This was the worst week yet in Qatar (okay, there have only been two). In my defense, I had what felt like the worst cold in history, had no medicine and no car to get to a store if I could even figure out what kind of store sells cold medicine. Sort of like in the olden days before CVS.
For the first week I was here, I stayed at a Swiss hotel. Now they know how to take care of a guest...cappacino bar, jazz piano lounge, room service orders that arrive within 10 minutes, and everyone jumping up to help if you even sneeze (which I wasn't doing yet).
A week ago I moved into this apartment, and it's been downhill ever since. The first morning after I moved in, I fell off the arm of the couch (don't ask) and busted the back of my head. Those of you who know me won't be surprised by this. But I began to wonder, "If I die here on the floor with a brain injury, when will anyone miss me?" "If a tree falls in the forest..." began to take on new meaning. I finally gathered myself up to take a shower...no hot water. My hairdryer didn't work because of these danged adapters. So I pathetically slunk off to work with a bad headache and wet hair.
The next morning my electric water heater (for tea or coffee) didn't work. The dishwasher is broken. While I was nursing my cold and desperate for something to soothe my irritation, I realized most of the TV stations are in Arabic, and the English stations play programs like Ghost Whisperer and Beverly Hills Cop. The US blocks Netflix and Hulu from being viewed outside the U.S. Do you folks not realize there are expats who want to watch TV? Oh, and then my TV stopped working altogether.
One night I was so miserable that I decided to order carryout. My order was declined because I didn't know where I live. Can't they look it up on the reverse directory?
And that brings us back to the taxi drivers who are mostly from India or the Philipines. They can't speak English, and they don't know where I live either. Yesterday I ventured out in a taxi (you have to make an appointment hours in advance for one to come to your apartment) to try to find cold medicine, and the driver got lost coming back to my apartment. Isn't that what taxi drivers do? Know the roads and how to get to your house?
And what's with the Diet Coke label written in Arabic, for God's sake?
Well, I got hot water - there was a button I needed to turn on and didn't know. They repaired my TV, and the repairman gave me his personal cell in case I have any additional trouble. A new friend suggested I buy an old-fashioned kettle rather than relying on the electricity to heat water. The taxi drivers pick me up exactly at the time of my appointment, and I now know I need to make an appointment. I found a pharmacy where the pharmacist actually selected the appropriate cold medicines off the shelf for me.
And come to think of it, only one person has been less than lovely to me - an American woman who said, "I can't help you" when I was stranded and needed a ride home. A very kind American family took me and even invited me to Thanksgiving.
Friday is the Sabbath here, and on Friday nights families take to the parks and megamalls like nobody's business. I was walking through one of the megmalls last night, observing all the men and women in their traditional Arabic dress, when it occurred to me that Qatar had not been set up to make sure that English-speaking Americans are comfortable. It's probably set up to make Qataris comfortable. I attribute the delayed "aha" moment to my cold and concussion.
Nevertheless, I was longing for something American last night. I went to see the Jennifer Aniston/Jason Bateman movie "Switch." Everyone who knows me knows that I'm no Jennifer Aniston fan. It was one of the best movies I've ever seen.
PS Some of you have said the Comment function on the blog page doesn't work. It seems to work for some and not for others. It may be that you need a Google or Yahoo email address for it to work. I love hearing from you by email so if you have something to say or just want to tell me about what's happening back home, please email me!
Dear Marlana... Sounds like the cultural readjustment model his hit you hard...nearly knocked you out, in fact! ETHNOCENTRIC to AWARENESS of differences to UNDERSTANDING the reasons for the differences (things are set up to make Qatarans comfortable) to ACCEPTANCE of the differences to ADAPTING (however, you may never wear a Birka!) Sometimes things just need to hit you in the head :) I hope that the head and cold have healed and that you are getting more comfortable with your surroundings. I am sure that this will make a big difference on your outlook!
ReplyDeleteAll is well here. I am in the mountains of NC visiting friends and then head to the school Famiy Wilderness Trek and the Family Seminar. Busy time!
I love getting your blog and sure do hope that you keep it up! U think you should submit it to some magazine as a retrospective of your time in Qatar! xoxox beth
Marlana,
ReplyDeleteSounds like you're adjusting just as you should expect. Believe me, we're jealous of where you are and what's yet to come. We'd love to see some pics of the splendor around you. Me, all I have right now is Old Montreal, where I've been for two days working with LAP substance abuse counselors. Showed my video and had a nice response.
Keep up the effort - no quitting while you're a-head (there's some joke there but I couldn't quite pull it off...).
-David
Oh Marlana,
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry you had to go through all of this. Why isn't your employer helping you with some of the basics (the hot water button, taxi appointments,etc)? Shame on them. You're managing all of this much better than I would have. Feel better and hang in there.
Angela
Marlana, you made me laugh! I can just see all of this happening to you. Hope each day things get a little easier for you. I'm sure before long you will be reaching out like a veteran Qataran to some other poor soul who is new to Qatar and guiding them through all they things you have endured. I have to ask - does the diet Coke taste the same even though you can't read the label? Take care and keep blogging.
ReplyDeleteLove you,
Aunt Cindy
Marlana -
ReplyDeleteI don't have a lot of time right now, but just wanted to let you know I'm reading your blogs, and I don't think Qatar has changed you a bit! Buck up, this experience will make for years of funny cocktail party stories!
Jill
Marlana,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you are adjusting much better than I would! I think the first few weeks will continue to me a learning field for you but... Isn't that why you wanted to go? Were you not just really tired and bored with your job in the states? You will be so proud of yourself that you survived this adventure when it is done and over with. But in the mean time it sounds like you are really enjoying yourself. You know I don't think we realize how spoiled we are as American's until we are completely out of our element!. Hey think of this as "Survivor" Outwit, Outlast and Outplay! And in my opinion the smart, scheming and quiet one always wins.
These are great, Marlana. Keep 'em coming. Barry
ReplyDeleteBring home a Coke can in Arabic as a souvenir--you will be glad you did! I am guessing week 3 will go better--at least you won't be falling off your sofa again. . . right? Good luck with communicating with the cabbies. I recommend finding one or two and calling them exclusively after you determine whether they are the type that are not inclined to take you miles out of the way to get somewhere close. Have you begun your job? How is that part going? Peter just argued the Allstate case in Special Appeals and he did great--much better than the others that argued. Now we wait for the decision. In the meantime--it's Annual Report time. Are you missing writing reports yet? Probably too soon. Hope you stay well. Susan
ReplyDelete