Back in Doha! The 2011 edition

Hello 4 blog followers!!!  I have safely made it back to Doha, after a super calm flight; I even managed to get a row all to myself! Was picked up after a super easy customs by my fancy driver and shuttled off to the Kempinski in a gold BMW.  THIS is the way to travel!  Got to my new home-away-from-home, room 1905 and met my new roommate, Lea. She's a full timer at DFI in the ticketing department.  Her parents are visiting her and were here welcoming me as well!  Very friendly.  I managed to stay up until about 10pm and then crashed - but of course, woke up at 4:30am and couldn't go back to sleep until 6:30am.  Thank goodness Michael, my boss, told me to take the morning and adjust because I needed it!

I also had the great pleasure of realizing, while going thru customs in NYC, that I totally left my computer charger on my couch!  My first purchase in Doha turned out to be a ridiculously expensive new charger...

Today was my first full day at the office; hit a bit of jet lag around 3pm, which worked out perfectly as I then went on a 2 hour tour of all their new ideas for this year - and found out where they are going to put my tents this year! I'm super excited for my lounges this year!

It's a pretty skeletal crew here this early, I'm the 3rd production person with a bunch more to come in the following months.  It's kind of nice to be here this early to see all the set ups (and also allows me to voice all my concerns before they have promised the drawings to management!).

OK, time to meet up with a friend for dinner - I've made massive promises to update this thing and I'm going to try my darn-dest to do so!  I may even include some pictures as soon as my camera charges! Plus, I know you are all dying to know how being a Westerner in Qatar during Ramadan is...I know I am...

love you all!

weekend - thus far!

Hi!

This weekend started off with a fright - a grown up sleepover in one of the hotel suites watching two scary movies - Evil Dead and The Shining!  I had never seen either, and will probably have to watch the Shining again as I was so exhausted I fell asleep on the couch.  From what I remember seeing, I think it was good!

Friday ('saturday' out here) was filled with visiting my tent - yes it's up! - and making sure everything gets into the tent smoothly and I will have power and A/C, then it was off to the Ritz Carlton for their outdoor cinema showing "love, actually".  It was awesome! The weather is finally cooling down to a respectable nighttime temperature in the mid-80's and the Ritz went all out.  They had set out persian rugs with pillows right in front of their (homemade) screen, pulled in lounge chairs from the pool area and also had table set up in the back.  And they had carpet-side service where we could order food and drink!  It was quite an experience, and one that the Ritz didn't think would be as popular as it was.

It was windy yesterday (we even saw clouds!) so as the film ended and we were all heading out to the cars, a big gust came and broke the screen! It was created with a few 2x4's and a big screen and the gust came in and snapped the 2x4's holding up the screen.  Thankfully this was not a Tribeca production!

Today is 'sunday' and we have just finished our volunteer orientation with some very excited locals who are ready to celeb spot.  Soon it's back to the office and then...DUNE BASHING! I will definitely be taking pictures for that one and, once I remember where I put my computer cord, will upload!

Yay!

Photos! I think....

my first attempt at loading photos!  lets see how this goes and hopefully the captions will work as well...

all the crazy construction in this town - check out the crains!

everything i packed for the trip - 5ish weeks in a suitcase, backpack and purse (granted, it's a large purse....)

Halee, this one's for you! My flight info (i did the same with Australia...)

The Souq Waqif at night - it's pretty!

Soon to come? Actual pictures of me! :)

souq de soliel!

Tonight we ventured out to the Souq Waqif!  A huge outdoor bazaar, the souq has all those random things one needs in the middle east, like abayas and sparkly fabric!  There was much more and we got some seriously good lemon roasted almonds, curried cashews, dried banana chips and dried apricots. We wandered around a bit and got a lay of the land and then headed back home.  Tomorrow is Thursday, our Friday (Friday and Saturday's are when the office is closed) and I think this weekend we are going to go to brunch and then who knows! Maybe the art museum and the pool... it's a tough life but someone has to live it.

Oh yeah, I work here!

I have successfully survived two days of work!  Doha Film Institute (DFI) the over-arching company that runs the festival, along with a lot of other film initiatives in Doha, is located in the beautiful Katara Cultural Village.  Much like some construction in the states, it seems to be running a bit behind schedule.   My department, Hospitality, is located in the port-o-cabins, a very nice way of saying temporary office trailers.  While most of the departments are in their rightful home, or at least on the property of Katara, I should feel somewhat lucky as there are still departments working out of converted hotel rooms at the W!

My job, Hospitality Tent Coordinator, is to oversee all the activities that goes on in the tent during the festival - set up/clean up/break down, etc.  The tent looks like it is going to be awesome...when it is finally constructed...i the next two weeks.  All the pieces have arrived from Dubai (nothing seems to actually be in Doha, all production materials are ordered from Dubai or Bahrain or other equally exotic locations, and then shipped/trucked in) and the tent guys are flying in from London this weekend to start on the construction the 12th.  Until then, I have stared at the drawings 1,000 times and read a lot on the internet.

Culinary Doha

My food since arriving has been severely lacking in local flavor.  My first work lunch we ordered in from a place called American Grille and I had a chicken quesadilla.  For lunch today? Subway.  Thats right, Jared and Co. have moved into the Middle East.

I have got to get at least a schwarma in this week or it's a complete culinary fail!

good morning sunrise!

Well, so much for sleeping in! Woke up bright and early at 4:30AM this morning and forced myself to stay in bed until 5:30AM. Thought I could go down to the gym and maybe do something productive with all this 'found time' but it doesn't open until 11AM! New York Sports Club it is not.

So instead, I made some coffee, had a yoghurt and am reading the online papers.

I wonder how long this jet lag will last...