That's it. Bye bye Barcelona.
I am going to make this my final blog post.
First of all, Barcelona is a great city. Contrary to my first comment on the subway, "Barcelona Sucks", the city has redeemed itself 10 fold. The beach, our long bike rides, MammaMia restaurant, sangria, the people and the sights. All of it good.
It is our 9 th anniversary today. A nice way to finish off our trip.
What a year! France, UAE, Bahrain, Italy and now Spain. A brand new house that I haven't even stepped in yet. A fresh start and home to Canada after almost a full year. Family, friends and summer holidays. We are a lucky family.
The year has taught me a great deal. I have been able to take a look at how the less fortunate live and it has given me a new perspective on teaching. I have also been exposed to the complications facing the Middle East. I understand the value in unionized environments and what quality education really looks like. Finally, I understand that money doesn't mean anything if you are not happy.
After a year of pretty much everything life can deliver, I sign off.
PivasDidQatar!
Wednesday, July 9, 2014
Saturday, July 5, 2014
Spain!
Up, up and away. Bidding farewell to Qatar felt surreal. For all of the reasons that I have already explained, my departure from that country is bitter sweet.
On the bright side of things, we made it to Spain! The kids were great on the plane. What was not so great was lugging four 25 kg pieces of luggage and four additional bags.
We landed in Madrid and caught a cab to our hotel on the outskirts of the city, a 20 minute bus ride. Madrid was a nice city, but it had a lot to live up to after visiting Italy. We did the tourist bus ride and saw the city that way.
I am writing this blog several days after being there. So it is a fading memory. We did enjoy the big park in the centre of the city. We also visited the Royal Bontanic Garden. And the gelato was great. There was a bull fight the weekend that we were there. I didn't want to go for obvious reasons. It was a blood bath apparently as three out of three matadors were gored, one severally injured when the bull stuck it's horn straight through his artery in his leg. Looks good on him.
So here is the kicker. After three days in Madrid it was time to go the Balcelona. As luck would have it, the flipping taxi drivers went on strike at 11am. We managed to catch a ride to the train station in Madrid. The drivers were a little stressed out because it is more than likely that they would get beaten down here. So they dropped us off a distance from the picket and that was it.
The dark side meant that when we got to Barcelona, there would be no cab service. Just imagine 100s of people trying to figure out how to get to where they needed to go. To make our situation worse, our debit cards decided not to work and I had to call TD via a shoddy Skype connection! To say that I was stressed out would be an serious understatement.
I traded in our high speed tickets for regular tickets, because we could use them again. That saved us some money and would get us to the Metro line. We had a nice man point us in the right direction and we got on the Metro. Two transfers later, several sets of stairs and a lot of sweat and we made it out alive. Linds started laughing and crying at the same time at one point! There was even a guy playing heavy metal. He played a death metal song in our honour!!!
Our trek wasn't over yet, we still had to walk three blocks to get to the hotel. What a nightmare.
Anyways, once all the dust settled, I reminded myself that I wasn't in Doha and that we were in Spain. We are in a really nice up and coming neighbourhood that has a Main Street designated for walking with loads of restaurants, shops and Sangria. Yummy!
We did the bus tour over the past couple of days. We went up into the mountains and visited Guell Park, were Gaudi left some interesting architecture to look at.
We hit the beach today and are just doing laundry. Looks like Mamma Mia Pizzeria tonight.
Home in one week. It is really hard to believe.
On the bright side of things, we made it to Spain! The kids were great on the plane. What was not so great was lugging four 25 kg pieces of luggage and four additional bags.
We landed in Madrid and caught a cab to our hotel on the outskirts of the city, a 20 minute bus ride. Madrid was a nice city, but it had a lot to live up to after visiting Italy. We did the tourist bus ride and saw the city that way.
I am writing this blog several days after being there. So it is a fading memory. We did enjoy the big park in the centre of the city. We also visited the Royal Bontanic Garden. And the gelato was great. There was a bull fight the weekend that we were there. I didn't want to go for obvious reasons. It was a blood bath apparently as three out of three matadors were gored, one severally injured when the bull stuck it's horn straight through his artery in his leg. Looks good on him.
So here is the kicker. After three days in Madrid it was time to go the Balcelona. As luck would have it, the flipping taxi drivers went on strike at 11am. We managed to catch a ride to the train station in Madrid. The drivers were a little stressed out because it is more than likely that they would get beaten down here. So they dropped us off a distance from the picket and that was it.
The dark side meant that when we got to Barcelona, there would be no cab service. Just imagine 100s of people trying to figure out how to get to where they needed to go. To make our situation worse, our debit cards decided not to work and I had to call TD via a shoddy Skype connection! To say that I was stressed out would be an serious understatement.
I traded in our high speed tickets for regular tickets, because we could use them again. That saved us some money and would get us to the Metro line. We had a nice man point us in the right direction and we got on the Metro. Two transfers later, several sets of stairs and a lot of sweat and we made it out alive. Linds started laughing and crying at the same time at one point! There was even a guy playing heavy metal. He played a death metal song in our honour!!!
Our trek wasn't over yet, we still had to walk three blocks to get to the hotel. What a nightmare.
Anyways, once all the dust settled, I reminded myself that I wasn't in Doha and that we were in Spain. We are in a really nice up and coming neighbourhood that has a Main Street designated for walking with loads of restaurants, shops and Sangria. Yummy!
We did the bus tour over the past couple of days. We went up into the mountains and visited Guell Park, were Gaudi left some interesting architecture to look at.
We hit the beach today and are just doing laundry. Looks like Mamma Mia Pizzeria tonight.
Home in one week. It is really hard to believe.
Sunday, June 29, 2014
In retrospect
Well, we have said our goodbyes and I am sitting at the airport. I have mixed emotions right now. I know that we have made meaningful and lasting friendships. I know that our short 10 month stint will give us a lifetime of stories. I will miss certain trivial things like going to the gas station to get freshly squeezed OJ, or eating dinner at Wafi Gourmet, or exploring the desert or teaching kids from all over the world.
But equally I will not miss the early mornings, brutal work expectations, idiotic service, the way that people treat each other and the plight of the migrant workers.
This year has taught me a great deal about tolerance, respect, inequality and patience.
The world is a big place full of triumph and tribulation. As the global population continues to grow and we work to develop the infrastructure to support life, it comes at a tremendous cost.
Life in the desert here is being made possible by immense wealth generated through a finite non-renewable resource. The amount of waste on both land and water is insurmountable and unsustainable.
In the face of this truth, the models predict a sea level rise by 2100 that will flood most of Qatar and many other coastal cities. All of the investing, all of the development, all for not.
So what does it all mean?
I know is this, people of all walks of life are interesting. I have met so many different people this year and I had had the privilege of hearing their stories. Each person rich or poor has their own wants and needs. Everyone has their own perspective that needs to be valued.
In the end, our fate is already predetermined. The way that we approach our fate is entirely up to us.
Thank you Qatar for giving me this experience. It has been a humbling one that will undoubtedly pay me back in spades as the years tick by.
Inshallah.
But equally I will not miss the early mornings, brutal work expectations, idiotic service, the way that people treat each other and the plight of the migrant workers.
This year has taught me a great deal about tolerance, respect, inequality and patience.
The world is a big place full of triumph and tribulation. As the global population continues to grow and we work to develop the infrastructure to support life, it comes at a tremendous cost.
Life in the desert here is being made possible by immense wealth generated through a finite non-renewable resource. The amount of waste on both land and water is insurmountable and unsustainable.
In the face of this truth, the models predict a sea level rise by 2100 that will flood most of Qatar and many other coastal cities. All of the investing, all of the development, all for not.
So what does it all mean?
I know is this, people of all walks of life are interesting. I have met so many different people this year and I had had the privilege of hearing their stories. Each person rich or poor has their own wants and needs. Everyone has their own perspective that needs to be valued.
In the end, our fate is already predetermined. The way that we approach our fate is entirely up to us.
Thank you Qatar for giving me this experience. It has been a humbling one that will undoubtedly pay me back in spades as the years tick by.
Inshallah.
Monday, June 23, 2014
I am grateful.
There is a worker named Rahim on our staff who is leaving to go home to Sri Lanka after two years of working at ISL Qatar. He left Sri Lanka with his home literally half finished. He is returning to Sri Lanka in order to finish the rest of his home himself. His wish is to provide shelter for his family before returning back to Qatar to fulfil another two year term on his contract. He has written a letter to the ISL Qatar staff asking for some financial assistance to make this dream possible.
There is a worker named Ed on our staff who is leaving to go home to Canada after 10 months working at ISL Qatar. He left Canada after selling his home and investing the proceeds from its sale. He is returning home to a brand new house that was finished by a professional home builder. His wish to provide shelter for his family before settling into a comfortable lifestyle in Canada. He is writing a letter to the rest of the world to let them know that his time in Qatar has been a humbling experience that has opened his eyes to the gap that exists between those who have and those who have not.
For this he is grateful.
There is a worker named Ed on our staff who is leaving to go home to Canada after 10 months working at ISL Qatar. He left Canada after selling his home and investing the proceeds from its sale. He is returning home to a brand new house that was finished by a professional home builder. His wish to provide shelter for his family before settling into a comfortable lifestyle in Canada. He is writing a letter to the rest of the world to let them know that his time in Qatar has been a humbling experience that has opened his eyes to the gap that exists between those who have and those who have not.
For this he is grateful.
Saturday, June 21, 2014
Last night.
My final weekend in Qatar. I had a few things left on my bucket list and thanks to a good friend of mine, I was able to accomplish them and then some.
1 - An old abandoned compound
Exploring...you never know what you are going to find. We went to an old compound that appears to have been abandoned in the early 90s. The cool thing is that it looks as if everyone just left. So in a couple of places there were still posters on the wall, VHS tapes scattered about and kitchens that had been raided. There was an old British themed pub that looked like a good place to hang out. I even found an old photo album.it with me of course.
2 - Antique Shop
With a pretty mean sweat on, we walked to a nearby antique shop. What an amazing place! We ended up walking around for an hour or so and then spent a great deal of time looking at binders of old currency. Like, really obscure stuff. I ended up buying a bunch of currency from the mid-east and so Yugoslavian money, which of course no longer exists.
3 - Workers complex
On our way to the Souq, we walked through the workers complexes. It is a cultural thing, but they stare right through you. I looked into a number of the places and it is dire. Dirty, dark, smelly. What a terrible sight, but something that I needed to see before I left. My next blogs will help you understand the situation here as Qatar uses the migrant workers to get ready for the 2022 World Cup.
4 - Yemeni Restaurant
Coming out of the workers complex and right into the Souq. A tourist destination right on the doorstep of poverty and filth. We had dinner at a fantastic Yemeni restaurant. We sat on the floor and ate with our hands. Two chicken and rice dishes, soup and very fresh bread. Total bill, 50 Riyals, about $14 CDN.
It think that about does it for my "adventures" in Qatar. But who knows, maybe something will happen this week.
I can count the number of days till departure on one hand...almost. It's time to go home. YES!
1 - An old abandoned compound
Exploring...you never know what you are going to find. We went to an old compound that appears to have been abandoned in the early 90s. The cool thing is that it looks as if everyone just left. So in a couple of places there were still posters on the wall, VHS tapes scattered about and kitchens that had been raided. There was an old British themed pub that looked like a good place to hang out. I even found an old photo album.it with me of course.
2 - Antique Shop
With a pretty mean sweat on, we walked to a nearby antique shop. What an amazing place! We ended up walking around for an hour or so and then spent a great deal of time looking at binders of old currency. Like, really obscure stuff. I ended up buying a bunch of currency from the mid-east and so Yugoslavian money, which of course no longer exists.
3 - Workers complex
On our way to the Souq, we walked through the workers complexes. It is a cultural thing, but they stare right through you. I looked into a number of the places and it is dire. Dirty, dark, smelly. What a terrible sight, but something that I needed to see before I left. My next blogs will help you understand the situation here as Qatar uses the migrant workers to get ready for the 2022 World Cup.
4 - Yemeni Restaurant
Coming out of the workers complex and right into the Souq. A tourist destination right on the doorstep of poverty and filth. We had dinner at a fantastic Yemeni restaurant. We sat on the floor and ate with our hands. Two chicken and rice dishes, soup and very fresh bread. Total bill, 50 Riyals, about $14 CDN.
It think that about does it for my "adventures" in Qatar. But who knows, maybe something will happen this week.
I can count the number of days till departure on one hand...almost. It's time to go home. YES!
Read this and then watch the video in the next post...my goodness!
Report: Qatari families earn almost three times as much as expats
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Jan Smith / Flickr
The average Qatari household earns QR72,700 ($19,918) a month, nearly three times the average expat household income of QR24,400 ($6,685), new figures from the Ministry of Development and Planning Statistics (MDPS) show.
When taking into account housing, free electricity and water, the Qatari income figure increases to QR88,200 ($24,164).
The figures come ahead of a new MDPS publication on Household Expenditure and Income Survey for 2012/13, which is expected to be released in full next month.
The survey’s findings are based on information compiled from 3,723 households between September 2012 and September 2013. Just over half the households were expat (1,897), while the remainder were Qatari (1,826).
Each household was asked to keep a daily diary of their income and outgoings for one month.
The average Qatari household surveyed was made up of 8.7 people, more than twice the size of the average expat household of 4.3 people – a difference that may help explain the expenditure and earnings gaps between the two groups.
Five-year comparison
The figures also show that a Qatari household will spend on average QR49,600 ($13,589) a month, while the average expat household will spend QR18,000 ($4,932).The expenditure marks 21.5 percent increase for Qataris compared to 2007 figures, in which the average household spent QR40,800/month ($11,178).
For expats, the increase was even more marked, with expenditure going up by 35 percent from 2007, when expenses were QR13,329/month ($3,652).
However, the past seven years represent a slower increase in expenditure than the 2001 to 2007 period, when the average monthly spend by Qatari families rose by a staggering 82.2 percent (from QR22,400 per month to QR40,800), according to the MDPS Qatar Social Statistics 2003-2012 report.
The report also shows that in 2012-13, salaries and wages made up almost all (97 percent) of the average expat household income, while it accounted for just two-thirds (67 percent) of the average Qatari monthly income.
Detailed results
According to the latest survey results, the average expat household spends more than one-third of its monthly outgoings on rent (QR6,177).Meanwhile, the biggest single expense for the average Qatari household is transport and communications, which account for one-fifth of its monthly budget (QR9,560).
Food is the next biggest expense for both Qataris and non-Qataris, taking up 16 percent (Qr8,033) and 15 percent (QR2,700) of outgoings, respectively.
Dining out took up the biggest single spend on food costs across the board, with Qataris spending nearly a quarter of their food bills in restaurants (QR1,922 a month), and expats almost one-third (QR852).
Rising cost of living
According to the report, other monthly spending habits included:- Traveling abroad: Qatari households spent QR5,711 (11.5 percent), while expats spent QR1,648 (9 percent)
- Clothes and shoes: Qataris spent QR2,800 (5.7 percent); expats spent QR621 (3.4 percent)
- Personal care: Qataris spent QR2,536 (5 percent); expats spent QR404 (2 percent)
- Education: Qataris spent QR1,571 (3 percent); expats spent QR1,008 (5.6 percent)
- Medical care: Qataris spent QR1,523 (3 percent); expats spent QR178 (1 percent)
- Tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol: Qataris spent QR80 (0.16 percent); expats spent QR69 (0.4 percent).
The consumer price index (CPI) – which measures the average cost of goods and services – continues to be on the rise in Qatar.
MDPS figures for February 2014 showed a rise of 2.7 percentage points on the cost of the same basket of goods one year before.
Prices were pushed higher in particular by a nearly 6 percent rise in the cost of rent, fuel and energy.
And overall, Qatar’s rate of inflation in May 2014 was recorded at 3.4 percent.
The world must know about this.
Please take a few minutes to watch this new video about migrant workers in Qatar.
http://dohanews.co/video-migrants-share-fears-working-qatar/
http://dohanews.co/video-migrants-share-fears-working-qatar/
Tuesday, June 17, 2014
Top 10 Things to Know About Qatar Before You Arrive
Top ten things that everyone needs to know before coming to Qatar:
1 - The banks still use paper transaction sheets and closing any account requires you to visit the bank in person. The bank closes between 3 and 4 pm for prayer, right around the same time that work gets out...so expect long waits!
2 - When transferring the ownership of your vehicle, the documents are prepared on a typewriter.
3 - The sewage system operates by gravity and flows through open pipes that are accessible through metal grates. The sewage is pumped out of a holding tank and taken by truck to a lake outside of the industrial area where it is dumped. Don't believe me? Too bad, I have seen it with my own two eyes and it is visible on Google Maps.
4 - Migrant workers from both Less and More Economically Developed Countries live here. So there are great discrepancies in treatment of people and the service quality provided.
5 - People drive like morons here. The posted speed limit might be 80kph and it is not uncommon to have someone pass you at nearly twice that speed. It is also normal practice to go from the fast lane to the exit. Right across four lanes of traffic on Al Shamal Highway without using that thingy called a signal...that hardly anyone uses.
6 - Get ready to get sick. The air quality here is poor. Ranked in the top five globally, Qatar's air is loaded with small and large carcinogenic particles from the surrounding refineries. On top of that, there is a tremendous amount of dust in the air from all of the construction and desert environment. Furthermore, the air conditioning that you are exposed to for most of the year causes respiratory issues and dehydration.
7 - Poor kids. What do you do if you are a kid, perhaps even a teen in Qatar? Here are your options...go to the mall. Here is my theory. If their options are limited, kids tend to get board. If they are board, they tend to misbehave. So, Qatar is a country full of kids who tend to misbehave. And in all honesty, shortly after typing this into my phone, three boys at Landmark Mall were running all over the place, hitting and kicking each other. Wonderful.
8 - Your employer determines if you can leave the country. As part of the Kafala system, you are under the direct control of your employer. If you wish to go a a vacation, you must have your employer complete an Exit Permit. If they don't want you to leave, you don't leave...sort of like that place...what's it called...prison.
9 - The cost of living continues to rise. Already there is evidence of increased expenses. The first hit is making its presence known in the grocery store. With approximately 90 percent of Qatar's food coming from somewhere else, ultimately it is the consumer who has to pay the price. Qatar has plans to grow food locally, and they are, but the supply does not match the demand and growing food in the desert where temps hit 50C is perhaps just a little unsustainable over the long term. With 2 million plus people and growing, this is gonna be one expensive place to live.
10 - Global Warming and sea level rise puts Qatar in a serious situation. Billions of dollars are being spent in preparations for the 2022 World Cup, yet by 2100 this place will most likely be covered by water.
Thursday, June 12, 2014
Reflection.
I had a right wicked week.
In my 10 or so years of teaching, I have never ended the school year the way that I am ending it now. As the year draws to a close, there is usually a sense of jubilation that falls over the masses, despite the chaos that exists as the year winds down. In addition, this year I am moving back home! This should bring on a feeling of joy and happiness, but I have been a downright miserable you know what more then half of the time.
To be honest, I have slowly had my professional morals sucked right out of me.
As I try to fulfil my professional obligations, I am knuckled by bureaucracy and I am forced to accomplish tasks with people who choose not to act in a professional manner. This has resulted in confrontation and animosity.
I invite you to watch the following video. I takes a very candid look at how leaders should make you feel safe, respected and appreciated. I wish that I felt that way...
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_why_good_leaders_make_you_feel_safe
In my 10 or so years of teaching, I have never ended the school year the way that I am ending it now. As the year draws to a close, there is usually a sense of jubilation that falls over the masses, despite the chaos that exists as the year winds down. In addition, this year I am moving back home! This should bring on a feeling of joy and happiness, but I have been a downright miserable you know what more then half of the time.
To be honest, I have slowly had my professional morals sucked right out of me.
As I try to fulfil my professional obligations, I am knuckled by bureaucracy and I am forced to accomplish tasks with people who choose not to act in a professional manner. This has resulted in confrontation and animosity.
I invite you to watch the following video. I takes a very candid look at how leaders should make you feel safe, respected and appreciated. I wish that I felt that way...
http://www.ted.com/talks/simon_sinek_why_good_leaders_make_you_feel_safe
Wednesday, June 11, 2014
Seriously!
1 set of MYP Report Cards to be done
60 grade 10 geography exam papers marked
45 grade 10 business papers marked
65 grade 9 geography papers marked
37 pages and 17 000 plus words of report card text in Word
37 pages and 17 000 plus words of report card text from Word transferred over the ManageBac
100s of ATL buttons pushed
4 classes proof read
1 fight with a teaching colleague
21 homeroom comments to be entered
1 set of unrealistic expectations
1 set of DP Report Cards to be done
11 Standard Level geography papers to be marked
8 Higher Level geography papers to be marked
11 marks to be entered
1 worn out teacher who is not done reporting yet and is ready to return to a working environment where he is appreciated and is treated like a human being and not like a machine. Seriously!
60 grade 10 geography exam papers marked
45 grade 10 business papers marked
65 grade 9 geography papers marked
37 pages and 17 000 plus words of report card text in Word
37 pages and 17 000 plus words of report card text from Word transferred over the ManageBac
100s of ATL buttons pushed
4 classes proof read
1 fight with a teaching colleague
21 homeroom comments to be entered
1 set of unrealistic expectations
1 set of DP Report Cards to be done
11 Standard Level geography papers to be marked
8 Higher Level geography papers to be marked
11 marks to be entered
1 worn out teacher who is not done reporting yet and is ready to return to a working environment where he is appreciated and is treated like a human being and not like a machine. Seriously!
Mismatch???
I just stumbled upon an article entitled, " 17 Reasons Why the Qatar World Cup is Going to be a Disaster".
Here is a link to the article.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/17-reasons-why-qatar-world-194307117.html
I'm gonna make it 18 reasons...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/qatar/10883554/Taliban-members-released-in-exchange-for-Bowe-Bergdahl-begin-new-lives-in-Qatar.html
Two weeks to go!
Here is a link to the article.
https://finance.yahoo.com/news/17-reasons-why-qatar-world-194307117.html
I'm gonna make it 18 reasons...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/qatar/10883554/Taliban-members-released-in-exchange-for-Bowe-Bergdahl-begin-new-lives-in-Qatar.html
Two weeks to go!
Catch up.
So, there are a few things that I need to tell you about and I am just going to list them off.
1 - We have been invited to five birthday parties in five days and we haven't gone to one of them.
2 - My neighbour Wayne and I went to take photos of a terrible transport truck crash by our compound and we ended up driving through the desert for a bit. I asked Wayne if Qatar had floating rocks. Of course, he gave me a weird look. Off in the distance on a pile of rocks was an owl! I have never found an owl in the wild and it is very ironic that I would spot my first one in Qatar. It is called the Little Owl and it is the exact same colour as the sand. We ended up seeing three of them. Impressive and hardy creatures.
1 - We have been invited to five birthday parties in five days and we haven't gone to one of them.
2 - My neighbour Wayne and I went to take photos of a terrible transport truck crash by our compound and we ended up driving through the desert for a bit. I asked Wayne if Qatar had floating rocks. Of course, he gave me a weird look. Off in the distance on a pile of rocks was an owl! I have never found an owl in the wild and it is very ironic that I would spot my first one in Qatar. It is called the Little Owl and it is the exact same colour as the sand. We ended up seeing three of them. Impressive and hardy creatures.
3 - We spotted a 6/7 year old being bottle fed by her nanny tonight as the grandmother looked on. If you are counting, there are four things wrong with that.
So sorry...
I am so sorry for not posting over the last week. We have been swamped. In our preparations for moving and school stuff, I just haven't had any time. I just wanted to let you know that since we have shipped our computer home, I won't be able to upload any more of our photos, so you will just have to wait for our return to Canada, when I can post some pics from our last days here and our trip to Spain. Two and a half weeks left!
Tuesday, June 3, 2014
Moving Day
Today is moving day. Our shipping company, Euro Movers, is coming at 9am to take our stuff and ship it back to Canada. The journey will take 30 to 45 days via ocean freight. We have our fingers crossed that nothing goes sideways, literally.
We just backed up all of our computer files and all of our stuff is lugged out of the closets, nooks and crannies in our place. There is one big pile of boxes in the corner of our living room.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much stuff can be accumulated in a short time.
Wish us luck!
We just backed up all of our computer files and all of our stuff is lugged out of the closets, nooks and crannies in our place. There is one big pile of boxes in the corner of our living room.
It never ceases to amaze me just how much stuff can be accumulated in a short time.
Wish us luck!
Monday, June 2, 2014
Last trip to the Souq...maybe.
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| Linds needed to get her watched repaired. |
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| Nate got a top notch hair cut from this Turkish barber. |
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| Old men and wheel barrows everywhere. |
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| Yep...the family photo is coming soon! |
My Buddy Mohan
My buddy Mohan from Sri Lanka was a maintenance worker at our school. He greeted Linds and I every mooring with a big smile on his face and a healthy hand shake. He would take care of the cleaning of my room after school and his sheepish little voice fit him just perfect.
He came up to my class today to let me know that he was happy to be going back to his home in Sri Lanka after 2 years and 5 months in Qatar.
Take care buddy. We wish you all the best!
He came up to my class today to let me know that he was happy to be going back to his home in Sri Lanka after 2 years and 5 months in Qatar.
Take care buddy. We wish you all the best!
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| Yes...I am much bigger than he is...much bigger! |
Saturday, May 31, 2014
Birthday party number whatever.
I can't remember the number of birthday parties that we have gone to. I have missed three of them, so Linds is up three on me. They are always over the top and this one is no exception. It was at the Grand Hyatt Mall in the Jungle Play Area. It is a huge indoor play area (common throughout Qatar) complete with games and rides. There were 15 or so kids there from Nate's class. The party was hosted by a Filipino crew of men and women. They played games with the kids and at one point broke out into a dance number. The cool thing about this place is that it appears that they hire staff with disabilities. There were two staff members, the face painter and the DJ, both of whom were disabled and they had work. Good for them, and good for the company who runs the place.
Anyways, here are some photos from our day...
Anyways, here are some photos from our day...
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| One of the kids' henna tattoos. |
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| Check out the nanny behind Ais and Nate. |
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| One of the many workers here. |
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| Culture clash. |
Health and Safety Anyone?
Here is a few photos of the scaffolding in our school parking lot last week. The scaffold is set up to replace the light bulb.
The scaffold is tied off with string in two locations on the pole and as you can see, two of the four wheels are on cinderblocks.
It passes code in Qatar because the wheels are locked. : )
The scaffold is tied off with string in two locations on the pole and as you can see, two of the four wheels are on cinderblocks.
It passes code in Qatar because the wheels are locked. : )
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| Check out that angle! |
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| See...the wheels are locked, so it is safe. |
Wednesday, May 28, 2014
How to get out of jail?
Female Prisoner in UAE Released After Memorizing Qur'an
Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-05-28
A female prisoner sentenced to life in a UAE jail has been rewarded with her freedom after memorizing the entire Holy Qur'an.
Fatima bin Mohammed from Cameroon, is believed to be the first woman in UAE history to learn Arabic then completely memorize the Qur'an while in prison.
Bin Mohammed who was serving 25 years for importing hashish, reverted to Islam while in prison and spent almost six years memorizing the Quran,
Now that Bin Mohammad is released she regularly goes back and forth to her tutors at Dubai Central Jail to get the exact pronunciation and meaning of the words.
Fatima has returned to her native Cameroon and plans to set up a restaurant and travel. She is currently living with her sister and enjoying family life. “They had a little family event for me when I came home. It was very special,” she said.
You need a lot of patience,” said Fatima. “It is not easy. But I put my faith in God and knew I wanted to see my family again.”
Amal, a Quran tutor at the department of Islamic Affairs taught Fatima and found her an excellent student.
“She was so dedicated to memorizing the holy book. She showed a lot of interest in reading the book and spent most of her time revising different verses of the Qur’an until she got the whole of it in her head,” said Amal.
She said that Fatima failed several tests but passed her sixth exam.
“The Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award (DIHQA) gave her a prize of Dhs10,000 for managing to completely memories the Holy Quran,” added Amal.
“We now have 70 women prisoners trying to memorize the Qur’an so they can be pardoned or have their prison sentence reduced.”
Bin Mohammed was released in March under a scheme introduced by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Al Makhtoum decreed that prisoners be offered their freedom in return for memorizing the Qur’an and said that he hoped to give prisoners something to which they could aspire.
Fatima bin Mohammed from Cameroon, is believed to be the first woman in UAE history to learn Arabic then completely memorize the Qur'an while in prison.
Bin Mohammed who was serving 25 years for importing hashish, reverted to Islam while in prison and spent almost six years memorizing the Quran,
Now that Bin Mohammad is released she regularly goes back and forth to her tutors at Dubai Central Jail to get the exact pronunciation and meaning of the words.
Fatima has returned to her native Cameroon and plans to set up a restaurant and travel. She is currently living with her sister and enjoying family life. “They had a little family event for me when I came home. It was very special,” she said.
You need a lot of patience,” said Fatima. “It is not easy. But I put my faith in God and knew I wanted to see my family again.”
Amal, a Quran tutor at the department of Islamic Affairs taught Fatima and found her an excellent student.
“She was so dedicated to memorizing the holy book. She showed a lot of interest in reading the book and spent most of her time revising different verses of the Qur’an until she got the whole of it in her head,” said Amal.
She said that Fatima failed several tests but passed her sixth exam.
“The Dubai International Holy Qur’an Award (DIHQA) gave her a prize of Dhs10,000 for managing to completely memories the Holy Quran,” added Amal.
“We now have 70 women prisoners trying to memorize the Qur’an so they can be pardoned or have their prison sentence reduced.”
Bin Mohammed was released in March under a scheme introduced by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Al Makhtoum decreed that prisoners be offered their freedom in return for memorizing the Qur’an and said that he hoped to give prisoners something to which they could aspire.
Reflect your Respect
Local modesty campaign ‘reflect your respect’ to relaunch in Qatar
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Lawrence Wang/Flickr
A grassroots campaign to encourage men and women to dress more modestly in public places in Qatar will be relaunched next month under a new name, the campaign’s organizers have told Doha News.
Previously called “One of Us” when it began in 2012, the campaign has now been renamed “Reflect your Respect,” and will restart in June, with a weekend of leafleting in public parks and malls.
Speaking to Doha News, spokeswoman Umm Abdullah explained that the name had been changed because many expats had responded to the previous slogan by arguing that they did not feel like they are part of Qatari society.
@reflect_respect on Twitter
She explained that the new slogan was simply calling for expats to “respect” local cultural values by covering their shoulders, midriffs and knees, adding that she believed many Qataris now avoided public places because they were offended by the clothes many expats were wearing.
“People say they don’t meet enough Qatari people, but this is because we don’t want go to these places and see these things,” she said.“Our kids as well, we don’t want them to end up imitating this – we want to preserve our traditions and our values. They (expats) have their own places where they don’t have to be covered – but we have the right to go to hospitals, to the market, to the malls, to the beach, without seeing these things.”
Umm Abdullah explained that on June 20, groups of Qatari women and children will begin visiting public places – venues will be announced a week in advance – to hand out leaflets explaining the campaign to expats. She said many simply aren’t aware that they are causing offense.
But some expats have pushed back against the idea. In 2012, one commenter on a Doha News story about the modesty campaign said:
To avoid offending people, Umm Abdullah said that the group plans to hand out chocolates, flowers and shawls along with the leaflets, and hopes to engage with people in a friendly way:“I have never seen in my life (and I’ve traveled in many, many countries) such abuse of make-up in plain daylight, such high heels that I wonder how come they do not stumble, such abuse of perfume that sometimes the smell in the lift is unbearable (even after they left)… I think this campaign should be fair and expended so as to cover what being modest should mean for all of us living here.”
“I will just speak to them quietly by myself, with my little daughter who is only seven. It’s embarrassing to be preached at in public places.”
Abdullah is also aware that some would argue that Qataris have no right to demand that foreigners adhere to their cultural norms. In response, she said that when she travels, she makes an effort to fit in by not wearing a niqab in France for example, and expects expats in Qatar to do the same.
She explained that June 20 had been chosen due to the approach of Ramadan at the end of next month, and because it signaled the end of national exams, giving Qatari families more time to devote to the campaign. Leafleting campaigns would however continue throughout the year, she added.
‘Lack of support’ from QTA
In November 2012, the “One of Us” campaign organizers announced that they had received backing from the Qatar Tourism Authority, which they said had promised to display the posters in public spaces, and on their literature.
Umm Abdullah said that these promised actions however have not materialized, so the group had decided to continue without support from the QTA.
“We applied to them because without their approval, it’s illegal to distribute leaflets” she told us. “But nothing else has happened. But, we think we are enough. We think women are best to deal with this. If they are not to do it, we will do it. It’s in constitution, we have the right, so why not. If you want something done well, do it yourself.”
The QTA did not respond to a request for comment.
The law
The campaign’s organizers argue that this call for modest attire is enshrined in Qatari law. They point to article 57 in the Qatari constitution, which states that “abiding by public order and morality, observing national traditions and established customs is a duty of all who reside in the State of Qatar or enter its territory.”
However, there appears to be no specific element of the penal code that targets dress code, although many malls and parks have their own clothing rules, which are enforced by private security guards.
For a brief period in October 2012, for example, Aspire Park introduced unofficial dress code rules that mandated sports clothing or Qatari national dress only, effectively banning most expat families from the park. However, these regulations were droppedjust weeks later, and Aspire Park authorities denied they had ever existed.
Additionally, men have also reported being turned away from Traffic Police buildings for wearing shorts instead of trousers, and there’s anecdotal evidence that similar dress codes for both men and women exist in other government buildings in Qatar, although these are patchily enforced.
Smokin' at the Starbucks
There is a sign that clearly indicates that smoking is not permitted outside of Starbucks at Landmark Mall. On top of that, there is a family and a young baby just behind this man. I haven't included his photo, but I have one.
Rules, what rules? Rules are apparently meant to be broken by some and followed by others.
What's the word that I am thinking of...
Rules, what rules? Rules are apparently meant to be broken by some and followed by others.
What's the word that I am thinking of...
Hey, they cut "Poop Hill" in our compound!
There is a raised patch of grass in the centre of our compound. This tall grass is the result of hundreds of cat droppings from the resident cat population that exceeds 20 at least. The cats have made it their business to do their business in the only area where the kids could potentially play....but they don't!
The trouble is, cat droppings cause Toxoplasmosis, a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite infects most genera of warm-blooded animals, including humans. During the first few weeks after exposure, the infection typically causes a mild, flu-like illness or no illness. However, those withweakened immune systems, such as those with AIDS and pregnant women, may become seriously ill, and it can occasionally be fatal. The parasite can cause encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) and neurological diseases, and can affect the heart, liver, inner ears, and eyes (chorioretinitis). Recent research has also linked toxoplasmosis with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, and schizophrenia. Numerous studies found a positive correlation between latent toxoplasmosis and suicidal behaviour in humans. (Source: Wikipedia.com)
Here is a link to an article about the disease:
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/cat-poop-parasites-may-pose-public-health-hazard-study-suggests-f6C10574506
Here is a link to an article about the disease:
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-care/cat-poop-parasites-may-pose-public-health-hazard-study-suggests-f6C10574506
So after a great deal of complaining from someone in our compound, they finally "cut the poop", and spread it around. So in essence, they are distributing the poop, maybe sharing the poop, or possibly dealing the poop.
It doesn't change the fact that the cats are still here and the cats will still poop.
What a crappy place!
4 weeks to go!
Cuttin' Poop Hill.
Sold the Car = Grey Hair
Geez! I have been itching to share the adventure of selling our car. I will try my best to make it short and sweet and help you understand what it takes to sell a car or do anything here.
So, our car was posted on Qatarliving.com, Qatarauto.com and at the Lulu Hypermarket, a grocery store. We had a few low ball offers and on the night that I was about to accept one of them, a Syrian guy called and I agreed to meet with him that night. So I got in the car, braved the local traffic and heat, met with him and his buddy and settled on 45000QR. We originally paid 59000QR for the car, a loss of 14000QR. We bought the car in November, so it works out to about 2000QR a month. Not bad, considering our other option was a rental at anywhere from 2000QR to 3500QR per month, and no return in the end.
We agreed to meet at the traffic department the next night at 5:30pm. The new office closes at 7pm and I was all in a panic. I showed up and the police officer told me to leave because I had shorts on. I made a slight, yet respectful stink about the fact that I had worn shorts to the traffic department before. When I challenged him on why, he didn't have a reply. So I got back in the car and headed for the nearest sports store to buy a pair of pants. At this point it is 6:30pm and based on past experiences with customer service here, the deal was not going to happen.
So I get back to the traffic department and I am waiting for my guy. I phone him...turns out that he is at the other traffic department...the old one!!! WHAT! Now I have pants on, it is 40C outside, I am on the wrong side of the highway and I am started to get a little fired up. I got in the car and let out a big loud blast of choice words and hit the road.
After getting directions from a couple of people who don't speak english, I found the old traffic department. I ring my guy up, we meet, get the transfer of ownership paper work typed up on a typewriter and and wait. Seriously, the guy typed our paperwork up.
We exchanged keys for money and he gave me a lift home. Nice guy.
The next day I began the process of finding a rental car. Again, it is the most frustrating thing trying to do business with the migrant workers here. A) they don't speak clearly because it is not their first language and B) more often than not, they want to do a decent job but incompetence prevails. After several texts and phone calls, I find a place and agree to pay 2500QR for a Mitsubishi Lancer. What a beauty!
After school, our neighbour gave us a lift to Landmark Mall and an Indian fella dropped the car off.
Long story short, if you buy and sell a car in Qatar, good luck!
So, our car was posted on Qatarliving.com, Qatarauto.com and at the Lulu Hypermarket, a grocery store. We had a few low ball offers and on the night that I was about to accept one of them, a Syrian guy called and I agreed to meet with him that night. So I got in the car, braved the local traffic and heat, met with him and his buddy and settled on 45000QR. We originally paid 59000QR for the car, a loss of 14000QR. We bought the car in November, so it works out to about 2000QR a month. Not bad, considering our other option was a rental at anywhere from 2000QR to 3500QR per month, and no return in the end.
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| Old Traffic Department |
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| New Traffic Department |
We agreed to meet at the traffic department the next night at 5:30pm. The new office closes at 7pm and I was all in a panic. I showed up and the police officer told me to leave because I had shorts on. I made a slight, yet respectful stink about the fact that I had worn shorts to the traffic department before. When I challenged him on why, he didn't have a reply. So I got back in the car and headed for the nearest sports store to buy a pair of pants. At this point it is 6:30pm and based on past experiences with customer service here, the deal was not going to happen.
So I get back to the traffic department and I am waiting for my guy. I phone him...turns out that he is at the other traffic department...the old one!!! WHAT! Now I have pants on, it is 40C outside, I am on the wrong side of the highway and I am started to get a little fired up. I got in the car and let out a big loud blast of choice words and hit the road.
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| The fastest fingers in the East! |
We exchanged keys for money and he gave me a lift home. Nice guy.
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| That's the most money I have ever put in my backpack. |
After school, our neighbour gave us a lift to Landmark Mall and an Indian fella dropped the car off.
Long story short, if you buy and sell a car in Qatar, good luck!
Friday, May 23, 2014
We made the best of it.
Last night we headed out into the desert again, about 25 minutes from our compound. Our quest, to see the shooting stars. Apparently, the meteor showers were supposed to begin around 9pm. There was not a meteor to be seen.
On our journey to a dark area of the desert, we saw a Jerboa Kangaroo Rat. That was pretty cool.
We also spotted a bag that seemed to be leaking. Turns out that it was a rather smelly lamb in a bag. Nice.
And some dude wandered out of an area with three old school buses and a bunch of shacks. It was a camel farm and he was the caretaker. Not a lick of English and what a wonderful smell!
Anyway, the kids had fun, pecked out their indifferences and my buddy Wayne and I got a chance to mess around with some night photography. The kids helped with the shots too.
On our journey to a dark area of the desert, we saw a Jerboa Kangaroo Rat. That was pretty cool.
We also spotted a bag that seemed to be leaking. Turns out that it was a rather smelly lamb in a bag. Nice.
And some dude wandered out of an area with three old school buses and a bunch of shacks. It was a camel farm and he was the caretaker. Not a lick of English and what a wonderful smell!
Anyway, the kids had fun, pecked out their indifferences and my buddy Wayne and I got a chance to mess around with some night photography. The kids helped with the shots too.
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