Melissa Photography: Recycling in Qatar

Recycling and anything "green" is somewhat of an unknown in Doha. They simply don't understand yet how important these things are here and a lot goes to waste. Word on the street is that when Doha was bidding for the Olympics, there were recycling bins everywhere to try to impress the Olympic committee, but as soon as they lost the bid, the bins disappeared.

So imagine my surprise when I saw a big sign at my grocery store that they were selling reusable bags to bring to the store. The bags are only QR .50 (like 10 cents), so I thought, "why not--if I can't recycle, at least I can do something and brings bags to the grocery store."

So I told the clerk that I would like to purchase some with my groceries. I bought my food, paid for everything, and returned to my car with my shopping cart. Upon loading the trunk, I looked inside my reusable bags. Inside were all my groceries, PACKED INTO PLASTIC BAGS AND THEN PUT INTO THE REUSABLE BAG THAT I HAD BOUGHT! Now wouldn't common sense tell you that the purpose of these reusable bags is to avoid using plastic bags? But here in Doha, trying to explain common sense to someone is just too tiring.

Another very funny thing that they do here: There is a not a lot of loose change here--it's mainly bills, so if you are due some change after you pay for something, you usually get one of the following: a pack of chewing gum, a small piece of candy or an entry form to win whatever car is on display in the mall that week. We have never won the car.

So Keith and I have made some purchases lately that are probably going to prevent us from going on a vacation anytime soon (except Jordan next month). First we found a guy that travels all over the middle east buying items and teak wood and making things. We bought these two items from him...

Then, since we are enjoying our first backyard, we bought some items for Max. It's like an amusement park back there.

Yesterday we had a playgroup with 2 year olds. It was me, Max and twelve 2 year olds and their moms. Needless to say, it was quite chaotic, but tons of fun. I met more people from UK and New Zealand, plus another lady from Illinois!

Here are Max and Jaydn, one of his "friends"