Backwater Weekends and Education City in the News

In the time that I have been in Doha I have met an incredible amount of Indian nationals. This makes sense because India passport holders make up nearly 25% of the total population of Qatar totally over 500,000 people. The vast majority of these people come from Kerala, a southwestern Indian state known for its lush green landscape and backwaters. The scenery in Kerala has also been called “God’s Own Country” for its striking beauty. Keeping all of this in mind, it has been a goal of mine to travel to Kerala since arriving in Doha.

This past weekend I finally got the chance as myself and travel buddy Kevin D’Arco took a three day holiday to float down the backwaters and find out what Kerala was all about. While we were there we were able to take a day out on a house boat, relax at some beautiful resorts, explore some local markets and see influences from Jewish, Catholic, and Islamic religions. We also met a lot of interesting individuals, the most interesting of which was an Indian Naval Engineer who went by the name Raghu. We met Raghu during a game of billiards and we proceeded to spend the rest of the night with him learning how play properly, having India’s entire history narrated to us, being educated on the benefits of being vegetarian, and attempting to solve all of India’s economic woes. We tried to get Raghu to be our life coaches but were unsuccessful. Although our time in Kerala was short we were both happy we had the chance to see where so many of our fellow Doha residents call home. 

Shifting gears a bit, some of you may have seen the Washington Post article from earlier this week titled “In Qatar’s Education City, US colleges are building an academic oasis”. If you haven’t you can access it here:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/in-qatars-education-city-us-colleges-are-building-an-academic-oasis/2015/12/06/6b538702-8e01-11e5-ae1f-af46b7df8483_story.html

Education City is a really difficult initiative to describe to outsiders and one that I continue to develop an understanding for, even after having been here for four years. That being said, I think the article gives a good overview specifically around enrollment and budgetary figures that are difficult to come by, even here locally. The tone in certain sections is a bit presumptuous and judgmental of the foreign culture and is surprised at the level of sophistication and development that exists, but that is to be expected.

There is no denying that running academic institutions in Qatar could be seen as controversial. There is Qatar’s human rights track record, there is academic freedom, there is budgeting, there is brand management of main campuses, and many more challenges in operating such a model. But when you take back and look at what is really happening here, Education City transcends many of these challenges. During an era that has been marked by strained US and Middle East relationships I think Education City serves as a beacon for hope as education provides a way to overcome global conflict and challenges. Is this idealistic? Sure. Do I think our budgetary numbers to work towards this vision are inflated? Yes. But growth and change takes time. As Education City continues to build upon its first ten years of success, I am interested to see what the next ten years bring. 

As a final thought, take a look at the comments section. The discourse there is fascinating to me and demonstrates an inability to see from another person’s perspective, unfounded generalizations, and islamophobia. I would go so far as to say an Education City education would do a lot of good for the commenters as we graduate students who are culturally savvy, globally minded, and well situated to work in a global context. 

This weekend I head to Salalah, Oman for the annual Outward Bound course we host through the Student Center. I have never been to this location and am looking forward to a great 4 day/3 night hiking journey with 20 incredible students. Will report back when I return!

Pre-Thanksgiving Cornucopia!

Getting ready for Thanksgiving, this post will be a cornucopia of sorts! Featuring a little of this and that from the Doha life over the past few weeks. Speaking of Thanksgiving, we’re in the midst of a turkey shortage!!! Evidently we are feeling the effects of the avian flu that has gone through the US in the last year. Check out more info here:

http://dohanews.co/qatar-residents-struggle-to-find-turkey-ahead-of-us-thanksgiving/

 

Winter has arrived and that means camping season is upon us! We have been able to get out of the city a few times in recent weeks, highlighted by our most recent camp trip that featured an evil santa gift exchange, DJ table, and a beautiful inflatable shark! We threw together some clips from our last two trips for your enjoyment so check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFCcGr5VB54

Some of you may have heard about the rain in Doha today as well, it was insane! We had a year’s worth of rain in just a few hours and the country essentially shut down. There are some great images and commentary in this Doha News Article:

http://dohanews.co/heavy-downpours-in-qatar-lead-to-flooded-roads-school-closures/

And finally for those who still don’t really know what is happening out here in Education City, the USA Today did a nice piece today and actually interview several of Kristal’s colleagues from Northwestern. Give it a read!

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/11/24/doha-education-city-american-universities/76063224/

Kristal went back to the states this week to spend thanksgiving at home while I will be here in Doha sharing it with the Doha family. The semester is coming to a close and we are looking forward to our Christmas holiday which will be spent in London, Ireland, and Scotland! Will post updates along the way! Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Why I Mo.

Movember. The time each year that brings men from all across the world together under one unifying symbol, the mustache. Now Movember aside, mustaches are quite fashionable right now. Just go on to pinterest and search the word “mustache”. No but seriously, it is really entertaining. You will find mustache necklaces, bowties, stuffed animals, and comforter sets! Who buys that kind of thing? Playing off this trend I think it is easy to dismiss the Movember initiative as just an excuse for men to grow silly facial hair but it is so much more. 

The Movember Foundation is a global charity committed to men living happier, healthier, longer lives. Since 2003, millions have joined the men’s health movement, raising $650 million and funding over 1,000 programs focusing on prostate cancer, testicular cancer, poor mental health and physical inactivity. Movember has a goal of changing the face of men’s health one conversation at a time. In 2014 over 700,000 people participated in Movember, a number that continues to grow each year.

In full disclosure, the first year I did Movember I just wanted to grow a mustache. I didn’t know much about the organization, I thought mustaches were cool, so I figured I would give it a shot. During that first year I learned more about the organization, what it was trying to accomplish, and started to uncover ways I could help change the face of men’s health. 

As I enter my 6^th year of participating in Movember, my love for this organization continues to grow. I often get the question why I participate in Movember, and it is something I have been giving a lot of thought to this year. So as a kick off to another Movember season, here is Why I Mo.

I Mo because Men’s health affects us all. I Mo because Men don’t look after their health. 1 in 2 men will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime. 1 in 3 men are obese. 1 in 4 men will have a mental health issue each year. I Mo because Men need to step up. We need to take a more active role in society, in making the world a happy, healthier place. I Mo because I believe in the Movember organization, the programs it supports, and the message behind the initiative. To change the face of Men’s health. So during this Movember season I encourage you not to laugh at the ‘stache but to ask my fellow Mo Bros and Mo Sistas the same question. Why do you Mo?

If you want to get involved there are many ways. Here are just a few:

• Donate: You can donate directly to my page at http://mobro.co/EvanWitt
• Join us: Don't want to miss out? Join our team http://moteam.co/stachin-all-over-the-world 
• Like us: Movember Doha on Facebook and @MovemberDoha on Twitter
• Spread the word: Talk up Movember to everyone you know. Become part of the MOvement.

South Africa Road Trip: It was Lekker Man!

As you travel around you are often asked, “Where are the best places you have ever been to?” It is a hard question to answer and I have always been surprised when South Africa (especially Cape Town) appears at the top of the list for lots of our friends. I now know why! 

Kristal and I just got back from a 9 day road trip from Cape Town out to Port Elizabeth and back. We covered over 2,200 km (1400 miles) over that span and took in tons of sights and experiences along the way. Here is a little brief itinerary of what we did and where we stayed. It was an adventurous trip to say the least and photos just don’t do justice to trail runs, canopy tours, cage diving, etc. So check out the video we put together when you have a spare couple of minutes!

We arrived in Cape Town on a Friday morning directly from Doha. It was a 10 hour flight although the time difference was only one hour. Once we landed, our first order of business was to register for the 22km trail run we would be running on Saturday morning. We spent most of that day and night preparing (a.k.a. carbo loading and yes, beer has carbs) for the race which had a 7:00am start time. It was my first big run and I was quite nervous. The run was absolutely stunning with steep hills, great views, and a great crowd to run with. Although it was tough, Kristal and I made it through and were proud to complete it!

After the run we spent some time in and around Cape Town. We had lunch at the Hout Bay Market, swam with Penguins at Boulders Beach, and watched the Springboks take on Japan in the Rugby World Cup (we won’t talk about the result!). There is an endless amount to see and do in the Cape Town area but we were headed for Stellenbosch and wine country!

While in Stellenbosch we stayed at an Air Bnb called Casa Morri Vineyard. It was a Tuscan style winery overlooking a vineyard and olive farm. The views were stunning and we spent two nights there while we explored the areas. From there we took R62 (similar to Route 66 in the US) out towards Calitzdorp. It was a classic road trip with winding (gravel) roads, random pit stops, and great tunes along the way. After our stay over in Calitzdorp we went to the Cango Caves where we crawled through spaces we thought we might never get out of! 

Later that night our friend Sheila arrived in Port Elizabeth and we headed towards Addo Elephant Park. We spent a night just outside the park in a massive outdoor tent and went in for a game drive the next morning. In the park you could drive your own vehicle, so we cruised around with elephants, zebras, warthogs, and all the other animals in our hatchback VW! From Addo we went along the southern Garden Route on R2 back towards Cape Town.

On the route we did a zip line canopy tour in Tsitsikamma National Forest, saw the world’s highest bungee jump (although we didn’t have time to do it ourselves), took a nature walk through Monkeyland with over 600 rescued monkeys, took in the scenic views in Knysna, and made our way to Gansbaai to go cage diving with Great White Sharks. All of that was over the course of just two or three days, so needless to say, we were on the move! Along the route there was so much more we would have loved to do and just didn’t have time. We hope to be able to go back and work on our “next time” list we came up with.

Our whirlwind tour ended back in Cape Town for one last night before Kristal and I went back to Doha and Sheila over to Mauritius for a dive trip. Although our time in South Africa was short, it was full of adventure and an amazing change of scenery. Tourism in South Africa is incredibly well done and the hospitality was amazing. I can surely say it is one of the best places I have visited and can’t wait to get back there again someday in the future!

My First Experience Cleansing

My First Experience Cleansing

Between December 2014 and August 2015 there was hardly a month that I did not travel in. Needless to say I was on the move a lot, not exercising much, and not watching what I was eating. When I arrived back in Doha after a summer holiday I was feeling pretty rough. I knew I had about 4-6 weeks in Doha before my next trip so I decided I would attempt a one month cleanse to shed some pounds and get back on track.

My brother Brandon is actually the one who connected me with the program and I brought supplies back to Doha from my trip in the states. It was a 30 day program which basically has you drink two meal replacement shakes a day, cut out a lot of the bad stuff, and has you complete a set of two 2-Day detoxifying cleanses. On the whole the program gave me some great results and I lost about 20 pounds over the 30 days. While there were definitely aspects of the program I am skeptical of and things that I think could be improved, I can’t argue with the results. So if you are looking to get into a little health kick feel free to contact my brother or to get some advice from me on some potential products to support it. 

Doha-Versaries!

“Dear Mr. Evan Donald Witt, On behalf of Qatar Foundation, the HR Directorate congratulates you for completing 3 years of service. We thank you for your contribution to the success of the Foundation. Best wishes, HR Directorate.”

This is the message I woke up to in my inbox this week. 3 years. It is incredible to think that I have been calling Doha home for three years now. It is even more incredible to think about how much I have changed and learned during this time. To celebrate my three year Doha-versary I want to share a few lessons that I have learned. In no particular order, with many other lessons left out…

You Don’t Know What You Don’t Know. From the moment I moved to Doha my learning curve has been steep. It is amazing looking back on the day arrived thinking I had some idea of what was going on. I quickly learned that I knew nothing (had a lot in common with Jon Snow) and have spent the last three years continuing to learn more things I did not know. The irony in all of this is we consistently think that we know it all or that our opinions are quite well informed. The world is an endlessly complex place, with more information to take in than humanly possible. Be humble, ask questions, be willing to learn.

Don’t Judge. This is the most oversimplified statement in this post, but I think the most important one. It is important to know that your way is not “right” it is simply your way. Working in such a diverse place has shown me there are no “right” or “wrong” ways to get things done, just preferences. Too often people are quick to pass judgment and ask “How can they think that?!” In reality, the person you are asking about is thinking the same way. There are times when this is infuriating; there are times when you genuinely cannot understand the other’s person’s perspective. In these times, be humble, ask questions, be willing to learn.

Humans are Fascinating. I see Doha as one big social experiment or a really warped reality television show. Let’s take people from all over the world, move them to the desert, and completely change their life circumstances to see how they react. When I look around at many of the western expats that live here it is like they have won the lottery. Before coming to Doha they may have lived a modest life and now they take business class flights, drive fancy cars, and dine at the finest restaurants. I have been so intrigued to see how this new “normal” takes over people as they develop a sense of entitlement. Qatar is a country that offers incredible opportunities for many people (not all, but I won’t get into our migrant worker record here) but this should not be taken for granted. When you look around at what you have it is important to appreciate it and be thankful as opposed to critical and bitter. Never forget where you came from and be humble, ask questions, and be willing to learn.

I could continue on here for quite some time but I think you get the idea. I have learned quite a bit, 

grown as a person, and like to think I am all the better for it. I love Qatar as a country more than most people I have met here. That being said I believe it is a difficult place to live full of ups and downs. As I look to my fourth year I am eager for what lies ahead, thankful for what is behind me, and will continue to remind myself of the simple statements. Be humble. Ask questions. Be willing to learn. Cheers to year four!

Tanz and Zanz: Eid al-Fitr

Qatar and Muslims around the world have just celebrated the end of Ramadan with Eid al-Fitr. In Qatar most organizations close for the week to observe the holiday and it also offers a great travel opportunity for ex-pats working in Doha. As Kristal and I tried to decide what to do with our Eid holiday, we looked at some interesting things happening around the world. We eventually settled on the Great Wildebeest Migration in Tanzania as where we wanted to spend our holiday.

We spent 4 days and 3 nights on a camping safari with Sun Splash Safaris (http://www.sunsplashsafaris.com/) in the Seregetti and Ngorongoro Crater. The safari was incredibly well organized with a great Land Rover safari vehicle and high quality camp sites at both parks. The campsite in Ngorongoro even had a group of Zebras that welcomed us to the site! While we were in both parks we not only got to see part of the herd of 2 million Wildebeest moving from Tanzania into Kenya, but saw families of lions, tons of elephants, giraffes, zebras, and more. I would highly recommend booking with Sun Splash for any safaris in Kenya or Tanzania and we found their prices to be some of the best available.

After the safari we decided to spend a few days on beach holiday in Zanzibar. Although we did plenty of homework trying to find out the best place to stay in Zanzibar, it was hard to decide where to stay on the island. We ended up choosing a beach resort on the east coast of the island called Pongwe Bay Resort (http://www.pongwebayresort.com/). The resort was truly stunning and we got an amazing deal on booking.com for the room. Pongwe was an incredibly quiet and secluded beach which had amazing views and facilities. The tides on the east coast are quite extreme and during low tide it went out hundreds of feet. Even during high tide the water was quite shallow and didn’t have much for swimming. Our time in Zanzibar was great because it was an actual vacation instead of the traveling we normally do. Kristal and I have never spent 4 nights in the same place before as we tent to move around. Our time in Pongwe was a great end to the summer and left us feeling refreshed before kicking back into the school year.

 

So after the latest adventure we are back in Doha and settling in for the start of the year. Classes start at the end of August and we will be busy preparing for that. It was an amazing summer spending time with family and traveling a bit as well. The next adventure is in September for Eid al-Adha as we take a road trip from Capetown through South Africa!

In addition to photos from the trip we used a GoPro for the first time and put together this short video, enjoy!