I've been back in New Brunswick for a week now. It seems like I've never been away. I'm just sitting here looking out at all the green, and rain for the 7th day of the seven that I've been home. What a contrast this is from Qatar. So green, so moist, so quiet. I will enjoy my weeks here, but I also look forward to returning to the dusty dry world of Qatar,and the work that I have started there.
What a year it has been. The things I've learned, and seen and the people that I have met. So do you want to know --
What I have learned:
- a little bit or Arabic, Turkish and Singalese
- how to barter (well, a little anyway)
- that Arabian horses are judged on their heads, their body shape, their pedigree and how they move
- how tents and the desert are so important to Arab culture
- a little bit about Arab politics and how things work in this region. Still lots to learn. Arab politics are an enigma
- so much about inequities and tragedies in the world
- how to drive in Doha traffic
- how much I love Canada and home
- that I have so much more to learn about everything
- 40 degree temperatures at midnight
- the desert, desert, desert
- sandstorms
- camels, wild and tame
- Arabian horses, races and dressage
- very unusual driving habits
- the Persian Gulf, the Aegean Sea, the Mediterranean, the Bosphorus, the Sea of Marmara, and the Indian Ocean
- the Blue Mosque, Chora Church, jTopkapi Palace, the Brand Bazaar
- the ancient ruins--so many ancient ruins--of Turkey
- the chaos of Sri Lankan traffic
- sea turtles, monkeys, elephants fruit bats, parrots
- work camps
- tents with fireplaces
- the fantastic staff and faculty of UC-Q from B. C., Montreal, Calgary, London, Sask., Ont., N. B., Nfld., India, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka,
- My favoirte driver from Karila, Mr Aslam
- Sheik Ali Al Misnad
- Egyptian painter extrordinaire, Gemal
- many wonderful Sri Lankans
- many wonderful Turks
- Nithila and Dorai Issac.
