It has been one week since we returned from our two week adventure in Doha, Qatar. Our second week was jam-packed with some amazing cultural and historical visits, activities, and company visits. One of my personal favorites was visiting the Islamic Cultural Center and having the privilege to sit in at the Mosque at the call to noontime prayer and while it proceeded. For the call, a man came up to a microphone and sang (in Arabic) about meeting at the Mosque to worship Allah. When I tell you it was one of the most beautiful things I have ever heard, I mean it. His voice filled the echoing mosque. As a woman, we were separated from the men, but this was actually advantageous as we were able to see both sides. Since the women’s prayer room was above the men, we could see rows and rows of men lined up on the carpet, as close as they could get to the most favored positions in the mosque (the front), while the women and young children above did the same. The chanting and simultaneous movements made it clear that everyone’s devotion to their faith was strong. I wondered to myself what that would look like in the US: if everyone was able– no, expected–to stop in the middle of the day, multiple times, to prepare for prayer, pray to their God, and then return to work. Everyone has ample time to meet at the mosque, wash before prayer, pray, and return without any fear of repercussions from their employer because their employer is more than likely right next to them on the floor worshiping. As a Christian, I wondered how much that devotion would change the faithfulness we see in everyday people.
As far as the business end goes, we learned a ton. SLB, Doha Cables, Doha Dates, and Hassad Foods welcomed us with open arms to take a glance into their everyday operations. We tried all sorts of food, learned more about cables than we ever wanted to know, and got to talk to some fellow Aggies at SLB. Many of these businesses have overcome their own challenges, but one common one they all faced was the blockade of Qatar by the Arab League in 2017. Many of them had to get creative in finding processes to produce and manufacture with what they had in Qatar because their neighboring countries were no longer exporting to them. By bringing in professionals in their fields and investing in people, they were able to grow their businesses to help the country sustain itself.
Overall, I would say my perspective has broadened considerably. Through being there for two weeks, I feel more open to new ideas, being uncomfortable, and excited about what else is out in the world. This was an amazing trip, with enough down time that you didn’t feel exhausted the whole time. It was nice to get to know the history of Qatar from peers through presentations at the beginning, so as we walked through the country throughout the following days, we could look at where that history could be found. If you are looking to learn about the Middle East, this was an excellent trip to get your feet wet and step out of your comfort zone without feeling completely overwhelmed with culture shock.
