With an eager step and a light heart, Ethiopian expatriate, Abduljelil, along with compatriots Taman and Falmata, trooped to the Souq Waqif Park yesterday to enjoy a sunny Eid afternoon with the rest of his friends.
“I am very happy,” said the 27-year-old electrician, who added that the trip to Souq Waqif was “a breath of fresh air” since he spent the first and second days of Eid inside his company accommodation.
The park was among some of the public places low-wage single workers visited during the holiday; some malls and parks have been designated as exclusive to “families only.”
Also teeming with workers, mostly from the construction industry, was the long stretch of the Corniche, a popular and longstanding destination for its scenic backdrop – the West Bay.
Similarly, the Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park was packed with single workers, many of them taking leisurely strolls or heading towards the park’s small hills to get a good vantage point of the Doha skyline.
The green lawns inside the MIA park also served as ideal locations to while the hours away and relax on the grass. For these Eid holiday trips, smartphones and selfie sticks are “essential tools” to capture the moment, said one Asian expatriate.
“Although I can’t celebrate Eid with my family back home, I am still glad because I can share these pictures with them. But sometimes I can’t help but wish to be with my wife and kids again,” he said. Ibrahim, who claims to hold a degree in Information Technology but works as a construction worker here, said he and his friends were able to visit a mall and other scenic places around Doha. He stressed that he is thankful that the Eid holiday had provided him some respite from work.
“However, the happiness this holiday break brings is fleeting,” he lamented, citing geopolitical issues that, he said, have endangered the lives and safety of his family back in Ethiopia. Asked if he was able to send souvenir pictures of the Eid break to his family, Ibrahim complained of the lack of Internet access in his village.
“It would be encouraging if I could send some photos to my family to lessen their worries; they can see the beautiful places I’ve visited in Qatar, but they have no means to go online. I am on Facebook and Twitter but it is unfortunate that they cannot view my posts,” he pointed out.
He added: “The Eid celebration was a pleasant experience for all of us, even if it was only for a short time. It was a relief that we all welcomed as we prepare to, once more, face the usual daily grind when the holiday is over.”