A Day of Culture

Everyone may assume that I have been spending all of my time hunting for groceries but I wanted everyone to know that I have in fact made time to enjoy the Qatari culture.  The people here are very proud of their culture and spend a lot of money to preserve their traditions.  The Middle East gets only bad press (thank you CNN) but in fact here they are proud people just doing the same everyday activities that you do.......like drive the Maserati, watch the maids and cooks do all the work, shop for designer clothes, count money and watch the investments soar upwards.

 

 

I luckily am not busy doing the above activities so I have plenty of time to be a tour this beautiful country. 

 

First I would like to admit that I am  not a huge I.M. Pei fan. (After what he did to the Louvre!)   

Anyway that is for another blog. In 2008 the Islamic Museum of Art opened in Doha.  I.M. Pei did a fantastic job designing this building.  Absolutely perfect on the outside and the inside.  It is filled with items from mostly the 8th to the 15th century. It is laid out well without being the least bit overwhelming like so many museums can be. It is a place you want to go back and roam through over and over.  There is a park in this area as well, but we did not have time to enjoy it as we had to head back home to get ready for the opening night of the Doha Symphony!

 



 

After a quick change we were off to the Qatar Opera House located in the Katara Cultural Village. The Opera  House is just one of many buildings in this area which are located along a beach on the Arabian Gulf.  First we ate at a Lebanese Restaurant - very yummy - and then found our way back to the Opera House.  We had seats in the sold out crowd surrounded by about 90% expats. Not a popular activity for the Qatari people.

The concert was fantastic - a little Beethoven and a little Arabic music.  The musicians come from all over the world and their talent was impressive.  The next concert we have decided to attend is the Brass Fanfare in November.

 

A very busy culture filled day which left me no time to count my money. I will need to get a maid to do that.

After all, I am just trying to fit in!

 

 



 



 

Most Popular Sport for Expats

When anyone asks what the most popular sport is in Qatar for expats, everyone expects that I would answer Soccer or (for some reason I can't explain) Football as they erroneous call that sport on this side of the world.

The honest answer is - Grocery Shopping.  Yes - the most popular sport for expats is shopping for groceries! After you leave your home country, you quickly realize what products you cannot live without. No temperatures above 100 degrees or humidity above 100% will keep you from finding such items as Peter Pan Creamy Peanut Butter.

Grocery stores here are described as "best for UK products", "best for Americans" or "best for Kiwis".  Going to these different stores becomes your own adventure shared only with the driver you had to hire to drive you around.  Suddenly that jar of peanut butter that costs $3.00 in the United States is $15 with the transportation costs.  But who cares - I am not about to feel the Agony of Defeat!

Occasionally you see someone with something you have been trying to locate. Now how you go about gettting the information from them is very important.  I will set the scene:  You are in the cafeteria at work and spot someone eating Chobani Yogurt.  Strawberry to be precise - I would rather have pineapple but strawberry would do in a pinch.  I quickly corner her, use the newbie card and ask where she got it.  She does not offer the information outright.  Her first answer is that is costs over $3.00 per container.  Do I look poor?  Excuse me, that is not what I asked!  I continue to stare - stare - stare - and finally get the store's location.  However, as I walk away, I hear her add "I bought all they had".
Ok  *%$?"!&#  -  game on!                  

On the other side of the field - this scene:  I am enjoying my Diet Mountain Dew for breakfast while I wait for my morning bus.  (No comments on my diet please because I do not care what you granola eating people think.  I usually have oatmeal but I slept in a little bit okay - Get off my back!)  Anyway, I see a newbie shifting through the crowd.  She walks right up and wants to know where I found Mountain Dew - Diet.  Not easy to find around here, but I quickly got a supplier after arriving here because I knew I could not give up the habit.  Now, being new and wanting to fit in, I give her the information. Then a few days later, I find out my supplier has none left.  Nope, none for me, all sold out. I wait another day and make another trek in 100+ weather for my supply. Nope, none for me, all sold out. 

Ok *%$?"!&# - I know where you live and and where you work.

And by the way, I have seen every episode of Burn Notice.  Game on!

Desert Weather

How is the weather in Qatar you ask?  Well, I moved the the desert...it is HOT! With an amazing amount of humidity added in to make sure the Dew point stays extremely uncomfortable.

Right now Americans say "above" or "below".  That means it is either above 100 degrees or pleasingly less than 100 degrees which this month means the temp falls to a delightful 99.  The warmest day of the year is statistically July 6th so I have something to look forward to in 2014.  I only arrived in August so the temp has not been above 110.  Evidently I missed the hot weather.

We are soon to be in "the season".  Never knew there was a "season" but around here people are getting very excited!  "The season" here is when the weather breaks and everyone starts to enjoy outdoor activities. All the restaurants open their outdoor dining and the beaches become busier without the threat of heat stroke.  The Ritz just had their first beach party but I think I will wait about 2 more weeks till "the season" really begins.  The reason everyone loves their beach party is that expats who want to show their knees and shoulders are allowed to wear shorts and sleeveless shirts....scandalous! I can't wait...my knees are getting lonely these days!

Since I arrived, I have not seen one hint of a cloud in the sky.  Perfectly sunny here 77% of the time!  I love that!  It is only considered cloudy about 1% of the time. There is a chance of clouds during the "cold season".  Really, they have one here.  That is what they call December to March.  Average temperature during the day is 77 degrees - "cold season"....bring out the furs because at night it occasionally hits the 50s.

I did not pack an umbrella!  Totally forgot.  I will need to buy one because it does rain here about 3 inches a year...yes that is the entire total for the year!  February usually brings in the most rain but I think flooding is out of the question.  Won't buy rain boots.  Ark not needed.

Hot or not, I walk everywhere.  You just get used to the temperature.  I have never lived anywhere I could walk to shopping, restaurants, etc.  Here I walk to the grocery store about 4 times a week.  I usually go around 4 pm right after work when the temperature is the highest.  You walk to the store and lose 2 lbs on the way.  Not bad.

Not everyone is able to buy a plane ticket to the Middle East to enjoy the weather.  But if you want to have the same experience, turn on your oven and jump in.  Of course remember to cover your knees and shoulders.  Cardigans work great in this weather.  Let me know how it feels!

Driving in Qatar



First I must apologize to the wonderful drivers in New Jersey.  After driving up and down the East Coast more times than I wish to remember, I totally believed that the drivers in New Jersey were the worst.  I now know that the fine drivers in New Jersey are not even close to the drivers in Qatar!

I have learned a few of the traffic laws here:

• After a light turns red, the next 3 cars are welcome to continue through the intersection.
• If you get a green light, you should immediately hit the accelerator and see how close you can come to hitting the cars that have run the red light.  You also get extra points if you scare the hell out of the poor people that were trying to get across street in the cross walk area.  Clearly, they should of walked quicker - it is their own fault.
• If you find an open road, you are allowed to go whatever speed you want - even if it is a narrow residential road.
• There is no reason to ever Yield - where ever you are going is the most important aspect of this concept and everyone else better watch out.
• Never let another driver know you are weak!  Always act aggresively at the wheel of your car.
• If anyone tries to get in your way, you should get as close as possible to their vehicle.  If there is a hair of space - you are not close enough!
• You should get as many family members in the car as possible.  Those seat belts are just a suggestion so please put the kids on your laps it saves space for others.
• Car seats - pain in the neck.  The child is much more comfortable being held on the mother's, or more often the nanny's, lap.

Now Qatar is trying to get a handle on this.  They have a motor vehicle accident rate that is extremely high.  Believe it or not, they are bench marking the accident rate in the U.S. as their goal.  Now in order to do this, they are doing 2 things.

1. Getting rid of the roundabouts!  They are everywhere!  The country did a fantastic job making them very beautiful but the city now has 2 million people.  Two million aggressive drivers in roundabouts does not work.  Especially when the drivers have no concept of there being lanes.  They just drive willy nilly.  Again, where ever they are going is way more important than your journey or the intergrity of your car's side panels or bumpers. And remember there is no YIELDING!
2. The Qatar government has stopped giving a driver's license to certain classes of workers - mostly the lowest paid workers.  This was to decrease the number of drivers on the roads.  BUT, the worst drivers I have seen, are all wearing thobes and driving really nice SUVs or sports cars.  It seem that the citizens of Qatar are the worst drivers!  Clearly, it is their road and they do what they want.

So, how do I get around you ask?  Well for work, a bus comes to my building and picks up a group of us and drives us to work.  If I need to leave the office for business, a driver takes me around.  At 330 a bus drives me back home.  If I need to go somewhere not during working hours that I cannot walk to, then I call Abdul. He runs the car service I use.  A car shows up to take me where ever I want.  I am very careful to not look out the windows - I may have a stroke.  Better to just look down at your phone or something.

So it is important to note, that I am counting the days till I can get a driver's license.  I am still waiting for my residency permit. Once this is in hand, I have to pass a written test and then a driving test - given for women at 0530! The government will not accept my driver's license from the U.S. despite the fact that they do accept many other countries licenses.
(They must think I am from New Jersey)

This game they play around here called driving could be a lot of fun and certainly part of the adventure!  I will wear a seatbelt.

What is your job?

 

What is my job you ask?  Well let me tell you what I am doing in Qatar - besides eating at some great restaurants and enjoying those free sauna treatments.

A little background information first.  In 1995 His Highness Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani and Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser founded Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development.  The purpose of this foundation was to simply improve the lives of the Qatari people.  As a part of this, they organized Education City of Qatar.  This is an area on the outer limits of Qatar - out there in the desert (actually it is all desert).  Currently in Education City there are 6 American Universities open to the citizens of Qatar as well as students around the world.  Currently the universities are: 

• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Weill Cornell Medical College
• Texas A&M
• Carnegie Mellon
• Georgetown University
• Northwestern University

In 2004 Qatar Foundation awarded the largest endowment ever for a medical facility - $7.9 Billion.  That is not a typo!  The decision was made to make this facility a center for excellence for clinical care, medical training and research.  Specifically it focuses on the care of infants, children and women, although the research will help many groups of patients.  Our partner is Weill Cornell Medical School and the new Sidra Medical Center is located in Education City.  The building was designed by the famous Argentine-American architect Cesar Pelli.  We are told it is a 5 star resort that will function as a hospital.

The emphasis here is the best.  We are expected to reformulate the current flow of care in the country and come up with the best evidenced based practice possible.  Not good or great but the absolute best!  Qatar Foundation will NOT tolerate anything less.  This is repeated daily - not in a bad way but to keep us focused on the ultimate goal.  Budget does not seem to be mentioned - just achieve the goal! (That is a huge shift from the American model which is just make the ridiculously tight budget)

This care model being utilized is based on Western standards so the clinical personnel being recruited come mostly from countries that already use this medical model - Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Canada and the United States.  Somehow, Sidra Medical recruiting got my name. Someone thought I had the knowledge to organize the Neonatal Intensive Care!

Currently I sit at a desk on the 8th floor of the Sidra Medical Center headquarters.  The clinical planning staff will not be moved to the hospital building until it passes commissioning which will be completed in 2014. The entire Neonatal Department consists of me and one other Clinical Leader (from Virginia!).  Yes, so far the 2 of us are given the challenge of setting up the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.  No managers - No Neonatologists yet.  Just us.  That is scary!  I am having heart palpitations even as I write that statement.  Luckily there are some Pediatric personnel that have been here longer and they are being very helpful as we start this marathon.

Currently there are about 500 employees of Sidra Medical Center but by opening they believe the number will be about 5,000.  Opening date at this time stands at early 2015 - we have a lot of work to do!

So when people ask what I do here - well I can answer that I sit at my desk on the 8th floor and wonder why in the world they chose me and hope that I am up to this awesome task.  It is an experience in nusing/medical care that I could not of hoped to experience during my career.  WOW!

What a Skyline!

        After 2 days of orientation inside a building, it was time to get outside.  Luckily, by the time we were done for the day, the temperature had dropped to a cool 98 degrees.  I met a few new colleagues in the lobby and we were off.  Our walking group consisted of all colleagues from Sidra Medical Center.  We were all new to Qatar except for our guide, who has been here for several months.  He had previously figured out how to get around all the construction sites and blocked roads in order to arrive at the Arabian Gulf.

Our walking group consited of 2 colleagues from Ireland, 1 from UK, 1 from Jamaica/NYC, 1 from Ethiopia and 2 from America.  We were the U.N. of walking!  One of the most amazing aspects of this job is how many different accents I hear on a daily basis.  I have a lot of trouble with Scottish and Irish.  The weirdest comment I have heard is that I have a nice accent.  Excuse me, I don't have an accent!

What they never mention in the travel brochures, is that Qatar gives out free saunas to anyone willing to walk outside. The entire country is one big spa treatment.  At this rate, I will never have dry skin and maybe a few less wrinkles. This must be why the Qatari women have such nice skin!

The walk was about 2 miles to get to the Corniche - the beautiful stone area around the Arabian Gulf.  Looking around at the skyscrapers and palm trees, it reminded me of Miami.  The area is stunning!  Okay, it was HOT!  By the time we arrived at the Arabian Gulf, I wanted to strip and jump in.  However, I thought it was a little early to get thrown out of the country!  The water did feel spectacular on my feet - warm but soothing.

After our 2 mile journey to arrive at this area, we suddenly figured out that we still had to return to our condos.  Now the temperature was down to about 95 degrees but we were out of water.  Poor planning on our part.  We could of gotten a cab but we entertained ourselves by talking about how many calories we had used up in the heat.  Also, I must admit that I thoroughly enjoy hearing about my colleagues other working experiences.  They have all been chosen because they are the best at what they do and I really respect them.

After arriving home, all I could think about was returning.  I can't wait to go back to the Corniche BUT next time I hope to not walk the 4 miles in sandals.  My sneakers have not made it from the United States yet!

Where  is Qatar?  This is the most common question I have been asked in the last 6 months.  This is followed closely by "WHY are you going?  The why is very complicated and those who know me well are even surprised!  I am not sure I know how I ended up here but so far the adventure has been wonderful. Of course I have only had one day of work. (More about that in another entry)  BUT I can educate everyone about the country. This will help in understanding later blogs.

Qatar is a small peninsula country about the size of Connecticut connected to Saudia Arabia.  I like to call it a thumb sticking out into the Arabian Gulf.  (This body of water is called the Persian Gulf on the other shore).  Just go to Google Maps! The Qatari nationals do pronounce it Qa-tar. The British say it a little differently but the locals think the American pronunciation is fine. I know this because I asked a Qatari!

About 1.9 million people live in Qatar with the vast majority living in the capital of Doha. However, only about 300,000 are Qatari nationals.  The rest are like me - expats invited to work in this wonderful Middle Eastern country.

Qatar has vast revenues from its substantial hydrocarbon resources.  It has the highest per capita income in the world with approximately 17% of Qataris listed as millionaires. (Have not met one yet and they are unfortunately not looking for blonde Catholic American)

Sunni Muslim make up 71.5% of the population, followed by 10% Shi'a Muslim and 8.5% Christian. The muslims are called to prayer at sunrise which is about 4am right now. The call to prayer is a beautiful sound - very melodious and calming. It does not wake me but I seem to be awake at that time.

Qatar is the location of the US Central Command's Forward Headquarters, sharing the base with the Qatar military. The country is a member of OPEC, the Arab League and a founding member of the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council).

Qatar became independent from Britain in 1971 and through careful ruling by the Al Thani family, has been able to turn around their economy to the present day manic building stage. I continue to be amazed at the amount of construction happening. Many of the sites are active 24 hours a day. I have a skyscraper going up next to my building. When I wake up for no apparent reason at 3am, I like to watch the very tall crane at work.
 Wow, that is a lot of info but I have been getting so many questions!  Please continue to send me messages either on this blog site or on Facebook and let me know what else you would like to know.

Now about why I have been asked to come here......you have to wait till the next entry!