My experiences in Doha, Qatar gave me a new perspective on intercultural interactions that I am so grateful to have gained. This was my first time traveling internationally, so prior I had never been immersed in another culture like we were. Going to Qatar was life changing experience full of learning and fun that left me with several reflections.
I think one of my biggest takeaways and shift in perspective was how safe it is in Qatar. When you ask the average American what they know about the Middle East, it doesn’t always draw the most accurate depiction of what it is actually like. There were several people that I told about my trip who mentioned being concerned about the safety of the area to some degree, but I have never been to a place that felt as secure as Qatar. There are many USA cities I have been to that felt ten times as dangerous, if not more, than anywhere I went in Qatar. Because we learned about that aspect prior to our trip I somewhat knew to expect it, but it was still a very unique experience that I hadn’t ever had prior. Another more minor impression I wasn’t expecting was how overwhelmingly clean and accessible everything was in public. Every restaurant, washroom, public transport, and etc. that you can think of was so well kept it was shocking. It was another thing that was completely opposite of a lot of major US cities I have been to. I seriously appreciated how easy and prevalent public transportation was.
A big takeaway I had that has more business implications is the importance of personal relationships when doing business in Qatar. The social intricacies of business relationships are much more complex than in the United States, and have much more bearing on how things get done. The communication is very different as well; the United States has a very low-context communication style in business, where in Qatar it is much more high-context. Both of these factors make doing business pretty different and were very important and beneficial to learn about.
A very lasting impression I was left with that I wasn’t expecting was that Qatar is like Disney World. It is made and operated in the image of the Amir (e.g “Walt Disney”) and if you buy in to what the Amir believes and wants then you will love the country (Disney World). If you disagree with things, maybe you won’t love it as much. For someone like myself who comes from a completely different world and lived experience, there were definitely some aspects that I witnessed that I did not agree with. But for a lot of the people there, the things they have to “buy in” to in Qatar are nothing compared to the struggles they have in their home countries. So, for them it is obvious why they would be happier and gain more from life in Qatar than some others. It is all about perspective.
Overall, I will never forget the memories and experiences I had in Qatar. It was an incredulous time that taught me so much and I am so thankful for being able to do it. I hope to get the opportunity to do more things like this in the future!
