Anne's blog travel 06-07

Thursday, November 30th 2006 - 1 day to go..

Well, it's not long to go now until opening ceremony which takes place tomorrow at 7pm. We were very busy yesterday with 188 people at peak time in the Work Room and 150 people over most of the afternoon and into the evening.

Some of the scenery here is quite breathtaking especially early morning or late afternoon. The light is beautiful at those times of the day with shades of purple pink and orange. The pictures


attached here are of the torch traveling through
Doha yesterday. With one day to go I feel ok. I managed to get some sleep although I had to get up at 1:30am to do my washing as the washing machine in my area is constantly in use when I come home from work. I just put the load on and put it to dry as I went to run this morning.

I was thinking this morning while running of my thoughts when I first came here about being a woman in a muslim world and how everybody had told me it was a disadvantage. And I first I thought this to be true with all the limitations on clothing (no shorts, no sleeveless shirts, no revealing neck lines ) and other possible limiting restrictions. It appears quite clearly to me now that being a woman at least as a traveller is a distinct advantage in this world. I think of all my female volunteers and the easiness we've had in communicating; I think even of the men and how truthfully pleasant all my interactions have been with them.

One of my collegues who is a gay man who has been living here for 4 months with his partner let's me know of an issue which came up with one of his female volunteers. This woman has worked with me occasionally when they are not busy and she is pleasant, friendly and always happy. My collegue quite by mistake touched her elbow ever so slightly and when he shows me how, I cannot even feel the pressure. The volunteer quickly told him that he needed never to touch her. He confides that he never gets used to the ways of this culture.

And it's in reflecting on that and the exchanges I've had with women on the Corniche that I realise that I'm really priviledged in that respect to be a woman. Women accept me in their world and men are also happy to exchange and talk with me. Most Qatari and indeed Muslim women will have issues with dealing with a western man and indeed most men. But at least Arab men know the "code of conduct".

Another busy day ahead.