I had never heard of Qatar, a place I now consider home, until three years ago when my dad got a job working for a company there. My mum, dad, and younger sister, Abigail, and I moved to Doha, the capital city of Qatar, from Dubai. Being born and brought up in Australia, and having also lived in India, I found moving to a country like Qatar a big change. When you're used to seeing people in jeans and shirts, coming ;to an Islamic country like Qatar hits you most visually. Here a lot of the women wear a black abaya, a traditional form of Islamic dress worn over your clothes, and a lot of my girlfriends also wear a black headscarf, even to school, although wearing the scarf is a personal decision.
Located on the Persian Gulf, next to Saudi Arabia, Qatar is influenced by Islam, the predominant religion. Religion plays a big role in the lives of my Muslim friends. They pray five times a day, starting with the Morning Prayer at sunrise and then finishing their prayers at sundown. Not all of my friends abide by Islamic rules and traditions; however, a handful do. Although teens in Qatar are generally religious, they talk about many of the same things that other teens talk about around the world—from crushes to schoolwork to family life. We cover it all!
Being a Christian Scientist in Qatar is not that different from being a Christian Scientist most anywhere else. I'm able to practice my religion freely. People really seem to want to know how Christian Science is practiced, and I've had quite a few deep conversations about religion with friends at school. I always like these talks because people are so open about their religion, and we often find that we share similar beliefs. For example, my Muslim friends and I believe that there's one God and that God is our Creator. I see God as an invisible presence that's always with you and always helps you.
