Sadly, it's true. You can buy almost anything you want in Qatar, but there are random items you just have to stock up on on trips back home.
Since people on the verge of moving to Qatar often email me and ask what they should pack, I figured I'd share the the list of things I stocked up on this month.
- Books! I always end up buying half a dozen or so. On this trip I bought:
- a guidebook to Hong Kong (guidebooks are oddly hard to find in Qatar)
- Thich Nhat Hanh's The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching (ditto books on religion)
- a collection of short stories by Ryunosuke Akutagawa (probably too obscure to be available in Qatar)
- Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle (probably available in Qatar, but books are expensive here so what the heck)
- Running shorts. (Qatar does have some sports stores, but women's running shorts are hard to come across -- as are any women's sports clothes in larger than size 6.)
- Board games. (The basics are available in Qatar -- Scrabble, Taboo, Trivial Pursuit -- but they're expensive, and they're usually the British versions.
- Toiletries from CVS, store of wonderment. This time what I needed was:
- Tom's of Maine toothpaste and non-antiperspirant deodorant (Qatar has all the normal mainstream brands -- Crest and Sensodyne, Old Spice and Lady Speed Stick -- but not hippy natural brands)
- Travel-size bottles of contact lens solution & sunscreen (Qatar has these things, but not in the less-than-3-ounce sizes necessary to take them in your carry-on to the US or UK)
- Random over-the-counter medicines that aren't available in Qatar, e.g. Pyridium, cold medicine. (Lots of OTC meds are available in Qatar, and quite a few prescription meds are available OTC, like birth control pills and even antidepressants. However, some things just ain't here, so if there's something you use on a regular basis, you may better off bringing a supply.)
- Tampons. 'Nuff said.
- I often also grab some 99¢ nail polish or cheap sunglasses or cheap nickel-free earrings. In Qatar it's easy to get MAC nail polish, Gucci sunglasses and gold jewelry, but it's hard to find the crap I like to buy.
- Tom's of Maine toothpaste and non-antiperspirant deodorant (Qatar has all the normal mainstream brands -- Crest and Sensodyne, Old Spice and Lady Speed Stick -- but not hippy natural brands)
- Music:Radiohead: Street Spirit (Fade Out)
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Comments
Specialty teas, they do not. Yerba Mate, chai teas and vegan foods.
I always try to pass by Trader Joes in the states.
Are you vegan? That would be tough in Qatar!
- Ziploc bags
- Deodorant. I haven't been able to find my brand.
- Vitamins
- Schmancy shampoo, specifically the kind from Goldwell that deposits additional color in your color-treated hair.
~ along the lines of bacon - if you're one that enjoys porn or pot, get your fill while you're in the West.
~ brand name q-tips.
~ kashi bars and cereal.
~ i know friends have also stocked up on gluten-free and sugar-free things. its hard to find food for diabetics or people with wheat allergies.
caryl :-)
". . . . and many more" (in appropriate key!)
Nikki and Merlin send their best wishes, too.
Love,
Mom and Dad C
(Sorry that I can't figure out how to post without attaching to a message!)
I'd say to bring a lot of recipe books, though you already have those at this point. The lack of prepared food kind of caught me unawares though.
Most of the stuff I missed isn't really stuff you can ship well - puppies, gardens, rain, good pasta sauce. ;) I like to use tooth powder instead of tooth paste and some hippie shampoo now though, so i'd probably bring that over with me.
Glad do hear you're doing well.
For sure. I've just come back to Doha from England and am pining for all four of those things!
thanks.
By the way, how do you like it there?
nikzcolorz
http://nikizcolorz-alohadoha.blogspot.co
I like it here great! I wish it had trees and hills and a little more Culture-with-a-capital-c, but Doha is a good place to live.