One Day in Doha

Although I have bought a nice camera and do really like to take pictures, there are certain times that I just forget to take it out. This mostly happens in my favorite moments; when I am too busy enjoying the company of the people I am with.

When my mom came to visit me in Doha, you can guess what happened. 

Ever since I found out I would be moving to the Middle East, I have been waiting for the moment that my mom steps off the plane and I got to show her around. When we discovered that we had the same spring break for this school year, we quickly began planning our future trip.  Read more...

"Your mommy come to school? We meet her?"

"No, she'll come on Friday, which is the weekend, and we won't be in school."

"We will come Friday."

I spent the week before she arrived telling my students stories about my mom and decorating a sign for the airport.

I obsessively checked on her flight status and the second her flight had landed, I jumped in my car and sailed through the Doha streets, getting a slight case of road rage. Didn't these people know that my mom was here?! In Doha?!?

I parked and ran through the airport, getting quite a few stares. When she finally emerged from the baggage claim, I cried.

I know that I am almost 25, but when I saw my mom after such a long time, it was the only reaction appropriate.

As we strolled through the airport, it became surreal. I had spent 8 months trying to put in words what it was like living in Doha, but I know it could never quite manage to capture it. I have spent a fare amount of time sitting on this blog and trying to write down exactly how it feels to be a young woman living in this very small Muslim country. I know that I can never paint an exact picture, so it is strange to actually introduce someone you know to this new life style.

We spent the first night at my apartment catching up and telling stories. In an apartment that feels a bit stale and too big for just me, this night it felt cozy and perfect.

I woke up the next morning and decided to just get into bed with my mom to wake her up. We can all pretend to be five years old again, right? 

I then took her over to Jones the Grocer for breakfast. After a meal of eggs Benedict and lattes, we headed back home for a nap. As it was Friday, which is the weekend here and the main holy day, everything is closed. 

The Museum of Islamic Art would not open until the afternoon, so we lounged at my apartment until the doors opened. 

At this point, I would post a million pictures of all the things that my mom and I did together in Doha. 

There are two problems with this.

First, there are not a million things to do in Doha.

Second, I barely took out my camera.

I managed to sneak a few pictures, but mostly I wandered close behind my mom, worried that this was still a dream and when I woke up she wouldn't be here anymore.

The museum is a main draw in Doha, with its beautiful architecture. It is not a huge museum, but it has its highlights.

After the MIA, the next main attraction in Doha is the souk. I led my mom through the small winding streets and through my favorite stores full of Turkish lamps and Iranian plates, with a few silly salt and pepper shakers thrown in. After finally finding our way through the fabric stalls, I took her to dinner at Jasmine Thai, one of the best Thai restaurants in Doha.

Our flight to Barcelona was very late that night, so of course I had to finish packing that night (organized as usual!). Although the pictures are lacking in this post, I can remember every moment. A camera can be a great way to view the word, but sometimes, it's nice to put it down and just enjoy the company of your dear old (not old!) mom.