، مرحبا
I’ve been learning about Arabic language and culture for about a year and a half now. Pursuing an Arabic minor, I’ve been able to get some exposure through language lessons 3-5 times a week, but I have never actually had the opportunity to visit the MENA region. That was one of the main draws to this particular study abroad– an opportunity to get my feet wet and practice using some of the language skills I have been learning in an immersive experience. Since being here for the last few days, my mind is constantly working in overdrive to attempt to read the signs I see all around me and make sense of them, as well as find familiar words. It is very convenient to have English translations in addition to the Arabic present. Most everyone in Qatar speaks English, as well as Arabic. The reality of learning Arabic and living in College Station is it is difficult to find opportunities to use it in real-time. However, even with some of the general background knowledge I had coming here, I did not fully understand how completely different Qatari culture would be from the United States.
Doha is a beautiful city, and it is clear the government holds its residents and business owners to high standards to keep the city this way. We can see the obvious cultural differences beginning with Islam being the state religion here. There are prayer rooms in every public place and calls to prayer that echo throughout. Most women and men are dressed in modest clothing with head coverings, many of the women in black and men in white. The differences run far deeper than this, though. Doha, Qatar is a luxurious place that has benefited greatly from the oil and gas reserves in the land. Underneath the modest clothing, we can see full faces of expensive makeup, designer bags and shoes, and an overall attitude of desire for the best. This idea is not just present in the people around us, but the architecture throughout the city. Where Americans may see these huge buildings as unnecessary costs, Qataris are expected to create unique spaces, and they take pride in doing so.
People take life slow here, and most locals do not come out until late evening. Being an early riser and a fast-paced go, go, go Type A personality, the idea of this is an adjustment I do not think I will be used to by the conclusion of our trip. There is, however, an exception to taking life at a slower pace: driving. Qataris are unafraid to use their horn or lay on it– whatever they see fit at that moment. Whether it is to get someone to move, let someone know you are there, or get the attention of a restaurant worker to tend to you in your vehicle, horns can be heard constantly in the city center.
The food has been incredible. One of my main goals on this trip was to try everything, not necessarily asking what it was before I did so. So far, I have been pretty successful, and it has been paying off (for the most part). The best recommendation I got was to try Karak, a milk spice tea that is famous in the Arabic Gulf Countries. I will be attempting to recreate it in the US with the tea set I purchased for $8 at the Souq Waqif in Doha.
I am looking forward to the next few days of business visits, going on a desert safari, enjoying an evening in a traditional Dhow boat, and using my Arabic more.
، مع السلامة
Caroline McCall
