Keep's Getting Better

Well we are now on day 3 in Doha. I have just finished the most interesting experience thus far. Once again we were picked up by a “driver” that took us out into the middle of nowhere beside the Qatar Tank Farm. Believe me when I tell you, that is exactly what it is named, “The Tank Farm”. The translations are very literal.

I digress, back to the pick up this morning. We head out to the Medical Commission where physicals, x-rays, and just general chaos occur. There are separate areas for men and women. (From what I understand, the men are much more relaxed.) Now we are separated. This is where it gets interesting. The person that drove us there basically drops us off and we are now in the hands of someone absolutely different while at the same time being herded into separate areas.

As Westerners we are told that our Passport is the most important and desirable documents for people around the world. Keeping that in mind, we blindly hand over our “documents”. Being Canadian, our trust levels are very high and we generally give people the benefit of doubt, but this was very new to me. (side note: it is now the next day and I have yet to get my Passport back)

From there we headed to get our Qatari Driver License. Again, we gave up our Alberta, Canadian License…very trusting. Just to paint a little picture of where this new place is. The place we went to is smack dab in the middle of the “meat” district on Wholesale Market Street. What I mean by this is that there are sheep feedlots and fish markets all along this road. Beside these “lots” are the slaughterhouses and beside the slaughterhouses there is the Qatari version of the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Traffic Police (again very literal). Now that you have a little picture of the location, think of the smells that come from the previously mentioned places in your “neck of the woods”. WOW

That was yesterday, and things are getting better. We know where we are going to be living (still needs work) and we know that we are getting driving permits. We now must go forth for food other than hotel food.

Wish us luck!