111110: Doha, Qatar

This is a small country on the western shore of the Persian Gulf. I read somewhere yesterday that Qatar actually only has 140,000 nationals. At first I baulked at this having googled Doha and seen lots of skyscrapers and other material achievements, but upon driving away from the airport in a cab chauffeured by an Indian fellow, it dawned on me: even the Qatar Airlines flight that I'd flown in on was staffed by a striking mix of nationalities, the airport staff was also an ethnic mix and even the janitors were not Arabic. I'd described to the Indian cab-driver that I was just on a stop-over and that my next plane was leaving that evening, so I just wanted cafés, restaurants and shopping facilities (a.k.a. public safety for this my first time in this region of the world). Laptop low on battery, but the short of the long is that it seems that the entire Qatari blue-collar work force is comprised of Arabs and Asians on 4-year work visas, and to quote the Filippino lady in the Levi's store: " [Qataris] are born rich, so now they never work. They don't do anything!"

But it is quite a sky-line nonetheless!

Picture illustration here

020910: mockery, gossip and complaining

Note: The title of each post refers to the date on which I wrote it, in this case the 2nd of September, 2010. This is for several reasons: I can work on a post over several days without it becoming antiquated, the post isn't antiquated when our internet decides to shut down and.. -I can be put up an older post, when I can't be bothered writing a new one although its been a while ;)

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Today was a strenuous day in more ways than one. Every morning we meet in the Section (Company -> Platoon -> Section) to get an overview of the work that has to be done that day. This morning there was a call for volunteers to assist our Supply/Depot Section and I put up my hand along with 4 others. Turns out we were to sort and stack 45kg curb stones outdoors. T'was hot. On the bright side, I did get a good farmers' tan ;)

Talking to a good friend from my first platoon we came to the realisation that conversations between us privates rarely take place without being centered on some form of mockery, gossip or complaining. My personal opinion is that we are all quite young and travel around in large packs where only the most vociferous and quick remarks are heard. Given a year of this form of socialising, we have refined "the art" of mindless and crude jestings. Although it is very, very rarely mean spirited it is none the less taxing not to be able to have sincere or humble conversations whenever in need or want. This is quite different from the Faculty of Theology where humility and openness were the status quo.

010910: Camp Naqoura, UNIFIL HQ

I've decided to keep a journal ("diary" sounds too girly ;) during my mission here in Lebanon. As well as it being for the sake of you friends and family, it is also for my own sake as diary-blogging has proved a great and accessible way for me to remember where and what I've been - and when.

I figure its also a good way to steer clear of the entrapments of newsletters, which quickly become mundane for all parts and come to carry the stench of obligation with them. Even better you can reach me in two ways: 1) drop an easy-going and quick comment on this blog or 2) write me an e-mail or a fb-quickie.

It should be noted that these blog-entries will be quite unspecific at times due to operational safety concerns. While it is a very peaceful mission, its still a mission and safety measures have to be taken into account. Also, I expect that my writings will be focused on my personal experience of my stay and not on the operational aspect.

Facts:
I'm part of UNIFIL which in summary is a peacekeeping mission in Southern Lebanon along the northern border of Israel. UN-forces have been in this place since 1978 so the Lebanese have grown quite used to our presence by now. Our 'shift' started in the beginning of August and will last to somewhere around Jan/Feb.

More specifically, I'm part of the Danish contingency, DANLOG, which is a logistical company who drive soldiers to the airport (in Beyrouth) with all their gear and equipment, manage the fuel supply, manage the construction-supply depot and support the mess-staff. I drive one of the busses here - an 18-seater with an engine that brings to mind a hamster in one of those wheels in a cage..

Today's activities:
I started of the day early, driving the French basketball team to a tournament hosted by Ghanians/Ghanese../soldiers from Ghana. They played the South Koreans and were felled by a whimsically petty referee. The South Koreans were surprisingly tall though! All this was too the enticing rhythms of some of the Ghanese/Ghanian (help?) soldiers' drums and shakers that they played for a straight 2 hours. Dancing, singing. Fun :)

Drove the French back through some crazy back roads with surprising bumps, turns and mountains and had lunch and an hour's nap (our sergeant only told us of the assignment late last night.)
Played Tekken 6 (got whipped by a techie-nerdy guy) for a solid 1½ hours.

Practiced guitar and went for a semi-late dinner at the French camp's restaurant. Helped my driving partner, Øksnebjerg, wash and clean the bus and headed to the fitness area for a crazy session of cross-fit. Its a form of fitness based on own body-weight which focuses on circulation and not muscle size - although it helps on that too ;) Felt like my dinner was gonna revisit our land of the living a couple of times.

Enough, its 0030 hours and I need my sleep. Tomorrow I expect will be another in a long series of days of "Operation Clean Camp". Its construction work. Tearing down stuff to rebuild it, removing unnatural and unwanted rocks and generally just making our camp look nice.

Also, this fist-sized moth buzzing around is starting to freak me out..