I finally got to see Sheikha Mozah today (with Aysha in the background of this picture)! Her Highness attended the Qatar Foundation Convocation ceremony tonight, where all of the graduates of all six of the Education City universities came together to be presented rings.
I've also officially figured out all seven universities. The one I always forget is the newest one to EC, the Faculty of Islamic Studies, which gives out Masters degrees; the other five with graduating classes are (in order of appearance to Education City) VCU, Cornell, Texas A&M, CMU, and Georgetown. Northwestern is the new kid on the block. It is funny, because around EC you can tell who has been here the longest by their building. (VCU's is currently being renovated, Georgetown is getting a building, and Northwestern is currently in CMU's upstairs.) With six of the universities graduating students, there were still only 193 students. That's not many (and I was kinda glad, since listening to a bunch of names being read off a list is sometimes not all that exciting.)
It started with a reading from the Quran, then recitation of a poem, then presentation of the rings and an address by Her Highness. After a final group picture, they all proceeded through the Gate of Graduation (I don't know the real name of the bab they went through, but that's close enough...)
Before this evening's festivities, I had lunch with Jill and Cindy, from Student Affairs. They quizzed me on my time here, what could be better, what made my semester so great. In a lot of ways, I was just lucky; can't really ask for the friends I had around here. The experience I got can't be bottled up and handed to every student that comes over. Someone was clearly looking out for me.
After first lunch came second lunch. Rishav took Samreen, Kaleem, and I to Landmark, and we ran into Khaled and Saleh. Small world around here, and I pretty much love it. We also got to see Shakir, Tessa, and Swapnil that were in the mall too and stopped by.
After the ceremony tonight (and after the food), Abdalla gave me a ride to the airport, and I hopped on a (huge, empty, British Airlines) flight to Bahrain. I must've been randomly sleeping, because I remember the announcement saying that we were quite to the gate yet. Then, next thing I knew, some flight attendants were asking me my name. They wanted to make sure I got off the plane instead of going on to London with it!
So I made it to Bahrain and my CouchSurfing host easily. Another country, and two days of fun!
This afternoon, W=while we were eating at TGI Fridays, there was a quote on the wall that I saw... "Here's to the good old days that we are having right now." Well, here's to them!
I feel surrounded by love around here. I've met all sorts of people, from CMU faculty to CDAs, from Cornell freshmen to VCU exchange students. And, in these droves of people, I've gotten to know a couple dozen, and in those dozens, I've made connections that, insha'allah, will last far beyond my time here in Qatar.
Enough of the philosophizing. The day started with many, many errands, to get rid of as much of my stuff as possible and to be able to leave the country. I ran into Kaleem as I was heading home, and we shared some tuna sandwiches (in my last ditch effort to clean out my kitchen of food as well).
After lunch, I ran into Tina, who I then spent the next few hours with, making an unforgettable heart cookie. Just when it was perfectly positioned for a picture, it slid off the plate, cracking, like our hearts, into a bunch of chocolate-y, chunky pieces. With a bit of elbow grease, we turned it back into a heart-like shape. (Appearances are a bit deceiving, because it was still very delicious.)
A group of CS majors from CMU was headed out to Nando's at City Center, so I hopped into Rishav's car with Samreen and we enjoyed a bite with Tessa and Swapnil as well. Since, of course, Nando's is Tessa's favorite restaurant. I went home to sleep off a bit of the food (and the fact that I had to wake up early to talk to my parents this morning), then headed over to the grand production of CMU-Q graduation.
The ceremony was less than 80 minutes, the speaker had a clear agenda for her talk to keep it fairly brief, the Dean and President were eloquent as always, and the bagpiper reminded me of Pittsburgh. For over three hours, we ate and talked and celebrated the graduates. There were hugs, but no tears, and promises of future meet-ups for those coming to Pittsburgh this year. There were also the few people that I congratulated that I might never see again... but one never knows who those people are.
It was the last day of finals for most of the Texas A&M students, so after the seniors (graduates) had gone home so they could be up for the Qatar Foundation convocation in the morning, Abdalla and I went to see those students.
We caught them right as the restaurant was closing, and we weren't allowed to pull up chairs next to Ziad or Kelsey, but we stood and talked for nearly two hours. The boys were doing riddles, a few different groups ventured off to return with ice cream, and sheesha smoke was in the air. I left before the mass exit, but it looked like they weren't heading anywhere anytime soon.
Unlike me. Very soon, I'll be in Bahrain/Jordan/Egypt/Turkey/USA. Very, very soon.
So we can ignore that weird middle part of my day... that part where I took a 4-hour nap, ran errands and had a group meeting.
That just leaves the beginning and the end.
The day dawned early. Too early. I was the opposite of bright-eyed and bushy-tailed when I got up at 7:30am. (Blurry-eyed and un-bushy-tailed?) Abdalla and I were going to check out the post office, which I've been curious about since I got here, before heading to the Turkish Embassy for a visa.
There is only one post office in Qatar, from what I've been told (though I have seen other ones in strip malls...). Everyone has their own PO box number, so you never actually put a street address on letters and packages going through the post to Qatar. Personally, it doesn't quite seem like there were enough post office boxes for every person in Qatar.
Architecturally, it resembles a pigeon roost, which is what the website says it is supposed to look like. Something about letters being like roosting pigeons or something. It just reminded me of the Pigeonhole Principle. I'm such a nerd.
In addition to a bunch of post office boxes, there was also a QNB branch (a bank), a few random windows to purchase stamps or exchange money, and a little food shop where we got breakfast. Carack and a spiced cheese roll...
The Embassy took no time at all (since we were told there was visa-on-arrival for both of us) and I was back home... for my nap. Tonight was a wonderful CMU tradition.
The day before Reading Day (the day with no tests in the middle of finals week), the faculty and staff of the Pittsburgh CMU campus stay up until the ungodly hour of 9:00pm to cook omelets for the students during the annual "Almost Midnight Breakfast."
Rachelle, one of the CMU alums who currently works here in Qatar, has advocated for this event, and I loved it. At CMU-P, it is held in one of the largest spaces on campus, and I don't really know who is making my omelet (if I even decide to get an omelet with the huge lines). Here, I knew every faculty and staff member, at least by face if not by name. In addition, I could wander among all the different groups of people, since I knew most of them too. It's the little things, such as attending an event for two hours and feeling like it breezed by. Also, just to clarify, 9:00pm is not "almost midnight." Not if you've ever had a project due at midnight...
Wow, my last day of classes... how fitting was it that I got to drop in on the "Marhaba Tartans" event for the admitted students? One door closes, another door opens.
I got to mingle with some of the high-schoolers (one of which knew me through my roommate, another one's brother is in a class I TA for) and do my duty advocating Carnegie Mellon. I mean, I love this school to death (even when it is the death of me) so I want the right people to come and love it too.
(Note: none of the people in the picture are high-schoolers ... we are all loud and proud CMU students.)
And, like almost every other Wednesday this semester, I went to the RAEL (it is a nested acronym, so bear with me... ROTA (Reach Out to Asia) Adult English Literacy) program to teach English. This week and last week, it has been just a handful of students. I think our break three weeks ago messed with their schedules.
But today, it was good, since out of the three volunteers, I was the only one that could make it.
(This is an old picture of Arti teaching while Abid and I assist from the front row.)
Next week is the last week I can make it, since I'm thinking I'll be in Bahrain (if I can't find a reason not to go) the week after. It is weird, even though classes ended, I'll be around for another two weeks.
I guess that is a good thing, since in those two weeks, I have two tests, three projects, four days in Dubai/Muscat, and seniors that I need to see graduate!
It's not my fault. I was just working in the Student Activities/Club area when all of a sudden there was a male uprising.
It had something to do with a silver ball.
The dangers of programming that your professors never told you about.
On another note, I went to teach ESL for the Reach Out to Asia (ROTA) English Literacy program today, like I do every Wednesday for my Community Service Learning class. It is hard to take four hours out of my day to go, but the guys there make it pretty rewarding. I'll have to get pictures for the next time I go, in two weeks.
And I guess if you want to know about my feelings, I've been feeling exhausted and over-worked during the day, then in the evenings when I have time to work, I can't focus. It's a vicious cycle, and I try to break it during the weekends, but often am too burnt-out to get ahead.
But we'll make the valiant effort again. Here's to the beginning of the weekend!
Yes, having a wonderful, wonderful full night of sleep with no classes helped... (not only did I get 9 hours during the night, but I took a one hour nap as well)... but it would have been a good Thursday however it came.
For my Service Design class, I had to do some research on what people want in their libraries. I grabbed a bunch of random pictures off the internet, of chairs, desks, bookshelves, and computers as well as some of a DDR machine, a coffee maker, a hammock, and a soccer goal. Then I had a few people (Swapnil being one) arrange them for me. I got some good results, and some interesting layouts. Swapnil had an interesting idea of putting the
That was enough work for the day. There was a DSO get-together on the Green Spine, with some blindfold game that Shaza led and Varun owned. Free pizza, and I was off to see Sabrina!
My Sabrina has been holed up in EC for days working, and having tests and homeworks and being a second-year engineering student. So some Haagen-Daaz and juice with her and Abdalla was a great break from EC for all of us. I got off-campus just because the first time in a while. (I went off-campus yesterday to the Reach Out To Asia English learning classes I have to do every week, but that hardly counts.) Tonight was a super lucky night, too. There was clearly something going on at the ceremonial court, since the traffic police were out and loud Arabic music was playing.
I dare Abdalla to go see it, and we got it, very easily. We had to get searched (which meant that these very kinda Qatari women were plucking my phone out of my pocket, then putting it back in with a pat and a smile). Then, we sat, got served some juice, and watched what Abdalla translated at "A New Dawn" (the program was all in Arabic).
It was amazing. There was at least a 60-person cast (I think closer to 70), which dancers and singers, amazing costumes, glittery lights... just awesome. It was also that random thing I saw rehearsing a few days ago.
We came in "close" to the end. It was 8:30 when we got there, and it had been going on since at least 7, probably earlier. We left at 9:40. With the longer productions, it is amazing how show etiquette changes. There were people leaving and coming, having brief conversations on their cellphones, getting served juice, and in general being much different that the typical musical-going crowd in America.
The script was something about the fight between the native Tunisians and the occupying Italians, with the wrap-up being the Tunisian anthem. (There's one way to guarantee a standing ovation.)
The music was loud enough to drown out pretty much everything, except Abdalla's translations, which is the only way I knew anything. We were just talking earlier in the day about how he feels bad talking in another language around me... well, being able to understand and tell me what's going on in another language makes up for it.
And yes, that is a woman who popped out of an oyster shell. Very "Little Mermaid." And just over-the-top like the whole production. That woman is one of the ones who represented "the new dawn" of the title.
The night ended with a chill viewing of "7 Pounds" (which is quite good) and an actual blogpost (as you can see)! I'm so happy to be back and happy again.
I thought today was going to be boring, and that I might have to talk to you about this elusive school that is somehow still taking up my life.
Instead, I went out for dinner with my typical CMU CS group (we had a freshman, a sophmore, a junior, and two seniors... how diverse!) and had some classy Indian dhosas.
We managed to tear Kaleem away from his Networks homework (which he is probably cursing us for now) and drove to Bharath. It was a pretty classy restaurant: very clean, wooden tables, waiters wearing uniforms, and all the chairs matched. I ordered a onion rava masala dhosa, while the others got masala or masala rava dhosas. Mine (on the right) looked a little less classy than theirs (on the left), but I liked it more. I'm still enjoying the prices of food around here. A dhosa, which was pretty filling, some of those old gulab jamun dessert balls, and some water (yes, you have to pay for water) came out to 13 riyals. That's less than $4. Eating out every night and not breaking the bank? No wonder people don't cook around here.
So, while we were at the table, one of the guys saw his neighbors at another table, and he began stooping down in his chair, covering his face. That started the conversations about how small the world is... and how word gets around. Swapnil was talking about how a family friend had seen him at a mall, and his mother knew less than 24 hours later; Tessa went on to talk about how her grandmother had managed to get her Facebook profile picture, which had a guy friend in it, and demanded to know his name when she went back home to Brunei.
On our way home, we ran into some fog... Swapnil was driving, with Tessa in the front seat, but I got a bit of video. People around here put their flashers on in the fog, for some reason.
After I got back to EC, I took some of those artistic-type photos... the lights and the palm trees just looked so cool! And this was the only picture Kaleem would let me take of him. He looks like a ghost.
It's like Swapnil and Tessa are walking away into the sunset... if by sunset, you mean fog nearly hiding the CMU-Q building.
Just thought I'd mention something. When I was talking to my parents (and I got a chance to talk to my sister yesterday too), my dad mentioned the fact that this blog doesn't really mention the fact that I'm going to school.
Don't worry, guys. I'm going to school... it's cramping my fun! In fact, university was much more exciting today than usual. I got wanded down as I entered the building because Hillary Clinton was visiting! She held a town hall meeting for Al Jazeera in our majlis. I listened to her talk from the second floor. I didn't get a ticket like SOME people that got to sit ten meters from her (*cough* Abdalla *cough*). In discussions afterward, everyone was frustrated because she danced around the issues, especially when it came to Iran (which was discussed a lot), but I think that she did a good job of showing how the ball is currently in Iran's court. I don't think that's what people wanted to hear, but that's what they got. If you are interested, there are manyarticlesabout the subject. Al Jazeera's was the most illuminating for me.
"Secretary Clinton is in the Gulf States, not to lessen America's energy dependence, but rather China's. As one of the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, China's support is critical for passing any sanctions against Tehran. But its been reluctant to do so because it is Iran that supplies China with most of its energy, and that's precisely why the US is here -- to get energy-rich Qatar and Saudi Arabia to step forward as alternate energy suppliers."
In addition to the media coverage around the world, there is quite a bit of student media that was going on as well. Sidra, a friend from Northwestern, had her handy notepad out and was snapping pictures left and right. Abdalla and Zaid were interviewing people (such as Khaled, who got an opportunity to ask a question) about their reactions for their radio show "A to Z", which plays on QF Radio. I also got interviewed, but for a completely different reason... they finally got around to asking me about being an exchange student!
Today wasn't all politics. I was the happy organizer of a study break to Maya, the chocolate restaurant that I've been to before. We were happy as clams, chowing down on chocolate cake, chocolate crepes, chocolate pizza, chocolate fondue, chocolate brownie, and probably chocolate something else too.
It's award season (for Hollywood at least), so I'd like to thank a few of my friends, who I am "making famous" by putting in this blog post.
First, I'd like to thank Utshav and Salman; the former for inviting me out to play some ultimate frisbee today, and the latter for being on the winning team with me.
Next, I would like to thank the group of CMU TAs who informed me of a delicious place called Maya. In no particular order (actually, from left to right), I'd like to thank Samreen, Tessa, Swapnil, and Rishav, my CS superstars. Maya is a restaurant of completely chocolate dishes. After I ordered a chocolate fondue as my "meal", the waitress asked if I wanted any "dessert." The others ordered everything from hot chocolate to crepes filled with bananas and - you guessed it - chocolate.
Next comes the A-to-Z duo of Abdalla and Zaid. They deserve a Grammy for their work on QF Radio (which I haven't actually heard yet...) and for their leadership around their respective universities. While the rest of us were sitting lethargically in a chocolate coma, these two went to pick up Krispy Kreme donuts to sell as a fund-raiser for Haiti. Here you see them standing by a vat of chocolate.
The last two people I want to thank today are the dazzle team that are part of my rap group. On the right you see "sprinKILLZ", who has skillz with the reelz. On the left you seen my G (who's name I actually forgot... I'll fill it in later) who drops Qs like they're on fire. You might also see the fact that each of us has three dozen donuts on our laps. It was one delicious-smelling, beat-busting ride home from Landmark Mall.
Just being on a college campus is enough to add a bit of spice to my day.
This week is the "EC for Haiti" campaign. A few organizations from different campuses are all banding together to man table everywhere around here for a week to solicit donations for the victims of the earthquake that will then be given to the Red Crescent. If you are at EC, come say hi to me tomorrow (Monday) in LAS from 11:00-noon. And donate money.
Today was the kick-off event, which was possibly planned by Cornell, who decided that kites would be necessary**. I didn't really understand the theme, but there was also egg-tossing, cotton candy, chocolate pebble candies, and an iPod raffle. Yay donating to Haiti? While attempting to fly a kite, I ran (thankfully not literally) into Matt, an exchange student at Texas A&M. Sadly, there was no wind for him either, so he got to run next.
I did mention the egg-toss, but I don't think I mentioned the fact that the first friendly face I saw was a chicken-embryo-covered Utsav. He's male; what do they know about taking care of eggs? (Nevermind that Swapnil and I went through three eggs before we could get more than five feet apart.)
After closing shop on that event, I went with Yahya, a half-Egyptian Cornell student, to watch the final match of the African Cup at Georgetown. Apparently they've been showing all the Egypt games there, and the last game (the one I couldn't attend because I'm a girl) was a lot more exciting than this one (since they did get four goals instead of just one this time).
But, during that goal, which was scored five minutes before the end of regulation time, everyone was on their feet chanting "Masr" (Egypt) and singing along. You can see the low-quality video, but, trust me, it was the reason I seek out these things. Excited fans make me excited!
My final adventure for the night was accompanying a friend to pick up another friend at the airport. At 3am. We were a bit early, so got some tea at bandar (which I then spilled on myself. It is the first time I have spilled tea, and, of course, it happens the day after I do laundry.) When we got to the airport, the flight was a bit delayed. I haven't been raised in this sort of multi-culture, so while we were in the airport, we began guessing where each person was originally from. Fun fact: most people with moustaches are from India. Who knew?
Tessa finally arrived, and we went to the nearest Starbucks to feed her coffee addiction. What costs $8 in America costs $5 here and $1.75 in Brunei. I've included a menu in Arabic, for those of you who need the translation for "cafe americano." (I personally need the translation from "cafe americano" into "a diluted shot of espresso".) We also went to McDonald's for a late night snack. There is nothing like having classes in the morning and pretending like you don't.
**EDIT: This just in from Utsav: "Basant is a traditional kite flying festival in India. At Cornell we celebrate it annually as a picnic. This year we decided to charge for the kites and all the funds collected will be either sent directly to the Cornell center in Haiti or via Red Crescent." So now we both know!
Sometimes, I think part of the reason that I blog daily is so that everyday I have an excuse for my need to do more than just homework. Because over three-quarters of today was sitting at my laptop, reading the code and beginning to write a IRC server for my networking class.
The part that I want you to hear about, though, was the Doha Trade Expo. I saw this advertised a bit online and on signs around, and everywhere it was advertised, it went on until "Saturday, Jan. 24." I have no idea of Saturday, Jan 23rd (today) was the last day or not, but the amount of people there was very cool. We got there at 8:30pm and parked in the dusty lot that stretched for hundreds of meters on all sides of this boxy building, which was covered in cars.
Culturally-sensitive me realized after I snapped my first picture that being surrounded by covered women and men does not make a photogenic place.
So Daedri and Brent and Abdalla and I wandered that stalls; we tried some dates, felt some "pashmina" scarves, got talked at by Asian guys on microphones marketing the "Japan Magic Mop" and the "Magic Bullet Blender," played with toy guns, touched sparkly earrings, and got pushed and shoved by many other, more eager shoppers than we were. My favorite stalls were those selling spices like thyme that, not only would make your food taste delicious, but "keep you going all night" and "enlarge" everything important. They also sold wonderful beauty treatments, such as the "Virgin Soap 2000." I was sorely tempted to buy.
We spent an hour or so wandering the floor for that special treasure, but only Daedri bought anything.
I know I was looking forward to our dinner... shwarma.
My new favorite food greeted me like an old friend... or that might have been the other car full of CMU people that we met up with there. Here, more than at main campus, friend groups transcend years and majors. Tessa and Rishav are my TAs for two classes, but I'm Tessa's TA for one. However, once you get out your shwarma and sit in the majlis, it doesn't much matter who is whose what anymore. All that matters is trying not to get the delicious garlic-yogurt sauce on your pants.
The worst part of my day: the fact that TA training was smack dab in the middle of it.
The best part of my day: just about everything else.
As I was walking out from training, Tessa, Rishav, and Mishab were discussing plans for the evening. I heard "the Pearl" and perked up.
So plans were made: begin with a taste of delicious shwarma (my new favorite food, very similar to a gyro or a European kebab), then head over to the a man-made island oasis of riches and fashion. In addition to my fellow TAs, the VCU exchange students came with (but barely. We almost pulled away while Brent was running to get his card for his camera. And we had to pick up Daedri from a park by the Cornish, so finding her was a side adventure.)
But, somehow, some way, (with Brent's iPhone full of "embarrassing" music), we made across the water (via the land bridge) and found Mishab and Rishav, and the girls, and... the CMU architecture students? Yup, turns out the smart (CMU) people think alike. After a day of adventuring, they ended up at the Pearl as well, which made the group at least 25 people. It was like every person in Doha that I knew magically appeared at the same spot! (Not true, I know waaaay more than 25 people.)
The advertising slogan on the posters was "I'd Like to Buy That." We were trying to think of the psychology behind it (possibly jealousy? "Hey, no, I wanted to buy that.") but then gave up and just started posing in front of the them.
As glitzy as the Pearl is, it is less than half constructed, and the row of stores is completely in accessible to students (Giorgio Armani across from Emporio Armani... we thought they were competing brothers, but, sadly, they are just Giorgio and more Giorgio. Maybe a healthy rivalry would have brought down the prices.
After losing then finding Brent and Zane, we trundled back to campus.
But wait, there's more! We agreed that it was a day for doing... so time for another item on the Bucket List: the sunrise at "bandar." "Bandar" (and I'm probably not spelling that right), is this park outcropping by the Islamic Arts museum. On the jetty is a Moroccan tea shop (where a large is just about right if you are trying to stay up all night) which was just barely open when we got there at 3:30am or so to start our watch.
But, at the brisk hour of 0600, the glimmer of pinks fighting against the blue began their surge, and, with a salty sea breeze, some bird calls, and the hum of a city about to wake up, we were on our way back to campus to do what college students do best... sleep.
a in the background of this picture)! Her Highness attended the Qatar Foundation Convocation ceremony tonight, where all of the graduates of all six of the Education City universities came together to be presented rings.
Northwestern is the new kid on the block. It is funny, because around EC you can tell who has been here the longest by their building. (VCU's is currently being renovated, Georgetown is getting a building, and Northwestern is currently in CMU's upstairs.)
raduation (I don't know the real name of the bab they went through, but that's close enough...)
leem, and I to Landmark, and we ran into Khaled and Saleh. Small world around here, and I pretty much love it. We also got to see Shakir, Tessa, and Swapnil that were in the mall too and stopped by.
