On my last day here in Doha, my sister-in-law is hosting a rather large and extravagant dinner party. She started cooking yesterday and hasn’t stopped. I will be their last “out-of-town” guest before they move to Tulsa this summer so I guess you could say I’m cause for celebration – or at least my visit is. It promises to be a really fun evening with new friends from different countries, as well as a few Texans, or is that technically another country? Two of Dennis and Christy’s friends who are Chinese and who came here around the same time as them will be bringing Mapo Tofu. I keep asking Dennis to describe it but all he can say is that it is one of his favorite things to eat and he has no idea what’s in it or how it’s made other than with its namesake tofu. Lots of people are bringing all different kinds of food so what a perfect way to end this perfect trip.

Today we walked around something called the Corniche – the Oklahoma equivalent would be the Bricktown Canal or the Tulsa Riverwalk. But please let me point out a few differences:

• There is a sea with amazing aqua Technicolor water as opposed to a river. It was so cool to see Jet Skis (quintessential U.S.) and the Dhows (quintessential Qatar).
• The centerpiece of the Corniche is the Katara Cultural Center where we saw a photographic exhibit called DOHAland. The construction and architecture once again is over the top like everything else here. The impressive and huge amphitheater was built almost 100 percent of marble.
• The weather was what I like to call a “San Diego Day” meaning a perfect day in the mid 70s. However the rest of my time here, it was windy. Yes, I am an Okie saying that, because the wind didn’t stop for days…until today. Sand hurts when it hits you in the face. The positive side of that is it hasn’t been warm at all which is nice since I’m in a desert.
• The restaurants in this area are high-end – an average entree will cost you $290 ryals. My lunch, however came from a darling little round building and only cost $13 ryals. I had a veggie club sandwich and other than a few tomatoes, I have no idea what was actually on it but it tasted yummy.

Our other adventure today was a visit to Souk Waqif, which is an open air market. We had dinner my first night here at a Moroccan restaurant so we went back today because I had some market shopping needs. There are probably 200+ shops where you can buy everything from colored chicks (like at Atwoods) to kitchen pots (like International Pantry). My favorite sight is tailors sewing abayas and the beautiful, brightly colored dresses the Arab women wear under them. Cash only and you can barter on prices. Well, Christy can barter on prices but Dennis and I are rather wimpy at this task.

Time for me to go and help Christy get some last-minute things ready for tonight. She and my brother have been great hosts, as they always are. I am so blessed to have had this opportunity and so ready for them to be in Tulsa so we can spend more time together. Their home close to the Riverwalk will be filled with lots of treasures from the Middle East. Every time I visit, I will recall the wonderful adventure that would not have been possible if they hadn’t taken a risk almost eight years ago. I love you guys.

It has been a hoot. It has made me appreciate certain things about Norman and the U.S. more and made me aware of a vastly different yet similar world. I can’t wait to get home and share my stories, photos and treasures with my family and friends. If you ever get the chance to do something like this, say yes. It will change your life.

A few closing observations – drivers honk all the time; there isn’t much music except when all the mosques starting calling Muslims to prayer services and there are a gazillion mosques; there are no sidewalks or crosswalks; Arabs are caffeine addicts, much worse than Americans; there aren’t many cigarette smokers but the men all sit around, especially at night, and smoke shisha pipes; the palaces being built make Ashton Grove and Gaillardia look like slums; and no one smiles or says hi as you’re walking down the street.

Today when I was enjoying my lunch on a park bench with my brother a little boy about 18 months of age walked up and just started smiling and talking to us. It’s too bad we grow up and lose our childlike innocence.

Shalom!