Independence

As those who know me well, they know that I have an independent streak about me which may come across as surprising to some who may not know me quite as well. If you meet me at first you may think me quiet, reserved or not interested. In truth I am taking things in and if meeting you for the first time trying to figure you out.



So back to me and my independence…I recall the moments in my life that I viewed as exciting… those times when I felt as though I had the wind at my back and the ability to make any decision that I wanted. Sometimes those decisions were difficult and sometimes I may have wished I had taken a different course. However, it is independence that I have truly enjoyed and the ability to make decisions for myself or for others for that matter.


I know that when someone limits my independence or ability to make a choice or assumes I will only feel a certain way, that it truly irritates me and gets under my skin. It is the one thing I truly cannot stand.


So living in a country which in some ways people might feel discourages an independent streak, particularly in women, I have actually found in my professional dealings that most often it is not Middle Eastern, British or Asian men who are questioning a decision. In fact I feel like I am encouraged to make a decision and my authority to do so is not questioned. In many cases I have had individuals comment on my ability to make a choice or have a firm handshake. It is rather American men who I seem to be more challenged and questioned by. Maybe it is because they see independent women all the time and they think nothing of it? Or that some may feel the need to assert their independence more? I do find it interesting that the men from my own country can make me feel less than in some ways while men from other countries or other viewpoints never have. While I encounter difficulties at times of course in navigating things after being here for only 2 months, I seem to battle with American male independence more. Interesting. 

Photos from the Corniche, 25th of February 2011

One Month

One Month


It has been one month since I arrived and it feels much longer that I have been in Qatar, in part as I feel like I have accomplished quite a bit during that time.  During this month I have:


-Gone through my medical testing; been finger printed; had my blood drawn to confirm my blood type; started a new job; been invited to several dinners; met many new faces in Doha; gotten my Residence Permit; obtained my Alcohol License; opened a bank account; got paid; bought things; met new colleagues; established new partnerships; found colleagues I could turn to; started friendships; maintained contact with people who are important to me; blogged a few times; taken and posted pictures; became more interested in what was happening in the Middle East versus who was going to the Super Bowl; learned how to say thank you in Arabic (shukran); volunteered already in the community; while I was volunteering in the community ran into a vendor representing a company I was working with who was also donating to the community; met a student today who had been interested in going to Wayne State University for Medical School and shared that I was from the area; taught students how to plant and garden; began buying things for my apartment; taken a taxi; asked for rides; researched cars to buy; made friends with one of the security guards; made progress in the student center; trained some students; started running; kept walking; provided a listening ear; streamed lots of 80s on line music; found myself interviewed for a radio spot; heard myself on the radio spot (qfradio.qf.org.qa (the connection); met more people; watched BBC for Egypt updates; skyped; emailed; facebook chatted; messaged; and reminded of the friends that I have spread out world wide.