Shisha, for the socially elite.

Do you remember the caterpillar in Alice & Wonderland?  Ever wonder what that chubby blue creature was puffing on?  Shisha.  Also known as, hookah, hubbly bubbly, nargeela...It is also one of the most common social activities in the Arab world.  Shisha, which comes from a Persian word meaning 'glass' is the commonly used term in coutries around the Persian Gulf, including Qatar and Egypt.

In Qatar, smoking shisha is very popular and is done by the in many public places.  It is relaxing and a great way to enjoy time with friends and family, while simply watching the world pass by. 

The pipe or apparatus that is used during this activity is known locally as the shisha.  Shisha's can range from very plain and simple to vases decorated with gold and diamonds.  The bottom of the device usually has a glass vase, to be filled with water, and then a metal piece at the top that hooks to a long pipe with a mouthpiece.  This allows for the smoke to be filtered through the water before it is inhaled.  The pipe is usually long and flexible so that it can reach further distances.  At the top of the metal piece, the tobacco is placed in a small clay bowl with filter holes in the bottom of it and covered in aluminum foil.  Hot coals are then placed on top of the punctured foil and 'start the fire' to the whole process.  Confused yet?  Take a look at the picture below to see what I am talking about.

 Many restaurants and coffee shops in Arab countries offer shisha.  In Qatar, the Souq Waqif is one of the most popular places to gather as a group and smoke shisha.  As you walk through the winding cobblestone path in the souq, you will see people sitting at tables all along the sides smoking shisha, laughing, and spending time with friends.  I really enjoy the smell that comes from the burning shisha.  To me, its a reminder of where I am and the history of the country.  Smoking shisha has been a common past time in the Arab world for centuries and it still exist today.

There are also many different flavors of shisha to choose from- grape, strawberry, apple, mint, melon, coffee, watermelon, I have even seen Red Bull flavored shisha.  I would say that grape is the most popular among all of the flavors. 

I have discovered a shisha shop in Qatar that allows you to pick every piece that makes up the device. Color, size, material- they have it all.  I've been thinking about it for a while and last week, I finally went and bought one for myself.  My very own shisha.  It has a black porcelain bottom and a gunmetal gray steel top with a fancy deep red & leather pipe.  I must say, its very posh. I don't plan on smoking it regularly, but it is nice on special occasions.  I think it also makes a nice piece of decoration- don't judge me.

So when in Rome, I mean Qatar, why not do as the Qataris do? Try a shisha.

Testing out the medical facilities.

I am always so coordinated. Never spilling, dropping, or running into anything. People who know me often say, “Wow, Sarah- you are quite the master of coordination”. Okay, so now the people who know me are laughing…because I am not at all coordinated. If you can spill it- I’ll spill it. If you can break it- I will most likely break it. And if something is in the middle of my line of direction, I will probably not see it and run into it.

Now let’s talk about my butt. Yes, my butt.

It all happened on a Sunday night at approximately 6:14 pm, maybe 6:18- the night before my company’s biggest local marketing event for the year. I had worked almost one full year preparing for this event. About a month before the event, I became so stressed and crazy in my preparations that most people just chose to stay out of my way and let me focus. Back to Sunday night, I was running around at the hotel in which the event was being hosted, shouting commands to various people and moving equipment that would be on display at the event. I asked one of the guys to help me move one of the thirty heavy tables that the hotel had promised to move, but didn’t, when all of a sudden I brushed against another table. Immediately a numbing sensation went through my lower left side. I looked back to see a heavy wooden table, with a thick glass top- this was just like the other 29 hotel tables that need moving- only this one, was chipped at the corner. Chipped in a way that a sharp glass dagger protruded from the corner, calling to my butt as its prey for the evening.

At first, I didn’t know what had happened. I knew my pants were ripped but I wasn’t sure of the damage that was lying beneath. I immediately began walking as fast as I could across the 1200sqm ballroom to the bathroom on the other side. The bathroom mirror told the truth- I had just encountered a serious injury and it wasn’t pretty. Working with all men has its disadvantages, like not being able to show them my wound- especially in a country like Qatar.

After a quick phone call to reception, a hotel nurse soon came to take a look. She assessed my assets and confirmed- my next trip would be to the hospital.