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4th of July, Qatar Style

When away from the homeland on a national holiday, you inevitably try to bring the holiday to you, despite surroundings or even a lack of natives from your land. We indeed fired up the grill in the backyard, made potato salad, invited our friends over to sip on margaritas and eat our hot-off-the-grill steaks and sausages. 

Our group consisted of Americans, an Argentinean, and a Canadian. Although no fireworks, the food was delicious, and the Qatar heat somehow bearable. 

After our grill session, Patty and I headed to the Qube for a night of Doha “clubbing.” A night that was advertised as “80s and 90s mashups” ended up being a mixture of House, hip-hop, and some 90s music (much as we were expecting). Patricia explained to me that generally the Qube is a place you would definitely want to avoid minus an event (such as our “mashup dj night” because the male to female ratio is reduced to a death defying event. On this night, i would guess the ratio had jumped to about a 25% female population. 

I had fun. I’m reminded that minus the spells between creepy old men giving you stares and trying to nudge their way into your dance group—it’s relatively easy to meet normal, interesting people in Qatar. Maybe because the normal people can spot each other and try to cling to the fact that their not a weirdo. And also, you always know someone who knows someone who knows someone else. 

So, in answer to another question I have been asked a lot now on my return to Qatar. Yes, it’s good to be back here. In a strange, weird, creepy, (normal) way. 

Back to Ad...no wait...AL Doha.

The beginning of HOT July, I find myself back in Doha. And by HOT I mean…HAWWWT. 117 or 47 today. Try to imagine what that feels like. Maybe a cross between your skin frying off and you suffocating all at the same time. Ah, Doha. 

After my job in Spain ended (ahem)…I could no longer survive off my meager salary. And I was a little burned out on trying to make ends meet. Either that or I am a bit lazy…but for some reason BCN brought out the lazy in me. Or maybe it was there all along. 

Either way, Doha feels right this for me at this point in my life. I want more time to focus on me…and with the staggering social scene here and my limited amount of friends, I definitely came to the right place. 

Now coming back to a place where you have been absent for the last 6 years inevitably brings out the question, “WOW, what do you think of all the changes in Doha?” A question now I’m beginning to resent. Doha…let’s see. More people, more traffic, more shopping malls, more buildings. Basically the changes you see anywhere after 6 years. But after thinking about this question, even with the recent developments of more bars, clubs, people—I still end up sitting around with my friends struggling to decide which place we can go that is the lesser of the evils. 

Alas, some things will never be replaced (cross your fingers):

1. freshly squeezed orange juice at the red o delivered by maqbul

2. sheesha over a cup of lipton haleeb (tea with milk)

3. being surprised to find out that the roads on your route to work have been torn up (again)

4. watching the flamingoes in West Bay on New Years Day

5. 4 riyal shwarmas

6. new friends you make that feel like old ones

The Doha chapter begins (all over again). 

Update from Spain

HOLA MI AMIGOS!

I don´t have internet at my apartment…so I´ll have to find some good places to go, right now I am at an internet cafe near my apartment. But once my class starts (tomorrow!), I will have complete access to the internet there.

Things are good! My roommate is really nice, Sally. She is from London and a bit older than me and very helpful. She brought me some magazines published in english here. She teaches several english classes here through the british council and has been here for about 2 years. The apartment is nice…small, but my room is perfect for me. It is still bigger than my sister´s room in new york…ha! The bathroom is tiny! but i doubt i will be spending much time there once the class starts. Sally said the class is a very social thing and she hardly sees the people taking the class.

 I got a cell phone number in spain…which some really nice guy from argentina helped me translate to them because they didn´t speak english. Yestreday I just wandered around…las ramlbas…plaça de catalunya…barconoleta, etc. At night I ended up at a small cafe and she recommended that I go next door to check out the music. It was a good concert…indie rock, girl bands…they were very good i was definitely impressed.

I like the area i´m at…it is safe and quiet, but with a good amount of shops, cafes, etc. the beach is less than a 5 min walk from my apartment and is a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery. I am sorta speaking spanish wherever I go…which has sorta been a disaster…hah. I always end up saying hablo muy poco español…but it´s ok for now…i picked up a phrase book which hopefully will help.

That´s all for now…more to come when I start my class….i´m excited!