Countdown to the holidays and what's happened in between

In case you haven't noticed, I have not used the blog as much as I thought I might. I blame this largely on the ease and speed that facebook offers. I post pictures there for storage purposes, but also to share them with friends immediately, and as it is so simple to comment on who, where, and what, I seldom post pics here. As journals go, a public forum is not that effective either, so I tend not to use my blog as a journal.

Anyway, I do feel that "someone" ought to talk about what it is like to live and work here in Doha, Qatar, so I try to update when I can. Above is a picture of a very lovely day we had here on November 9th when CNAQ chartered two dhows. Dhows are traditional wooden boats. They were once used for pearl harvesting, but that industry has died out here, and the boats are now used to sail tourists and locals around the Gulf. We left on a Friday afternoon, and motored (NOT sailed) out into the water for quite a ways. There were dates and fruit on board. We chatted and enjoyed the sun. We anchored out in the water, the two boats side by side and dove or jumped or eased our way into the salty waters. It was nearing the end of comfortable swimming season for me. I am a wimp, and if it's not bathtub warm like it was when we got here, I am not too interested. The water was fun, and while there was swimming off the boat, there was chicken shawarma on the boat, all as the sun set. When the sky was starting to turn dusty orange, we headed back to the mainland. By this time, those who like to partake of the elixir of insanity did so, the music was brought up to the top deck of the boats, where cushions and carpets were pushed aside to make room for the dance floor. We boogied back to shore, and enjoyed gorgeous vistas of the Doha night sky.

Night is the time when the city comes to life. Perhaps it is due to the hot sun, or leftover habits from tribal tenting days, or a combination of both, but the pulse quickens at dark. People tend to sleep late, breakfast lightly, nap some more...Then at about 4pm, one to two hours before we lose the light, the city starts to yawn and sit up. Shops either open or reopen (some open in early morning hours, such as 7-10am and then close again). The souks and markets throw back the shuttered doors and lay out their wares. The intensely wild traffic starts around 3:30 and doesn't stop until...mmm...2...3...depending on the night. Malls are open til 10 or 11 or even midnight, so are many souks and smaller shops. There are movies that start well after midnight, and restaurants in the artsy Katara that don't even open until 8pm. Eating heavily and late is common. Children are always along for the ride, and it is normal to see them passed out from exhaustion on benches, in strollers, or wherever they can catch 40 winks while mom and dad party the night away. Children, after all, have to get up for school in the morning.

I have a love-hate relationship with my job. I love my coworkers and the demands, as I have said, are significantly less than at home. However, the pay is bad if you have to send money home to pay bills. It is adequate salary to support oneself, but the fantasies of saving tons of money are not likely to come true UNLESS you have your master's and can work at CNAQ itself, or another university or college. That is where the real money is in education in this country, not in school teaching. I also love the intimacy and community spirit of the small staff at QCS. Everyone takes care of everyone else, with only the occasional lapse into selfishness (as we all tend to do from time to time). The only thing is, that the school funding situation is mind-boggling. Money seems to always be an issue, just like at home, only worse, because no one tells you how much you are allowed to spend.

Two weeks from right now I will be arriving at the Calgary airport, if all goes as planned. I am so looking forward to the loving embrace of home and family. Time to go teach Junior High Art.