Paula speaks...

Spring has arrived in the desert and with it the second edition of Mosaic 2.0!

First of all, a big Thanks! to all of you who took the time to read our first edition and provide us with useful feedback. Your suggestions and encouragement were most welcomed.

In this edition, we attempt to respond to some of your inquiries about life in Qatar by including several photos and short prose pieces by members of the editorial team. We hope that these reflections convey something of the adjustment to our new lives in Qatar, where for many expatriates very little is familiar on arrival. In addition to these contributions, we selected other poetry and prose submissions from writers within Qatar and around the world. All of the writings reflect in some way, if only indirectly, this issue’s theme of “seasons.”

For some people, seasons conjure very definite memories which are marked by shifts in weather and activity. The changes from warmer to cooler temperatures, the differences in the number of hours of daylight, the work we do, the games we play, even the food we eat are all part of a cycle that brings routine and comfort to us. At the same time, as we reflect on our  past, the seasons often mark changes that occurred in our lives, our relationships, our career or material accomplishments, our heartbreaks, regrets and even the passing of loved ones. 

So, no matter what the season when you read this issue of Mosaic 2.0, we hope that the ideas and images shared here stimulate your senses and your thinking.
Happy reading!

Sincerely,
Paula Hayden

Coordinator, Advanced Writing Centre
College of the North Atlantic-Qatar