Know Your Thobe!

Corniche walks!

Walking the Corniche with my Daddy!

Drivers License - yeah I'm legal now :)

So last week one of my student's and his father kindly helped me jump a bunch of lines and get my drivers license - the last thing on my to do list now that I have my RP, ID, TAMUQ ID, and HEALTH CARD. Any other nationality can go to the Doha Traffic Office, fill out the forms, take the eye test, and get their Qatar Drivers test, however, rumor has it that in America they make you take the test so in Qatar there is a new law that says American's must take the test. I'm not sure about the reasoning but there was no going around no matter how many people I asked for help or how many times I told the police man I had been driving since I was 15.. blah blah blah.

So I am at Al Rayah Driving School and I am the only American and blonde girl (not the only female) there with my student's father who is helping me cut the lines and speaking in Arabic to people so that I don't get pushed to the back of the very long line. Originally I was told that I would just have to drive a straight line but oh no in true Qatar fashion I have to take the road sign test, AND also drive a little, but not a lot more than a straight line. I pretty much know my road signs, IN AMERICA, so when I got the rather grumpy road sign testing guy and didn't know the crossroad sign, and after he went back to it 3 times I started thinking... "oh crap I am going to fail, how embarrassing, I have been driving in the states for 7 years...." Finally he mutters "crossroads" points at a few more like yield, no park, and stop, then back to the crossroads one where I say loud and clear "CROSSROADS."  Before I know it I am about to get in a very old learners car to drive another guy around for my driving part of the exam. Before I get in the car my student's father says to me "put your seatbelt on, adjust the mirrors, and use your blinker and you will pass" so I did just that as I drove the no personality testing guy around the block and I passed with FLYING colors! Haha - well at least I think so. The guy didn't like the fact that I was going 40 in a 50 and when I asked where to turn he tutted at me but I did everything I was told, and now I am legal on the roads of Qatar.

Well I was legal 4 hrs later when I went to pick up my drivers license and again was the only white, blonde, and this time only female in the waiting area smiling and saying thank you - basically not being rude to anyone. The guy at the desk doing all the paper work was pretty funny when he started up a conversation with me while my license printed about how I was too young to be married after he tried to marry me off to his coworker, and that he hoped to see my smiling face again - which I hope he never does because that would mean I would be in trouble on the roads!

Now I have yet another ID in Qatar to add to my pile...

oh and I am legal on the roads. 

BRIGHT CARS AND FLASHING LIGHTS...

Today after I started flashing my lights at a slow person in front of me on the way to work I realized - wow I have been driving in Qatar for too long. After a while you don't even notice how badly you are driving because it is defensive driving. I often find myself yelling to people from inside my car like they can here you... "sure you can pull out in front of me" or "don't even think about it" are both used on a daily basis.

Bright colored cars seem to be in fashion this year in Doha. I mean why not spend a fortune on a nice Mercedes and then get it painted neon yellow? That is normal right? I will say I do like the matte finishes, however, not in purple on "my" Range Rover. Seriously some of the cars you see on the roads here make you stop and think - why would ANYONE ever do that? And I hope that is a girl driving that hot pink Land Cruiser!

What did I say about seeing weird things in trucks?

Clearly I need to start another blog like I said the other week...

My life is horrible.... Yeah RIGHT!

Apart from getting absolutely fried by the sun I had a perfect weekend here in Qatar. You can't ask for more really. Island days, warmth, sun, sea, smiles, jokes, coronas, limes, and fast boats. Can't wait until next Friday. 

Next week I will actually wakeboard :)

I'm on a Dhow!

Simply put - Dhow Party. We live on a peninsula so why not rent a huge Arabic Dhow to cruise around on for a night? 

Shokran - I really need to learn Arabic!

Now that I have made my mind up and I will be staying here a little longer I have decided that I am going to take Arabic lessons. My students said they would be more than happy to teach me but I think that they can give me phrases and I will also get a private teacher (or see if I can take it on campus in the fall). Pretty excited about this. I hope to be fluent one day! My students keep telling me that is it really easy and that I will learn fast... I hope so!