"You shouldn't wear sandals in case we have to run."

Bahrain Protesters in Pearl Square

Egyptian Protesters in Tahrir Square

"You shouldn't wear sandals in case we have to run."

That's what my husband said the other day to me on our way to the mall to eat lunch and watch a movie. With all the protesting and revolutions going on in the region, that is one example of the things we have talked about lately. While I think democracy is good, I do not know if this part of the world is truly ready for it. This region has been run by the elite wasta bearing minority (royals and military) for so long that it will take time and re-education of all before they can put a legitimate democratic election into place. These big, important changes will not happen over night. Wasta, or connections, will continue to be the way things get done around here for a long time to come.

We're here until July unless something forces us out - like a revolution in Qatar. We already planned to leave Qatar at the end of this academic year, so I won't be sad if we have to leave sooner. However, I really do not think the people of Qatar will revolt. The people here have a lot more to lose than others in the region. I've blogged before about all the handouts, welfare, and subsidies that the Qatari nationals get. The expats or foreign workers with residency (some with generations of only residency although having been born and lived here all their lives) could revolt. However, if the residents (not citizens) of non-western nations revolt, they'll just be deported to their homelands for which they hold passports: India, Sri Lanka, Oman, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, etc. And then more laborers will come to replace them. Everyone is replaceable especially when conditions in their home countries are far worse. As one co-worker put it, "You vote with your feet."

My husband, being the responsible man that he is, even suggested that we have a "bug out bag" in case we need to jump on a plane or go to our embassy. What would we take? We've decided that we'd take our passports, financial papers, laptops, and wedding album proofs. We haven't put together a bag just yet though. We'd also grab our two cats.

Besides having to plan for the worst case scenario, the thing that irritates me the most is all the rumors and lack of information because it spreads nothing but fear. I had to stop reading one person's Facebook status updates and comments because of the rumors and lack of valid information the person was sharing. This person stated that protests would happen here in Qatar according to the Arab speaking world, but this person did not state when or where the several thousand person protest would happen. What good does that do to broadcast half the information about something that has not yet been verified? It only made me want to stay inside, and ignore all other posts from the person, rather than sympathize with the cause. I think some people get off on being the bearer of bad news, or withholding powerful information from others. It doesn't help matters that there is no real news source here about national issues except for the lovely online source called The Penninsula. That website has mainly short articles about nice diplomatic meet-and-greets and family fun festivals (that may or may not have already passed.) Therefore, I check CNN International every morning and a few times throughout the day as well.

My dad posted this on my Facebook wall:

Bahrain riots are close to Qatar? Be safe . . .

A dear friend posted this on my Facebook wall as well:

The sands are shifting around you . . . democracy is in the water. What do you think is going to happen?

God bless them both for actually knowing where Qatar (and Bahrain) are. When I told my dad that I wanted to study abroad in Granada, Spain, he said, "Didn't we bomb the hell out of them?" He was thinking of Grenada. If anything, being over here makes all our families and friends more aware of international issues.

I'm still wearing sandals. We live in the desert and it is hot! We'll just be sending our hard earned Qatari riyals home on a more frequent basis in case we have to leave quickly. It would really stink being here for the money and in the end not getting our nest egg safely into our US bank accounts.

Until Next Time,

WW

Image Sources: http://www.guardian.co.uk/ and http://www.ctv.ca/

Back to the Desert

We arrived in Doha on last Thursday in the wee hours of the morning. Thank goodness it was at that hour because Ramadan is in full swing which means late night traffic is crazy! So what were my thoughts upon arrival for our second year in the desert?

1. It is HOT still, but not as hot as I remembered it in August 2009. We are getting acclimated to heat I guess (especially after being HOT in Thailand just before our arrival).

2. I missed our kitties and I am glad to see them again. They missed us and slept with us through the first night. We had a 3 day layover from in Doha after our 3 week vacation in the US and before our Thailand adventure, so they were probably still feeling clingy with abandonment issues lingering.

3. I don't really want to go back to work, but I am very much ready to have a purpose other than vacationing. I thrive on a regular schedule that includes home cooked meals, my own bed, regular distance running, access to the Internet, and work of some sort.

4. I cannot believe that we will be off again for Eid again next week! We'll be going to Sri Lanka - a place neither of us have visited. And I already know I like the place because it is a mere 5 hour plane ride! Yea! for short flights!

5. In these idle days of Ramadan my mind wonders 'Where are we going next? Will Qatar ever become interesting or will I just count the paydays until my contract ends?'

6. I saw this article about Qataris and other rich Gulf Arabs that holiday in England in The New York Times.

Until Next Time,

WW

Photo Credit: Swns.com via The New York Times and the London Journal

Cats!

So we are leaving in about a week. While our departure couldn't come any sooner, I'm getting pretty sad about leaving our furbabies. I wanted to post another blog about Qatar, but cannot focus on anything worthy to write about here. In fact, when I'm READY to leave a place I'm very much in the 2nd place long before I leave the 1st place. The heat, lack of things to do outside, and my desire to be in the US have given me a bad attitude about all things Qatar. With the heat index regularly at 120-145F I just want to hibernate in our apartment until we leave to catch our flight. I'm also starting to get nervous that some unforeseen event will delay our trip home like I'll get in a car wreck or some other terrible thing!

So, here's a little photo montage of our furbabies:

Until next time,

WW

Terrible Wife, Great Running Partner

We are still training for the Rock 'n' Roll Chicago 1/2 Marathon that is on August 1st. We've also been taking co-ed group fitness classes at Aspire. I also had a consultation with a personal trainer to get set up on using the weight room. I like using the weights because I can go down a list of nicely organized exercises that my trainer (a triathlete from New Zealand) made just for me. I also really like the co-ed classes more than the women's classes because they are more difficult. The Group Fitness class has each person moving every 2 minutes to different stations in groups of 3 or 4. In the Total Fat Loss class we stay at stations for 4 minutes. By the time we're half way around the room M and I both are dripping with sweat. I love it! However, after two weekends of not doing our long run, we made a fatal error the night before our run.

Last week we decided to go to the Thursday night Total Fat Loss class with the fantastic-sub-five-foot-no-bullshit-allowed-no-excuses-trainer named George. He is a like a muscle bound pit bull . . . from Romania. He was wearing a tank top instead of a t-shirt last week and M and I couldn't believe how stacked he was! M heard he was a former Olympic gymnast (Doha the Branson, Missouri, of the Gulf - where former Olympians go to retire . . . ) George also commands the room with his voice. We had already started at various stations around the room when an Arab guy poked his head in and asked to join the class. George shot a quick look at the Arab and barked "Yes, go, check in, and when you come back 20 push ups!" Like I mentioned before, George doesn't mess around. So why in the heck we thought it was a good idea to take his class the night before our long run is beyond me.

I have to stop this story here to add some personal background. In 2008 I ran 7 half marathons and 2 marathons. That was while I was living in Seoul, South Korea, with one race being in Hong Kong. In Seoul there is the most amazing support system of fellow crazy runners and plenty of races in Seoul and all over Korea to enjoy. I was in heaven to say the least. I was single, working, traveling, running, and racing a lot. In fact, there was one month when I ran two half marathons. A friend jokingly asked, "Why didn't you just run one marathon and get it over with?" I went to races out of town by bus or train. I went with some great friends and also alone. I went to the Cherwon DMZ Half Marathon alone and spent the whole day speaking Korean. I will never forget that experience of running past South Korea DMZ guard towers with soldiers standing up on top and of running through villages and having Korean ajummas waving at me and cheering me on while smiling. I loved traveling throughout Korea and running. However, simply put, I was addicted and wanted to spend all my free time either preparing or actually competing. I wasn't great at it, but I had some amazing life changing races. Training and racing became me. I was a bona fide finisher's medal hording, race t-shirt collecting, early weekend morning training, monthly racing "marathoner" while in Korea.

Now that we live in Qatar things have changed. I honestly thought the only obstacle to maintaining my previous running and racing lifestyle would be the weather, but I was wrong. There is a small group of people who meet each weekend to run along The Corniche, but M and I stopped going last fall because we hated getting up early to meet strangers for a run along a brick (ouch!) path. Perhaps equally upsetting is the fact that there are practically no races in Qatar. I hear about some sort of "Women's Mini-marathon" or something like that. What the heck is a "mini-marathon"? Call it what it is - a 5k fun run/walk! I didn't run that race. It made me angry just thinking about it. However, M and I found a proper half marathon in the UAE for a nice weekend in February. We had a great time, but with less intense training I felt like it was just a training run rather than a race.

I miss racing like I used to do in Seoul. I miss feeling like I am good at running. I miss being known as "a runner" or better yet, "a marathoner" to others, but mostly to myself. I miss training hard and feeling good even though it kind of kills my social life. And I've let my husband (a marathoner and triathlete as well) know this in more than a few conversations since we moved here. I just hope we can visit Seoul and run a race there so he can experience it all.

So we recommitted ourselves to training. We've run a little more in the heat than was probably wise, and decided that we just can't change the weather. However, we can get up earlier when it isn't so darn hot. We decided this before George's Total Fat Loss class last week. We had been getting up at 5:00AM to run, but by the time we got out the door it was 5:20AM and the sun was glaring down on us.

Therefore, last Thursday night I set the alarm for 4:00AM. We would run 7 miles - the most we'd run since our February half marathon. For a half marathon we should run at least one 12 mile run about two weeks before the race. We've got time, but not much considering we've only ran 5-6 miles each time we've ran since our last half marathon and we skipped two weekends in a row. As soon as the alarm went off at 4:00AM I jumped up excited and ready to run. The cats were confused and looked a little perturbed. I know Frankie said to Sophia, "Hey, isn't it our job to wake them up?!" M wasn't trilled but I found a way to get him out of bed. I have to bluff and pretend like I'm going to run on the mean streets of Doha alone and then he's up!

Just for the record it was a nice cool 93F at 4:00AM on that Friday, June 25th. I was immediately in love with the idea of getting up every weekend in Doha at 4:00AM. I cannot tell you how incredibly refreshing it was to run at that time in that cool of weather. Right now it is a hot 95F but the "realfeel" temperature is 100F. In the past few weeks the "realfeel" temperature got up near 120F. What does that feel like? Basically, imagine putting your body into an oven, or turning a thousand hot hair dryers onto your body.

Until Next Time,

WW

Photo credit: Seoul Flyer's Running Club President, Jae Kim and me.

Schools Out for Summer!

Photo: Sophia & Frankie bathe and then wrestle on their Cat Canopy

My classes have finished, exams have been graded and entered into the online system, and I have been to my office to wait for students to complain in person. (Not one student came.) Now, what to do?

My husband's teaching will finish the 3rd week of July, so that leaves me with about 45 days of time to kill. Here are some things that could fill my time:

1. Cook more delicious meals (I only know how to make 3 - maybe)

2. Clean more of the house

3. Run more (on the treadmill in A/C) because August 1st will be here soon!

4. Morning spinning class (on days I have the car)

5. Read more (I have 6 books on my nightstand currently!)

6. Blog more

7. Get Frankie (our little boy kitten) "fixed"

8. Get both kittens de-clawed - the poor things often get hung up on the curtains, sheets, and furniture upholstery

9. Get a haircut

10. Watch a list of recommended movies that I've never seen

11. Watch the entire series of "Lost" - I never got addicted to it

12. Plan next 3 vacations (mid-late August, mid-September Eid, mid-November)

13. Get car inspection (I've heard this is a big pain in the neck, so I'm not looking forward to this.)

14. Swim lessons (I emailed, stopped by in person, and facebooked the Doha Dolphins, but still haven't heard back from them - hiss boo)

15. Start saying goodbye to some teachers who are not returning in the fall :(

16. Start packing for July 23rd trip home :)

17. Continue taking a gazillion photos of our adorable kitties that I am already sad about leaving during vacation . . .

Until Next Time,

WW

Why Not Have Outdoor Airconditioning in the Desert?

Qatar is a growing nation with a lot (A LOT) of money to spend. Hosting the 2006 Asian Games was not enough. We've seen several international sporting events come to Qatar.

• Tour de Qatar (cycling)


• IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championshi ps


• IAAF Diamond League (outdoor track and field)

But all of those (in the winter) are not enough. Qatar wants YOU! to Back the Bid for the 2022 World Cup Games in Qatar.

They are planning on building shaded, air-conditioned stadiums. Interesting! I kind of hope Qatar wins the bid just so we can see how they're going to pull that off.

Until Next Time,

WW

Image Credits:

http://theinosaudiblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/qatar-2022.jpg

Another Insightful NYT Article about Qatar

So this journalist, Michael Slackman, from the New York Times has done it again. I hope he is far from Qatar because he has written some very (true) critical things about this little sandbox.



Give it a gander. He apparently interviewed and followed a few expats and Qataris for a week while in Doha. He gives a balance of quotes from both expats and Qataris, but somehow I just don't feel sorry for the locals when these are the highlights of the story:

• Qataris do not see themselves as coddled. Sure, they do not have to pay for electricity, water, education or health care, and they are given land and low-cost loans to build houses when they marry. They are eligible for public assistance if they do not have a job, often receive generous pensions and acknowledge they will not take any jobs they do not consider suitable for them.
  
  


• Another Qatari man said that the foreigners were never willing to teach him new skills, so he had lost motivation. “I have been working there for three years, and I still haven’t fully grasped the work,” he said. “I go to work to drink tea and read the paper.”
  


• Ibrahim al-Muhairy, 29, a Qatari high school dropout who said he earns about $41,000 a year working for the government as a security guard in a mall. “Everyone is getting what he deserves and more.”

• “We are all angry for staying at home,” (This was said when explaining that some Qataris have lost their jobs to foreigners.)
  

It will be very interesting to see what becomes of Qatar after the gas and oil run out or in just 20 years time....


Until Next Time,


WW


Photo credit: http://www.onlineqatar.com/shopping/images/villagio-mall-doha.jpg


http://thumb1.shutterstock.com.edgesuite.net/display_pic_with_logo/262/262,1207068993,5/stock-photo-covered-qatari-women-with-their-children-and-housemaid-strolling-on-the-corniche-in-doha-spring-11007220.jpg

http://www.constructionweekonline.com/pictures/gallery/author/sponership_web.jpg

BeautyFULL

Well, we finally did it. We joined a fitness center in Doha. We chose Aspire Fitness which has a whole slew of programs. The facilities are where they held the 2006 Asian Games too.

With so many different buildings and equipment they are capable of doing such things as the Academy Sports Program which trains young talented athletes from all over the world. That program is all encompassing with academic classes, housing, cafeterias, and training for the athletes.

In addition to grooming Qatar's national sports teams Aspire also has fitness memberships for all. Well, maybe all...as Aspire serves their own first and others later if there is space. In fact, on the Aspire website you will see this:

"If space is limited for any program, registration priorities shall be 1) Qatari, 2) non-Qatari born in Qatar, 3) residents of Qatar of any nationality, 4) non-residents of Qatar."

Well, thank goodness Qataris don't seem to like exercise (see last week's post about The New York Time's article) or we might not get to join a gym! After looking at their memberships online we decided the location close to home, high quality facilities, and membership fees were all good. Interestingly enough their system is the opposite of an American fitness center. Here we pay a flat rate for the use of classes only. Joining the gym (weigh lifting and machines) and swimming pool are considered add on memberships. Also, memberships begin only on day 1 of the month and end on the last day of the month. In addition, as a new member you are only allowed to join for one month. After that, you can join for only 3 months or 9 months.

Here is what we paid and what we are getting:

• 1 month Family Membership* (It is good to be married! 2 of 1 deals abound!) 350 QR (approx. $96 USD)
• 1 month Men's Gym 200 QR (approx. $54 USD)

* We can go to any classes for this membership fee. Some of the men's classes are open to both men and women. However, only women can go to the women's classes. In fact, the two are separated by about a half mile. We did not join the indoor swimming pool because it is only opened for us from 7PM - 8PM.

I saw the May Women's Fitness Class Schedule online and decided that after three whole days of not using our May 1st - May 31st membership that we'd better get to it! My experience was surreal. It was the first time in Qatar that I truly felt at ease. I wore my typical black spandex capri running pants and a form fitting synthetic work out shirt - but nobody stared at me. I saw all around me a variety of colors - of clothing and skin. Boy did I see skin! In fact, cell phones are not allowed inside the women's fitness center. Not only did we have to check phones at the door but we had to walk through metal detectors and face the possibility of being wanded while our bags were searched. I guess the security lady did think I was a threat because I was motioned to just walk on by without search.

I saw all sorts of women there - Westerners, Indians, Filipinos, Arabs from other GCC and Qataris. Almost all Arabs went into the facilities completely cloaked in black draping abayas, but entered the class in spandex/tight fitting leggings and cleavage bearing tank tops of all colors. Glorious colors! The desert and all the black abayas leave us with no colors at all in Qatar.

I originally lined up to attend the Body Shape class, but the line extended around the classroom. I wasn't going to get in and an Aspire Fitness Center woman told me just that. She told me to go to another studio where I could attend Pilates. Now, I'm much more of a strength, tone, run, run, and run some more kind of gal so I wasn't too keen on going to Pilates. I'm glad I did though. I got to hear the most lovely accent from a gracefully aging expert Pilates instructor and a great story to boot!

Our tiny, weathered and toned 50-something instructor walked in to class apologizing that the class was already so full. She explained that we would be doing some "controlled" movements to straighten our cores. In addition to her (Russian? Polish?) accent I cannot forget the word she kept using the entire hour: Beautiful!

The Pilates instructor would move around the room saying "for Fitness women you can do this like this" which was followed by her demonstrating a more advanced movement. After that, she would say, "for all you beautiful ladies you can do it like this," after which she would do a much easier movement.

I kept wondering 'who is she talking to? Beautiful ladies? Is she just trying to patronize the local Qatari women in the class, or bow to them?'

Only later did I find out to whom she was referring in class. After the one hour of Pilates I looked around and saw a bulletin board. On the bulletin board I saw it! Aspire Fitness has a program call BeautyFULL for overweight or obese women. Mystery solved! After I told my husband this story (he wasn't there because we were gender segregated!) he said, "BootyFULL?"

Until Next Time,

WW

Photo credits:

http://www.aspire.qa/

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/

http://www.google.com/

http://www.answers.com/

Qatar CBS News Story Videos

Part I
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6kU9gkmrmxg&feature=related

Part II
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huXgOqBsJLU&feature=related


My students are using some video clips from this special CBS news story about Qatar.

You can see the growth (from 2003) in Doha. You can also hear and watch the Emir and his consort speak English while describing their dream for Qatar. It is inspiring.

Enjoy!,

WW

IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championship - in Doha!

Well, here I am again on vacation from teaching and looking at this blog again. I need to be more consistent with my posting . . . . .

In March M and I went to the IAAF World Indoor Track & Field Championships in Doha, just 3/4 of a mile from our house. It was exciting!

There were athletes from a lot of countries. In fact, we saw some Ethiopian professional runners (Meseret Defar, Sentayehu Ejigu Kalkidan Gezhegn) who had an amazing cheering section from local Ethiopians and/or Ethiopians who had made the trip to Doha. One of the most amazing races was the women's 3K race. One runner actually fell down near the middle of the 1500K race, but managed to get back up and finish first! That runner was Ethiopian runner Kalkidan Gezhegn.



We also saw American male heptatlon athletes Bryan Clay and Trey Hardee, who won the gold and silver medals for the event. We were very excited to see American hurdler Lolo Jones race and defend her title in the 60meter hurdles.




It was an exciting day and seeing so many different people cheering on their own was fun. I hope we get to see more world class events like this in the future. In fact, in May Doha will host another IAAF track and field event - outdoors through the IAAF's Diamond League.


We left thinking that we needed to run more, but after the RAK 1/2 Marathon in February we've been taking it easy....maybe too easy. It is time to run again!

Until next time,

WW

Tour de Qatar (yes, really)

Saturday, M and I saw the final leg of the Tour de Qatar. The ladies tour came and went a a week ago and we did not see any of it. In fact, we have missed a few major sporting events here in Doha. Last fall we missed the Qatar Open tennis matches and also the England Vs Brazil soccer/football match. However, we were determined to see these world class cyclists duke it out here on our "home" turf so we quickly did an Internet search to find more information.

Luckily my husband is a cycling enthusiast so after we found very little information about future tour events (who wants to know past tour times?!) on the Qatar Cycling Federation's website, he went to Le Tour's website to find excellent, up-to-date information about Tour de Qatar events.

We found out that the last stage would be Saturday starting at 12:00PM and finishing around 2:00PM. The course would be easy to find and near our part of Qatar. The race would start from Al Wakra and end along the Corniche in Doha. So, around 11:00AM on Saturday, we got in the car and drove to Al Wakra.

Once we arrived around 11:30AM we noticed pre-race preparations underway. I love race day! It was so fun seeing all the police cars blocking off traffic and cyclists warming up! M and I are both runners who haven't been able to race since the summer in 2009, so seeing all this action was very exciting for us.

The funniest thing of the day was seeing the team crews all waiting along the Corniche. These men were all North American or European. Because it was a nice, warm day they all took off their shirts and lounged about in full view of local Qataris. Several abaya clad women stared, snickered, and covered their mouths after seeing the tanned bare chests of these non-Arab men. It was such a strange sight for us as well, that I made my husband take a photo of them. I said, "This is something that we will NOT see along the Corniche in Qatar ever again. Take a photo!"

The awards ceremony was also interesting. M told me that in European tours women give the cyclists their awards and kisses on both cheeks, but this simply was not done in Qatar. In fact, three obviously foreign women merely held a shiny tray of medals that were given to the cyclists by thobed Qatari men. I did not know the men who raced, but the winner was Francesco Chicchi from Italy. M knew Tom Boonen from Belgium and Tom seemed to draw a crowd from some Qatar expats.

Overall it was a great day. Just being at a race made us both want to train harder and find more races here in the Gulf.

Until next time,

WW

Buying Booze in Qatar - a Muslim Country

Even though I have lived in Qatar since the end of August, 2009, I just today got my Liquor Permit so that I can buy alcohol. The reason for the delay in getting this permit was just my own laziness and lack of desire to drink alcohol. Honestly, I am not much of a drinker. I tried to be a party girl when I was in college, but that just never was me. I have always had enough fun just being with the people that I love. In addition, after living in South Korea for 3 years and witnessing a plethora of dangerous/ridiculous/unprofessional/reckless stuff happen because of drunkenness not by college students but grown ass adults in suits, I am the straight and narrow semi-teetotaler I am today. And I do not like hangovers, beer bellies, or distractions from marathoning.

On the contrary, now that I live in a very conservative Muslim country . . . I kind of want to drink. I could blame this on the fact that we cannot drink legally without a Liquor Permit (and Muslims cannot drink alcohol at all), or the daily frustration that comes from teaching incredibly unmotivated and spoiled students, or that there is little to do for active people who like the outdoors. I don't want to binge drink or "party" with colleagues or students like some teachers do in Korea (never mind that I never wanted to do that in Korea). However, I find myself wanting to have a glass of wine or a margarita with Mexican food these days - plain and simple.

So I went through the procedure to apply for my Liquor Permit at the Qatar Distribution Company (QDC). Here's what I had to do:

1. Get a letter from my employer stating these things: basic salary (not including transportation and housing allowances), marital status, job position, and whether the employer provides me with housing or a housing allowance.

2. Fill out the application, which included this question field: Religion: _________ . I wrote CHRISTIAN in case you were wondering partly because I think anything but that would have given the QDC a reason to deny my permit.

3. Pay a 1,000.00 Qatari Riyal deposit (For what? I have no earthly idea!)

After I got my permit I walked into what looked like a little 1,000 square foot Brown Derby liquor store. Everything was nicely arranged. It was tiny considering that everyone in Qatar buys their alcohol there - even the hotels and restaurants. The store was arranged by liquors (whiskeys, whiskys, vodkas, etc.) with the beers and wines separate. The wines were arranged by country of origin. At the entrance there was a card swipe machine so you could check your balance. I was given only 1,600 QR because my employer did not write in my letter that they provided my housing, which would increase my salary. The alcohol permit customer spending is based on salary. Therefore, the next time I go into the QDC the permit office man said to bring my contract that shows I get housing from my employer, and they will increase my spending to 2,500 QR, which I am sure we will never spend.

Here was what I bought and their rough price estimates in the US dollar amount:

• Wolf Blass Eagle Hawk Merlot (75cl) 59.00 QR = approximately $16 USD
• Captain Morgan Spiced Rum (75cl) 99.00 QR = approximately $27 USD
• Jose Cuervo Silver (75cl) 105.00QR = approximately $28 USD
• Jose Cuervo Margarita Mix (1litre) 54.00 QR = approximately $14 USD
• Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve (75cl) Baron Philippe 66.00 QR = approximately $18 USD
• Corona Bottles (33cl) 6 pack 42.00 QR = approximately $11 USD
  

I spent only 425.00 QR of my 1,600.00 QR allotment.

Here are the very specific and seriouly followed rules pertaining to buying alcohol in Qatar as stated on the QDC Alcohol Permit application and their nice hand out they gave us at the permit office:

1. Permits are for personal use only.

2. Purchases must be taken directly to the permit holder's residence and should be concealed from view in transit.

3. The permit holder and goods must be in the same vehicle.

4. Consumption must be at the permit holder's residence only.

5. It is strictly forbidden to give alcohol to others whether by sale or gift.

6. You cannot purchase without your card.

7. Only permit holders are allowed in the shop.

8. Management reserves the right to refuse or cancel any membership.

So, there you have it. I feel like a 20 year old American again . . . make that newly 21 year old! Sadly, I had the flu this past weekend so I did not get to actually drink any alcohol yet. Well, there's always next weekend and I am on vacation for two weeks. I guess I could have a Corona will doing laundry and cat sitting!

Until Next Time,

WW

Living in Qatar is a Lot Like . . .

Living in Qatar is a lot like the comedy Groundhog Day starring the hilarious Bill Murray. Let me explain. If you have seen the movie you know that Bill Murray is a TV weather man who suddenly wakes up one morning to re-live the same day all over again. At first, he is confused, later completely frustrated, and then he learns to deal with the sameness of it all - anticipating each character's action before they even know what they will do.

Qatar has been like Groundhog Day in that the weather and geography do not change. Okay, it was hotter than hell in August, ranging from 84F to 105F, and now it is only warm in January, ranging from 55F to 71F, but it will never get cold here. We did not see any clouds until the end of November, and there was no rain until December. Had we not bought a Christmas tree I never would have known it was that time of year. Living in Qatar is like the film Groundhog Day: the same again and again.

The geography is the same shade of beige with the occasional tuft of green shrub. We drove all the way out to the NW coast to see Fort Al Zubara, but it was the same. We also drove out to the Inland Sea and Al Khor just north of Doha. They all look the same. Some places just have more people and cars than others. Living in Qatar is like the film Groundhog Day: the same again and again.

The Ozarks are gorgeous and we say, "If you don't like the weather - wait because it will change tomorrow." South Korea also had four seasons and the most beautiful trees, mountains and rivers. I never knew that I would miss weather and geography diversity so much.

Bill Murray photo credit: http://www.foxnomad.com/
Fort Al Zubara photo credit: http://media.lonelyplanet.com/

Censorship or Harmless Film Splice

Everyone has been talking about James Cameron's Avatar so we finally went to see it. While I loved the movie for all the action and message(s), I did not appreciate the censorship of certain scenes. However, I am not the only resident of Doha, Qatar, wondering what happened to select scenes. Some commentators suggest that the movie theaters cut random scenes out for time, while others hint at some avatar sex scenes that went missing. The characters were not even human! How can anyone be offended by what might have been giant blue cat-people alien things kissing? I guess I will not know what scenes were deleted at the movie theater until we get a copy of the DVD. I still wonder to what extent is the theater obligated to tell their customers about scenes being deleted? And if theaters are deleting scenes must they give a reason? Furthermore, who would still go see the film knowing that scenes were deleted? I do not think I would have.

Avatar image credit: http://boxoffice.com/blogs/steve/avatar%20II.jpg

Fire Hazard Bars

About three weeks ago in our compound some workers started welding metal bars onto the first floor apartment windows. I was surprised and could not understand why this was happening with no notice, no explanation, and absolutely no form of communication from anyone in charge - university housing, compound maintenance/security manager, nor the compound owner. We later found out that these bars are to make our housing more secure and eliminate theft.

To ask that bars not be put on our windows I did two things: I sent one emails to the appropriate people, who said they would forward my concerns to others. I sent one email that was very well thought out and respectful to the university housing director and carbon copied a few people. He never replied. In fact, he told our university housing liaison that he does not check his email. Next, I tried calling the housing director. I dialed five of the numbers that I had for the man and finally reached him. I told him our concern and he said it was not a university housing problem, but rather the compound owner's problem. This was the beginning of finger pointing for me. The university housing director then told me that he was having a meeting with said compound owner the very next day and would tell him about our concerns, asking me again for my apartment number and my name, and in the end telling me that he would call me back. He did not. I sent him another email, as it was the weekend again. Just to complicate things a bit more ... the university housing director is only in his office on Sunday and Wednesday, so I will be paying him a visit on Sunday.

When I think of bars like these on windows I think of two things: death traps and crime ridden inner cities. Besides the obvious degradation of our compound, the installation of bars on our windows because of crime makes little sense for these reasons:

1. We live in a gated compound.

2. We actually do have a security team (The quality of their skills and motivation to actually perform their jobs is arguable).

3. The alleged break-in that happened last year occurred via the kitchen window, over which they have not installed bars (yet)

4. The alleged break-in that happened last year was made possible because there were no locks on the kitchen window (My husband and I have installed secure locks on all our windows.)

5. The workers have only installed bars on the first floor apartments, and not the villas which do have floor windows. (Are they 100% immune to the threat of theft?)

6. Making our apartments fire traps does not combat the real issue of why one (group of) individual(s) committed the crime of robbery in the first place.

The crazy thing is that some people in our compound actually want the bars on our windows. Again, these are bars that have no way of opening and therefore limit entrance and exits of the home to one - the front door. Apparently, in the Arab world (and other places) bars that promise security are more important than the possibility of death from a fire. I simply do not understand it.

In fact, my husband went to the compound maintenance/security manager to ask that our apartment be left with no bars. The manager said if there was a fire we should just go out the front door. Again, I simply do not understand some people's thinking.

Many English instructors say that critical thinking skills are lacking here in the Arab world, but I am beginning to wonder if common sense is also lacking.

Needless to say, if the workers, who are simply following orders from their bosses, put bars on our windows I will request a second floor apartment (hey at least we could jump to our death onto the pavement below), or try to find other accommodation nearby.

UPDATE...After a petition, some meetings, another email, another telephone call, and a written letter stating I did not want bars on our windows, we have succeeded!...(for now) in avoiding the installation of bars on our windows. I will keep the signs up on our windows throughout the next few months just so the workers do not get any ideas though. Whew!

Doha Arrival

Now, I've been in Doha, Qatar for eleven days. The first few days were a little rough because many of us new teachers were left to our own devices - in a city with no real public transportation and such hot weather than no one in their right mind would venture out, and also perhaps more frustrating without internet or phone service. I am now happily renting a small Honda Jazz (google it, they do not sell it in US), bumming WIFI off the housing complex's Club House.

Here is the beginning of my time in Doha, Qatar:

Luckily the flight was arranged by the school well in advance. In addition, the flight was a direct connection to Doha via Houston, Texas. Qatar Airways is a very nice airline and I look forward to flying on it again. My arrival was fairly uneventful. Even though I reached Doha at at about 9:30pm at night, the heat hit me as soon as the airplane door opened. I was in the desert! I looked all around and saw many shades of the only color I would see for a long time - beige. The airport was simple and quickly became crowded with all the passengers from my flight. The school must have arranged what happened next.

A person from Qatar Airlines found me as soon as I left entered the airport, took my passport and visa, and directed me to a private waiting room. There, I waited with my carry-on luggage and several other passengers, who all looked to be expats (expatriates - foreigners working and living abroad). The room was well equiped with plush furniture, bottled water, and books about Qatar. After about ten minutes the same person came to get me. She then took me to the arrival area to meet my driver. Following us was a man from Qatar Airways who had already found my luggage and was wheeling it behind us. The woman then asked me if I had someone picking me up. I told her that the school should have already sent a driver, but she insisted on calling the contact to ensure that I did not have to wait. Apparently, my flight was about one hour early, so in the end I had to wait about forty minutes for the driver.

The driver was from India and tried his best to make pleasant conversation, but I was really tired and could not understand him very well. It was late at night by the time we started driving to the housing compound. When we arrived at the compound, a man was waiting inside the Club House to sign me and give me the keys to my new "home."

When someone uses the word "compound" I immediately think of either ridiculously rich family homes like "The Kennedy Compound" or where most Americans live while in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia - a mini-America with extremely high security. However, here in Qatar most apartments and villas (two story townhouses) are also inside what is called a "compound" or "complex". These complexes are surrounded by high walls, a security watchperson, and a gated entrance. Our complex also has a maintenance staff, a fitness center and small pool at the Club House, covered parking, and a small store. I have not walked around too much inside the complex (or at all for that matter - it is hot), but there seems to be at least two long streets running the length of the area, with the Club House and small park in between those two streets. Besides those two longer streets, there are several blocks of apartments as well. Along the perimeter of the complex are the villas. These "villas" are usually reserved for teachers with families. I have not been inside a villa yet, so I cannot describe them. Honestly though, these apartments are plenty big for just a single person or person soon-to-be happily married without children. In each apartment unit there are two floors and each floor has four apartments. Therefore, there are basically eight teachers per apartment unit. Each apartment shares only one wall with a neighbor, has three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and all furniture and major appliances. There are also some nicer touches like tile floors, airconditioning units in every room, area rugs, table lamps, heavy drapes, and granite counter tops in the kitchen. Yes, there are some problems with the housing. While most of the furniture seems to be brand new, the style of furniture in the living room is not my style. In fact, if we stay here for a long time then I might talk my soon-to-be husband into getting a new sofa set and storing these hideous things in one of the spare bedrooms. The drapes are also very...tacky and feel dirty. A more serious concern is the electricity. I have already called the maintenance staff to replace two fuses. In addition, my neighbor told me that she was nearly electrocuted (more than once!) trying to use the dishwasher and almost caught herself fire while using the stove. I am handwashing all my dishes because I do not generate a lot of dirty dishes and really do not want to be electrocuted. Also, the general construction seems to be very much like South Korea's construction - built way too quickly with little quality control and therefore all around shoddy.

All in all the housing is not too bad. Nothing is cheaper than free!

Until next time!

The Big "To Do" List

I have a big "to do list" because I'll be moving to the other side of the world in less than three months. I accepted my new position teaching in Qatar in April, but I will not start teaching until September. I should be leaving for Qatar at the end of August, but until then I'll teach a summer session and get ready.

I like to research, prepare, and study before a big move, which is why I was thrilled that the school set me up with a mentor. I like my mentor because I always get answers to specific questions that I have asked her in emails. My mentor is also great because she has already taught in Qatar for four years. This means something very important: She liked it so much that she renewed her three year contract!

I asked my mentor in what was probably my sixteenth email the other day, "What is something that you did not bring with you, but that you wish you had brought with you to Qatar?" She almost immediately replied after polling her friends and came back with this list in no particular order:

1. Contact solution (I do not wear contact lenses, so this is not for me.)


2. Nice kitchenware - I am not sure if I'll buy it there or pack from here. - Dishes have been bought, so now the hunt is on for good pots and pans.


3. Vonage device - I am not sure I will need this. Skype is free and worked fine in Korea.
   
4. GPS - I have one for running, but this must be for a vehicle.


5. Grammar and other supplemental books - I have some and will ship some of them. I was allowed to scavenge through my current employer's library and found some keepers!


6. Personal reading books - I will ship some of these.


7. Comfortable shoes - I will buy some more of these and pack to bring with me.


8. Light cardigans - I will buy more of these and pack to bring with me.


9. Nice sunglasses - I have a crappy pair that I've worn for at least five years, but I'll buy a backup


10. Shower curtains, liners, and rings - I'll buy and pack these - done


11. Two sets of king size sheets - I'll definitely buy and pack these because I am a bedding snob. I love at least 500 thread count sheets.
    

Besides the ever growing shopping list, I've got a few other things to do as well.

1. Have about 20 passport photos made - I'll need these once I arrive for various things


2. Send photocopies of my MA diploma - done


3. Send photocopies of my passport - done


4. Get a "Certificate of Good Conduct" from the police - done


5. Get an International Driver's Permit - done


6. Apply for a visa - the school is working on this right now


7. Meet with my financial advisor - new job -> new salary -> new budget -> new savings plan


8. Train like it is my life so when I go to Doha I'll be 100% hooked on running again and not lose it while working in the desert (This is my #1 fear of working in The Gulf.) - in process

One of my biggest worries about moving to The Gulf is that I'll quit running. In Korea I ran a lot after finding a super running club called Seoul Flyers. We often planned our spring and fall running season based on what part of Korea we wanted to visit. I ran in Seoul dozes of times, Jeju Island, Chuncheon, Paju - near the DMZ, Cherwon - near the DMZ, Taean Beach, and even Disney Land in Hong Kong on a weekend trip. It was great fun. We'd all register for races, take the train, stay in cheap little hotels, and make a weekend out of it. It was runner's paradise!

I know The Gulf is HOT, but I also ran in Vietnam and Cambodia during the summer months while training for fall marathons. Southeast Asia has the hottest weather I've ever experienced. I remember in Vietnam waking up, going outside for a nice breakfast in the shade and sweating, sweating, sweating. It was a wet heat. It was humid all the time. The Gulf should be different - a dry heat I think, but if not I'll be prepared.

In my endless research on The Gulf I've already spent weeks scouring the Internet for an established running club. Yes, a couple of chapters of The Hash House Harriers did come up, but I've never been interested in their clubs. The United Arab Emirates has a couple of well established clubs in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, so I was really hoping to find a good club in Doha. After all, they did host the 2006 Asian Games.

My mentor came to my rescue again. She gave me the email of a friend who "runs everyday." I was ecstatic! I emailed him and found out that he and some other men run about 5-10km each day. The friend, S., said he is hoping for a 16 minute 5K. That is a lot faster than me! I gathered from the emails that the group of men are not marathoners, but rather shorter distance runners who run consistantly. Consistancy is what I need most, so I will definitely join them for runs. They mostly run outside on The Corniche and the track at The Aspire Dome. My main goal is to meet with those guys for weekly runs, and later register for The Standard Chartered Dubai Marathon. The date for that is Friday, January 22, 2010. I think I can do it!

Until next time,

WW