As many of you know, when I took this job and originally planned this trip, it was supposed to be for 6 months. As I have mentioned in previous posts, circumstances out of my control changed. When the position they said would be in Tampa disappeared, I began considering staying in Qatar a little longer. Not quite a year, but a bit more than 6 months.
That extension has officially turned into November – nine months from my departure date. But home for the holidays and the end of college football season – one of which may be more important than the other.
This is a far different extension than my previous times working with the military. As I mentioned, I live in downtown Doha, a city of 3 million people. I visit museums, eat at new restaurants, see shows and events, and have new friends in the city. I am a temporary expat staying a little longer to save some money for my next career move.
I have 3 months to find a new job – either with my company or a new company. Time to update the resume and see what catches my eye. My goal is to either have something secured or close to secured by the time I leave Qatar. Long distance interviews may be tough, but that’s what Skype is for.
But enough of what I need to do to pay the bills, here is what I have been up to over the last month:
In late July, I visited the Katara Art District. Qatar has a lavish, well-built art district with an opera house, theater, art exhibits, and an amphitheater. And it is on the coast of the city. I spent an entire afternoon there taking pictures.
The next week, I returned to the Islamic Museum of Art I visited a few months ago. At that time, a sandstorm was covering the city. This time I was able to get a few outside pictures. It too is on the water, leading to some very scenic shots.
Here is the link to all my pictures. As usual, start at the bottom. There are now over 300 pictures from my trip.
Last but not least, I started driving. I received my license last month and have been taking to the roads. Once you get the hang of it, aggressive driving isn’t really intimidating. You just have to act fast.
Although I didn’t sightsee much this month – I have a few plans upcoming – I did see something that absolutely made my month: I found real Florida Orange Juice in a grocery store. Global imports are a great thing. Qatari orange juice is ok, but it is not Florida Orange Juice. I was so excited, I bought two bottles. And I will definitely be back for more of a taste of home.
Well, that wraps up another month in Qatar. As the old school hip hop song said, I’ll be gone till November. Meanwhile, the hot months are almost over and soon events will be happening in Qatar again. And I will keep writing.
I am now in month number five. By the original plan of January to June, I would have been home by now. By the first adjusted plan of February to August, I would have less than a month left. Now I am looking at October 1st. Or maybe home for the holidays.
There are a few things I am missing back home. Particularly family and friends. But life is good here.
In my last letter, I wrote about Ramadan. Ramadan ended in mid-June, and immediately after, the World Cup began. I’m not the biggest soccer fan, but watching the World Cup among an international audience is awesome. It is great to see people from different countries cheer on their country. And soccer is so global, everyone knows the teams and players.
That said, Qatar is hosting the World Cup in 2022. Qatar is way too small of a country and if traffic is bad now, it will be downright immobile with thousands of soccer tourists.
Speaking of driving, I recently got my Qatari driver’s license. I am now eligible to partake in the chaos.
Of course, my travels also continued this month. I visited the Qatar National Library. It is part library and part literature and culture museum. I was very impressed.
Finally, I want to share a link with all of you about living in Qatar. This is a really good article about the different sides of Qatar. My experience is a little different as I work on a military base and live in a working middle class international neighborhood, but I see the class division and the social privilege of the rich and powerful. Behind the beautiful buildings and shiny veneer is the Qatar they don’t put in the travel brochures.
A few days ago I passed my fourth month in Qatar. I'm definitely in the routine now, but still trying to experience new things. Work is good. It is picking up and I am staying busy.
I still don't know when I will be returning back to the states. Government contracting work relies heavily on budget projections and currently they don't have a position for me to return to. Maybe they will after the new fiscal year begins October 1.
Yes, this trip was originally supposed to be from January to June and now the position has turned into February to indefinite. But again, I am enjoying myself here and embracing living in a foreign city for as long as I am.
Being June in the desert, this foreign city is hot. Really hot. Like 120 degrees during the day and 95 at night. The inventor of air conditioning should have a statue on every corner. And we still have July and August to go. Keeping cool is a priority.
The last few weeks have also been interesting due to the start of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. This is the first time I have lived in a region where Ramadan rules applied. That means eating and drinking in public during the day is forbidden, as Muslims should be fasting from sun up to sun down. These rules don't apply on the military base I work on, and I am on the base from 9am to 6pm, so Ramadan only really effects me on the weekends. I've learned buying a pizza Friday night and stashing it in the refrigerator is a good way to have food for weekend day time.
Breaking the fast (Iftar) in the evening is a daily big deal. This past weekend I went to a big hotel restaurant buffet for Iftar. Such an amazing spread of food!
With Ramadan in effect, I haven't done much in the city. But I did again go dune riding and spend a day at a beach resort. Dune riding is a crazy, fun experience and the beach is always relaxing, even if the gulf water is probably over 90 degrees. I felt like a lobster about to be boiled.
But this time I did do a camel ride. It was fun. A lot higher than I thought and very jerky. I've attached my favorite camel riding picture.
More pictures of me on a camel as well as the aforementioned spread can be found at the bottom of my Google photo album here:
Another interesting thing that happened this month was that I hooked up our outgoing senior military officer with a signed copy of the novelization of the latest Star Wars movie. He and I talked Star Wars often and when he received his orders to ship out somewhere else, I emailed the author of The Last Jedi novelization (who I know through my internet writing) and asked if he could send us a signed copy of the book to give to the officer as a going away gift.
Within a week, the author sent us a personalized signed copy of The Last Jedi for no cost. We presented the book to the senior officer a week later at his going away party. He was flabbergasted that we gave him such a unique gift. Definitely awesome to hook that up.
Well, those are the highlights of month four here in Qatar. Hopefully by the next time I write, I will know how long I will be here for.
I am entering my fourth month here in Qatar, which means I just concluded my third month, which should be halfway. Maybe. More on that later.
Month three was good. Work has picked up and I am working with a new team of military folks. One of the exciting things about these kind of jobs as a civilian working with the military is due to their orders, the military personnel don't stay very long. Or I will be on a different arrival/departure schedule as the military personnel. So I work with two or more completely different teams of people. There is a great reason why military people are so good at handling change. It happens very often.
So we are busy and things are good in the workplace. And outside of work, I have been out and about in Doha again this month.
I joined a boat ride in the gulf to do some rafting and swimming. It was the saltiest water I have ever accidentally tasted.
I went to a going away party at an upscale Qatari nightclub on the water.
I did some sightseeing downtown and walked the 3 mile Corniche, a giant sidewalk along the bay with a great view of the skyline.
I saw a stand-up comedy show. For those who remember, I did stand-up for a spell in Tampa. I even got on stage and performed in Afghanistan. That experience did not go well. Maybe I will give international comedy another try in Qatar.
As usual, my pictures for my trip are at this link - scroll to the bottom to see the latest:
Now for the not so great news. I might not be coming back to the US in August as I originally thought. (Actually, originally, this job was supposed to be from January to July, but it was delayed a month.) There is a possibility my job might need me out here until October. And there is a chance if I came back in August, I might not have a job back in the states, whereas a job might be there in October. Maybe. It is all unsure, but I am planning for October. So I am 35% through my trip, not yet 50%.
Pro-tip: If looking for stability, I would not recommend a career in government contracting. Uncertainty is the norm. And uncertainty does get old quick.
But while I am here, I am still going to enjoy myself, try new things, do a good job, and save money for a house and a new TV.
So that's what's new. Hope all is well where you are.
So it has been two months already. Month two flew by. I am still in Qatar, still doing well. Still trying new things.
Work has been good. I am working with an Army team. My past military experience has been a great way to connect. I talk to the senior leaders about shared experiences in Bosnia, etc and have provided advice to a few young soldiers. It is a very different environment from my most recent jobs, but it's a good group.
Socially, I have ventured out a bit more in the last month. I did some things with the military folks, some things on my own, and some with new local friends.
Attended a performance from a symphony orchestra from Kazakhstan - a complete first as it was my first symphony orchestra and the first time seeing music from Kazakhstan.
Attended the Qatar International Food Festival and saw Chef Wolfgang Puck.
Rode the sand dunes of Qatar and spent the evening at a coastal beach camp. So much fun. Sort of like an airboat ride on sand.
Ate dinner at Gordon Ramsey's 5-star restaurant. The salmon was amazing and the desert was fantastic.
Saw a local rock band and had my first two overpriced beers of my trip.
Spent a day at Doha's main market (Souq Wakif).
As before, pictures from my trip can be found at the link here (Suggestion: the most recent pictures are on the bottom, so start at the bottom and scroll up if you have already seen some of these.)
And for anyone might have missed it, my sports business research was discussed in an article on USAToday.com on the Tampa Bay Rays. I stopped writing about sports since I left, but that was a surprise I was not expecting.
A few months ago, rapper Joyner Lucas dropped a video for his song "I'm Not Racist". The video was a viral sensation, stimulating discussion in hip-hop circles and in the mainstream, to include CNN.
If you haven't seen it, here:
It is definitely a provoking video, touching many third rails. It should make you think. I've been thinking abut it for a while, and am finally writing about it now.
The only conversation that can do that is white people talking to other white people to try to find a way to be less awful to black people
That makes sense if you understand that the entire global capitalist system we live in is a white culture invention. For centuries, global leaders were white and did things in the interests of their more powerful kingdoms and countries. Leaders of non-white countries weren't even part of the conversation.
Along with Damon Young, other rappers wrote their own verses for Joyner Lucas's black man, expressing what they though he should have said. Rapper Mysonne's was perhaps the most viewed and impressive.
Mysonne has some strong points here, although I think they are less effective to the white audience he is trying to talk to.
There is no way for me to speak for all white people here. I can't do it. I won't do it. But what I can do is describe how I feel about the issues based on my background and influences and attempt to describe some of the people around me and why they feel the way they do. And then conclude with why I think Joyner Lucas's spoonfed approach is better than Mysonne's hammer.
I embraced hip-hop in the early 1990s. Hip-hop was growing, it was fresh, it was different. It was also thought provoking. I was feeling stagnated in my predominantly white Florida suburb and knew it wasn't the place for me. My town was great for families and some of my friends, but I didn't see a future there. I listened repeatedly to songs about getting out of the ghetto like my white suburban town was my personal ghetto.
Right after high school, I joined the military. That adventure led me to college, then to city life, and then to a job that required world travel. My career path has forced me to open my mind academically and socially. I wouldn't have it any other way.
Unfortunately, not all my white friends and family have had those experiences. Some stick to the rivers and the lakes they are used to.
A few years ago for example, I had a white friend drunkenly say "I wish I was black for a day, just to see what it's like."
Even though I had been drinking as well, that statement sobered me up and stopped me in my tracks. Cold. I wasn't about to get into a deep philosophical discussion with her about why what she said was the most white privilege thing she could ever say or why it was horribly ignorant. After a day's worth of drinking, nothing good could have happened from that. So I let it be. But years later, it still bothers me.
I don't wish to be any of my friends. Be they black, white, rich, poor, gay, straight, man, woman, tall, or small. I might wonder what it's like to have a wife, a minivan, and a house full of children, but that's a lifestyle, not a born condition.
Back in the wonderfully innocent 1980s, there was a movie entitled "Soul Man" starring C. Thomas Howell. In the movie, Howell's character dyes his skin and he acts "black" in order to win a scholarship to Harvard. Although the movie is full of awkward hijinks and social commentary, the most powerful part is at the finale when Howell's character has a conversation with James Earl Jones' character about the black experience.
"I don't really know what it feels like, sir. If I didn't like it, I could always get out."
The closest I ever came to experiencing systematic discrimination was while I was in Afghanistan. Work culture on military bases in Afghanistan is very hierarchical. US Military personnel are on top, foreign military personnel are second, followed by US contractors, then foreign contractors. As a US contractor, I couldn't take the US military bus around the base, I couldn't use the better military doctors unless there was a life-threatening injury, and I couldn't eat at the dining facility at the same time. All because of my label.
I didn't like that very much. I didn't have the freedom to eat when I wanted or see the doctor I wanted. I had to use the facility that was for "my people". Perhaps it was "separate but equal", but the separation was not something I was used to.
Fortunately, when my time in Afghanistan was over, like C. Thomas Howell's Soul Man, I could return to my white American comfort zone.
Also in Afghanistan, I would often speak with one of our translators, a young member of the Hazara tribe of Afghanistan. The Hazaras are among the most persecuted people in Afghanistan. Both ethnic Pashtuns and the Taliban targeted the Hazaras and attempted to "ethnically cleanse" the group.
During one conversation, my translator friend told me one of the most eye-opening things I have ever heard. He said the election of President Obama in 2008 gave hope to the Hazara people. According to him, the Hazara felt that if a black man could become President of the United States, then perhaps one day a Hazara could become president of Afghanistan.
That is the type of social advancement and trailblazing America should be doing. We should be empowering not only our own people, but we should be an inspiration for the discriminated and downtrodden around the globe. America should be the land of opportunity, where your potential is determined by your input, not where you were born, the color of your skin, your religion, or the school system you are near.
Of course, a country as wide and diverse as America will always have different points of view. We will never be unified in thought. Some of us prefer a day on the farm and some prefer a day at the beach. Some want to live a life of quiet solitude and others want to be knee-deep in the hustle and bustle of metropolitan life. What we do for fun and what media we consume typically aligns with that lifestyle.
And that brings me back to Joyner Lucas and his video. For those who are comfortable in our society, media that expresses views that society is not acceptable for everyone is upsetting. It is easier for those who are comfortable to listen to music that celebrates their comfort status. That's what country music does. It celebrates the present - the small town, the pretty girl, the pick-up truck, and the complacent country lifestyle. Country music is very conservative. It does not aspire for progress.
That's why many white people like it so much.
Counter-culture music requires upsetting thought. Be it punk, hip-hop, metal, or folk music. Counter-culture requires unpacking and seeing things from other perspectives. Not every white American wants to be challenged to do that. Hence sometimes media that slowly opens up conversation is a better way to inspire change, kinda like hiding a pill in ice cream.
Joyner Lucas's song is safe and easy to digest. It takes elementary school social understanding. Mysonne's verse, while important, requires grad school level social understanding. A lot of white culture is not ready to have that conversation, no matter how many non-white people scream they need to.
Unfortunately, when scared, white people can retreat to their bubble. They can go back to listening to country music and hanging out in an all-white world. As a white person, let me tell you, it is easy to do. It is also lazy. White people should do better.
There are a lot of great things in America. But there is a lot our predominant culture still needs to work on. We need to keep moving forward and we need to understand each other. "Others" are not going away. If understanding them requires baby steps, then take baby steps. If that means jumping into deep philosophical literature, then do that.
But while you are here, listen to Joyner Lucas's "I'm Not Racist". Understand his point of view. Listen to Mysonne's remix. Understand his contribution and point of view. If you need help, ask a friend. Have a conversation. It's easy if you try.
That was the advice I gave my 10-year old nephew before I began my adventure to Qatar. I am always encouraging him to be more adventurous and more active.
After my first month in Qatar, I realized the same advice applies to me.
Unlike other times I have worked with the military, this is trip is less “deployment” and more “business trip”. I am living on the local economy and riding to the base every day for my daily shift. I shop at the local grocery stores, eat at the local restaurants, and peruse the local markets.
I do work. I work 50+ hours a week, 6 days a week, and have Sundays off. On Sunday, I try to explore – either sight-see or eat somewhere new. So far outside of my neighborhood, I have been to the main souq (market) and to The Pearl, a high-end residential and shopping district on a man-made island slightly off the coast of Qatar.
I am trying new things.
I am also trying to take a lot of pictures; you can find them here:
Recently, a friend mentioned that Doha sorta resembles Miami. I think that is a fair comparison. Both are large affluent coastal cities with splashy new buildings and a heavy ethnic influence.
While there are some similarities to places in the States, there are definitely some differences. First and foremost is the government. Qatar is governed by the al-Thani family. An image of the Emir is on almost every building and on bumper stickers, walls, and fences. His face is everywhere.
Another huge difference is driving. Thousands of cars in a small area with construction everywhere makes for very congested streets. Although hearing horns, seeing people get cut off, and witnessing accidents are regular occurrence, I have yet to see any acts of road rage. No yelling, no middle fingers, no fights. It’s like they all understand offensive driving.
The third difference is the lack of alcohol. While there is alcohol allowed in Qatar, it is restricted to those with permits or to international hotel bars. Since I don’t have a permit nor have been to an international hotel, I haven’t had a drink in a month.
And that brings me to my other piece of advice: Be healthy.
My goal out here is to eat healthier (when not tasting local fare) and develop a regular gym schedule, something I struggle with in the States. I am down a few pounds already.
There are still a lot of things I have yet to do out here. I haven’t visited any of the museums or cultural areas, I haven't driven on the sand dunes, and I haven’t explored the City Center. But with settling in and getting out a bit, I am definitely calling the first month in Qatar a success.
Today I leave for six months in Qatar. Another overseas adventure. This adventure shouldn't be as stressful environmentally as my positions in Afghanistan or Bosnia, but it will still be six months away from family, friends, and home.
I've known about this trip for about two months. In early December 2017, I was hired for a new job. A job I didn't originally think I was going to take, even though I applied for it. But the offer was too good and as Al Pacino said in Godfather 3: "Just when I thought I was out, they pulled me back in!"
I am doing government contract work again, supporting military operations headquartered in Tampa. This job has more responsibilities than my previous positions, will look really good on my resume, and should open doors for me in the future. Those are the biggest reasons I took the job (the higher pay and benefits are also a plus). As well, I hope to save some of my income over the next 6 months for a down payment on a house.
I've been to Qatar before. In 2009, I supported government operations for two months. It was a short trip, but I did get to see a bit of the surrounding areas. I visited the Islamic Museum of Art and several local shops. Qatar is a very western-friendly country and foreigners are treated well. Especially those working high end jobs.
Over the last few weeks, I have been learning about my new job. It has been weird returning to supporting government work. While training, I returned to a building on MacDill Air Force Base that I had not been in in 5 years. I saw people I hadn't seen in almost 7 years, including one of my first bosses. Most people who recognized me asked the same question: "Where have you been?"
"Well, after getting laid off twice in 2011, I went to Afghanistan for a year. Then went back to grad school for a master's degree in business. I was living by the University of South Florida and met some amazing people there. I got involved in my local FSU alumni organization and local Veterans groups. I was a researcher and case study writer for military courses on Syria and Iraq. And last but definitely not least, I worked in downtown Tampa at the USF Health Center for Advanced Medical Learning and Simulation."
Not the typical answer for someone with a background in national defense work. Then again, I haven't had a typical career.
And then I tell them I am leaving again.
Granted, six months is not long. It is, but it is not. It is not a whole sports season in any of the four major US sports. It is barely a semester and a half on the academic calendar.
But it is long enough to miss family and friends and home.
Over the last month, I have done my best to spend time with as many family and friends as possible. I couldn't see all of them, but as many as I could. I grabbed a beer, dinner, lunch, coffee, or just swung by their work to say hi. Six months isn't long, but it is a while to not have the capability to physically say hello.
I am lucky enough to count a lot of groups as family. There is of course my actual, biological family. They are important to me and I hope we can get the video chat up and running from Qatar soon.
Then there is my FSU family. Whether in Tampa or Tallahassee, FSU is always my second home. I met some of my best friends at FSU and those friends have become family. That won't change and we should get the video chat working there as well.
A big portion of my FSU family is my involvement with the Tampa Bay Seminole Club. Since I returned from Afghanistan, I have put in a lot of work for my local alumni organization, raising awareness, better connecting alumni, and creating opportunities for perspective students. I will miss being involved. (On the other hand, I should be back in time for our big block party.)
There are my many friends in Tampa's hip-hop community. Through a few articles and an ongoing project on Tampa's first hip-hop DJ, Tampa's hip-hop scene has given me much love and support. I'll definitely be rocking some Tampa hip-hop in Qatar. They don't know about that.
There is also my Tampa Veterans network. Also since my return from Afghanistan, I have met and worked with many Veterans looking to improve the lives and opportunities of fellow Veterans in the Tampa Bay area. The Veterans network in Tampa Bay is strong and growing, and it is awesome to be part of that.
Last but definitely not least, my pro wrestling family. Even though my brother is the veteran of the squared circle, the folks I have met in the pro wrestling community have been awesome. That was reaffirmed last weekend when I hung out with wXw Wrestling, run by wrestling's Anoa'i Family. The Anoa'is treat me as more than just the goofy guy with a 3-foot afro wig who heckles wrestlers, they treat me as a member of their large family. I'll definitely be keeping up with wXw and everyone there via Facebook and other social media.
Anyway, this is getting long and it is getting late. I have a flight to catch tomorrow.
As I did in Afghanistan, I will write again soon. Hopefully I'll attach some great pictures of my travels.
Let's stay in touch.
PS: To my comedy friends, I promise I will see you more often when I get back. I will start writing comedy again and I will get back on stage. Maybe this international trip will be the impetus for some interesting perspectives on life. Although the last time I was overseas, comedy didn't work out too well. I think I might still be suffering from a form of PTSD (post-traumatic stand-up disappointment).
I am not sure why someone would want to steal my bologna poem. Or where they got the image. Or what they intend on doing with the text of my bologna poem.
I guess my poetry skills are international.
Despite my career in serious government and business work, I will not stop being creative. It is important to me in order to keep the brain juices flowing. I have to don my silly afro wig and write weird poems about bologna. The cat is out of the bag and Pandora has opened her box.
I saw The Last Jedi a few weeks ago. Before I write any analysis on the movie, and there will be a lot, I wanted to finally write down my thoughts following The Force Awakens. Some of these happened, some didn't.
(Note: these were also written before Carrie Fisher died in December 2017.)
Episode VIII Pre-Thoughts
Rey's character progress was inevitable. Fans clamoring for her development would have their questions answered. She is the main protagonist. The strength of Episode 8 will rely on the development, storylines, and interactions of other characters.
Kylo Ren needs to get stronger. Kylo's growth needs to be faster than Anakin's. He needs a need to be badder. He cannot be a weak antagonist.
Who is in charge of the galaxy? We need a Coruscant scene. Maybe Leia addressing the Senate as Amidala did in the prequels.
Finn needs a win. In Episode 7, Finn is a sidekick. He needs to lead or he becomes as relevant as Jar Jar Binks.
Leia needs to be focus against Kylo Ren. Mothers don't play a big role in the Star Wars saga. It is time to change that.
Luke needs to fall. Unless the final battle is Luke versus Snoke - which might not be climatic unless Snoke wins - Luke needs to fall. Luke is too strong of a character. Luke is a legend. Unless Luke has amnesia, which is doubtful.
Lando needs a cameo.
Chewie needs retribution. His best friend was killed. A Kylo Ren versus Chewie confrontation would be very interesting.
