hmm.. the people we are!

Well, I've been writing here for a long time now. You guys might have a hard time putting together the real picture of me since all I post is a little bit of this-and-that... hardly covering the entire best parts of my life.

This year has gone ahead good so far! Thankfully, I'm still single and haven't given in to any second thoughts.

My mind is pretty blank now, although I have had a great morning, and I do not want to force a blog post...The clock says 10:10 in my Nokia C6. It might be a little early,  as all the clocks in my room are a little early.. now, I have forgotten which clock is faster and which isn't. It helps though, as I wake up screaming "Oh lord! I've slept so much!" And breathe relief when the clock in my car tells me the right time. Its funny how I can surprise myself everyday!

hmm..

So I'm almost half-way through this semester. Political Science is going great! Its like a breeze through the semester. Journalism 301 is keeping me on my toes and sending me around for never ending interviews. Religion 242 is hard. Lets wait for the midterm results and I'll let you guys know.
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I wonder where Idi is. Its been a while. He got married I think, and then just disappeared. Well everybody does, and it is expected. Its just that I go back in time and remember when I told him that it's going to be a shit if he gets any closer and he was so sure about what he would do!

Now, that what I don't like! Guys who think that they are so sure of what they want!

It's better to tell a girl: "I'm not sure how long I'll stay, but as long as I'll be with you, I'll be with you. Lets just expect for today!"That's realistic.

hmm..what else?

I went to ghariyya beach again today. The water was freezing but after swimming a while, it became better. I had a good time. I'm back in my room now, working on the expatriate women article. Viqar says if I'll get done before 1:00 a.m. I can join moodi and him for ice-cream at wakra. I'll try my best to finish up by 1:00.

When cultures co-exist!

A walk through the City Centre mall in Qatar during the busy hours of the evening reveals the diversity of cultures co-existing in this country.  People come here for shopping, relaxing in cafes and some for just taking a stroll. You can see veiled women, people in casual wears, shorts, t-shirts, jeans and occasionally knee-high skirts or sleeveless tops. But are these cultures tolerant of each other to exist side by side? Does the deeply religious core of this country fear that influence of the western traditions and styles might corrode their Islamic identity?

Doha News, a news blog run by Shabina Khatri an American journalist, residing in Doha, and who is also a Lecturer at Northwestern University in Qatar, recently brought up this issue in her site which gave rise to different opinions and suggestions by people.  Most of the people who commented thought that in a different country one must adapt to the circumstance they face there and not doing so is arrogance on the part of the person. On the other hand, some of the comments displayed anger at Qatar for allowing such intolerance. “ Ridiculous, they want to use all the foreign brands, they want foreign tourism, they want EVERYTHING of the west and yet they have ZERO tolerance to the western culture or dressing sense,” said AJ in a comment. “In my opinion I think the veiled woman was just jealous, since her religion and state would not allow her (A MUSLIMAH) to dress that way.” ( Read the blog and comments here. )

I personally think that one can read the guidelines in Qatar Visitor guide that mentions the expectations in this country in different issues before coming here. Moreover, when one sees how others dress up in this country, a common sense reveals itself that they can dress modestly, not triggering anger or hurting religious sentiments.


Although 4 years ago, Qatar was deciding on issuing a dress-code for everyone, one should be grateful that this country has not specified such strict laws that call for covering the hair or wearing an Abaya or similar rules.

Click the Picasa link below for some pictures of choices people made today afternoon at City Centre. Note that most people understand the idea of dressing modestly.

Link: https://picasaweb.google.com/114840584967504600727/February252012

A boat trip and many thoughts

I took a boat trip recently and looked around at the magnificent buildings of different shapes and sizes. I stood on the edge of the boat wondering how I got here. All the things of the past, every step I took, people I met, my needs, their needs... I looked back at my friends on the boat. They had started a conversation with the boat-man.

Good times.

Panic

The Arabic lady walked in. Her perfume so strong that it opened up my blocked nose.

I know I sound weird! But it's a fact!

I have had this cold for almost half the year. I keep sniffling all day and wake up between late night hours to blow it out each night.
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Moodie just left the table and went for gym with Tameem. I personally think that the gym has started working wonders for him. He even has an enthusiasm for studies... something that took me the whole of break-year to understand. Waqar sees the change too. I think it's the gym that helped him find focus on other things!

100 days left for my classmates to graduate. I wouldn't have been a year late had I the means to get it done last fall.

But! The good news is that I'm actually studying this time. Especially my Politics class is helping me understand the world around me as we analyze every single detail of legitimacy of Qatar. Last 3 years I did a make-do through University by working on deadlines and skipping my readings. I did not have the state of mind to study those years..I was lost and depressed. The break year has lifted my spirits to go back and get an education. So, its better that I leave University with knowledge rather than be a graduate and yet ignorant of simple things.
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Moodie has the evening on his face. Unprecedented gloom.

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that 1,100 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by, and a middle aged man noticed... there was musician playing. He slowed his pace, and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping, and continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried, but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally, the mother pushed hard, and the child continued to walk, turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money, but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the most talented musicians in the world. He had just played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, on a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste, and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

One of the possible conclusions from this experience could be:

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

At least i got my friends!

So I'm teaching this Friday again.. I try to evade it by keeping substitutes. There is no escape this time. So the 6-11 year old will be with me this Friday and I don't know what to prepare exactly.
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  I'll be writing the motor-show article for the magazine this time.

I found a new cafe here in Qatar. "Aroma Cafe"
Really expensive sheesha, but a place that I can work from morning till night to write stories on deadlines.

So I'm finally giving up my Aveo.

More Changes, Sweeter Ones

Rejection brings out true colors, to what a person will do if you deprive them of hope. It's just procedure. Do I sound mean? I'm just being rational.

Some time ago in my life I drew a line between myself and the rest of the world. People talk so beautifully, they disregard half-truths and believe in what they want to believe, for a short time, at the expense of another person's stability in life. "Your my only one.." "I swear I will never change.." "My family is yours..." "Everything I have is yours..." "I'll always be the same..." "Even if you change and leave me.. I'll never change." Bullshit!

I remember my sister as a person with a very strong attitude. Nothing affected her. At least she pretended that it didn't. I often hoped that I could be strong like her. But this "strength" is not a characteristic, as it formed by development of certain feelings, and the disregard of the others.
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So, this guy called me yesterday to announce something that I've been expecting. I was expecting it, because it wasn't the first time for me to hear a sudden change in the mind of someone I cared. I was casually prepared this time. Two years ago, I would have been upset. I would have wondered were I went wrong. But now it's an everyday thing to see people come and go.

So this guy got the message, that I wanted to deliver, few months ago when I did not return his messages and calls and totally ignored his existence. And boom! he changed. I must admit I would have been weaker had I not had good friends to catch my back... I wish I had them in March 2010 too. Thumbs up to you guys! (Raphael, Moodie and my Bohemian!)
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They say you make a mistake once, and the second time it's a choice.

Tupac in my head... Keep ya Head up.

Some say the blacker the berry, the sweeter the juice
I say the darker the flesh then the deeper the roots
I give a holler to my sisters on welfare
Tupac cares, if don't nobody else care
And uhh, I know they like to beat ya down a lot
When you come around the block brothas clown a lot
But please don't cry, dry your eyes, never let up
Forgive but don't forget, girl keep your head up
And when he tells you you ain't nuttin don't believe him
And if he can't learn to love you you should leave him

Cause sista you don't need him
And I ain't tryin to gas ya up, I just call em how I see em
You know it makes me unhappy (what's that)
When brothas make babies, and leave a young mother to be a pappy
And since we all came from a woman

Got our name from a woman and our game from a woman
I wonder why we take from our women
Why we rape our women, do we hate our women?
I think it's time to kill for our women
Time to heal our women, be real to our women
And if we don't we'll have a race of babies
That will hate the ladies, that make the babies
And since a man can't make one
He has no right to tell a woman when and where to create one
So will the real men get up
I know you're fed up ladies, but keep your head up

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University is keeping me busy. I can't believe that I actually flipped through year 1,2 and 3 without fear and without reading a page or taking notes and casually submitting assignments on the 12th hour. I mean, what was wrong with me?

Now that I'm back, the former over-confident girl that I was, is now totally panicking.  I read my text (like a high-school freak), look through library resources, and finally makes notes in class that I read for fun during casual hang outs with friends. I've become a zombie who researches extra topics and calls up magazines to pitch my story and drink to cheer the publication of my stories anywhere around Qatar.

People around me has changed too. It's an overwhelming discovery that when you change, your environment changes with you.

So let me describe just one person Jassim, my top nerd of all times, who ironically appears different than the ideas he proposes. Well, you really cannot hold him accountable to this fact because his intentions are justifiable.
He walk into university campus past noon since all his classes start late. He hangs out with his buddies (who happen to be in the basketball team) and go for practice past noon... so our slender "not too sporty" Jassim gets approached by the student body for information on who is playing and where.
He then gets lunch, an ear piece of his headphones in his ear and another hanging from his collar, ordering food and laughing to himself. You might think he's one of those post-modern (hey yo! man!) Arabs, who listens to black music all day... ( Jassim was actually listening to the continuing series of podcast about Ludwig Wittgenstein).

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Going to bed early today. Class starts at 5:00 p.m... so i can sleep in.

Bulletproof - David Guetta

You shout it loud, but I can't hear a word you say
I'm talking loud, not saying much
I'm criticized, but all your bullets ricochet  
you shoot me down, but I get up
 
I'm bulletproof, nothing to lose fire away, fire away  
ricochet, you take your aim fire away, fire away
you shoot me down, but I won't fall  
I am titanium you shoot me down, 
but I won't fall I am titanium

So according to the new class schedule from University, I have no class on Thursdays.  I think it will be really fun to have three days for weekends.
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Feels good to be back in University.

Back to University

So the year break in over, and I'll be going back to University tomorrow.

Time went by so fast... so did the people who came and went with the wind.

During the past year, I wrote about 14-15 articles for magazines, Worked for developing content for a business website, had fun working with Asian cup, DTFF, and Arab Games.  I made some amazing friends too...

Now, back to Uni from tomorrow. I still have the magazine job, but I still need one more part-time.

Laters, after my first day at Uni.

A random conversation at a Diner

I left the washroom and walked back to my table.

Man 1: Where are you from?
Me: India
Man 2: We were betting here. He said Tunisia. I said Syria.
Me: Liars (in my mind) Oh no! I'm not.
Man 2: What do you do?
Man 1: She comes here every other day. She is صحافية 
Man: OH! Where?
Me: Magazine and for webpages of companies.
Man 1: you know Arabic?
Me: Shame, not yet... I learnt it at an organization... can manage.
Man 2: Your friend, he comes here he is from syria.
Me: ya. He''' will come now.
Man 1: Syria and India are friendly countries of Qatar. Come sit with us.
Me: Thank you very much.I'''''"m working on some article. Need to give in today. 
Man 2:Good Luck.
Me: See you guys.


Back at my table now. Just got done with the article: "Fun Fact: How to Stop Time" Now working on "Arab Games article" and at night I got to work on "Car Exhibition of street 10" article.All to be done by today.

If I get off mood, I''"ve recently found a new technique to get back in mood.
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Thats for laters.... now back to work

The Milk Of Sorrow

Last night was my "last" night-shift for Arab Games. 

The games are over... the experience was different and splendid as to this was the first job that I did in my life where I was accredited a position as a manager. More than the position, the people working with me made everything come together. We made through very well!

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Watching the movie "The Milk Of Sorrow"

It is a true story. 

Fausta is suffering from a rare disease called the Milk of Sorrow, which is transmitted

through the breast milk of pregnant women who were abused or raped during or soon after

pregnancy. While living in constant fear and confusion due to this disease, she must 

face the sudden death of her mother. She chooses to take drastic measures to not follow

in her mother's footsteps.

Director Claudia Llosa follows her award-winning feature directorial debut Madeinusa with this stark 

meditation on a grim period of South American history in which approximately 70,000 people were 

murdered between the years 1980 and 2000. Fausta (Magaly Solier) has fallen ill with a disease 

passed down from mother to daughter though breast milk. But Fausta's affliction isn't biological; it 

strictly affects Peruvian women who were raped or abused during those two terrible decades of 

persecution. While those days are long gone, Fausta stands as a living reminder of the horrors that 

once plagued her country, her malady a deep-rooted fear that stripped the young innocent of her soul. 

After Fausta's mother dies, the horrified girl is forced to confront her greatest fear by staring straight

into the black heart of her own paranoia. Now, as Fausta sets out to discover her own path to freedom, 

she inserts a potato into her vagina in order to protect her body from unwanted intruders.

. 

So.. night shifts are going great. They made me the "Client Services Manager" for Transport. Not stressful work. Big responsibility. Amazing people and good food. That's everything in a nutshell.

Pass

That's Tahir. Say Hi! ......I wear one of those outfits too.

It's late night. My shift's just started.

Cars awaiting dispatchal

Some of the things I help writing down

Arab Games 2011

Working in the Airport terminal for the Arab Games. The fun part is, I'm working night shifts 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. There are several terminals around Qatar... and a lot of us who signed in together got spread out in many areas. Well, it's a great way to meet people of different nationalities.

Yesterday I left the games tent with Dexter, for a smoke and a break... and cold wind seeped into jackets bringing a chill of delight. Winter nights.