The Doha Daily: doha daily 1/21/07

Happy New Year! And sorry so late. But everyday I have NOT written, I have certainly wanted to and have been thinking of things to write about, as there will always be something new to report. The trouble is, lately, it has been the same ole’ thing. How many times can I write to you about the fact that people (mostly Qatari’s that I can see) continue to drive around the city allowing their kids to jump up and down in the front seat, OR that I hear of Philippine maids who frequently flee their sponsors’ homes due to the fact they are being mistreated, like beaten or raped, OR even the maids who have had a baby out of wedlock and are thrown in jail until their trial and then deported when finally found guilty 11 months later because one MUST be wed to have a baby, AND that each time you make a trip to the Supermarket(s), there is a large chance of you NOT finding the product that you specifically need for a dinner you are making that very night, OR how laborers (unpaid at that) are still living 20 to a room when the size of the room can normally only accommodate 3 at the most, OR the lack of customer service in virtually all venues – try calling any retail outlet to ask a question and if the person you have asked for is on the phone with another customer you are asked the question, “Could you please call back in 5 minutes?” To which I reply, “Sure,” but 9 out of 10 times I forget to call back and when I DO remember, it is lunchtime and no one answers the phone between 12noon and 4p and by that time I am outside with Tristan playing in the hood and then it’s 730p already and now the store is officially closed for the evening so I have to put it on my list of things for the following day – WHEW! Let me tell you…for someone who likes to make lists and cross off the completed items at the end of the day…Doha can be a frustrating place.

Rome was not built in a year...

During the holiday vacation, it was very quiet around here; not much traffic, cold weather so no one hanging outside, etc…Thierry and I had a “Syriana moment” as we have come to call them. We were jogging behind the compound along a deserted road through the white backdrop of sand, rock and construction. It was 1130a and time for the morning call to prayer (There are 5 a day). The reverberating chanting from the various mosques’ loudspeakers that are scattered over the countryside all started up at the same time. We had just watched the movie, Syriana,” the night before and concluded that had we watched the movie in the States last year, it would have been so foreign to us, but now, we recognize the TATA buses, the Mitsubishi, Nissan and Daihatsu trucks, the laborers wearing their blue one-piece overalls. Anyway, it was strange and the feeling seemed so surreal.

Eid Al Adha fell during the New Year holiday this year. It is a 3-day holiday commemorating Abraham sacrificing his son to God – hence that explained the several sheep I saw in the backs of trucks and Land Cruisers on their way to the slaughterhouse. And an article published in the newspaper one week before Eid began outlined the newly organized ticketing system for those waiting in line to have their animals slaughtered at the slaughterhouse-apparently, it has been very disorganized in past years. After Eid, there were two separate articles written about the fact that there is not much to do here in Doha for entertainment. This is so true as you can name the family-gathering venues on one hand, ie zoo, oryx farm, al biddha park, Aladdin’s kingdom (amusement park/rides, etc) There have also been opinion articles written on how the police/authorities here seem inconsistent on issuing tickets to those who break the law, particularly while driving. I hope it helps.

Ok, going to run, but I will certainly not let another month go by before writing again. “See” you soon.