Afar in Qatar

Here is a short broadcast news package that I put together for a course that I am currently enrolled in at VCU (Richmond). Advanced Broadcast News Writing is the last class within my major and I will be (a little) sad once it is complete. But, do not tell anyone.

Click Here.

Hello again Qatar.

… how I miss that blend of mango, tea and ice….

Maybe it was Qatar. Maybe it’s re-entry. Maybe it’s Richmond. But there is something that is just not quite right. It isn’t easy to explain; there is certain uneasiness about being back “home.” And the uneasiness is all that is certain.

Perhaps it is because home doesn’t feel like home – or actually isn’t. The discomfort and obligations make a complicated concoction.

Where should I be placing my energy? How do I move forward without moving? I have certainly been given incredible opportunities, and I (think I) am moving in the right direction, but where will it take me?

The mental list grows wild with tasks and chores that will only lead to more of the same. No rest for the weary. I don’t long for the simple life. I am happy to have a full schedule and the capacity to manage it, but the recent taste of change, culture, and the world at large has left me insatiably hungry.

Watching the digital version of our plane travel over 7000 miles around the world demonstrated the irrelevance of daily life and its consuming pressures. As a student of life I have known for years that there was more to living, but never before has this vision been so clear.

The conundrum lies in returning to the mundane activities that wait with any semblance of zest.

I’m all dressed up with nowhere to go.

I’m happy to have clothes.

It has been an amazing time here in Doha.  We have met some incredible people who will not be forgotten.  

Thank you to everyone for your hospitality.  We couldn’t be more grateful. 

To those who made it possible for us to come here… THANK YOU!

To everyone who reads this… THANK YOU! …and… stay tuned!  I’m sure we’ll be adding more videos and pics. 

Ma Salam, Qatar!!!

This morning the plan was to go around Education City and downtown Doha to get shots of building and landmarks.  Everything was going fine.  We finished in Education City, and then took a break and had a gigantic meal at Chili’s.  Yes, Chili’s. 

We make our way to this pearl statue/fountain and start getting shots.  While Jordan is getting his still camera from the van, I start to notice that the city is starting to slowly disappear in the viewfinder.

            ME “What’s with this haze in the city?  It’s ruining my shot.”

Jordan and I look up and the city is slowly starting to disappear. 

            JORDAN “It kind of looks like sand.”

At that point, Jordan and I decide to pack the equipment up and get it to the van as soon as possible.  By this time the city is no longer in view.  There is just a wall of yellow mist. 

We start driving through it and really everything looks yellow and gross.  Basically it was like a yellow fog.  We immediately start cursing it because it was impossible to shoot anything and have it turn out decent.  We decide to wait it out for 20 mins, hoping that it would move away as quickly as it came…

No such luck…

We tried getting a couple of shots… but it looks like shit, and the camera was getting sand on it…

Then, we get a call from Dima, a fashion and interior design major at VCUQ.  We ask her if it will go away soon, and she says sometimes it take rain to get the sandstorms to go away… GREAT… then, she says that she hopes we can still leave tomorrow morning… great…

So… tomorrow morning we’ll be getting up early to see if the sandstorm has died down.  If so, we’ll go into the city and get those shots done quickly before having to go to the airport at 9.  It doesn’t seem like flights have been canceled so we should be okay.

Keep your fingers crossed!!!!

OH! And the sandstorm created a filter over the sun, and it looked like a giant white spot in the sky!  It was WEIRD!  (Jordan has some pics of it)

This week has been one big final countdown.  It was full of cancelled and rescheduled interviews, dolly shots, exterior shots, b-roll material, and really trying to get more footage of the students.  The students are the heart of the university, and due to our hectic schedule of interviews we were really lacking on that footage.  So we spent a lot of time running around, and getting frustrated… we just hope we have everything we need.

As our last day begins, I can’t help but have mixed emotions.  There is no doubt that I’m ready to come home, but these past couple of days we have had the opportunity to see more of the city and hang out with more of the students.  Everyone has been so amazing… and it is no secret that our driver, Pradeep has been the best part of our trip. Obviously, Jordan and I do not know the proper way to treat a driver because we have quickly made Pradeep our friend.  Yes, we hung out with Pradeep almost every night this week.  We went to the mall, had dinner, went to the Souq… it’s been fun!  I know that both Jordan and I will truly be sad when we unload our equipment for the final time with Pradeep.  Luckily, Jordan does a good enough impersonation of Pradeep to get us through the coming week…

            Jordan (impersonating Pradeep) “Can I tell you something, sir?  You are crazy.”

            Pradeep “Please, do not impersonate me, sir.”

            Jordan (impersonating Pradeep)  “Please, do not impersonate me, sir.”

Oh, and there will soon be a short Pradeep webisode!!!!  So everyone can enjoy him as much as we did… Awe, there was a great Driving Miss Daisy moment last night. You know at the end of the movie when the old lady say, “You’re my best friend.” Well, we were coming back from the Souq and we get back to the apartment. Before we get out Pradeep says, “Stay here.”

Jordan says something about how he is tired or something. Pradeep says, “It’s okay. You stay. You are my best friend.” Jordan said, “well, you’re my best friend, too.” IT WAS ADORABLE!!! 

Well, it’s almost 11 a.m., and I’m sure Pradeep is waiting patiently outside.  Later.

We had a long day… We woke up early to catch our helicopter ride…

I would love to write more, but I’m exhausted… I just responded to a bunch of emails from family and friends, and don’t feel like writing anymore…. even this is a lot…

Tomorrow, though, I will give you some fun Pradeep updates.  He truly has been the best part of our trip!

I realize I have family members and friends that are frustrated because I haven’t blogged about anything lately, so here ya go…

 We finally got drinks tonight!  I won’t have to hear Jordan complain about getting a beer for… well, a couple of hours… last night, Jordan took me and Pardeep on a man-hunt for food and alcohol.  He did his research and found out that the Sheraton Hotel has a pub.  So, we had a pretty good day of shooting, went to the mall, bowled, and we made our way to the Sheraton.  We proceed to tour the building looking for this place, only to find that you cant wear “slippers,” or sandals, in the restaurant. No other than Mr. Rodericks himself was wearing sandals… so to his disappointment we left…

… only to return the next day with shoes.  So I’m sure he’ll post about it, but we finally found Jordan some booze.

 Work has been going pretty well. Things haven’t been as busy, but busy nonetheless.  We got some pretty cool shots on the Dhow (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhow) with a timelapse of the city.  Got some great slow-mo camel shots. Those are always fun… and of course more interviews. We still need a lot.  We need MORE STUDENTS!!! We need that personal tie, or it won’t be nearly as good as it could be.

…

 Last Thursday was the last day of Tasmeem and they had a final dinner at the old Souq (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souq).  I don’t remember the name of the restaurant, but we ate outside at a huge round table with a mix of VCUQ and VCU Richmond students.  Malak was one of the girls I sat next to.  We talked about one of the speakers, Sonia, and how she was an inspiration for her. She said it was great to see how she accomplished so much and was able to overcome obstacles at home to get to where she wanted to be. I could tell that Sonia had an impact on Malak which I find really great.  Later, we interviewed Sonia and she was shocked to be considered a role model for so many of the ladies at VCUQ. 

…

So I mentioned before that there are a lot of filipinos in Doha. A lot of which our “workers.”  One of the IT guys at VCUQ, Jun, is from Manila.  He told me that my last name and some of my facial features, probably my round face, made him think I was filipino.  I asked him about his family, and he said that his wife and 2 children, ages 8 and 3, are still in the Philippines.  I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.  I’m sure he wouldn’t want sympathy, but I would hate to be separated from my family like that, and unfortunately, that happens a lot in Doha.  Workers come here to raise money to send back to their home… Luckily for Jun he has his job at VCUQ with the Qatar Foundation supporting him, and he’ll be able to bring his family here shortly.  He said he will be visiting them in August, I think it is, and they will be coming back with him. 

 … Pradeep works with 5 filipinos, one of which is his boss… He doesn’t like our food…

umm…. i don’t know.  i don’t have much to talk about.  we’ve been doing a lot, but i don’t know… well, i hope my family is happy with this informative blog… i’m going to go to bed because we have a helicopter ride early in the morning.

 good night, doha! good afternoon, east coast!

                        Pradeep “Can I tell you something, sir?”

                        Jordan            “Sure, sure.”

                        Pradeep “You are crazy!”            

I had a beer (2) in Qatar, tonight.

Other pictures after the jump:

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