will like it as much as I like Qatar. My two visits to Dubai were so inconclusive and brief that I can't make up my mind. Few words come into my mind when I think of Dubai - "big" (although it really isn't), "busy" (compared to Doha, of course), "flashy", "exaggerated" (in absolutely everything), "overrated", "interesting"... Time will show what I'll make of it.

I will miss Qatar. Of course there are things I will definitely NOT miss, such as my house, imbecile drivers, sewage trucks, my husband's insane working hours, transit through Bahrain/Dubai on the way home, lack of decent entertainment and so on. Nevertheless, my life here was interesting and eventful. I'll miss my job, I'll miss Doha Corniche which is actually really beautiful (unlike Dubai monstrosity), quieteness of Landmark mall (are there any quiet malls in Dubai?) and the Arabic atmosphere of Qatar. There is precious little Arabic left in Dubai.
Still, I'll have to make this move work for me. Otherwise, it's simply not worth it. Let's see how it goes...

I never thought I would miss Cyprus that much... but I did. Maybe it's because I haven't been there for a long time. Maybe because I haven't travelled around the island much in the last 5-6 years and I forgot how beautiful it really is. Maybe because I got so fed up with the place I live in Doha and I longed for my house, my room, my bed... I don't know. I realised I love Cyprus and this realisation came as a huge surprise. People who know me will be surprised as well: I was always the one to say Cyprus is boring, it has nothing, I am so glad to be living abroad, blah blah blah and so on... Well how wrong I was. Cyprus is beautiful, it has everything, and most importantly - Cyprus is home. Yes it is not perfect, but what country is? It's not perfection that I love, it's the sky, the sea, mountains, food, music, little seaside cafes, Christmas decorations, fruits off the tree, people, sky, sea, mountains...

So see for yourself, here it is, Cyprus in winter.

PS. The couple on a cliff = my parents :^)
PPS. Click on the pics for a better view.
PPPS. Lazy to click on them one by one? Click here to open them up at once!

Cat is back in Cat-ar. I missed Doha, I have to admit that. I will miss it even more - it now looks like I'll be moving to Dubai in March. Needless to say, Qatar Cat I'll remain, my blog will be alive, and I will carry on with Blah.

=^..^=