Tech Challenge Finale

Yesterday was the Finale for the Tech Challenge 2012: Shake, Rattle, Rescue! Overall it was a great experience. The actual day of the competition was pretty long though. It started at 12 o'clock and ran till about 5 pm at night. The good thing was I was with my friends so it wasn't too bad! After waiting in lines for hours, we finally got to test out device and IT WORKED!!! We were all so happy and proud that it actually worked! We had to rescue a stranded person from a suspension bridge with a device we built. We made a car with a crane like thing attached to the top and of course spray painted it pink! Although we didn't win any awards we were really happy about the income of our experience! We were also really proud to hear that it was the record about of girls who participated this year at 48%! YAY!! 

Chill Day

Today was out first full day in Muscat, Oman. We arrived the night before but today we got to see the magnificent beach. The beach was pretty hot but I didnt care because I was too interested in finishing the last  book of Hunger Games series, Mockingjay. Eventually I went to the spa and got an amazing massage in the most beauitul room imaginable. I also got a chance to work out, I felt really good afterwards!  I was really thankful for the easy day because it was really hot out!

Luxury

Back to the beach for ourlast day in Qatar. It is my half birthday today! Yay I'm 14 and a half! We were only there half day but it was nice and relaxing. This time I started Catching Fire, the second book in the series. I was determined to finish it was the end of the day. Once we arrived at the airport, it was really amazing to see the treatment they had for the first and business classes. we got to enter the airport in a serrate section and relax in a lounge while being checked in then pass through a carefree security check with no line and then got to the gate on a first class bus and board the plane! It was truly luxury, definitely one thing I got out of my stay in Qatar. 

The Active First Lady of Qatar

Qatar has a very active first lady, Shaika Mozah. Right now she is in Delhi, India but we see new of her and pictures in the newspaper daily. She is the Emir's second wife but she is the favorite. Not only is she the first lady but she also does a lot for the city of Doha like building and improving "education city". Education city is a part of town where there are mini collages like the ones in the US like Georgetown and many others. It has an amazing modern art museum as well. Shaika Mozah also does not wear the traditional clothing. Sometimes she wears this hat but it defiantly doesn't cover her whole face! I was really impressed by how active she is in the community. 

Sea of Burkas

I look around the hotel and I see a sea of women in head to toe in black burkas, blanketing them all over except leaving a window for their eyes.  Sometimes though, they cover their whole face with a sheer black cloth leaving them looking like a black ghost. According to the islamic religion you have to cover everything but your face and hands. Even in ads the face is bare. But people who cover their entire face do it voluntarily. I was shocked to see that probably 90% of the population of women here wore this attire. When I went shopping I saw the same women dressed head to toe in the black outfit shopping for sheer short sleeve tops. They would only wear these tops at parties just with their girlfriends or alone with their husbands. But in public, all I see is a sea of burkas.

The richest country

Today I arrived in the richest country in the world, no not America, not England, but when it comes to per capita GDP, Qatar takes the cake. Starting right at our arrival, the luxury was obvious, the royalty got off the plane and got into private cars awaiting them while the rest of us got onto a bus. The first class flyers got to skip the line and relax in a lounge. Going into the city you can see women covered in burkas head to toe but clutching onto prada and chanels bags. Also, you can not see any homeless people on the sreet. Although you may not expect it, Qatar is the riches county in the world!