East meets the Near East (MENA [Middle East and North Africa])

PHOTO LINK

Most people would question the idea of visit the Middle East in the midsts of the political environment which can briefly be described as “tense.” I disagree. Many people dream of having a rewarding job that allows them to travel to far away countries that they would otherwise not have seen. Now, some may consider that remark to mean beautiful and vacation like places. I really am not about the tourist thing, although I do submit to it now and then just for the photo experiences. Although I have not taken photos like I wish I could on work trips, I do get a health helping of culture. This trip falls under the category of learning experience.

I don’t see myself as a very cultured person, as some may have noticed from my last really big trip to Korea.  This time around I go into a region with plenty of prejudices about what I am going to encounter.  The Middle East or Near East or whatever you want to call it (thanks U.S. Dept. of State for making things more confusing then they need to be) is a very interesting environment, and Qatar is no exception.  Looking back on the trip I kind of see it as a very diverse area.  There are several very different populations living together but the dividing lines set by their beliefs do not change.  As a group of American (as im sure we were pegged) we were welcomed without any issues but those that were seen as non-tourist, they were expected to follow the rules set in place by their culture.

I also noticed (as everyone did) the amount of construction and lavish spending that was all around us.  From the sky scrappers popping up all over the place to Education City, which is quite literally a city of colleges, you can tell money was no issue.  Since I mentioned Education City I will run with that to give a short glimpse at what I’m talking about.  Education City houses what I think are 5 American college campuses that accommodate a student population less then my Alma Mater.  The campus is around 2,500 acres and paid for entirely by the Qatari government.  *waits for you to read that twice*  If you need another example check out this High School: Aspire Academy which would put any Olympic facility to shame, and if any of my co-workers are reading this I would be reminded that Aspire Academy is all boys.

Ok, so there is a lot of money in Qatar, duh, OIL. What I didn’t hear a lot of, and what I thought the most, was all of this extravagance popping up all over the place right next to all of the older architecture.  I did make it into the city one night with a bunch of advisers and Higher Ed reps for dinner and a walk around Souk al Waqif (basically an open air market / shops).  There seemed to be mix of old and new and the streets seemed very unchanged.  But then I look up and see Western items like sponge bob kids cloths and shoe stores selling Chucks next to local sandals.

All in all it was a wonderful experience that would have never gotten anywhere else and I would venture to say that this is the most Middle Eastern culture I will be getting for a while, although I have plenty of standing invitations to visit a couple different countries, I am probably going to pass for a while, as if im waiting for things to settle down. Now stop laughing, I know it might take a while, ok, maybe a lifetime.

I did pick up on some connection with talking to advisers, rather then just talking to people over the web.  I like more personal interactions with people, and since I am far from an outgoing person, getting advisers together like this and spending a few days with them, I come home and feel a lot more connected. Some of you think I am joking when I say I am expecting your emails when I get back to the states.  I LOVE answering questions, brainstorming new ideas and the more advisers I can help, via designs or ideas, I find that the most rewarding.

SO TAKE NOTE ADVISERS THAT ARE READING THIS

I like to be a sounding board, especially when it comes to technology and media, that is how progress is made.  That is why social media is becoming so important and why everything is happening so fast, the idea of crowd sourcing is a huge multiplier of intellect and fuels ideas.

I think this was the first time I also had down town to really get to know some of the Higher Ed reps… and let me say, they are pretty awesome.  I was so exhausted by the time I got back to the states but it was so worth making that little extra effort to hang out with everyone at the end of each day and socializing.

UPDATE

So for those who might want to learn more about Education City there is a sweet little write up on PBS here