Doha, Qatar.

My first stop out the U.S. (and after New Orleans, which I will get back to - good stories THERE!) was Doha, Qatar. I had heard about people moving to the Middle East to stockpile money from jobs like teaching English. I wanted to check it out. Let me set the scene:

I get on Qatar Air, not knowing what to expect, but thinking I might see a few ladies with their heads covered in scarfs - or something. There does not seem to be a one on this flight. As we are ushered onto the plane, soft Middle eastern music is tinkling softly in the background and EXTREMELY good looking flight attendants with maroon uniforms and jaunty hats are smiling and welcoming us aboard with various accents. As I look around me I see loads of people who look and sound like they are from India. A few seem to be Chinese....and me. I am only slightly disappointed. Like many people from the U.S., I am both fascinated and a little nervous around the more old school Muslims. My sister, Alice, has advised me to bring a scarf and dress in a very covered up fashion - so I have.
"I bet it's nothing like that 'Sex and the City' movie..." I think to myself on the long, but super comfortable flight.

In the Doha airport, I am instructed to go with all of the other passengers to the transfer area. "This way, Madam." the little man instructs me in a strident voice.
"I'm not transferring. I'm going into Doha." I explain. He looks shocked, but allows me to go into the 'arrival area'.

Wow.
The doors open and I step into another world. I immediately have the thought that Qatar Air tries to keep the non-muslim transferring clients OUT of this section. For as soon as I step through those doors, I am the ONLY person in eye sight in Western attire. I am the ONLY person in my special foreigner line to get my visa, so it goes quickly. I am trying not to let my eyes look as big as saucers as I soak in all of the very different costumes these people are wearing.The woman who checks my passport and sells me my visa is covered in a giant black tent, but her face is allowed to peak through and I can see that she is young, very beautiful and wearing a LOT of make up. She looks like Kim Kardashian.

Once through, I have to look for the bathroom. I find it next to the female mosque. "They can't pray together?" I think, realizing I know VERY LITTLE about this religion.

In the bathroom, I am the freak. The outsider. All of the women are wearing black tents. Some of them have brought their face veils down to put make up on, some are giggling into i-phones with pink and diamond cases. I notice that one particularly fancy phone is swathed in neon pink and diamond 'Hello Kitty' patterns. They all stare at me when I wash my hands as if I were a cockroach. Interesting.

(to be continued.....running out of battery!)