I am American and I want a Driver's License

As most of you have correctly surmised, I really like the country of Qatar.  It is a wonderful standard of living and I have met some amazing people - both Qatari and Expats.  But.......every so often you are reminded that behind the beautiful buildings and the amazing progress, is a country that has some skeletons in their infrastructure.  Case in point......the process of getting a driver's license.

If I was from almost any other country in the world and had a nonexpired license, I would simply submit paperwork and a free Qatar license would show up.  However, if you are a new driver or evidently an American, you have to go through the painful process of going to this ramshackle disgusting building no less than 3 times.  Luckily 7 of my coworkers experienced this with me.
The rumor is that since the United States requires the Qatari people take a driving test to get a license in the U.S., they reciprocate the law and make us do it here. The difference is that I have seen how they drive and I demand that we make them take a driving test when coming to the United States!

 

First visit:  Eye Test. We were told it was 30QR ($8) but suddenly when we arrived the price was 50QR ($14) - CASH ONLY.  They tested our eyes in order to see if our sight was good enough to drive.  Good idea, but can someone tell me why they test our eyes one at a time?  How many of us drive with one eye closed?  Is this in case I suddenly decide to wear an eye patch?  Luckily I passed.

Ok back to my job.

 

Day 2: Up at 5, out the door by 6 to get the Traffic Department to take my written test.  Wait around for awhile and then get called into a room.  Sat down in a chair and had to tell the tester what 4 different signs meant.  Yes, just 4 signs.  That was the entire test!   Great use of my time!  Ok back to my job.

 

Day 3:  Up at 4am, out the door by 5am.  If you are a women, they only give the driving test on Thursday at 530am.  Or let me clarify that.  They demand that you arrive at 530am so you can submit your now pile of paperwork (haven't they heard of computers!) and pay 180QR ($50) - CASH ONLY.  The purpose of arriving so early is so you can sit for no less than 3 hours in their disgustingly dirty chairs and pray you do not have to visit the bathroom. 

 

 

(If I look happy, it is only because I brought Pepperidge Farm cookies to eat as my breakfast)  So happy my friends were with me!

 

After about 3 hours, they load groups of 20-25 women onto buses.  The bus leaves the parking area with a car up ahead.  Every so often the car and bus pull over and the "student" driver changes with someone in the bus. 

 Finally, it was my turn.  The instructor (a women) said exactly 4 words to me: roundabout, straight, left and park.  She was truly warm and fuzzy! (I think she really enjoys her job!) I drove no more than 500 feet.

After the fun bus ride, we returned to the disgusting chairs to wait and wait and wait..... Finally a pile of papers show up (again please someone introduce them to computers!)  The man at the desk starts calling names.  Individually, you have to go to the front of the room with about 200 women watching you.  The man at the desk then says either:

COME AGAIN! That means you failed and another man makes you leave out the door immediately. So Respectful!

Or PUT YOUR PHONE NUMBER HERE! Evidently that is their disrespectful way of saying "Congratulations on passing.  Please put your phone number here and we would be glad to print your official license"  He was also speaking mostly Arabic which I have to tell you I have made no progress on learning. (Luckily one of my coworkers with me spoke Arabic and she was able to translate for me.)

 

Unfortunately out of the 8 Americans that I was with, 2 women did not pass. Yes, that is not a typo.  Both of them have driven for more than 30 years in the United States but they do not drive well enough for Qatar??? Really? If you need a refresher on the driving skills required in Qatar, I recommend my previous blog on the subject.  I believe one of them Yielded during her driving test and we all know there is no Yielding in Qatar!

 

I however did pass.  I was instructed to a window where I was told to pay 250QR ($69) - DEBIT CARD ONLY! (Now I think I am on Candid Camera).

 

I was so proud to be done with the process! Again, I think I heard "We are the Champions" by Queen in my head.

 

My pride was only broken when I looked on the back and saw the the man who did my final paperwork, marked me as Handicapped!

 

Oh well........I think I will get an eye patch!