I am Starting to Become a Real Expat!

Two weeks, 10 hours, and 480 QR later, I have finally gotten my Qatari Driver’s License.  The process began with a theory test in which you can only miss 2 questions.  Luckily that is all I missed, although the wording on the test and the pictures were quite confusing.  Honestly I think I might volunteer to help them with the English translation.  Then the following week a bunch of us went back to the driving school/testing center to take the road test.  Unfortunately we were turned away since only 3 people from our group could take the test that day.  Why you might ask?  Who really knows, but that is just the way things are here.  Different from one day to the next.  Don’t let me forget to mention that I had to get up at 4:45 am both of these days and prepare sub plans just in case I wouldn’t make it back to school on time.

the "Bin" Girls who tested today

Needless to say, when we went to try the road test today (waking up at 4:30 am this time) I was glad it was on our first PD day. We, all 7 of us,  arrived at the Testing Center at 5:30am and the room was almost completely full.  So began the long process of waiting to be called for the test.  Luckily I had brought some reading material but the time seemed to inch by.  Three hours later our names began to be called, and I was the second to leave the room.  

I grabbed my paper and walked out of the door with two others who would all test in the same vehicle.  I was the last in line which could have been a good or bad thing. Both of the other ladies were extremely nervous, and when I looked at their papers I could tell why.  One had failed once, the other twice.  I wasn’t feeling too good about this.  Luckily the first lady did very well although I had no idea what she was being told since the tester was giving the commands in Arabic.  And while it is a beautiful language it can sound a bit gruff at times, and I couldn’t tell if she was being yelled at or not.  Still it was good to see someone go before me, and she had to drive on the main streets to get us to the neighborhood streets.  Of course there was an accident in the roundabout that she had to go around but she did that very well.  If it were me I don’t know if I would have known what to do.  She passed.

some of the signs posted at the driving school

The second woman to drive was not that good of a driver and honestly she was so tiny I don’t even know how she could see over the wheel.  She slammed on the brakes once but I guess that wasn’t a big enough mistake because she passed too.  Next it was my turn and I knew I was better the the last woman so I hopped into the drivers seat and got myself adjusted.  As I pulled out onto the street the tester asked if I had a license.  “Yes, from America” I said, “Not quite the same as here.”  She said okay and immediately starting making marks on the paper.  Compared to the other two in the car with me I only drove for about half the time but I had to go through 4 roundabouts which were new to me.  I wasn’t perfect and kept checking my blind spots, something you don’t do here.  But I think she had her mind made up already.  As we approached the driving school I instinctively swerved to miss a pothole and upon my explanation she was quite pleased.  I put the car in park and asked if I passed, “Yes” she replied.  I was relieved to say the least and I didn't even mind that we had to wait another hour and a half before we could take the bus back to school.

my new driver's license

Then to top it all off, one of the high school teachers who lives in my building offered to take me, after school, to the Qatar Distribution Center (QDC) to apply for my liquor permit.  While many people did this a month ago I just didn’t have the heart to think about it.  I was in and out of the permit office in 10 minutes, quite the opposite of my morning wait and free to shop.  I most definitely grabbed some champagne to celebrate my Expat Thursday!

I was told I am luck to get the 2 year expiration date