Due to some changes in my project, I will be in Doha for several more weeks, possibly until March 14th. Things are very busy, and my days mostly consist of taxing from the hotel to the office at 6:30am, back to the hotel by 3:00pm, working from my spot on the couch until 11:30pm or later, with an hour break somewhere in the middle for dinner or a stop at the gym. I’ve worked somewhere in the area of 70 hours this week. I’m not saying that to sound impressive, I’m saying it because I am exhausted and edgy. I’m tired, frustrated, and annoyed that it is just expected that I can keep this up. I can’t, it’s not sustainable, and it shouldn’t be!
OK, vent over.
I did take a couple of hours yesterday to go to the Souq for dinner with a co-worker instead of ordering the usual room service. It just so happened that this week is Doha’s Spring Festival and there were alll kinds of perfomers including men on stilts, the amazing “mirror man” and some crazy cortortionists (spelling!?). In any case, it was an interesting evening of people watching! I took a couple of vidoes, and I will try and post them later.
I don’t have any picture updates from Erin. I will try and get a few and post them later this weekend. As far as I know the winter storm will not be reaching the DC area, and the weather reports for our area look like only rain is predicted. DC does seem to dodge a lot of the harsher NorthEast weather patterns.
Here are some photots my life this week…
Work…
Entrance to one of the two offices I work out of. Doha is based on “rings”. This is the “e-ring” office. For workshops or trainings, I work out of the “c-ring” office.
Tea. One of my favorite things about the Middle East. Preferably with fresh mint.
There are so many expats in Doha that it’s easy to find a wide variety of imported products. Here are a couple of my English favorites…jelly babies, and ginger beer 🙂 Thought my grandma would like this one! As you can see, these are being enjoyed from my third work spot – the couch in my hotel room.
While the work load has been demanding and exhausting. I will say I am blessed to be taken very well care of here at the Radisson Blu. Long staying guests enjoy “extras” like a cocktail parties, a plateful of candy bars delivered to my room weekly, and this weekly fruit basket:
As tired as I am this week – and as cranky as I am this morning – I have a lot to be thankful for. I just wish the thing I am most thankful for wasn’t on another continent sleeping with my three favorite fluffies.
Well, now I am going to relax for an hour before digging back into work. I promised myself a trip to the gym and a glass of wine this evening. So, I better get cracking if I intend to deliver on that promise.