Dear Doha.
One year ago you welcomed me to a new home. This first year
has gone by incredibly quickly and you have taught and given me far more than I
could ever imagine. To be truthful, I was reluctant at first to call you home.
How long would I be here? Is home really a place where you can fit all your
possessions in two suitcases? Can home be a place where you have no friends and
family? At the end of year one I am proud to say this is home.
In my time here in Doha I have gained access to experiences
I could not imagine in my wildest dreams. In Doha, once in a lifetime
experiences start to become once in a year or sometimes once in a semester. I
have been fortunate here in Doha to have both financial stability as well as an
incredibly generous amount of paid leave. In the US, two weeks is standard. In
Qatar it is common to get 6 weeks or more. With this unique situation, I have
been able to able to experience things I could only have dreamed of before.
Doha has allowed me to watch of herd of elephants in Africa, see the girl of my dreams in New Zealand, to celebrate the 4th
of July on the streets of Bangkok, to see the underwater world at the Great
Barrier Reef, to look out from the World’s Tallest building, and so many things
in between. Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of just how incredible of a
situation it is in Doha and access to these opportunities. Where else can
visiting 10 countries in a year with a full time job happen?!
In addition to experiences, Doha has taught me just how much
I don’t know. Each and every day I not only learn something new but am also
exposed to just how much I am unaware of. While in Doha my global knowledge of cultures and regions
has increased dramatically but is still alarmingly low. I have experienced an incredible
amount of American privilege as nearly everyone I meet knows not only where I
am from, but knows of my country’s politics, specific states, movies, music,
and more. I wish I could say the same for my own knowledge of other countries.
Each day I am challenged to think differently and reframe my former thoughts. In
one year hear I have grown more than I would have in 5 years back in the US
both personally and professionally. As I look to the next year I can’t wait to
see what new lessons are in store.
Now all of this is not to say Doha is without its flaws.
Another big lesson from Doha is resiliency. Doha is frustrating. Changing
policies. Constant construction. Arbitrary enforcement of said changing
policies (like my parking ticket last night...I didn't even know we had parking laws!!!). Lack of access to information. Transient population. Questionable
human rights practices. Inequitable pay scales. And there are surely other
challenges I could list. But Doha has taught me to be resilient. To take
potential challenges and adapt to them. To take what could be perceived as a
negative situation and find the best in it. To think more complexly about the
big picture and not just the current moment. Am I resilient at all times? I
wish I was. But it is something I will continue to work at and make the most of
my time here.
When I first moved to Doha, I didn’t know what I was signing
up for. My life was full of question marks. At the end of year one I am proud,
fulfilled, and eager for more. It has taken time to finally feel comfortable in
Doha. To be able to be myself in group settings. To connect with people from
backgrounds I know nothing about. To find comfort in discomfort. This place has
already shaped who I am in more ways than I am even aware. To say I am thankful
to be here is an understatement and I want to continue to do as much as I
possibly can to give back to a city and country that has already given me so
much.
So Doha…I don’t care what they say about you…you’re alright.
As long as it’s cool with you I want to keep hanging out and see what happens.
Looking forward to another great year and whenever you’re ready to turn down
the heat just let me know!!!
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