Eat. Pray. Love....and then some

Sometimes you have to take a step back, to take a huge leap forward.  Sometimes silence is golden.  And sometimes being removed from a fast paced environment helps you appreciate the little things this universe has to offer.  These are all things that I am slowly starting to realize with my change in scenery and pace.  I have only just begun to see the world in a very different light and I yearn for more rich encounters.

Eat: My quest for familiar food is an unresolved conundrum.  I decided to venture into the seafood section of the market today, which for a normal person living in a regular city doesn’t seem like a big deal but for me it took all the courage I could conjure up to walk in.  Not only is the fish section very smelly (lol) and unorganized, it is also a bit intimidating for a woman who isn’t use to shouting out orders to get help.  There are no order numbers, no real serving lines, and pretty much no “method to their madness” here.  I went in and called myself being polite, but after about all of 4 minutes I had to make my presence known.  Ok, great so I have the man’s attention but shit I didn’t realize everything is ordered in kilograms.  Just fucking great now I have to figure out in a split second just how much fish I want without spending an outrageous amount of money.  All within these 4 minutes, I also realize that the shrimps are prawns with all sorts of antennas pointing at me and the fish all have full heads/tails. WTF!!!! Ok, so I figured out my order super quick and asked in my most polite voice can you please cut & clean them for me?  The butcher shouts yes…. and I’m thinking SCORE!  Well, not so much because when I get my final order the antennas are removed from the prawns, but the fish simply have an incision in their heads and the scales have been removed.  Great, so is that what clean the freaking fish means here? Shoot me! Now I have to look at fish eyes in my sink as I attempt to cut off the fish heads for dinner tonight.  Wholefood’s how I miss thee! 

Pray:  There is something to be said for a group of people who actively pray five times a day to display their belief in faith and their overall commitment to something intangible.  Most people don’t have that kind of commitment to anything in their lives other than checking email (which I’m guilty of).  I have never been a super-religious person, but my family has always had close ties to church and religion in general.  I sit here now and try to remember when I became disconnected from my spiritual growth, and began to focus solely on my professional & personal development.  Maybe it’s time to revisit some things?  Or maybe its just time to reaffirm some things? Maybe I’m just a work in progress?

Love: It is lonely here without all my friends and family.  As much as I tell myself it’s a wonderful journey that I have embarked on, sometimes I just want to go where people know “my name”.  I want to walk into school and people know Nena, and not just Selina the professional/coach.  I want to go outside and just happen to run into someone I use to know.  I miss familiar people who can tell just by my expression that I’m annoyed or irritated.  Some might say but Selina you are with your husband so you’re not completely alone. Which is definitely true and I appreciate having him and Amanda because it is better than other people have here.  However it still isn’t the same as being home and having my own work, my own social life, and basically moving how I want to move at any given moment.   The fact that I can’t just pick up the phone and call the girls to meet me at Haiku, Tosca’s, or City Island has been a real hard reality to face.  Don’t even get me started on the limited and restricted supply of alcohol in this darn place!!!! You would think with so many foreigners there would be an abundance of alcohol for them to at least drown their sorrows in when they are homesick (rotfl sorta). 

Let’s talk about Culture…..Shock:  The men here ogle every expat woman who walks by them.  It is quite uncomfortable as a woman if you wear anything remotely revealing or form fitting.  And by “revealing” I mean a pair of jeans, a skirt, or a t-shirt (that may cling a little to your chest because its damn near 105 degrees everyday out here).  I must admit it is bizarre and a bit creepy. I guess when you come from a culture where you don’t ever see any female body parts and your women are often covered up in black from head to toe literally, it is hard not to stare when you can see a foreign woman’s legs, arms, or neckline.  I dress pretty conservatively (especially since I know where I am and respect their customs) but I have definitely seen some expats with things on that I wanted to slap them for.  I mean my theory is if you are going to live in someone else’s country, it is not only respectful but considerate of their culture to cover up to a certain extent. 

With that said, I don’t completely agree with the dress constraints here.  Why do women get blamed for men not being able to control their sexual urges?  I mean these women cover up completely and dress in black (mind you its 100+ degrees here everyday) so that they don’t entice other men.  So that other men don’t admire their natural beauty, which is preordained for their husbands.  I mean come on; some of these women aren’t even allowed to show their mouth or nose.  Maybe I’m not knowledgeable enough on this stuff to comment yet? But I would love for someone to help me understand the rationalJ

Work: It is fascinating how wide you can spread your wings when you are allowed to fly.  Since I have gotten to Doha, I have been treated like nothing short of a professional educator.  My philosophies and opinions were not only validated but also respected.  I have been called on by the Executive Council of the school to consult on various instructional policies and help frame some of the new work that is being done around R & W workshop (how exciting and nerve-racking all at once).  Wow, what a change from my job last year to this year!  I won’t count my eggs before they hatch, but it seems that this year appears to be full of potential.   Minus the fact that the school day here begins at 7:10am…..which sounds like a 9pm bedtime from now on.    

Small discoveries:  Here is a list of awesome things that I discovered during my three weeks in Doha (I know it feels a lot longer to me too)…. the few things that have made me smile.J

1.      The pottery and rugs come in extraordinary colors, shapes, and patterns.  They certainly make you feel like you are in a scene from Sex in the City 2.  And if you know me well, then you know I’m a big house decorator so I had to cop a few!

2.      The souq is such an amazing place to go and take in Middle Eastern culture.  The marketplace is filled with such a variety of things that you are sure to find whatever it is that you desire, at the price you are willing to bargain for.  The coffee shops and outdoor sitting cafes are so European.  I feel like I should have a cigarette or sheesh, with a glass of wine on my table as I write a novel or something fantastic like that lol.

3.      Since my fish head incident a couple of days ago I found a magnificent supermarket called Spinney’s.  It is a bit of a way from my house, but totally worth the truck.  It’s like a stop & shop back home and the butcher there will cut the heads off of my fish woohoo.  It’s all about the small victories at this point for me.  I was able to find greek yogurt, delicious fruits and vegetables, oreos, edamame, and pop-tarts.    

Quote of the Week - “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.”  Ralph Waldo Emerson  
(I know you miss my quotes on facebook)