November Rain

November is often one of the most beautiful months of the year here in Doha.  A 'fresh' thirty(ish) degrees during the day and low twenties in the morning and evenings at the moment.  I often feel a little chilled first thing, but it's gorgeous!  The press have announced that the Istisqaa Prayer (rain-seeking prayer) will be performed on Thursday, and call me an old cynic, but I reckon this means that the meteorologists have forecast rain coming soon to the Peninsula!

After the rain, it usually gets somewhat cooler and drops to the lower twenties.  Not always.  Sometimes the rain lasts a day or two and there have been times that it's lasted almost a month.  Qatar is not built for rain, it's a huge rock and the water doesn't get absorbed into the ground.  Houses and other buildings tend to let in water (it is with some trepidation that I await the effect that the rain will have on our huge 4 x 3 m-ish living room window as it howls when there is only a light wind), roads are flooded, schools get closed and the country goes into panic.  A little like heavy snowfall back home.  In our old villa, the rain used to come through the flat-roof door and gush down the stairs on to the upstairs landing, where we would discover rugs floating in the middle of the night.  Let's hope that 2020 doesn't throw that at us, along with everything else this year!

So ... Covid-19.  It's still here.  The second wave is either here or on it's way, depending on where in the world you are.  Some countries are still in the midst of the first wave.  Some countries, like New Zealand have dealt with it better than most! 

It hasn't really bothered me up until very recently but I'm starting to get a little antsy now.  I'm not totally sure why.  I finished my MBA so have time on my hands, maybe that is part of it!  I don't know when we will be able to leave the rock.  Well, we can leave, but the uncertainty of getting back means I dare not take the risk.  NJ was due to go to his dad for Xmas and he's been happy enough (ecstatic almost) with the fact that he's stuck here; he did a little 'yippee' dance when we finally realised it wasn't going to happen.... but then there are ups and downs and the realisation that he won't get to see his little brother turn two, and as difficult as things can be with dad, he is still his dad.  Emotions are high in many at the moment, raging teenage hormones during Covid can be trying, for both of us.  After a rocky few months at the start, my boy has adjusted and shown resilience as he usually tends to do, even if it's coupled with roller coaster emotions (the apple, the tree and all that).

I've always been happy here for the past six years, but I think being stuck here since February and not been able to get away from the 'yes ma'am's' and the 'Insh'Allah's' these past months, not breathing proper fresh air since last Christmas, battling through the Doha summer without a break has just made me question things a little more than usual.  You live in a bubble in the Middle East.  My child will happily board a Boeing 747 to Kuala Lumpur solo, but doesn't know how to ride the bus. He's eaten at most of the five star hotels in Doha and turns his nose up at TGI Friday's.  Maybe not a bad thing to be honest, but how is he going to survive, living on Pot Noodles when he goes to Uni???  Being here in Doha for eight months solid without a break has made me miss 'real life'. 

There has been no escape to reality due to Covid, and just when you think things are starting to progress in to the modern world in this almost 'medieval' region sometimes, you are reminded once again that you are living in a culture which is so dissimilar to your own and to your own beliefs and norms that you actually start to question what you are doing here. The story of the airport shocked me and saddened me on so many fronts 'Airport Strip Search' but part of me wasn't surprised at all.

Mentally I'm very strong and in a totally good place.  I have many friends who are suffering hugely this year.  I'm happy to fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants the majority of the time but 2020 has given me pause for thought.  What's next? When will things change? What should I do?  Do I want to be here?  Where do I go next......?

#staysafe #wearamask #bekind #dontjudge 

Love xx