Kristin and I have a vehicle. We bought it from a fellow expat and American who is returning to the US as his time here in Doha is coming to a close. The vehicle is a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe (I think I'm going to call it Claws in reference to Santa Claus) with 41,000 miles. Now we are the proud owners of 3 vehicles (2 of them being back in the US). YEEEEAAAA!!! Kind of crazy, but nonetheless it was an answer to prayer over the course of several months after The Father softened our hearts and we grew patient through the process.
In order to purchase the vehicle I had to go with the former owner to get a formal-ish looking typed paper (done on what looks like a typewriter from the 1970s) in Arabic. I only wish I had taken a picture of the machine. The paper cost just under $3 which you then take across the street to the Traffic Department. It is a very posh looking government building with high ceilings and marble everywhere. This would be my first of two visits here, because when we approached the counter to tell the man what we wanted he replied, "You cannot wear shorts inside". I had shorts on, and I didn't even think about it. I knew you could not wear shorts (at least ones showing your knees) inside mosques, but I didn't know you couldn't wear them in government buildings. Nonetheless we drove back to the apartment (which was a 10 minute drive at most) for me to put some pants on along with a collared shirt (I even brought a tie just in case).
Our second time in the Traffic Department building went much smoother. We received a ticket number marking our place in line. Immediately after taking a number, it was called for the transfer of paperwork to be executed. After about 5 minutes, payment of transfer and some signatures the transfer of ownership was complete.
To reference the title of this blog post, I hate to admit it, but I seen the terrible apocalyptic movie that boasts this name. It is the movie about how the polar ice caps melt causing massive flooding in the world which is followed by immense cold and tornadoes and the like across the the planet. Thinking back to this past winter from what I could tell in the US, just think about those frigid temperatures. Yet, what is even more terrible is that this phrase came up recently in my visit to one of the driving schools over here.
I cannot legally operate the vehicle since I do not have a Qatar driver's license. Nor can I use my International Driver's license in Qatar, because since getting my Resident Permit and ID, I am no longer a "visitor" but considered a Qatar resident. At least that is my understanding of it all.
This past Sunday, I went with another teacher and a gentleman who is helping me navigate the process for obtaining a driver's license. I elected to take the test for automatic vehicles despite Sal (my Toyota Corolla car's name in the US) being a manual. If you complete the test for a manual vehicle then you can drive both manual and automatic in Qatar and other GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) nations on the Arab Peninsula.
Upon our arrival, one of the teachers had to complete the eye test before we could move on to the next step. The driving school was swarming with people (think ant hill when it gets stepped on and/or blown by the wind, touched by a finger or something). It was helpful to have someone with us who has done this hundreds of time for other people, and he speaks Arabic which is always a plus. My Arabic would probably have gotten us delayed instead of through the process faster.
Faster is a matter of perspective. After going from one waiting room to another then to an area where there was a car with its hood popped, where people have to identify different parts of the engine, to another waiting room, we finally took a test which was done on the computer. The questions were basic questions i.e., identify this sign when seen on the road, what does this landmark mean, is the vehicle in the picture driving dangerously, etc. I missed one question (no way for me to know and/or learn which question it was), but I passed.
Now the next phase of the process would be for me to take the road/driving test. However, I could not take that test today. I don't know why, but one man changed his mind, and told the guy helping us to come back the day after tomorrow, being Tuesday as this was on a Sunday. We then went back to one of the rooms we'd been waiting in for quite some time earlier in the morning. After some more time passed, we learned that Tuesday was no good. Instead, I have to report back to the driving school on Wednesday morning where I will beat the sunrise seeing how I must arrive at 4:30 a.m. Nothing like waking up early in the morning.
We'll see how long this part takes as I've been told that the driving schools tell you to report at such early times wherein one waits for hours before you even get into a vehicle. It is different over here in how things are done. I just hope that like in the movie, "The Day After Tomorrow" had a favorable ending for the main character, that I have a similar ending in getting my license once this process is completed (however long that takes).
~Mark
Monday, September 29, 2014
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Middle Eastern Dish - Chicken Shawarma
So, one of our favorite meals since we have moved to Doha is chicken shawarma. It is a turkish wrap that can have either chicken or beef and is marinaded in a yogurt sauce with a variety of different toppings on it. It not only tastes great, but can be found for very cheap here. When we were in Turkey, we had about one a day, and those were truly the best shawarma's we have ever had.
Well, one day while searching for recipes on Pinterest, I found a chicken shawarma recipe! I was so excited to try it, and finally made it this week. Mark made fresh naan for us to wrap it in, and this has quickly become one of our favorite meals that I cook. This meal has gone on the menu for a meal we will cook for the family next summer to have them get a taste of the Middle East. :)
Well, one day while searching for recipes on Pinterest, I found a chicken shawarma recipe! I was so excited to try it, and finally made it this week. Mark made fresh naan for us to wrap it in, and this has quickly become one of our favorite meals that I cook. This meal has gone on the menu for a meal we will cook for the family next summer to have them get a taste of the Middle East. :)
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
That Sucks
After much prayer, calculation and weighing of options (to be only followed by more calculation), Kristin and I have elected to buy a vehicle. We have been told by friends of ours here to either: 1) Go big or 2) Go fast. We're passing on the Ferraris, Bentleys, and Maseratis as those quickly became out of our price range; that is unless we're wanting to forfeit the money we're saving to put towards a house some day. Kristin slowly brought me down from that option while The Father provided a much nicer and price friendlier option :). Kristin and I will be cruising around in a 2007 Hyundai Santa Fe.
You can buy a vehicle in Qatar if you have what is called your "Resident's Permit" or RP for short. I went through that paperwork last year, but now I need to go through the process of securing a driver's license. We've heard rumors that it is a seamless process; that is unless you are an American.
Last weekend, while our apartment was being sprayed for bed bugs (third time pest control has come out), we took a walk to one of the driving centers/schools. I wanted to find out information about the eye test as a requirement for one's driver's license. So we walked into the building and saw a door labeled, "Eye Test". We confirmed with a worker that I could simply open the door and walk in to schedule an eye exam. What we learned though was that I could complete my eye exam right on the spot.
The gentleman sitting behind the computer desk in the tiny tiny room was a pleasant man who I'll refer to as Joe. With Kristin in the room, Joe sat me away from his desk, and had me look at the wall to name the letters that would be displayed. After the correctly named the last letter, Joe said that I have excellent vision. Joe asked me, "Do you know why?". I said, "Well yea, sure." He then replied, "Its because you have beautiful woman here. That is why." All of us in the room chuckled at his comment, and I couldn't agree with him more.
Joe stamped the driver's license application (the government is really into stamps over here) verifying the section that I passed the eye test. We paid him for the application fee and received a receipt for our own documentation. Joe then mentioned how the only thing that remained was that he needed my British driver's license to which I went mute. Joe then said, "Oh. You're an American?". My natural reply was, "Yes." Joe sadly replied, "That sucks. I'm sorry for you my friend."
This is where Kristin and I learned that the rumors are true if you are an American seeking a driver's license. We asked Joe to validate the rumors we've heard which are summed up as follows. Basically, a high Qatari government official went to the USA and was driving. He got pulled over, and the exchange between him and the officer was less than cordial. Upon the government official's return to Qatar, he made it his personal mission to make it difficult for American's to get driver's licenses in Qatar. I'm hoping that when I take my sign, written and road test, that despite me passing those tests, someone doesn't fail me just because they can for no reason. Yet, we'll see what happens. I can't schedule my series of tests yet as I need permission from my employer stating that it is okay for me to get a driver's license. So for now, it is time to pray, wait and pray some more.
In talking with Joe throughout our time in his office, we learned that he is a Syrian refugee. His family has lost three homes, and his uncle was killed not too long ago during the conflict. We told him that we are praying for Syria, and the crisis that is happening there. Hadn't it been for the people waiting at the door to enter the room, we would have prayed for him as I felt a nudge from The Ghost.
I left the driving school with a heavy heart for Joe, and I only wish we had taken the time (however long it was) to simply pray and say a blessing for him and for Syria. My thoughts then brought me to thinking about my students this year and about the ones I had last year. I remember having several students from places like Libya, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Iran and other "hot-zone" places. The probability is highly likely for me to have students from such countries again.
These students bring different experiences with them into a teacher's classroom as compared to my students that I had in the USA. Some of my students last year, and I'm sure of the ones I'll have this year, cannot return to their home country. My interaction with Joe coupled with past and probable future students that I'll meet next week, has caused me to pray more for this part of the world. I'm hoping that you will join me too, in lifting this region up in prayer.
~Mark
You can buy a vehicle in Qatar if you have what is called your "Resident's Permit" or RP for short. I went through that paperwork last year, but now I need to go through the process of securing a driver's license. We've heard rumors that it is a seamless process; that is unless you are an American.
Last weekend, while our apartment was being sprayed for bed bugs (third time pest control has come out), we took a walk to one of the driving centers/schools. I wanted to find out information about the eye test as a requirement for one's driver's license. So we walked into the building and saw a door labeled, "Eye Test". We confirmed with a worker that I could simply open the door and walk in to schedule an eye exam. What we learned though was that I could complete my eye exam right on the spot.
The gentleman sitting behind the computer desk in the tiny tiny room was a pleasant man who I'll refer to as Joe. With Kristin in the room, Joe sat me away from his desk, and had me look at the wall to name the letters that would be displayed. After the correctly named the last letter, Joe said that I have excellent vision. Joe asked me, "Do you know why?". I said, "Well yea, sure." He then replied, "Its because you have beautiful woman here. That is why." All of us in the room chuckled at his comment, and I couldn't agree with him more.
Joe stamped the driver's license application (the government is really into stamps over here) verifying the section that I passed the eye test. We paid him for the application fee and received a receipt for our own documentation. Joe then mentioned how the only thing that remained was that he needed my British driver's license to which I went mute. Joe then said, "Oh. You're an American?". My natural reply was, "Yes." Joe sadly replied, "That sucks. I'm sorry for you my friend."
This is where Kristin and I learned that the rumors are true if you are an American seeking a driver's license. We asked Joe to validate the rumors we've heard which are summed up as follows. Basically, a high Qatari government official went to the USA and was driving. He got pulled over, and the exchange between him and the officer was less than cordial. Upon the government official's return to Qatar, he made it his personal mission to make it difficult for American's to get driver's licenses in Qatar. I'm hoping that when I take my sign, written and road test, that despite me passing those tests, someone doesn't fail me just because they can for no reason. Yet, we'll see what happens. I can't schedule my series of tests yet as I need permission from my employer stating that it is okay for me to get a driver's license. So for now, it is time to pray, wait and pray some more.
In talking with Joe throughout our time in his office, we learned that he is a Syrian refugee. His family has lost three homes, and his uncle was killed not too long ago during the conflict. We told him that we are praying for Syria, and the crisis that is happening there. Hadn't it been for the people waiting at the door to enter the room, we would have prayed for him as I felt a nudge from The Ghost.
I left the driving school with a heavy heart for Joe, and I only wish we had taken the time (however long it was) to simply pray and say a blessing for him and for Syria. My thoughts then brought me to thinking about my students this year and about the ones I had last year. I remember having several students from places like Libya, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Iran and other "hot-zone" places. The probability is highly likely for me to have students from such countries again.
These students bring different experiences with them into a teacher's classroom as compared to my students that I had in the USA. Some of my students last year, and I'm sure of the ones I'll have this year, cannot return to their home country. My interaction with Joe coupled with past and probable future students that I'll meet next week, has caused me to pray more for this part of the world. I'm hoping that you will join me too, in lifting this region up in prayer.
~Mark
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