Initial Impressions of Doha, Qatar – Christopher Burling

Upon arriving in Doha, one of the first things that caught my attention was the architecture and infrastructure that the country has developed. The shapes and styles of the buildings and the materials they are composed of vary greatly. From the older limestone/clay forts to the intricately-designed towering skyscrapers, it provides an interesting juxtaposition between the historical buildings and those generated from more modern wealth.

Within the first few days, I came to be incredibly fascinated learning more about the history of Qatar by visiting museums and speaking with people who live here. Despite the extreme challenges Qatar has faced throughout time, it is wondrous how they have turned their country into a global leader for international business, supported heavily by the oil and gas industry. Although, they have proficiency in many other industries and their ability to be self-sustaining is incredible to comprehend; especially within the agricultural sector given that the land is largely barren desert.

The differences I perceive between Qatar and the United States are very pronounced, especially having no other international travel experience to compare it to. The most apparent one to me is how enveloped the Islamic faith is in the cultural and societal practices. Prior to this I had little knowledge of Islam, and learning about how and why their religion is so intertwined in their lives was very interesting because that is not nearly as common in the United States. A large majority of Qatar’s population are Muslim, so almost all daily life is centered around that, whereas in the US there is much more variety in the religions practiced and almost no cultural or societal norms based on any one religion. Another facet that is very different is the expectations of women in this country. It is required that Qatari women are taken care of their whole lives by either their father or brothers if unmarried, and if married by their husband; they have the option to work if they please, but it is not expected for them to have a career. In the US it is not required that all women have a career, but it is clear there is a much larger percentage of women in the US that work compared to Qatar. The last stark difference I find is the way the government and security of Qatar is structured compared to the United States. Qatar is ruled by a royal family, which is totally different from the governmental structure of the US. Also, security in this country is at a maximum and taken very seriously; there are cameras everywhere with constant surveillance, and they take even minor violations of the law very seriously compared to the US.

Overall, I have treasured the experiences, memories, and friendships that I have been so lucky to gain so far in Qatar. I am so excited to see where this trip takes us next!