Many Hands Make Light Work

My personal crew this afternoon at work in our "villa"

This afternoon I strolled over to the manager in our "compound" to have them send someone to take care of a plumbing issue--mind you, not remotely an emergency.  I also mentioned in passing there was a light bulb that needed to be changed over the stove.  

When I opened my front door an hour later, there was not one person, but FIVE able young men to aid and assist me in my plight.  I was surprised to see all of their eager faces, and certainly my request did not warrant all of them.  But of course, I happily invited them in.  One carried a five foot ladder, prepared for any difficulties that may arise. Each of them had bright smiles, even though I knew they had likely been out in the heat most of the day.

There are about 30 young men from Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India that take care of the pool, grass, and repairs here in our compound.  Their company is called Mesopotamia,  which always makes me chuckle when I see their t-shirts.  I know their lives here in this arid desert are likely not what they intended and imagined for themselves, but they always seem to be content, and even happy.  

Three members of the team working in the bathroom

One thing in Qatar you can predict:  people like to work in clusters, not solely by themselves.   There have been  times when FOUR people helped me check out at the grocery store, and three or four attendants  will help fill my gas tank.  I suppose we Westerners would think this approach as extraordinarily inefficient, but I guess I have to admit they know how to make work fun and not a drudgery.  There is always time for a chat or a laugh as they do their job.  They enjoy someone at their elbow to share the workload--another person to ask for advise, validate their opinion on a repair, double check if it is done correctly.  

Perhaps they have a legitimate formula for work that we Westerners forget: work can be a lot less tedious as a team while listening to a funny joke or story.  When I opened my front door this afternoon, I felt like a boisterous party was walking in--plus they got the jobs done!  Thank you Mesopotamia!