Qtel (Qatar Telecom) rolled out a huge marketing scheme a couple of weeks back regarding their
Nojoom rewards program. Keep in mind that Qtel is a huge conglomerate in Doha, which includes the operation of mobile phones, landlines, and the television cable systems in the country. It's common on this side of the world to use the "British" spellings for words such as theatre, centre, and others that escape me at the moment. So, when I saw the word "Enrol" prominently displayed on Qtel's banners that are dispersed throughout the city's malls, I had to do a double take. It's very common in this country to see misspellings everywhere, but how can a company this big make such an error. Surely, the Brits don't spell enroll with one "l". Alas, the joke
is on me, as I
just Googled the supposed word "enrol".
No way! This post has gone to the dogs. Are you kidding me? Enrol is interchangeable with enroll? What does dictionary.com know? I'll check Webster, after all he
is the authority on spelling.
I really am learning this as I type. Who would have thunk it? Maybe
everyone on this side of the world, but I know this isn't the norm in America. I mean, "enrol" is even popping up in red on my post meaning it is spelled
incorrectly. After discussing this subject with you this morning, I was supposed go off into a rant about the horrible misspellings in the Doha newspapers. After this find, I might have to do more research on that. Live and learn.
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Checkout the zoomed in pic I cropped to get the full effect 
of the perils that these guys are facing. Now, say a little prayer for those that work in these dangerous jobs and severe heat conditions daily around the world and thank your luck stars that it's not you. Amen.
At the risk of stereotyping, I have come to a conclusion. Qataris can be quite lazy. Now, don't get your colon in an uproar here, I'm as lazy as they come. The difference is, I'm a little more discreet about my couch potato ways. I perform my laziness in the comfort of my own home. Qataris put their laziness up on a pedestal. I have seen with my own eyes an abaya clad woman at Al-Rawnaq (aka "junk store") pull up a chair, sit back and relax, while the store "servant" goes through a huge bin of children's books one at a time raising them like flash cards to her face, while she says yea or nay. Try that in America and you will be eaten alive. I have been eyewitness to a thobed man, looking for a "tea boy" to provide him a bottle of water and then literally expecting the tea boy to walk back with him up a flight of stairs carrying the single bottle of water to his table, as if he were the Emir, himself. Nauseating. I've seen much more and much worse, but prefer not to go there. This hurts me to say this out loud, because I really do love the warmth of the Qatari people, but this is the one area that sends me into stroke range. The attitude that "I am above you" has no place in a civilized society. Surely those that act this way are in the minority and they will see the light one day. What brought this subject up? David and I were doing our people watching from Starbucks this weekend when we saw two Qataris walking through the mall being followed by a Carrefour employee with a nice brand new 42in t.v. in tow. It seems the thobed men had a little more shopping to do, as they ducked into Zara and left the yellow jumpsuit clad guy outside holding the goods. Bottom line: If they tipped him REALLY well, I forgive them.
Happy Father's Day to our two great dads and to all the other fathers out there. Sit back, relax, and enjoy your day, while I do the same in your honor. Have a good one!
