I know, I know…it’s been a long time October 25, 2008

My apologies to those who check this blog for anything new.  It’s been way too long, and I really have no excuses.  I’m posting a link to some of my web albums….My new house/villa, Eid trip to Greece (Santorini, Crete and Athens), and my recent trip to Egypt as a sub for my admissions colleague.

Villa: http://picasaweb.google.com/Jduffy81/HousePics#

Greece: http://picasaweb.google.com/Jduffy81/Greece2008#

Egypt: http://picasaweb.google.com/Jduffy81/Egypt#

Otherwise, things are alright.  I feel as though I’ve developed something of a routine or “normal” life in Qatar, and yet it still seems somewhat surreal.  I think it’s because I know that this is temporary…and temporary in a different way than grad school was temporary.  Currently, Qatar does not feel like a place where I would want to stay for too long.  We’ll see though…I’m trying to take advantage of as much as I can.

In the past month or so, I’ve taken an open water scuba course and hope to get my certification soon.  Yesterday, I tried surk skiing (kayaking) and it was a lot of fun!  Hoping to continue those lessons, for fun and for a good work out.  I’m thinking about painting over the orange tones in my living room, so that will be a project.  I bought an SVU–Kia Sportage.  I will likely continue to fill in for my admissions colleague and go “on the road again” as an admissions counselor.  Those travels will include Bahrain, Oman, United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.  November will be a busy month!  Then I’m off to Jordan for about a week in December for the second Eid break, and then back to the U.S. for the holidays.

I’ll try to be better about updating this blog in the future.  Now that I have internet access again in my housing, I can try to post more regularly.  I miss so many people, places and things in the U.S. and I hope my friends and family are doing well.

Til next time…

Pictures of NUQ Students September 1, 2008

Check out some pictures of my wonderful and talented students!

Ramadan Kareem! September 1, 2008

Today marks the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan in the Muslim calendar.  Ramadan is a significant part of the Muslim religious experience, and in Qatar, it is a significant part of the expat experience as well.  During Ramadan, Muslims fast from sunrise to sunset–no food, no drinks (including water), no cigarettes, no sex, nothing.  The fast is broken at sunset (approximately 6 p.m. here), and Muslims partake in the Iftar dinner–basically the meal that breaks the fast.  While non-Muslims are not required to fast, the city of Doha makes adjustments to everything–business hours, restaurant openings, eating/drinking in public, alcohol sales–and this inevitably affects non-Muslims.

While today is only my first day experiencing life during Ramadan, I will try to paint a picture of life during Ramadan from my students’ sharing and tales from other expats who have been here longer than I.  Those who fast awake around 3 in the morning to eat their last “meal”–called sahoor–and then usually go back to sleep.  The students with whom I work will then have to wake for classes; we do not adjust our schedule because of Ramadan (you’ll find out why this is an issue later in the description).  Students go to their universities, and working adults go to their jobs.  However, those working typically only work Ramadan hours: 8 am to 1 pm.  But for those of us working for U.S. universities still work regular hours and if we want to contact any companies or even other organizations on campus, we may find it a little difficult to get our work done if it relies on those working Ramadan hours.  Culturally, it is most respectful to not eat or drink in front of those fasting.  However, it’s nearly law that one must not eat, drink or smoke in front of those fasting.  This means that I cannot eat anything in a public place, nor can I drink any water in front of any other people.  Today, I went into an office, with the window covered and the door closed, to eat my lunch.  If I wanted to run out to grab some lunch, I won’t be able to find anything open because all the restaurants are closed to help those fasting.  Meanwhile, my students are trying to stay awake and alert in class, because of no food in their system and their sleep schedule having been all messed up.  Their sleep schedule gets messed up as a result of the celebrating and late nights with family and friends during Ramadan, and then combined with a lack of anything in their system, their daily schedule is nearly reversed.   There is good  news for night owls, since nearly every business, restaurant and coffee shop is open til midnight-one-two am.  The Iftar dinner–the meal that breaks the fast–is the most important meal, and the normally chaotic traffic in Doha reaches near crazy levels.  The U.S. Embassy sends out regular emails to U.S. citizens in Qatar, and the most recent email notification strongly advised individuals to not be on the road prior to Iftar (around 6 p.m.) because the traffic and drivers become even more reckless as they try to reach their first meal of the day.

Now, even with all that said, I am excited to see the transformation and to talk with students about the month of Ramadan and their own spiritual transformation during this time.  My students, particularly the Qatari young women who are at NUQ, have been very open about their lives, traditions, and culture.  They have been incredibly gracious as I continue to ask questions and learn how Islam and Arabic culture (two different things) vary among different groups of people.

A product of Ramadan is also that social life–going out, etc–changes and calms down a bit for the expat community.  I’m looking forward to my life slowing down a bit, and hope to write more about my observations of life in Qatar.

Articles about NU-Q’s Opening in the Gulf August 21, 2008

PRESS RELEASE: August 17, 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Northwestern University in Qatar

Contact: Bob Ferrin (off. 423 0349; mobile. 670-8991)

Newest Education City Campus Begins Classes

Thirty-nine students, members of the inaugural Class of 2012, on Sunday began their studies at Northwestern University in Qatar, the newest partner of the Qatar Foundation in Education City.

The students are enrolled in the two undergraduate programs offered by Northwestern University in Qatar: journalism and communication. The journalism program, overseen by Northwestern’s Medill School of Journalism, prepares students for careers in print, broadcast and online news media. Northwestern’s School of Communication offers a major in Media Industries and Technologies, preparing students for management and creative roles in communication and media industries, and for responsible civic participation in the proliferating world of global media. Both of these programs are modeled on the highly regarded curricula offered on Northwestern’s campus in Evanston, Illinois.

More than 125 students from more than a dozen countries applied for admission to NU-Q’s inaugural Class of 2012. The members of the entering class include nine males and 30 females. Seventeen are enrolled in the journalism program and 22 in the communication program. The students are citizens of 22 different countries. Most attended secondary school in Qatar, but entering students were also educated in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia.

Sunday’s opening of classes was preceded by a Dean’s Convocation on August 10 and an intense four-day orientation program known as “Wildcat Welcome.” The Wildcat is Northwestern’s mascot.

Among the speakers at that Convocation was Doha resident Hannah Fraser-Chanpong, a graduate of the American School of Doha and currently a student at Northwestern’s Medill School in Evanston, Illinois.

“NU-Q is delighted to welcome such an impressively talented group of students to the Class of 2012,” said Dr. John Margolis, Dean of Northwestern University in Qatar. “We were gratified by the number of applications we received for this inaugural class, and we look forward to preparing the members of our entering class to assume leadership roles in the critically important areas of journalism, other communication and media professions, and other related careers.”

During the inaugural year, when only first-year students are enrolled, NU-Q students will be mentored by nine faculty members who, collectively, bring well over a century of professional and academic experience to their work in Qatar.

“Our students will find in the NU-Q faculty a group of scholars and professionals who are committed to providing an extraordinary educational experience,” Dean Margolis said.

According to Dean Margolis, the faculty will expand year by year, as additional cohorts of students join NU-Q.

On top of the world…. August 12, 2008

I have just a few moments as I get ready for bed, but I needed to post regarding my adventures in new student orientation.  We are half-way through orientation…an orientation that we pulled together in roughly three weeks.  Nothing has gone completely wrong (al humdilallah=thank God!) and our students are amazing.  The first day was a little quiet, as they were just getting to know each other or stay in the groups of people they already knew.  But there was a significant change today, as our staff could tell that they were getting excited about NU-Q, about their presentations for the end of the week, and for their growing relationships with each other.  It all culminated tonight at our evening outing: dinner at Applebee’s and bowling!  During dinner, the students were all moving around and talking to each other, getting each other’s mobile numbers, and even getting the waiters to sing “happy birthday” to one of the girls who is having her birthday in two days   Then came the bowling. Many of them didn’t want to bowl, but we told them it was mandatory fun, and they TOTALLY got into it.  They were goofing around, everyone was talking to everyone, they were having a healthy dose of competition…it was so great.  I took some pictures, but I haven’t uploaded them yet.  I’ll post them this weekend.  On the busses back to Education City, they were making up their own Northwestern Wildcat cheers, singing songs together, and really having fun.  It’s amazing to see the group transformation in such a short period of time.  I keep thinking how cool it is to only have 40 students to work with…at least for the first year.  Our entire staff will get to know these students soooo well.  And we don’t even really have to try to develop school spirit–they’ve got plenty of it!  It’s also been fun to see our staff come together even more than before throughout this week.  I couldn’t be happier….I’m on top of the world.

Learning the Ins and Outs of Qatar August 12, 2008

Disclaimer:  I starting writing this blog a while ago (four days into this adventure, obviously), and never posted it.  Sorry for the delay!

Well, four days into my time in Qatar, and my friends and colleagues are “schooling” me in Qatari culture, short cuts, and helpful tid bits.

#1:  You must be an aggressive driver–or else you will be munched by the crazy Land Cruisers.  Not too worry, I haven’t driven much here…but I am learning by watching others.

#2:  Qatar’s version of drive-thru–drive up to the front of the store and honk your horn.  The waiter/clerk will come out, ask you what you’d like, and even bring out the menu for you.  You can order an entire meal without having to leave the comfort of your air-conditioned car.  This works not only for restaurants, but other business and food markets!

#3: Qatari Applebee’s tastes the same at U.S. Applebee’s!

#4: Always use your blinkers/turn signals in roundabouts.  It keeps you safe.

#5: Wasta (Arabic for pull or influence) is very important in this society.  Thus relationships are also very important to cultivate wasta.

#6: Though you might think they’d have airconditioning for those waiting to get in to the U.S. Embassy, they do not.  Instead, you sit in a tent (with nice couches/chaises), but with nothing more than the tent to provide some shade.  It is all an experience.

#7: I have seen more Mitsubishi Lancers (my former car) here than I ever did in the U.S.!!  Mostly, they are rental cars.

I’m sure there will be more….

In general, things are still going well here.

Hello world! July 16, 2008

Here are some highlights from my first few days:

~Arrived in the evening (6 pm) on Thursday and was greeted at the airport by Chris and a fellow from Human Resources.  I was informed that my housing is not quite ready, and so I am being temporarily housed in the Education City Community Housing.  This is not a bad deal, since it is the same compound as where my supervisor lives, as well as most of Chris’s co-workers whom I know already.  It is a nice, one-bedroom apartment, and was fully furnished and stocked with food (including Oreos, fruit, tea, chips, ramen noodles, cereal, etc.)

 

~After settling in, Chris and I headed out to a farewell party for several of the other student affairs workers (at other branch campuses in Education City).  I had a chance to meet many of the people Chris has been talking about for a year, and was given such a warm welcome.  Just as I thought, I am very fortunate to have a community of people with whom I can socialize (and work) immediately.  There are so many great people here, and I feel that this community will be a great help as I transition.

 

~I got a full night’s sleep (nearly 12 hours!) on Thursday night, and spent part of Friday afternoon relaxing and unpacking some things.  Then Chris and I met up with two of his new co-workers and ventured out to Carrefour–Doha’s equivalent of a Wal-mart with a grocery store inside.  I had fun trying to translate Riyals (Qatari currency) into dollars, learning to navigate the supermarket, and getting to know Chris’s co-workers a bit.  Then we all headed over to Chris’s supervisor’s home for a dinner party for all of his staff and their significant others.  I was thrilled when the menu was Mexican food–enchiladas, fajitas, and even Spanish rice!!  Apparently, Curt (husband of Chris’s supervisor) went to three stores before he found Spanish rice, and he related to me a very important piece of advice:  When/if you find an item at the grocery store that you’ve been looking for (usually an American item or brand), you buy all of it, because you never know if it will be there the next time you come back!! 

 

~Headed back to my apartment last night, got a full night’s rest again (I’m counting my blesesings), and even though it is still technically the weekend, I am waiting for my supervisor to call so we can meet today and start working on the orientation schedule.  I even practiced my driving–from my apartment to Chris’s office–in Chris’s car, and made it here in one piece!! 

Thanks for reading, and I’ll try to post somewhat regularly as I get a computer set up and have access in my own apartment.