August 23, 2008 at 4:16 pm (Qatar)
August 16, 2008 at 11:47 am (Uncategorized)
Picture update! However, they are a bit old, as I haven’t taken any pictures at the local markets (souq) or restaurants but.. I have plenty of time later.
Lectures, recitations, briefings, homework assignments start this week. Both nervous and excited. I’m having difficulty remembering faces and names, especially since the names are ones I am unfamiliar with. No more Jessica, James, or John, it’s all about Fatima, Mahmoud, and Saad now.
I still live alone (not complaining) in my two-bedroom residence, and thus have monopoly over the cold water, fridge, television, iMac desktop they gave us, and the car. I have been doing a lot of driving around here.
Driving here is insane. Tom Chae would love it or hate it, because there is both excitement and thrills but also the imminent threat of dying at every intersection. We have “roundabouts” instead of the usual intersection, and these are the scourge of the driving safely anywhere. A routine 10 minute drive to the mall becomes an action-packed no-holds barred death ride where no rules, especially no traffic rules, apply.
I kind of like it. Even though my small white Mitsubishi Lancer would be pancaked by the many SUVs (Land Cruisers are beasts) that speed like Micheal Schumacher on the circuit at all times of the day, I like the excitement and the dark disregard for rules. I don’t condone it, but I can live with it. I was always lazy with the blinkers anyway.
Peace.
August 12, 2008 at 3:28 pm (Uncategorized)
Marhaba! I am currently unoccupied at my office, which I share with my co-TA Atsuko, who is busy writing her secondary applications (I’m done muahahaha). We had the first day of orientation today, and met some of the students. I’m still having some culture shock, so I’m not entirely sure how to interact with students and their parents, but I’m sure I will improve.
The students seem sociable, and amiable. I’ve met students from Sudan, Iraq, Kenya, and Bahrain so far. Apparently there’s a Korean kid here somewhere, because a professor asked me how to pronounce his or her name.
The food has been excellent so far, but instead of filling my mouth with sumptious food, I have been having to fill them with words with the contant chattering and greetings. It’s 6pm, and I’m really hungry.
I’ve met most of the TA’s so far, with a few having some visa problems. I still live alone, with my erstwhile housemate still on a plane somewhere, so my solitary moments of walking around in boxers is about to be shortlived. The food here is decent, but the range of quality is immense. I had KFC yesterday, but the day before I had bibimbap! Which I MADE! With Roland’s help, we sliced carrots, cucumbers, bean sprouts, chicken (didn’t have ground beef), eggs, rice (jasmine), sesame oil (Korean brand, really expensive!) and gochujang. We fed the other TA’s, and although the visual presentation was a B-, they enjoyed it.
The Olympics have been crazy to watch! This is the first time in my live that I’ve really had an interest in keeping up to date with the sports. The opening ceremony apparently costed upwards $300 million… crazy considering the 2004 Athens Opening Ceremoney cost only abou $50 million. I wonder how the 2012 Olympics in London are going to follow this act?
August 8, 2008 at 6:05 am (Qatar)
I just arrived in Doha, Qatar. The weather is muggy and hot, even though it is late in the evening. No one walks, drives, or bikes in this country; car is the preferred mode of
transport. I’m in my apartment now, in #2 Flamingo, Al Jazi Gardens. The apartment is baller. Two-bedrooms, each with its own large closet, bathroom, and a divided living room and kitchen, with tile
floors and AC in every room. The apartment is well-furnished, and someone thoughtfully provided some toiletries for us to use as well as some snacks and meal food. There is a small LG television with cable, a
DVD player, a large stereo, and suitable floral-print furniture in the living room. We have cell-phones provided for free, and a use of a rental car.
It’s easily the most baller place I’ve resided, and it’s nice to be treated like a VIP… although every resident in the city is probably much more wealthier than I’ll ever be, with Qatar having the first or second highest GDP in the world, Switzerland being the other country. The drive from the airport was kind of exciting, mostly because it is very dangerous to drive here. Although there are strict traffic laws, I feel few follow them in their gas-guzzling SUVs and there are many roundabouts where all hell breaks loose battling for space. The few people I’ve met seem generous, and the other TA’s seem sociable, amiable people. I haven’t met Roland yet, but I probably will tomorrow.
Pics later!
