thinking of Winnipeg....

There is this wonderful song by The Weakerthans (a Winnipeg band for those who don't know, a band I adore and a band I always share with new friends) called 'My Favourite Chords'. I have always loved the lyrics of this song and as I was listening to it today some of the lyrics reminded me of something I've observed about life here in Qatar.

When you get off work tonight, meet me at the construction site,

and we'll write some notes to tape to the heavy machines, like:

"We hope they treat you well.

Hope you don't work too hard.

We hope you get to be happy sometimes."

Before I left, many people mentioned the class distinctions and the workers coming from Southeast Asia and other areas. There are busloads full of these workers and I've grown accustomed to seeing groups of at least twenty men on our walks to City Centre (the mall).

Sadly, racism is an issue here. We went to a bigger mall during the first 3 days of Eid and there were security guards at the door and a sign announcing 'Family Day'. Essentially, no single men were supposed to be there. However, this doesn't seem to be enforced with white men or Arabic men, but strictly Southeast Asian or other minorities. I've heard women have less of a problem.

Also, in Al-Khor, people complained the grocery store was extremely busy on Thursday nights (the weekend here starts Thursday night, we start work on Sundays) since the workers from these labour 'camps' of sorts all come into town on the weekend. Apparently though, this problem has 'been solved' or some type of arrangements have been made. Bizarre.

I really don't know anything about what these men are being paid and their quality of life, but I am really curious. That's all for now.