Ramadan will start within a few days. I guess Muslim scholars are still observing the moon to decide the official start date. It should be either Thursday or Friday. It's going to be an interesting month. Here is the warning e-mail I got from the US Embassy:
[box]Muslims are required to fast from sunrise to sunset during the month of Ramadan. As such, it is illegal in Qatar to eat, drink (even water), or smoke in public during fasting hours, approximately 5:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. This includes inside motor vehicles. Official times for sunrise and sunset will be announced in local newspapers. If Muslims are present in the work place, they expect non-Muslims to respect their fasting and not eat, drink, or smoke in front of them, or to prepare food that they can smell or see.
As it is illegal to serve food or drink during fasting hours, restaurants will be closed during daylight hours. Restaurants will begin serving food at sundown, but expect them to be crowded, especially during Iftar, the first meal immediately after sunset.
Please avoid driving in the hour immediately before sunset. One should be extra alert at this time, as many Muslims will be rushing to family member's or friend's home or a restaurant to break their fast. Many accidents occur at this time, some very serious.[/box]
Yah, so I'm pretty excited about the potential to FORGET during this month long holiday and get arrested for drinking water in my car. Wouldn't that be some shit. I'm sure it would make a great chapter in my book.
Ladycroft's Journal
My Podcast Link
09/11/2007 05:00 #41047
ramadan approachesCategory: about doha
09/08/2007 04:52 #40999
dysmenorrheaCategory: potpourri
(this one says it all)
BUT IT'S THE BRUTAL PRICE YOU PAY TO AVOID THIS ONE!!
tinypliny - 09/09/07 14:28
Love the "little missed period" cartoon. :) Cute.
Love the "little missed period" cartoon. :) Cute.
lauren - 09/08/07 12:30
hah hah hah!!! perfect!
hah hah hah!!! perfect!
fellyconnelly - 09/08/07 09:33
hahahahaha these area amazing!
hahahahaha these area amazing!
09/07/2007 09:15 #40982
mexican fiestaCategory: birthdays
I want to say thank you again to those of you that remember my birthday. It really meant a lot to get your messages while I'm so far away. My little get together just wasn't the same without you all.
I did get a unexpected treat. The author I previously mentioned just happened to be in the office at the moment they decided to surprise me with song and cake. Being the birthday girl and all, I felt brave enough to ask for a photo with her. She's a very shy woman and at first declined but then agreed since it was my brithday. It will make a nice compliment to my signed book :)
After working all day I headed over to my aunt and uncle's place to prepare dinner. Fajitas, pinto beans, 7 layer dip, beer and margaritas. It was tasty. Finished with sweet red velvet cake. Yum.
Me on my 2nd birthday
30 years later
with Marguerite
party folks
party hair (i tried lilho)
it was almost 100 degrees at 1am!
i missed you all, muah!
I did get a unexpected treat. The author I previously mentioned just happened to be in the office at the moment they decided to surprise me with song and cake. Being the birthday girl and all, I felt brave enough to ask for a photo with her. She's a very shy woman and at first declined but then agreed since it was my brithday. It will make a nice compliment to my signed book :)
After working all day I headed over to my aunt and uncle's place to prepare dinner. Fajitas, pinto beans, 7 layer dip, beer and margaritas. It was tasty. Finished with sweet red velvet cake. Yum.
Me on my 2nd birthday
30 years later
with Marguerite
party folks
party hair (i tried lilho)
it was almost 100 degrees at 1am!
i missed you all, muah!
lilho - 09/08/07 00:34
awww. you look pretty! makes me feel sad, because ive made some friends here-but it just aint the same. and i swear if i wasnt so tired from work and school, id cry. but im too busy for that!
awww. you look pretty! makes me feel sad, because ive made some friends here-but it just aint the same. and i swear if i wasnt so tired from work and school, id cry. but im too busy for that!
metalpeter - 09/07/07 18:50
What I want to say was just said by the two people before me. As I scrolled down I just saw the knife and then saw that cake. The last picture if I didn't see it here I wouldn't know that was you. I don't know as I've seen you that dressed up and the lighting might be a factor to. I agree with (e:jenks) that you should get that framed it is a great looking picture. Glad you had a good time for your birthday.
What I want to say was just said by the two people before me. As I scrolled down I just saw the knife and then saw that cake. The last picture if I didn't see it here I wouldn't know that was you. I don't know as I've seen you that dressed up and the lighting might be a factor to. I agree with (e:jenks) that you should get that framed it is a great looking picture. Glad you had a good time for your birthday.
jenks - 09/07/07 14:59
That last pic is frame-worthy! :)
Glad you had a nice bday, even if it was a little nontraditional. :)
That last pic is frame-worthy! :)
Glad you had a nice bday, even if it was a little nontraditional. :)
libertad - 09/07/07 09:27
You look scary with that knife. Especially cause my monitor is small and I didn't see the cake right away. Glad you had a good one!
You look scary with that knife. Especially cause my monitor is small and I didn't see the cake right away. Glad you had a good one!
09/05/2007 17:21 #40951
she married a bedouin!Category: potpourri
So today I met Marguerite van Geldermalsen. She's an unasuming and quiet woman, thin, with a wise and weathered face. I didn't recognize her at first because the photos in her book are about 20 years old. I had the privelage of sitting next to her at lunch before she gave us an informal talk about her book and the experiences that brought her to finally writing this memoir.
In a nutshell, it is the tale of how a young twenty-something woman from New Zealand found herslef married to a Bedouin. Are you shocked yet? You should be.
What made my meeting her even more extraordinary was the connection I was able to make with her. I don't think I can find the words to properly express the nature of my mind when I travel. But she knew...she knew exactly....and I understood her equally as well. Someone at my table asked her a question about one of her many adventures. Rather than some long winded reply she gave a little shrug of the shoulders and made a small noise as her eyebrows lifted in a smile. It was priceless.
an excerpt from her book:
" Taking the chance often was [infinetly more interesting]. It didn't even occur to me to nervous on this occassion. I suppose we were two and he was small but I don't think that even crossed my mind. We were looking for adventure and we were finding it."
If you're curious to learn more: www.marriedtoabedouin.com
In a nutshell, it is the tale of how a young twenty-something woman from New Zealand found herslef married to a Bedouin. Are you shocked yet? You should be.
What made my meeting her even more extraordinary was the connection I was able to make with her. I don't think I can find the words to properly express the nature of my mind when I travel. But she knew...she knew exactly....and I understood her equally as well. Someone at my table asked her a question about one of her many adventures. Rather than some long winded reply she gave a little shrug of the shoulders and made a small noise as her eyebrows lifted in a smile. It was priceless.
an excerpt from her book:
" Taking the chance often was [infinetly more interesting]. It didn't even occur to me to nervous on this occassion. I suppose we were two and he was small but I don't think that even crossed my mind. We were looking for adventure and we were finding it."
If you're curious to learn more: www.marriedtoabedouin.com
09/04/2007 19:03 #40935
in this momentCategory: potpourri
Things that would make me super happy right now:
1. Two or three TV channels in English.
2. 9 consecutive hours of sleep.
3. A nice cold Dr. Pepper.
4. A piano.
5. An attractive (to me) man sitting on my sofa rubbing my knees as they drape across his lap.
6. That same man then massaging my scalp.
7. Getting my teeth cleaned.
8. Being acknowledged.
9. Plants in my apartment.
10. Holding my nephews.
11. A hug from a friend.
1. Two or three TV channels in English.
2. 9 consecutive hours of sleep.
3. A nice cold Dr. Pepper.
4. A piano.
5. An attractive (to me) man sitting on my sofa rubbing my knees as they drape across his lap.
6. That same man then massaging my scalp.
7. Getting my teeth cleaned.
8. Being acknowledged.
9. Plants in my apartment.
10. Holding my nephews.
11. A hug from a friend.
carolinian - 09/05/07 00:50
There must be a hot, sensitive, musically gifted dentist somewhere in Qatar...
There must be a hot, sensitive, musically gifted dentist somewhere in Qatar...
museumchick - 09/05/07 00:13
I will definitely cross my fingers for you with #5 and #6. Maybe the estrip folks could send you the dr. pepper:).
I will definitely cross my fingers for you with #5 and #6. Maybe the estrip folks could send you the dr. pepper:).
metalpeter - 09/04/07 20:24
I will acknowledge you with a Hello. I know it isn't the same as watching TV. But once the new seasons start maybe you can watch some English speaking programs through internet or downloads. I will admit I have no 30 seconds to mars news really other then I saw Jared in "Lord Of War" over the weekend. He played the brother of Nicolas Cage's character in the movie. I think he did a good job.
I will acknowledge you with a Hello. I know it isn't the same as watching TV. But once the new seasons start maybe you can watch some English speaking programs through internet or downloads. I will admit I have no 30 seconds to mars news really other then I saw Jared in "Lord Of War" over the weekend. He played the brother of Nicolas Cage's character in the movie. I think he did a good job.
that is very interesting indeed. can you, for example, run into a private restroom/closet/dark corner/private home and gulp water during the day?
We had muslim neighbors/friends when we lived in Pittsburgh and we loved Ramadan, because during Ramadan they were required to be hospitable, and they took that seriously.
They took it so seriously that they chased us down to give us hummus. They insisted that we help them break the fast nearly every night. It was awesome.
My chief resident a couple years ago was muslim, and it took me a few days to figure out why we could never eat dinner until 6:47 (or whatever time he told us)- but that he wanted food, and lots of it, right that minute. Til I realized it was ramadan and that was sunset.
Never thought of the car accident risk though- yikes!
I think they need to make you a smell-proof non-muslim break room where you can go eat lunch and they don't have to see it. ;)
yeh, if we are going to be busted for illegal activity, it is *not*, of all things, going to be for sipping water on a 100+ degree day!
Its great that you are experiencing these things. Experience is everything..
Wow... interesting. So, they go by the "we can't do it so you can't too" rule, huh? Although i respect Ramadan, i might have trouble with the rules... this girl needs FOOD...