Saturday, November 18, 2006
Sunday 19th November.
Abdulrahman, new palestinian volunteer who started yesterday arrives around 4pm. His english is non existant but as I explain a few things to him, he seems to understand at least some of it; well, it's hard to tell but he has a genuine smile and seems really eager to help. And in this case, eagerness to help is probably the most important asset a volunteer can have. I'll wait until later today when Sameera is in (and can translate)to explain in more details the processes of Press Assistant's job. Unfortunatly the volunteers I've had this week, whether they showed up once or five times, will make place to completely new volunteers for the next five days. So training begins again for a new lot of volunteers. It's taken most of all my days to explain, go through procedures, observe and direct them through the first enquiries and often even entertain them so I already know what my next few days will be like.
At other games I have rarely had to deal with volunteers because of my position. This freed me up to do work at a higher level. But, in taking this short term contract I knew it would be on one hand "fairly simple" and on the other "absolutely maddening" at times. However, appart from the jobs I was offered in Technology about 2.5 years ago, I was also offered Gerry's (Deputy MPC Manager) and Kisane (rate card manager). And knowing what the jobs entailed I preferred to do the position I have accepted. Gerry will work the graveyard shift from 7pm to 7am and has had to deal with Volunteer scheduling since her arrival in june/july. Volunteer scheduling is always an absolute nightmare and is forever changing. No one is ever happy with their schedule. Volunteers here are a bigger challenge than anywhere else because of the "inshallah nature of things here so I'm glad I had the presence of mind to refuse that job. Daytime is also the exciting and busy time on the venue. This is when I like to be here.
But, in fact, I'm enjoying dealing with the volunteers this time around and find that despite the energy it involves, it is also very rewarding. Hopefully, the team will be able to handle the task ahead.
I see Assil on the Corniche when I turn to head back and he runs most of the second half of the run with me. He's still waiting for his visa to be transfered from his old employer to his new one and so has been three weeks out of work. He explains that Qataris control people this way. He took a job here two years ago and developped the software needed for the company. To gain further experience he wanted to accept another position but his employer wanting to retain him offered him a raise. But Assil still wanted to leave. The employer is now taking his time to transfer the papers and also got him to sign that Assil would forgo all monies he is still owed. He also put a clause stating Assil will be released to the new employer only and cannot change jobs in the future. Unless he leaves the country. If his visa is canceled, he must leave the country for two years. I wonder how much is he paid paid in his job? 6500 Qatari Riyals per month which is very little or the equivalent of $21 420 Us per year. Accomodation and cars are expensive here. But he tells me he pays 2000 Qatari Riyals per month for his studio/flat which is small and 1500QRiyals for his car repayments. I'm actually very surprised by this low level of salary.
Construction workers here are treated like slaves. Their passport is held by the employer. I heard stories saying they work for 10QRiyal per day (about $3Canadian). They are housed in bad conditions with many people sharing the same room (at least 8 or more) and huge kitchens to cook their meals. Assil tells me he doesn't know for sure about the salary of 10QRiyals per day but he has heard of a salary of 540 Qatari Riyals per month which is less then $150US per month working long days in the heat and often at least 6 days per week. Thousands of Indians, Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, Thais, etc are imported that way. Some people reason that it's more than they can make in their country. I see a lot of them in the morning when they get off the buses which take them to the work site. All dressed in Blue overalls, long sleeves. I often salute them but few respond. If any of them break any rules, they are deported so many don't risk even smiling back but I keep doing it anyway, for the few who may have a nicer day for it. In some I can see their eyes light up and a ready smile appear. It may not make their day but it makes mine.
It is said that the current generation of Qatari children are quite unable to look after themselves. All families have maids and house cleaners. No wonder Semeera cannot make her own coffee. Public transportation here is almost non existant. Taxis are possibly the only way to move around without a car or a driver. Traffic as can be expected in country which has many cars and no public transport can be a real problem. Some people live 15 minutes away but in traffic will need an hour or more to get home. I'm happy I can walk to my Venue and to my hotel in 10 minutes.
Kens a coworker from America is living here with his partner. His partner is French and I ask him whether he is paid reasonnably well. Kens says that he is but he is a Bank Manager.
The mornings are beautiful now. Denise tells me her car thermometer was showing 74 F this morning.
Bye for now
Abdulrahman, new palestinian volunteer who started yesterday arrives around 4pm. His english is non existant but as I explain a few things to him, he seems to understand at least some of it; well, it's hard to tell but he has a genuine smile and seems really eager to help. And in this case, eagerness to help is probably the most important asset a volunteer can have. I'll wait until later today when Sameera is in (and can translate)to explain in more details the processes of Press Assistant's job. Unfortunatly the volunteers I've had this week, whether they showed up once or five times, will make place to completely new volunteers for the next five days. So training begins again for a new lot of volunteers. It's taken most of all my days to explain, go through procedures, observe and direct them through the first enquiries and often even entertain them so I already know what my next few days will be like.
At other games I have rarely had to deal with volunteers because of my position. This freed me up to do work at a higher level. But, in taking this short term contract I knew it would be on one hand "fairly simple" and on the other "absolutely maddening" at times. However, appart from the jobs I was offered in Technology about 2.5 years ago, I was also offered Gerry's (Deputy MPC Manager) and Kisane (rate card manager). And knowing what the jobs entailed I preferred to do the position I have accepted. Gerry will work the graveyard shift from 7pm to 7am and has had to deal with Volunteer scheduling since her arrival in june/july. Volunteer scheduling is always an absolute nightmare and is forever changing. No one is ever happy with their schedule. Volunteers here are a bigger challenge than anywhere else because of the "inshallah nature of things here so I'm glad I had the presence of mind to refuse that job. Daytime is also the exciting and busy time on the venue. This is when I like to be here.
But, in fact, I'm enjoying dealing with the volunteers this time around and find that despite the energy it involves, it is also very rewarding. Hopefully, the team will be able to handle the task ahead.
I see Assil on the Corniche when I turn to head back and he runs most of the second half of the run with me. He's still waiting for his visa to be transfered from his old employer to his new one and so has been three weeks out of work. He explains that Qataris control people this way. He took a job here two years ago and developped the software needed for the company. To gain further experience he wanted to accept another position but his employer wanting to retain him offered him a raise. But Assil still wanted to leave. The employer is now taking his time to transfer the papers and also got him to sign that Assil would forgo all monies he is still owed. He also put a clause stating Assil will be released to the new employer only and cannot change jobs in the future. Unless he leaves the country. If his visa is canceled, he must leave the country for two years. I wonder how much is he paid paid in his job? 6500 Qatari Riyals per month which is very little or the equivalent of $21 420 Us per year. Accomodation and cars are expensive here. But he tells me he pays 2000 Qatari Riyals per month for his studio/flat which is small and 1500QRiyals for his car repayments. I'm actually very surprised by this low level of salary.
Construction workers here are treated like slaves. Their passport is held by the employer. I heard stories saying they work for 10QRiyal per day (about $3Canadian). They are housed in bad conditions with many people sharing the same room (at least 8 or more) and huge kitchens to cook their meals. Assil tells me he doesn't know for sure about the salary of 10QRiyals per day but he has heard of a salary of 540 Qatari Riyals per month which is less then $150US per month working long days in the heat and often at least 6 days per week. Thousands of Indians, Sri Lankans, Pakistanis, Thais, etc are imported that way. Some people reason that it's more than they can make in their country. I see a lot of them in the morning when they get off the buses which take them to the work site. All dressed in Blue overalls, long sleeves. I often salute them but few respond. If any of them break any rules, they are deported so many don't risk even smiling back but I keep doing it anyway, for the few who may have a nicer day for it. In some I can see their eyes light up and a ready smile appear. It may not make their day but it makes mine.
It is said that the current generation of Qatari children are quite unable to look after themselves. All families have maids and house cleaners. No wonder Semeera cannot make her own coffee. Public transportation here is almost non existant. Taxis are possibly the only way to move around without a car or a driver. Traffic as can be expected in country which has many cars and no public transport can be a real problem. Some people live 15 minutes away but in traffic will need an hour or more to get home. I'm happy I can walk to my Venue and to my hotel in 10 minutes.
Kens a coworker from America is living here with his partner. His partner is French and I ask him whether he is paid reasonnably well. Kens says that he is but he is a Bank Manager.
The mornings are beautiful now. Denise tells me her car thermometer was showing 74 F this morning.
Bye for now
# posted by AdeC @ 8:59 PM 
