300 m Countdown to a roundabout... One Way... Double bend...
One of the main goals for us this week was to secure our driving licenses. We have international driving licenses, which are good for 6 months, however, for renting a car, they're only good for a couple of weeks. In Qatar, the process of getting a license is a bit more involved than in the US. The first step was a driving test. It was your basic, cover one eye and read the letters/numbers then the other eye. Easy, but with 25+ people all together, it just takes time. After the eye test was registration; paperwork that we had to have stamped, show our US license, pay a fee. Third, theoretical testing. We were told this was the most difficult, so we prepared and studied a good deal, even the kids quizzed us over breakfast. The testing was postponed a couple of times, but this morning at 6 am K went and passed, then A at 8am and passed! Studying paid off.
Some tips for the driving test:
- If you are a man, don't go on women only day. Men/women are separated in this society and if you show up on women's day, you won't test.
- Be polite and flexible.
- Study... The signs and road markings are heavily tested.
- The test is 20 questions and you must get 18 or more to pass.
- If you fail... you're in good company. Once you get the hang of the questions, you may fair much better.
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| My study tool. Popsicle stick flash cards. |
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| My favorite one! Animal crossing - and it was on my test! |
The next, and final) step for us is to do a driving test. Again, A's school is handling this part, they have been beyond helpful. Once we pass that portion, we will get an official license. For now, we'll use our international permit to drive. We're planning on getting a vehicle today/tomorrow, so we'll start getting practice on the road! I keep telling myself that driving in Morocco was way more difficult/dangerous (far more people, larger city etc), but I'm still a bit nervous...
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