Ankur and Genny’s Meandering Tour

I like the Internet.

It lets me find someone that had the same idea as me and let me use his work.

for instance, instead of putting all of the Cubs' games into my calendar, I can just download the file here and it'll go into Outlook.  Although I did have to modify the items using Excel so that it didn't mark my calendar as "Busy" during these times... even though I'll probably be sleeping during the majority of these games.

Yesterday, Genny and I went to CMU-Q to talk to the students and faculty about life as an alumni and as part of their "Making the Connection" Lecture Series.  We had fun talking to the them and showed them life in Pittsburgh and CMU and what is what like to go through the interview process and work your way towards graduation.  Genny spoke about banking and how math is an integral part of her career.  I spoke about computer science and the future of technology.  Anyhow, it was a good feeling being back with students and feeling like you are helping in some small way. 

Afterwards, we had lunch with Andy Zrimsek, a writer for Carnegie Mellon.  She interviewed us about alumni relations and what is was like for a graduate living in Doha.  They are going to publish the story in the next issue of Akhbar. 

I'm not quite used to speaking while there is press taking pictures.  This is the third time I've done it and I try to act natural, but it's easy to lose your train of thought when people are taking your picture.  Half of you is hoping you don't have fruit jelly on your shirt, and the other half is forgetting what you were supposed to talk about.  I guess you get better with practice, but dealing with press is a new thing for myself (and I'm assuming Genny as well)

In January, I launched one of my initiatives in Qatar.  In Qatar, there is huge demand for skilled technologists.  So to help grow this community of experts in the Microsoft infrastructure realm, the Qatar Infrastructure Community eXperts was launched.  Without a single event, the community has grown to over 100 people and there are quarterly events or seminars to make sure that there is focus.  At the launch of this, we had several reporters and photographers in attendence, with the Qatar Tribune placing it as their lead story on the front page. 

Back to the "routine". It was sad to leave home and return to a place that is still a little foreign. Although work keeps us busy and we are finding things to do on the weekends. This weekend, Ankur is testing out our "new" Jeep Wrangler in the desert. I'm kind of glad I have other plans because I would freak out in the car. Going down those dunes is scary enough with a Bedouin driver who's done it a million times. Instead I'm going with some girls at work to rent ATV's and cruise around the dunes. Not sure how much safer this is but I drive like a grandma anyway! Will post pictures later.

-Gen

We had a lovely 2 week vacation in Chicago! Just our luck it was the coldest week in who knows how long. The day after we arrived it was a high of 0F. The following week there was a snow storm w/about 10 inches of snow! Since we were only there for a bit it wasn't so bad. It felt like the holidays with the fireplace going and no work J I did a ton of shopping since I hate shopping in Doha. You get the same things in Doha for 2-3 times the price. We ate all the things we miss like potstickers, Mexican food, Gino's, hotdogs, Taco Bell, sandwiches from Kirsten's, and lasagna. Mmm…so good! And of course we got to spend time w/family and our dog, Sully. I've heard some pets will get angry if you leave them for long periods of time, but not Sully. He couldn't be happier to see us. He makes the cutest barking/whining noises when he's excited and runs in circles as fast as he can. You can't get a better welcome home than that!

-Gen