They say a picture is worth a thousand words

and for some time, I’ve been wondering about which picture could perfectly sum up these past four and a half months. I don’t think any blog post can adequately convey all I’ve encountered and every insight I’ve gained. But after experiencing something as complex as it was fulfilling, gratifying, and unique, I think a verbal portrait may be more telling than a visual one.

TAing Psych 1101 in Qatar was simultaneously the semester abroad and internship I wish I had as an undergrad. Cultural exposure ranged from the bizarre and interesting – such as using a public bidet and seeing a cheetah ride shotgun in an SUV – to the more significant – like witnessing firsthand how integral Islam is to nearly all facets of life and the admirable discipline and devotion necessary for that integration. Paradoxically though, one of the most enjoyable aspects of my time here may have also prevented me from achieving further cross-cultural understanding. This aspect was the extremely posh lifestyle I was privileged to have: a king size bed in a beautiful beachfront apartment with 5 bathrooms for just 2 people, a free rental car, and a waiter at work who makes any drink Starbucks can, but without any cost to me. These luxuries certainly eased the transition from the comforts of home and I’m hugely grateful for them, but they also insulated me from cultural elements outside the Western district in which I lived.

While oil and natural gas profits trickled down to young foreigners in the form of wonderful personal amenities, most of it supported Qatar’s rapid, cutting-edge development. Architecture shattering traditional notions of design grace Doha’s skyline, and construction is a staple of nearly all city districts, especially now that Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup – an amazing achievement and watershed moment not just for this country, but also for the Middle East. This incredible development and subsequent rise to world prominence, however, hasn’t come without a human price: hundreds of thousands of migrant workers from South Asia who literally built Qatar are treated extremely poorly. Their plight is unfortunately too reminiscent of indentured servitude. In reference to the stark inequality between migrant workers and everyone else in Qatar, someone once remarked that this country will be known for what it could’ve done and what it could’ve become. But I think the same can be said of nearly every country, and with Qatar’s resources and the push for societal improvement, I’m optimistic its full potential will be reached.

My experience here has also shown me with great clarity what my own future career potential is: teaching and conducting research (ask me about my project on Family Day) as a psychology professor. Sharing my academic interest with bright and highly motivated students reinforced my own passion in the subject, especially when the joy of teaching culminated in surmounting the language barrier between the textbook’s prose and my students’ ability, or, in receiving a thank you note from a student who just won a free Qatar Airways ticket to anywhere in the world after winning a research competition with psychological strategies he learned in class. Reveling in my students’ success has also shown me exactly what personal success means to me. While it may be have been nice to figure out my career path earlier, an earlier revelation probably could’ve led to me missing out on all that I’ve seen, done, heard, and learned these past few months.

Although I’m sad to be leaving these students, they have prepared me for the future just as much, if not more, as I have prepared them, and I look forward to applying the pedagogical insights they’ve given me as a 2011 Teach for America Corps Member in New Orleans. But in the immediate future, I’ll be retuning to Ithaca for a research semester – a deeper dive into the other side of academia, and not to mention a welcome change of environment from the 100+ degree Fahrenheit temperatures and high humidity levels of Qatar.

For the best possible post-college experience I could’ve had, wished for, or even dreamed about, I have several people to thank. But one person in particular stands out among the rest. This person is, of course, Dr. James Maas. In 2006 as a freshman in Bailey Hall, Dr. Maas inspired me explore psychology further, and ever since then, he has given me opportunity after opportunity to make the most out of all I am blessed to have. My hope is that one day I can do for students what you have done for me and countless others.

To all my friends and family, thank you for following my blog. Hopefully these pictures have given you a glimpse of what it’s like to be psyched in Qatar. I’m leaving Qatar on December 17 and traveling in England until Christmas Eve. From then until about January 16, I’ll be home in New Jersey and in New York City. If you’ll be in the area, drop me a line. I miss you more than I used to miss my 8:40.