There is approximately 14 days left until the end of term and my first full school year working in
Qatar! I made it whewwww…but believe me there were times when I didn’t think I
would. I have learnt to P.U.S.H (Pray
Until Something Happens) more than ever before in my life this year. Between health and physical problems, the
stress of moving overseas and uprooting my whole life, culture shock and work
shock (yeah work shock lol) everything almost put me over the edge. Happy to say that what doesn’t kill you, does
indeed make you stronger. Or at least smarter, the next time around.
So many of my friends & family ask what have I gotten
out of this Middle Eastern experience and why have I decided to stay here another year…despite the 108 degrees (42c) sweat sauna of a country Qatar is. I guess the best way to put it is to say: Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. And that’s what I appreciate about this whole experience. Although it is not how I imagined it to be, I am having firsthand-unanticipated
encounters that continue to change me as a person, my perspectives, and
beliefs. Clarity sometimes comes from
the weirdest experiences!
Have my views about Qatar changed?
Well, not much they are still some of the rudest, impatient group of people I have ever met in my life. And
they say NYers are loud and rude….these Qataris act like the earth was truly made
for them and you should be at their mercy daily. It is definitely off-putting especially
when dealing with some of the condensing higher than mighty parents. (doesn’t help that I’m a
black woman either but I hold my own J)
I still believe that they are wasteful, lack structure, and crave
massive amounts of attention (both kids & adults alike). BUT I can appreciate that they are of a
different culture and I’m stepping into their bizarro world.
Schools Out for Summmmmmmmer
We will be leaving for London in a couple of days and I am beyond excited to see all the London sites. If anyone has tips, please feel free to pass them along! Can’t lie it will be nice to finally be in a country where I can freely kiss my husband, wear short sleeves….shit maybe even strapless shirts, wear shorts and drink at places other than hotel lounges. Yes, it will be nice to get a breather away from the M.E for a little minute. Of course after London, Im coming home (in my Diddy voice)…New York I'm coming home!
Flashback from one of my 1st blogs in Qatar- (how funny to read this now)
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. 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!
Yippee! School is OUT! I thought you went until June 30th, maybe that's just the schedule for my new school.
ReplyDeleteLondon, my new 2nd home, is exciting, and coming from NY you will fit right in with all he people and TONS of things to do.
Islington is a great area, very trendy, eclectic type of vibe. There are great restaurants and quaint little shops.
For a really fun restaurant go to Shaka Zulu restaurant, a little pricey, but really worth the experience.