Global Girl: Qatar

Ever heard of Qatar? (sounds like KAH-tur). Think of a desert about the size of Connecticut and surrounded on three sides by ocean! My new friend Sarah is 12 years old and an American living abroad with her parents in this small Middle Eastern country.

Charlotte Ramsey: Hi Sarah! You know my dad’s a travel writer, so I've been to lots of interesting places. I'm so excited to talk to someone else who knows what it's like to move around a lot. How do you feel about the life of a Global Girl?

Sarah: I love getting out to see the world and having all of these opportunities! I've lived in two countries, and visited over 35. I've lived in Qatar about eight months.

Charlotte: If someone said to you: "What is Qatar?!" How would you set them straight?

Sarah: First, I would say: "It's NOT a guitar!" People get that mixed up all the time! And then I would tell them that it's a tiny country next to Iran and Saudi Arabia... and Bahrain...

Charlotte: What is it like to live in a desert?

Sarah: I actually live on a man-made lagoon that comes off of the Persian Gulf, but my city is basically in the desert! We've ridden camels and gone dune-bashing before! It's sooo awesome!

Charlotte: Dune-bashing? What's that?

Sarah: Well, you go into the desert and hire a professional four-wheel driver. He dips down into the sand dunes, and it looks like you're going to fall off or roll over, but you never do! It's a local tradition around here! It's sooo much fun!

Charlotte: I hear Qatar has a REAL king and queen! Have you ever been to the palace?

Sarah: I've visited Her Highness' office before -- it's beautiful! -- and it's in a palace. My dad works with the royal family. The king here is called Emir and the queen is called Sheikha. That's in Arabic.

Qatar

Charlotte: Are most of your friends from Qatar or from different countries?

Sarah: I go to an international school... some of my friends are from different countries like Germany, and some are from the Middle East, but actually most of my good friends are from America!

Charlotte: What is a school day like for you?

Sarah: A normal school day is basically like a normal school day in the U.S., since it's an American curriculum, and we have a lot of homework! Also, a cool statistic is that we have over 60 different nationalities at our school!

Charlotte: That is so cool! Where do you and your friends get together after school on a normal day? What do you do for fun?

Sarah: We usually just hang out in the hallways or get together at each others' houses! It's too hot to go outside -- 108 degrees Fahrenheit is cool for us!

Charlotte: Do you even go outside in weather that hot? What do you have to wear?

Sarah: Well, it took a while to get acclimated, but after a while, you just get used to it. You have to watch what you wear because it's a Muslim country, and they have certain rules about clothes. I don't have to keep my head covered outside, but the local Qatari women do.

Charlotte: Can you tell me what it's like in Qatar during the month of Ramadan, one of the most important Muslim holidays? I know that fasting Muslims don't eat or drink anything while the sun is up. They have to wake up really early for breakfast, then wait until after dusk to eat dinner.

Sarah: Oh yes! Some of the kids at school here can't eat because they're fasting for Ramadan! They have a separate floor for kids who are fasting. And the roads are sooo crowded after dusk. During Ramadan in Qatar, it's actually illegal to drink even a bottle of water when you're driving or anything like that!

Charlotte: Wow! That must be hard. So, what is the local food like?

Sarah: Well, actually, there are many common fast-food places in my city, but some of the restaurants are Arabic. Personally, I'm a very picky-eater! Qataris eat lots of different kinds of fish -- I hate seafood! -- since we live on the Persian Gulf!

Charlotte: In all your travels to different countries, what is the coolest place you've ever been to?

Sarah: HOME in Maryland! But, also in London. I love England!

Charlotte: How would you describe your parents' work? Are you interested in a similar career when you grow up?

Sarah: OMG! I could NEVER describe my dad's work. He works about a million different occupations at once. My mom is a professional photographer! I want to be an author and maybe an actress when I grow up!

Charlotte: Cool! You'll have plenty to write about. Can you teach club BSGers something fun to say in Arabic?

Sarah: Marhaba!means "hello/welcome!"