So it's not been two actual calendar years. What I love about being an expat in the desert is that a "year" is actually a school year. Nine months. Not 12. Summers and Christmases are spent at home, where we now have a house to call our own.
But it has been two years. Half-way done, inshallah. Which brings me back to today's post.
I have been asked many times how I like it over here. There are things I love. There are things I "love" and yes, despite the harshness of the word, there are things I hate. So here they are in no particular order:
- I hate that there is so much poverty in the world that families are routinely separated so that one of them can come to places like Doha and earn a decent living.
- I hate that my idea of a decent living and theirs is so radically different.
- I love that I can read the Arabic alpahbet.
- I hate that there are no Child Restraint laws in Qatar and that I routinely see toddlers bouncing around the back seat of cars on the road, or worse, babies being held in the front seat. MAKES ME CRAZY.
- I "love" that come June there is no cold water from the tap. It's so hot outside that it heats the water pipes.
- I "love" that despite the Hardees, KFC or mini-market, not actually being drive-thrus, that all the locals have to do is honk their horn repeatedly and they will receive curbside service.
- I love that slowly but surely I'm learning to live in a metric world.
- I hate that I will always associate white Toyotal Land Cruisers with arrogant Arab drivers following behind you a millimeter from your back bumper flashing his light in impatience for you to get OUT OF THE WAY!
- I love that after two years here I dress more conservatively than I did when I first arrived.
- I love that when I go to the states I notice and am somehow amazed at how skimpily (is that a word?) American women will dress.
- I "love" how vendors here, while not understanding a word you say when asking a question will nod their heads and say "No problem. No problem" just to make a sale.
- I "love" that I live in a world where "Muster Point" and "Assembly Point" signs are common. "Toto, I don't think we are in Kansas anymore."
- I love Skype. I love my Blackberry. Both of which keep me connected to my friends and family back home.
- I hate that there is no mail delivery to my house.
- I hate that my internet browsing is censored.
- I love that gas is cheap and I don't have to pump it.
- I "love" that now I have to actually remind myself to turn off the car at the gas pump for safety reasons. I love that my friend from Egypt not only doesn't turn her car off, she leaves it in DRIVE with her foot on the brake.
- I "love" that I routinely park in parking lots that look like this:
- I LOVE that I have not once since I've been here ever worried about my or my family's personal safety, regardless of where I've been in the city or the time of day.
- I love that we live in a beautiful green compound
- and am thankful for not living in a concrete-walled compound.
- I love that Doha finally has a new highway which has improved my outlook on driving tremendously.
- I love that I now regularly use words like "inshallah" "soccer pitch" and "no worries."
- I love that you can take the girl out of Texas but you can't take Texas out of the girl when I use the word "y'all" in front of Europeans without giving it a thought.
- I love that my kids see veiled women and robed men and don't think twice about religious or politcal differences and will grow up appreciating the Muslim religion for what it is and not as a terrorist movement.
- I hate saying goodbye. Both to new friends moving onwards from Doha and to old friends back home each time I leave.
- I hate that I haven't blogged more about Doha and told more of those daily stories that seem to define life in Doha.
And finally, I hate that this experience is not appreciated and wondered at daily as we are busy doing normal family things, but love that in the years ahead we as a family will look back on this move as one of the best things we could have done for our children and family.
Ma salama for now.
Sharon
