have left the UK, which is what makes him finally agree to leave. Sadly, on his arrival in Doha, during the airport test for COVID-19, he tested positive. This came as an awful shock to all of us. He was immediately admitted to a hospital, where he is receiving the necessary treatment. A colleague in Paris has also contracted the virus and is now in the intensive care unit. There is wall-to-wall coverage of COVID-19 in the media. The saturation of information adds to our pressure while managing the situation with students. Eventually I stop following the news about the virus – I don’t need that added strain right now. I am fortunate to live in one of the greenest capitals in the world, with over 3,000 parks and green spaces. 3 Parks are kept open and so I start running outdoors for the first time as I have always been told what a great experience running is in an incredible city like London. I try to focus on my diet and learn more about maintaining a healthy outlook. It seems there are positive sides of this crisis: it is a special opportunity to productively use the valuable time that we have been given. I have played four roles at the same time: father, husband, diplomat and PhD student, all while my family is far away from me in Doha. Last year, I had concerns about finding a balance between all of the “hats” I wear, as well as the social expectations of being based in Londonwhich has a large community of Qataris. COVID-19 caught us totally unexpected and it was added to that mix. As the saying goes, when it rains it pours. I am grateful for the life I have and am appreciative of what I have achieved so far. “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” 4 Though it’s not done just yet, my 1,000 loved ones are safe, thank God, and hopefully we will all come through this well and the better from it. Fahad M. Al-Kuwari is a Qatari diplomat accredited to the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland within the Office of the Cultural Attach é at the Embassy of Qatar in London, a role he has held since 2016.
3 http://www.infrastructure-intelligence.com/article/dec-2018/london-ranked-most-sustainable-city-world 4 The words are usually attributed to the statesman and Nobel Peace Prize winner Nelson Mandela. https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/21879487-it-always-seems-impossible-until-it-s-done
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