As an American living in Doha, Qatar, I am often asked by people back home about the weather here.
So, how hot is it today?
Is it still hot out?
What's the weather like right now?
Well, it is so hot that we here in Qatar couldn't help but turn our noses at Sam Dolnick's New York Times article about the state's insufferable heat wave. Complaining about 80 degree days? Our nights are hotter than 80 degrees!
Anyway, there are only so many expletives one can use to describe the sizzling, crushing, swamplike conditions we are currently enduring. For those seeking a more creative solution, here are five new ways to tell people how freakin hot it gets here in the summertime.
Qatar is so hot that...
- People flee the country in droves. The country's 4:1 male-female ratio is skewed even further during June, July & August, because if a man doesn't have enough vacation days saved up, then it's just the women and children who go. Because, you know, think of the children. The upshot here is that the snarling traffic clears up a bit, and Doha almost feels like it did three years ago, before it got too crowded.
All that said, Qatar is bidding for the 2022 World Cup, which takes place in the summer, and is definitely well-equipped to handle the heat. Air conditioning works so well here, in fact, that despite the 100+ degree temperatures, it is still possible to catch hypothermia in the shopping malls! So for those planning to catch a movie or getting some groceries, be sure to bring a sweater.