Self-Reflection:
18 weeks ago, I moved to Qatar in hopes of exploring the world outside of the U.S and rediscovering myself as an Educator. Although my journey has just begun, I can truly say that it’s an eye-opening, heart-throbbing, reflective experience. With each new day I learn something new about myself and my own desires…..which I think would surprise even some of my closest friends. I guess that’s what life is about agh reincarnation and rebirth!
Things that I find most annoying about Qatar:
1. This is a Muslim country and alcohol is prohibited for Muslim residents based on religious beliefs and values. I can respect and appreciate that they want to live a certain way. However, the fact that expats have to go all the way to west bubble to the liquor warehouse to purchase wine is a little annoying. I guess the fact that it isn’t readily convenient is a deterrent in itself and makes people less likely to drink here…..guess they win! You will absolutely not see a bunch of drunk people at night here in Doha getting into fights or causing trouble. Lol …smart Qatar☺
2. Again because we are in a “relatively modest” country the government is allowed to block and edit things that they find offensive in nature across every aspect of one’s life. For example: That means the sex scenes in movies are cut, nudity is non-existent on the tv or the internet, and the mention of any other religion is basically banned publicly. The thing is that while I find it annoying that many movies I have seen back home are cut and chopped here, it is more annoying to me that they allow cursing like nothing I have seen in the US before. So kids are watching tv here and can hear things like cunt, bitch, slut, dick, mf’er….how does that make sense? Is one better than the other? 
3. Men in this region of the world wear two types of clothing: Either you are wearing a thawb (thobe) which is an ankle-length garment, usually with long sleeves, similar to a robe. In Qatar you will see many men in crisp white thawb’s that look pretty fresh actually! However, you will also see men who don’t wear thawb’s, with incredibly tight pants on….nothing like I’ve seen before. I mean they might really give a new meaning to skinny jeans for men. Seriously if your jeans are so tight that I can see your “package” then that’s a freaking problem. Not to mention that their physiques are interesting to say the least….bellies that stick out further than some women rotfl. 
4. Why is there non-alcoholic beer and liquor in the grocery stores here? Yeah, same thing I thought wtf if you can’t drink alcohol because it is bad or sacrilegious than why in the hell do you have people: drinking, commercializing, and advertising “forms” of it. So utterly confusing to me! Even more confusing that I know some Muslims who drink alcohol here….but believe me there is no judgment on my part….I realize that it depends on whether you are a Muslim fundamentalist and how strong your belief is.
5. Last but not least I hate that I am being charged a “fee” everytime I transfer Riyals to dollars across my bank accounts. I feel like I’m getting ripped off and the bank is making lots of money off of us. What choice do I have though? Just about all of our bills and loan payments come from our Chase account in the States. My husband is trying to find a way around this as we speak…..wish us luck.
Qatar National Day:
A national commemoration of Qatar's unification and independence and is celebrated on December 18 every year. The holiday was established by a June 21, 2007 decree of the Emir and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. In 1867 the Al Khalifa military of Bahrain launched a successful effort to crush the Qatari rebels, sending a massive naval force to Al Wakrah. So on this day, December 18 Qatar commemorates the founding of the state of Qatar in December 1878. Here are some great pictures that will give you some insight into this school-wide, community wide, Nation-wide celebration in Qatar!
Off to Sri Lanka in 48 hours…….I will surely post and update you on our adventure once we arrive!
Quote to live by: It’s not that everything will be easy or exactly as you had expected, but you must just choose to be grateful for all that you have, and happy that you got a chance to live this life, no matter how it turns out.
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