The Camel Races

Yes, there are camel races in Doha! Susan was invited to join a group of women to watch the event soon after her arrival. She learned that recently remote-controlled robots replaced human jockeys on the backs of the camels! These robots are the size of a large shoe box, equipped with a whip or jockey crop, and they are marked with individual race numbers. The owners of the camels remotely control the robot, not from the grandstands, but from their moving vehicle - usually a white Toyota Land Cruiser!

There are two concentric racetracks - the inside track where the camels race, and the outside track where the Land Cruisers race. As the camels circumvent the track, so must also the drivers keep abreast (or ahump?) of their animals. Can you imagine the craziness of a pursuing fleet of vehicles loaded with cheering Qatari locals racing around a dusty dirt track frantically trying to follow their camel while also dodging other SUVs doing the same? To make this chase even more exciting, my brave lady friend Janet and us passengers decided to join in this crazy car rally at about 80 kilometers an hour ouselves! Wheeee!

Following our taste of the races, we dined at an authentic Qatari restaurant draped in the interior like a bedouin tent! The food was a local faire of hummus, pita bread, grilled lamb chops, shish kebabs, and salads with feta cheese. Yummm!

The Pearl-Qatar

   Similar to other wealthy Gulf countries, Qatar's recent real estate development boom has produced its own share of iconic architecture and magnificent master planning. While here in Qatar, I have had numerous work experiences relating to two of Qatar's most famous projects; i.e. -- Lusail City and the Pearl. The Pearl-Qatar is an artificial island spanning nearly four million square meters. Once fully developed,  this project  will create over 32 kilometers of new coastline, over 15,000 dwellings plus new retail, office, and  hospitality offerings.

Occasionally, Susan and I visit The Pearl to see construction progress and enjoy leisurely strolls through the marinas, shops, and boutiques; including a visit to nearly completed Porto Arabia; -- self proclaimed as the "epitome of Riviera Arabia living" and home to The Pearl's main luxury yacht harbor. As evidenced by numerous vacant boat slips (see photo) and empty luxury car showrooms (Geoff's new Maserati...yeah right), we are still reminded that even Qatar is feeling the effects of the world wide recession. But I reckon that it is only a matter of time, then so too will money be flowing freely from the local Qataris.

Understanding our neighbors

For several months prior to Susan's arrival to Doha, I lived in a midrise apartment building immediately adjacent to a small local mosque. (See photo at left) I quickly became acquainted with the "call to prayer" broadcasted five times daily from the mosque minaret; including the call for Fajr, (the early morning prayer) that is prayed between dawn and sunrise. Yawn !

I admire the dedication to prayer that practicing Muslims adhere to. Prayer (Salat) is one of the Five Pillars of Islam practiced here in the Gulf.  The Five Pillars of Islam (Arabic: أركان الإسلام) is the term given to the five duties incumbent on every Muslim. These duties are Shahadah (profession of faith), Salat (prayers), Sawm (fasting), Zakat (giving of alms, specifically during Ramadan) and Hajj (pilgrimage to Mecca).

As for Susan and I here in Qatar, like other members of the LDS faith living in the Gulf, we change our weekly sabbath observance from Sundays to Fridays. In fact, our weekly church meetings are held on Fridays to comply with the same day of the week that Muslims attend their weekly mosque assemblies. Our meetings are currently held in a "villa". (see photo above)

Reflections upon the past year

With today being my birthday and Easter Sunday, it gave me reason to reflect over this past year of life. It has been an eventful period for us in 2009-2010:

• I took a job in Doha, Qatar after being unemployed for five months in the U.S.
• Our son, Erik, returned home after his faithful two year LDS mission in Tokyo!
• I changed jobs in Qatar after six months here.
• Our daughter, Natalie, married a great guy named Jeff (with a name like that, he must be good)!
• My wife, Susan, eventually joined me in Qatar after getting kids, house, and wedding settled.
• My mother, Mary, passed away peacefully after a wonderful and long life.
• Shortly after returning from my mother's funeral (and playing tennis for 2 hours straight) I suffered Angina Pectoralis, drove to the emergency room at the hospital in Doha and had an emergency angioplasty!                             

But other than that, it has been a uneventful year for the Mayer family!  Seriously, Susan and I can see that the year has been both full of celebrations and tribulations, but feel we have been blessed in the midst of it all!

It has been a time of wonderful growth for both of us and our children. For much of the year we have, as a family lived in 3 different states and eleven time zones away from one other. With the help of modern communication - skype, phone, and text - we have stayed in touch and unified as a family. We have counted much on faith, prayer and a Heavenly Father who loves us and guides us, no matter where on the planet we live.

We acknowledge and thank all those who provided the support, friendship and sacrifice that has sustained us in a most remarkable year!

Welcome to The Mayer Mixed Kebab

Marhaba from Doha, Qatar.

Greetings to family and friends from Geoff & Susan Mayer's new blog spot. After celebrating Geoff's first anniversary of living abroad in the Middle East, we thought it was time to start sharing our images, impressions, adventures, and celebrations.

You are probably wondering about our blog's title. The title, Mixed Kebab, was a term used to describe Geoff by a British colleague meaning someone with a varied background, broad interests living in a culture of mixed ethnicities. As it relates to this blog, we think that Mixed Kebab reflects our crazy life in this part of the world...and Susan likes it because of its reference to food!

We invite you to periodically check our blog spot for updates on Geoff & Susan, and the Mayer Family.