Since February 28th, missile and drone strikes on the country have been a daily occurrence. Last night, my phone alerted me to a threat, and then in the distance, I heard the explosions of intercepted missiles. Gauging from the direction, they must have exploded over the sea. More recently (an hour or so ago), there was another alert, but I didn’t hear the explosion. Then my phone alerted me everything was safe.
I continue to teach my classes online and inform my students that I don’t know when we will return to on-campus classes. Maybe next week. Maybe after the Eid Break. I remind them that a big indicator of when the country will return to normal is when the airspace is fully open.
Currently, there have been limited flights starting today to several European countries. Some nationals have chartered bus rides across the Qatar/Saudi Arabian border to fly out of the Riyadh international airport. Going forward, I guess flying from Riyadh will be an option.
I am in contact with my friends in Doha every day. We discuss the situation and commiserate on the disruption of our lives. However, many of us are resolved to stay. After all, if we left, would we still have our jobs?
The other week as I was mulling my situation and options, I thought about my colleagues from work— 120 people from 20-30 different nationalities. I wondered what their nations’ evacuations orders were. Leave immediately? Or, leave if you choose? I then thought about my students whom I only interact with now virtually. Would it matter if I taught them online from another country?
People have been telling me, implicitly and explicitly, to “come home.” However, I have been living in Doha for the past nine years and just renewed my contract for another three years. Why leave now? So, I can return to the US with zero job prospects and no healthcare? How long would I last under these circumstances?
Doha is my home for now, and, eventually, I will leave—when I am ready. Yet, in the interim, I have an obligation to my department and my students. I also have a duty to this country, Qatar, that took care of me during its blockade when I arrived in 2017 needing employment and opportunity. It also kept me safe during the COVID pandemic and is currently keeping me safe with the phone alerts and air defense, doing the best that it can for those of us who remain here.
So, I will stay. For as long as I can. Inshallah.
Photo by Popup Agency on Unsplash
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