tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33947698.post2068931563575272044..comments2024-03-22T01:24:37.146-07:00Comments on Skeptic in Qatar: Where are all the Qataris?Glen McKayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01120296462964981195noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33947698.post-25278012809498430202009-12-12T01:08:24.575-08:002009-12-12T01:08:24.575-08:00Thanks Mohammed. I am fortuante to have made Qata...Thanks Mohammed. I am fortuante to have made Qatari friends through work but outside of work I have not met any others. Not that I'm surprised, most of the activities I'm involved in is not really much of an opportunity to meet Qatais: QNHG, lazing by the pool, meeting friends for shisha at Souq Waqif, or going to comedy night at the Ramada. You also tend not to meet Qataris in day-to-day transactions since store clerks and other workers are from other countries. Even workers in Islamic centres or Arabic teachers are from other countries.<br /><br />In time I'm sure I will meet more.Glen McKayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01120296462964981195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33947698.post-58567091331029680422009-12-05T09:24:38.256-08:002009-12-05T09:24:38.256-08:00Interesting blog. I am a Qatari who lived overseas...Interesting blog. I am a Qatari who lived overseas for over six years, and came back a couple of years ago. The first thing that I noticed was the huge number of foreigners in the country, but what was weird to me the fact that there is no interaction between the locals, and the foreigners!! I have many western colleges, and whenever I ask them if they have local friends, or if they interact with the locals, the answer is always a BIG NO. I have no clue why, even though, it is a major part of our culture "as traders, pearl divers, ect." plus the fact that Doha has been always a business port, that the interaction between the locals and the foreigners is natural. What I have noticed is that the foreigners have this prejudged assumption which is based totally on stereotypes either heard from fellow expats, or from blogs, website, and other media interfaces that would show us locals as isolated people who wont like to have any interaction with the expats! I always push my expats friends to meet more locals, and just try to make conversation with them. this would remove the stereotype and fill up the cultural gap which would build up a better understanding and a better relationship between the two.. <br />It was great to go through ur blog, and keep on posting,, wish u the best of luck..<br /><br />MohammedMohammed Alhamadihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14170415607720016040noreply@blogger.com