Following my first impressions in my Qatar post, I?ve experienced and seen a lot more of Qatar and my perspective has changed in some areas. Mainly, as a foreigner, I pictured Qatar as a super strict and almost scary country, but the major thing that has changed my view of this is talking with local students from Texas A&M Qatar. The local students do a lot of the same things that college students back in the United States do and enjoy many of the same activities. Additionally, despite there being a lot of security everywhere throughout Qatar, most of the time it just provides a lot of migrant workers with jobs to keep people safe rather than them stopping people from having fun. To follow up on my previous post where I mentioned that everyone in Qatar is so friendly and hospitable, this has not changed one bit. Qatar is a super welcoming and clean country, unlike what I had ever expected.
My time here in Qatar over the past two weeks has been nothing short of incredible. I?ve been to all eight municipalities of Qatar, from the urbanized city of Doha to the more rural parts of Al Zubara. Out of all of the many activities I?ve done and places I?ve seen throughout the duration of my stay in Qatar, I?d like to highlight and discuss my top five.
Starting off with number five, the company visits to Hassad Food. I really enjoyed the multiple trips to Hassad Food?s various agricultural branches and through this, I was able to get a better picture of how Qatar feeds its people and is working toward self-sufficiency. The first part of this process is the producers, in terms of what I saw it would be the very advanced greenhouse farms and the alfalfa crop circles. Hearing from local experts on how they regulate temperature, humidity, and the volume of water through various means was super insightful. The other major branch of Hassad Food I got to see was the packaging and distribution center, where crops from dozens of farmers are collected, graded, sorted, and stored to be sent out and sold. Within this facility, they also packaged and distributed dates, which are a huge part of Middle Eastern culture. Overall, the company visits were a great learning opportunity on not only Qatar but also the agriculture business, which is an area I didn?t have much background in.
Subsequently moving along to number four, the tour of a Qatar mosque. I knew little about Islam?s teachings, beliefs, and traditions prior to the visit. However, after being informed, I realized how Islam in principle is much more similar to Christianity and Judaism than I previously thought. Many of the same important figures in Christianity are also important in Islam and play a major role. I believe seeing a mosque or taking a tour is something any person should at least experience as it is important to gain a better appreciation for and understanding of other religions that may be different from our own.
Following up at number three is Souq Waqif. This is a must-see destination for anyone visiting Qatar. The Souq Waqif is a marketplace located within Doha that sells many traditional Middle Eastern items, souvenirs, clothing, and spices. Additionally, there are many delicious restaurants in the area and the whole Souq Waqif gives a more traditional Qatari feeling, which is refreshing from the large modern skyscrapers that are nearby. Near the center of the Souq Waqif, you can find a small restaurant called ?Tea Time? that sells authentic Karak chai. This was the best Karak chai I had on my whole trip. Overall, the Souq Waqif is a delightful traditional marketplace where you can learn more about Qatari culture, dine at some tasty restaurants, and even pick up a souvenir before you leave.
Next is the number two spot, a dhow cruise. A dhow is a traditional form of boat used by the Qatari in the past to collect pearls, which was their main source of income prior to the 1930s. Presently, you can go on a dhow cruise out into the Persian Gulf, which is just what my group and I did. We spent time swimming, eating a BBQ feast, and dancing. It was wonderful spending time with everyone and just enjoying the night. I had never been swimming in the ocean before, and to be doing it after jumping, flipping, and diving off the dhow was a memory I won?t forget. It was genuinely an amazing experience I would recommend anyone to try for themselves.
Finally, in the number one spot is the overnight desert safari. My group and I began the evening by driving four-wheelers in the desert. All I have to describe is driving at 40 miles per hour in the desert alongside friends is pure joy. Afterwards, the group jumped into the Toyota Land Cruisers and drove through the dunes feeling every bump on the drive. We arrived at the campsite and enjoyed a wonderful buffet of Middle Eastern food to fill us up before bed. In the morning we explored the beach, climbed the dunes, and rode camels. The camel riding was a euphoric experience as I soaked in the moment as I had never imagined myself being in that situation in the middle of the Middle East. Truly, the overnight desert safari was unlike anything you can do in the United States and every tourist should experience it to get a taste of local Qatari recreation.
Without a doubt, I have no regrets about coming to study and experience Qatar this winter. Thanks to this trip I?ve learned how to be open-minded to other cultures, religions, and people through my experiences with the local people and places such as the mosque. Being open-minded will help me in my future career to conduct business with people all over the world and be able to work effectively with any co-worker. Additionally, I?ve gotten better at adapting thanks to this trip. Whether it is adapting plans for the day or adapting to expectations, it is important to be flexible. This helps my future career as I?m bound to be put into difficult situations in my work life and knowing how to navigate those situations effectively will make me a better employee or leader. All my thanks to Stephanie Martinez and Dr. McFarland for making this such a life-changing experience through their leadership, as well as Mays CIBS for making this opportunity possible in the first place. I?m already counting down the days until my next adventure to explore what else the world has to offer.
