Qatar has been an interesting experience so far, but it has not been exactly what I was expecting in the least bit. There are similarities between here and the U.S., for example driving is practically the same as well as some select stores in the mall. However, there are also many differences, such as mall culture here is more important to everyone than it is in the U.S. There are grocery stores and pharmacies in the mall, as well as large entertainment shows on a big stage for everyone to enjoy. Something I did not expect to see here was a Victoria’s Secret in the mall.
Perhaps the biggest difference in culture stems from the national religion of Islam rather that Christianity like in the U.S. This affects the diets here as no pork or alcohol is consumed in the country so things like pepperoni and bacon are not as they are back home. Perhaps the most beneficial difference to their diets, is the requirement that all food be halal. This means that all their food is required to be safely prepared and does not contain any harmful ingredients. In contrast, we know all the food in the United States is grown with harmful pesticides and genetically modified to be bigger. Here, portions are significantly smaller, and the food itself is smaller, but I enjoy the peace of mind knowing that my food is natural and healthier than it is back home.
I am happy to say that my experience in this country has broken many stereotypes I initially had of this part of the world, and although I am aware some of them may still be true in select places, that is not the case here in Doha. The biggest example I can think of is the way women are treated, as I thought they were treated more as objects with no rights, and that is simply not true here. They have the ability to drive, spend their days in the malls and nail salons, and have rather nice lives compared to what I initially believed.
