Tidbits From Qatar

The McDonald's here offers a McArabia in grilled chicken or grilled Kofta. It is a sandwich in flat bread with meat, lettuce, tomato, and Arab sauce. The Happy Meal with cheeseburger, fries and orange juice comes complete with a toy just like at home. We went thru the drive-up but there is no speaker. You look at the menu and then drive to the window, order and pay. The young man at the window made a point to look at me, in the passenger seat, and say hello. The food was ready at the next window as soon as we pulled up to get it. This efficiency seemed exceptional here.

We noticed that they don't seem to use car seats for the kids. Craig saw a car with two toddlers standing on the front seat and Dad holding a baby while driving! I have seen kids sitting on Mom's lap while Dad drives and also kids standing in the front while Mom or Dad drives. When Craig and Becky first moved here they had a van take them somewhere (?) and the driver looked at them like they were aliens when they brought Anna's car seat and installed it in the van. We went to a baby store at the mall and I didn't see any car seats for sale. I predict that within ten years car seats will be in use here too. The market is too big to ignore!

There was so much dust in the air last night that the setting sun looked like a full moon.

At the mall one afternoon, and yesterday evening at the hospital I heard the call to prayers which is broadcast five times per day around the city. I don't believe that Muslims are required to drop everything and go pray. I read somewhere that they can wait until they are finished with what they are doing. I haven't seen anyone praying publicly, but I have read that if you should see someone praying, of course be respectful.

Sundays here are like Mondays at home. It is the first day of the work week. That is why Becky was induced Sunday morning and not on Friday or Saturday which are the week-end.