To be Proud of in Qatar

The Gulf is very different from typical Western democracies, but in the Gulf there is one small country that has been standing out through its liberalizing and moderating endeavours in the region. This is Qatar. Thanks to the old Emir HH Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his family, who took over leadership of the country in a bloodless coup 1995, Qatar has been investing its immense wealth to develop a number of progressive state initiatives that include, but are not limited to:

His wife HH Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned led the process of building a remarkable permanent presence of top rated Western universities in Education City Doha. Here you can get a Bachelor or Masters degree from universities such as Georgetown University, Northwestern University, Carnegie Mellon, Texas A&M or Virginia Commonwealth University.

The previous Emir himself HH Hamad bin Khalifa poured funds into the development of a high profile media network based on the idea of British BCC. Al Jazeera is the only independent media with a presence here in the turbulent Middle East, and it is the one and only channel broadcasting quality journalism in Arabic. 

Their daughter HH Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani has established a prominent contemporary art scene in Doha with institutions such as Mathaf Museum of Modern Art, Al Riwaq Art Centre and Doha Fire Station’s artists in residence program. She has also invested billions in bringing artists such as Damian Hirst, Marina Abramović, Jeff Koons and Richard Serra to Doha for large scale public works and lectures.

These are all important initiatives from a forward thinking nation in the Gulf

going to hellfire

My son is going to Hellfire. At least that's what some of his fasting class mates are telling him. Seven year old Khalifa is seriously concerned that his Swedish friend will go to Hellfire. It is very hot and you get stuck there for a very long time! So concerned he gave Pelle one of his fidget spinners. Poor Swedish people don't know how to take care of themselves. At home we joke about it; if you don't wash your hands you will go to Hellfire! Or when you are stuck in traffic you are in Hellfire! Yesterday Hellfire was at the bank, in the unbelievable inefficient process of credit card renewals. HELLFIRE! Just love saying it. 

Hungry Ramadan

How come I always get so hungry during Ramadan? I mean, I’m not even fasting! Suddenly, going out for a snack seems like the only right thing to do, before realizing that it’s Ramadan and everything is closed until around seven o’ clock at night and then traffic is a dangerous mix of hungry dehydrated family providers rushing home to celebrate Iftar. I believe it’s the fact that it’s forbidden/haram(!) that makes me unconsciously crave it so much.  I’m afraid I could never be a good Muslim ;) 

Dawn of the Dumb

so I'm supposed to write a recommendation letter for one of my most skilled and sincere students to take an exchange year on mother campus in Richmond U.S, but Trump won't let her in cause she's Syrian. My Libyan colleague is here in Qatar on a waver contract and when his contract ends in May he can't go back home to the U.S with his family. My Sudanese friend can't visit her aging parents in Doha because she's afraid she won't be able to get back to her kids in the U.S... How can this be happening???

-Mam, you got fat.

Oh no, I got it again and this time I’m not pregnant. At our local store the Phillipina lady whom I haven’t seen for a while is making friendly chitchat stating what is apparently obvious to her –I got fat. This is such a peculiar phenomenon -Asians telling you that you put on weight. I am aware of this so all I say is yes, and roll my eyes inside. She means well. Or? My Korean friend tells me they are just making conversation, and stating simple facts can’t be offensive, right? But surely they must be aware that fat is not friendly in conversation with westerners? The Korean friend is even a model and accordingly concerned about her weight, exercises regularly and tries not to eat to much of the fatty bits on the pork that Korean people loves so much, me included. So how does this work? I guess it is OK to state these things –you got fat -maybe because the opportunity is there and you should take it? (offend that western person because you are worth it!) No matter how I try to wrap my head around this phenomenon I just can’t understand it. Not angry, only fascinated, and I know I gained some weight! (because I quite nicotine! but seriously its is like 5 kg, how can you even notice?) Fat I am.

Ice skating in the Mall

Today was National Sportsday in Qatar and our little family chose to spend the holiday ice skating in the mall. The ice rink is a somewhat unique public space for Qatar in the way it attracts all different kind of nationalities to share the same pit. Here are the Philippina ladies enjoying a bit of adventure on their day off holding on to each other for support, together with the Qatari brothers laughing their way bareheaded through the falls while quickly learning the tricks. The younger boy keeps a smiley eye on us. We are the audience of his fearless falls. Here is the admirable eastern European figure skater of whom everybody is jealous, on the same ice as the bundle of Korean 6 year olds scrambling the pit with the help of various vehicles. Here is a German looking mother whom appear so terribly afraid but still slowly makes her way around, by holding on to the border of the rink while her family is playing in the centre. What keeps her going? Here are quite a few Arabic girls proudly swooshing around by themselves individually. They are not particularly skillful, but fast. They really seem to enjoy it. One little girl, maybe from Lebanon, or Syria, has a big smile ready every time we pass each other. My husband is the only grown up with a helmet.