As I write this last entry in our Qatarlogue, the packers are bundling up everything that we are shipping home. Although we never put up many pictures, the place looks pretty bare & all eleven carpets (tribal rugs) have vanished from the floors. There are many things we will miss about Qatar: an easy lifestyle (for us), warmth whenever we want it (& even when we don't), exciting & unusual architecture, some good friends (Qatari & ex-pats), the fascination of the desert, & much more. There are other things that we won't miss: an artificial way of living, the anarchy of driving here, & the absence of family & contact with friends in Canada. But the past two years have been good ones for us. We have grown to understand much about the Middle East & the Arab way of life, & we appreciate the kindness & generosity that so many Qatari have shown us. We will follow with curiosity the growth & evolution of this country as it faces new & daunting challenges in the coming years. We will wonder how Qatar will deal with the imbalance of a population made up of 80% ex-pats, most of whom are migrant workers, how the country will struggle towards a reasonably democratic political structure, & what role Qatar will play in a world where human rights, the environment, & regional conflict will create new & huge demands. Will Qatar be the herald of a brave new world, or will it survive only as an oasis of wealth & luxury in a desert of crisis in the midst of the developed & developing world? Qatar has so much to give & so much to lose. We hope that it will find its own right path, insha'allah إن شاء الله
As I write this last entry in our Qatarlogue, the packers are bundling up everything that we are shipping home. Although we never put up many pictures, the place looks pretty bare & all eleven carpets (tribal rugs) have vanished from the floors. There are many things we will miss about Qatar: an easy lifestyle (for us), warmth whenever we want it (& even when we don't), exciting & unusual architecture, some good friends (Qatari & ex-pats), the fascination of the desert, & much more. There are other things that we won't miss: an artificial way of living, the anarchy of driving here, & the absence of family & contact with friends in Canada. But the past two years have been good ones for us. We have grown to understand much about the Middle East & the Arab way of life, & we appreciate the kindness & generosity that so many Qatari have shown us. We will follow with curiosity the growth & evolution of this country as it faces new & daunting challenges in the coming years. We will wonder how Qatar will deal with the imbalance of a population made up of 80% ex-pats, most of whom are migrant workers, how the country will struggle towards a reasonably democratic political structure, & what role Qatar will play in a world where human rights, the environment, & regional conflict will create new & huge demands. Will Qatar be the herald of a brave new world, or will it survive only as an oasis of wealth & luxury in a desert of crisis in the midst of the developed & developing world? Qatar has so much to give & so much to lose. We hope that it will find its own right path, insha'allah إن شاء الله
