Back Home - feelings

You know, the more I travel, the more getting home feels good. It's a strange feeling, everything gets opposite. Getting home has this feeling of knowing where you're going, and not having to expect anything. I had a good flight back yesterday from Doha to Paris. Very kindly, my mom came to pick me up, which is the kind of thing that reminds me I'm probably the youngest in this company... (and so what!). And then driving through these organized roads, knowing the way... it was just so easy and relaxing. Seeing my house, my stuff, not finding where I put it all away before leaving... it all feels "home" and warm.
It's since I travelled more often and for longer time that I started appreciating my country and town. Part of the time I hate Paris. It's a poluted city with stressed and stressful people. Too many places to go and actually none feeling like my own place... People are busy and at the same time not doing anything. Wasting time...
But when I go away, I start missing Paris, my friends, the metro and its music... And the best part is coming back. Paris is beautiful, any time of the year. Some parts are quiet, and in any case quieter than Doha. It's not that badly organized, especially coming back from the Middle East... and seeing friends and family again is so good. The metro feels strange... I feel people are different. Locked in some kind of life they have no control of. When I smile in the metro, people look at me as if I'm some kind of freak, or probably a tourist. People in Paris don't smile. But I do ! I'm glad to be here. Although I'll always be glad to leave. Life is so unpredictable that it's good to be ready for any opportunity.
Doha was a good experience in many ways. Life, love, work, event...
It was definitely less stressful than the World Cup in Germany, which is a good thing. And I did less hours, had some time off, managed to visit the city and country. Leaving in this huge appartment was great. I know I did complain a lot about the cleaning people not doing their work, but in the end for one month and a half it was ok. Leaving and working with my boyfriend was definitely a new and difficult experience, but we got through that quite well, and know each other much better now. It's a good feeling. I met some really nice people from all over the world that I definitely want to keep in touch with. Some also had great stories to tell, about other experiences, all over the world and in different events. It was really interesting. Work wise I learned especially about the organisation and work relations, as my work itself was not technically challenging. But we had a new person on the team and it was good to see how he reacted to this new environment, to the team work and all.
Life in Doha and Qataris were definitely the biggest challenges of this experience and we got through it well. I even bought an abbaya (the black dress/coat Qatari women wear) and wore it out for a dinner.

All together it was a good experience and a good travel. Happy to have been there and happy to be back too.
Next step: tell you more about the life there and upload my last pictures.

Leaving Doha - Thank you !!!

Asian Games are over. Dismantling already started in the IBC and the venues. People left or are leaving. And it's another rainy day in Doha.
I'm actually sad to be leaving. It's been hard at some times and I'll tell you more about life in this country when I get the time , when I get back. But alltogether it was another good experience. Met more great people, and had great times. Doha might not be the best city in the world (quite far from it...) but I'll miss the sea view, the large spaces, the strong sun when it's not raining, the dunes, the quad, ...
Well, let's not get nostalgic now... still some hours to spend here and people to say good bye to.
Thanks to all for your support, it was really important to me.
And hope to see you all in Paris.

Update time

So let's start this all over again...
Well well, I haven't written for days. actually not since Asian Games really started !!! Time flew by. Today is the closing ceremony, and 2 days to my flight back to Paris !!!
Despite the heavy rain, the lack of freedom and other things, I had a good time. At least it was 100 times less stressful than the World Cup in Germany.
I went to the opening ceremony under the rain. We got soaked but it was really nice and impressive and being part of the show was fun.

I went for a desert safari in the dunes, and kind of hurt my back. So I visited also the polyclinic, had X-Rays of my spine (for the first time I think) and then physiotherapy for 3 days.
I went to some interesting cultural events, of which a really good traditional music concert at the National Qatar Theater.

We had a reception at the French Embassy. We went for some dinners in nice places such as the Four Seasons bar, with our little French group or with internationals. And had some good parties.

I went for a great tour in the desert with quad bikes !!! It's so good, I'm going back tomorrow !!!

I met the Japanese embassador's wife for tea and to celebrate the Emperor's birthday. Yoko is such a charming, delicate person.



And also saw a few venues and sports.
Quite busy time as this was only during my free time. Yes, I was working during the Asian Games !!!!

Damn it !

J'avais écris un super post hier et Blogger a perdu la connection, j'ai perdu mon texte et mes photos...
j'recommence dès que j'ai 2 minutes.

World AIDS Day

Today is World AIDS Day. A day to remind everyone that the fight against AIDS is not over and that we have to be responsible and act against it. Responsibility is the key word this year as people have to be responsible of what they are doing and because there is a global mobility to make governments take responsibility in helping fight against AIDS and support people in need.


AIDS has no frontiers. Each minute 6 young persons under 25 get infected !!!

Some infos about the disease.
"UNAIDS and the WHO estimate that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since it was first recognized in 1981, making it one of the most destructive epidemics in recorded history. Despite recent, improved access to antiretroviral treatment and care in many regions of the world, the AIDS epidemic claimed an estimated 2.8 million (between 2.4 and 3.3 million) lives in 2005 of which more than half a million (570,000) were children.

Globally, between 33.4 and 46 million people currently live with HIV. In 2005, between 3.4 and 6.2 million people were newly infected and between 2.4 and 3.3 million people with AIDS died, an increase from 2003 and the highest number since 1981." from Wikipedia.



UNAIDS website
AIDES website