Friday, November 17, 2006
Saturday November 18th.
The work room is a bit busier already yesterday with no major issues but it's good to have a few things for my volunteers to practice. At the moment I always ask them to deal with the situation so I can see what they are doing and correct them. And of course solve the problem when they can't. Actually I realise that a few of them, who seemed lazy are actually more cluey and efficient than I first assumed. That is why I like to observe when I can who has computer skills, problem solving skills, analysing skills etc.
After yet another training with a new volunteer (Mubarak) who speaks very very very little english (I ask 15 year-old Sameera to translate), we stop at the staff break area when I tell them to make themselves a coffee (instant) or tea to bring back to the help desk. Sameera says to me: "Could you make it for me, I don't know how, I'd like a latte." I'm still laughing when she continues: "I'm used to ordering it but not making it." And I show her the complicated procedure for making "latte" with instant coffee and long life milk and sugar. Then she tells me that when I've had my haircut (yesterday) we'll go shopping to the City center mall for make up. It should cost me 300 Qatari Riyals ($100 Canadian and a bit more in Australian dollars) to get the basic essentials she says. Which of course we haven't done. She's such a sweet girl and also very much her own person and speaks her mind.
Rushmans (my employers) held a function last night at the MPC bar from 6pm to 9:30pm since the last allotment of staff has arrived from overseas. Did I say: "When in Rome..." Well, I have a couple of large glasses of wine before I decide to switch to something more hydrating (I think) in the form of an energy drink and then another. I've never had them before but they containt caffeine and are just as dehydrating so I spend the night tired but wide awake unable to sleep and just check my alarm clock every hour to see what time it is. Never again...
But the night is great and I mingle with some long time friends like Lorraine and Michele and some new friends like Kisane and Will. Will is an African-American (gorgeous man, absolutely the best looking man I've ever seen) married (darn) who has been living here for two years. He is working at the Bowling Stadium as the Photo Manager in charge of making sure photographers are staying by the mixed zones and not going onto field of play. So, it's nice to hear his views on living here although he travels a fair bit too..
On my run this morning (early) on the way back I see my two veiled friends (my female ninja friends) walking ahead and in the same direction as I am. "Assalam alaykum" I say (Peace be upon you) which is my greeting this morning (the reply is : "Wa alaykum salam" (and peace be upon you too)) and the lady who took her veil off the last time I saw them, does it again and runs a little bit with me so I ask her if she walks everyday and a few other things. It's so nice to see those familiar faces.
Assalam alaykum...
The work room is a bit busier already yesterday with no major issues but it's good to have a few things for my volunteers to practice. At the moment I always ask them to deal with the situation so I can see what they are doing and correct them. And of course solve the problem when they can't. Actually I realise that a few of them, who seemed lazy are actually more cluey and efficient than I first assumed. That is why I like to observe when I can who has computer skills, problem solving skills, analysing skills etc.
After yet another training with a new volunteer (Mubarak) who speaks very very very little english (I ask 15 year-old Sameera to translate), we stop at the staff break area when I tell them to make themselves a coffee (instant) or tea to bring back to the help desk. Sameera says to me: "Could you make it for me, I don't know how, I'd like a latte." I'm still laughing when she continues: "I'm used to ordering it but not making it." And I show her the complicated procedure for making "latte" with instant coffee and long life milk and sugar. Then she tells me that when I've had my haircut (yesterday) we'll go shopping to the City center mall for make up. It should cost me 300 Qatari Riyals ($100 Canadian and a bit more in Australian dollars) to get the basic essentials she says. Which of course we haven't done. She's such a sweet girl and also very much her own person and speaks her mind.
Rushmans (my employers) held a function last night at the MPC bar from 6pm to 9:30pm since the last allotment of staff has arrived from overseas. Did I say: "When in Rome..." Well, I have a couple of large glasses of wine before I decide to switch to something more hydrating (I think) in the form of an energy drink and then another. I've never had them before but they containt caffeine and are just as dehydrating so I spend the night tired but wide awake unable to sleep and just check my alarm clock every hour to see what time it is. Never again...
But the night is great and I mingle with some long time friends like Lorraine and Michele and some new friends like Kisane and Will. Will is an African-American (gorgeous man, absolutely the best looking man I've ever seen) married (darn) who has been living here for two years. He is working at the Bowling Stadium as the Photo Manager in charge of making sure photographers are staying by the mixed zones and not going onto field of play. So, it's nice to hear his views on living here although he travels a fair bit too..
On my run this morning (early) on the way back I see my two veiled friends (my female ninja friends) walking ahead and in the same direction as I am. "Assalam alaykum" I say (Peace be upon you) which is my greeting this morning (the reply is : "Wa alaykum salam" (and peace be upon you too)) and the lady who took her veil off the last time I saw them, does it again and runs a little bit with me so I ask her if she walks everyday and a few other things. It's so nice to see those familiar faces.
Assalam alaykum...
# posted by AdeC @ 9:23 PM 
