Post #3 - Calen's Post

 

The experience in Qatar so far has been exciting and insightful. Tons of surprises and breathtaking scenes make you realize how much of the world you're missing out on & how stereotypes cannot be taken as fact for many places in the world. In our first Saturday here in Qatar, we woke up at 12 pm (I know right). All that rest had me in a good mood for the oncoming adventure. Today, my host mother cooked a delicious breakfast. We had omelets, pancakes, and bacon with a tall glass of orange juice. As I am told, most Arab mothers want you to eat until you can't anymore. They always want to make sure you are good and don't go hungry in your trip. It's a quality that I am used to because my mother at home does the same thing. My host, Yaseen, let me know after breakfast that we'd be joining our peers (Sherifa, Willow, Medhat, Julien, Nikki, and Lina) at two of Qatar's most famous sites and hang-out areas. Around 4:00, we all took a half hour cab ride to Katara and enjoyed a mixture of Arab & American music. Surprisingly, they knew a lot of tunes that are common to us in the states. By the time we got there, everyone had gotten to know each other and we knew we'd have a visit to remember. 

The first site we visited was the Katara Cultural Village. In the image, you will see the waterfall with lights & in the distance you'll notice the beautiful buildings & Qatari Architecture. The sightseeing here is outstanding. You know it's really nice when people who have been coming here for years are still in awe of the images. Afterwards, we got to taste one of Qatar's most famous teas called Karak or (كرك) and even one of their best foods called Koshary. 

After hanging out for a couple hours there, we visited The Pearl. There are some amazing sights in The Pearl. Qatari natives come to the Pearl in their fancy vehicles, dressed culturally and eat at nice upscale restaurants and just enjoy their time there. Everyone seems so happy and at peace that it almost makes you want to stay here. All in all, the trip has been extremely helpful as far as answering any questions we'd have as Americans. But, sadly we only have a couple days left and we'll make the most out of it and enjoy the cultural immersion here in Qatar. I would definitely recommend this trip to more people.