Thanks to the offended sensibilities of some Qatari official/minister who tried to rent a car at Dulles and was given grief from the clerk about his foreign driver's license, Americans who want to drive in Qatar are required to take and pass a driving test. The rest of the Western/European countries can just exchange their existing license for a local one. Since we already bought our cars and have had difficulty getting Fox Transport (local taxi/limo company) to pick us up when we want them to, we've been anxious to get our licenses as quickly as possible. After waiting 10 days since receiving my residency permit and ID card without anything happening, I went up to HR the other day to ask them to start moving things along. It took some doing, but they finally got me set up to go to the driving school at 830 on Thursday morning.
I met Abdullah there and into the building we went. The first thing I noticed was how lost someone would be if they tried to do this without a handler/expeditor helping them out. There was only one large room, filled with dozens of chairs holding a mass of people sitting and waiting for something. Without any helpful signs pointing to an information desk or directing you where to go, it was tough to figure out what to do first. Let's hear it for Abdullah. He walked us right over to a window underneath a sign that read "New License," started talking with the guy behind the desk like they were old friends, and handed over my paperwork with a smile. Looked like progress to me, and while I didn't think I'd be handed a license right then and there, I hoped this meant I'd be getting an appointment date within the next week. I paid my 50 QR (about $18) when asked, but other than that I wasn't sure what was going on.
With more papers in hand, off we went to the next desk. This one appeared to be the main reception/information desk, but instead of getting a "deli number" like everyone else, Abdullah started talking to him and handed him our papers. A few more minutes of back-and-forth and shuffling through papers ensued, followed by the guy pulling out a form of some sort from under the counter and telling Abdullah to fill it out. Once he wrote my information on the form (hand-write in Arabic is quite tedious, I learned), we headed for the door out to the area where the cars and testing area are. This seemed to me like a good sign, maybe even one that I would get tested right then and there.
But no, this was not to be. Instead, we walked to the building next door, entered an office with a sign reading "Staff Only," and began talking to the officer there. I assumed by the two stars on his uniform and the big wooden desk he sat behind that he was in charge of the whole operation, so I made sure to stand quietly and smile politely whenever he looked over at me. A few gestures later, he had signed the form the guy behind the counter had given us at our last stop, and off we went, back to the guy at the counter. Abdullah showed him the signed form, they had a long conversation while flipping through all the other papers, and then it was over. The guy handed them back to Abdullah with a shrug that clearly said there was nothing more than could be done.
"So, what's going on?" I asked Abdullah. He gave me a grim smile and told me that we were missing a stamp on the form the officer signed, the man who could give us the stamp was not there, and that my appointment for the test was on February 2nd. He said I could talk to Basem (the guy in the HR who has a business card that reads "Interface Manager" and apparently knows everyone who is anyone) next week, but otherwise wasn't too helpful, explanatory, or interested in trying to do something while we were there. Back to the office I went, trying to figure out what I'd say to Basem when I got there.
To be continued.....
Dec 23, 2011
Dubai
He's put away 2 Smirnoff Ice. "What happens in Dubai stays in Dubai" must be the theory.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Dec 11, 2011
7 Things
My friend Mary recently wrote a post detailing seven things about herself, so I figured I'd do the same thing. It's a good way to get me to write something on here since I've been pretty lax in doing so recently. So without further ado, here are my seven things:
- In the past ten years, I've lived in six different cities, three states, and three countries. I guess you could say I've got the travel bug. And thanks to the Internet, email, and Facebook, I never have to really say goodbye to all the friends I make along the way.
- I'm currently living in a house without a dog for the first time in close to 15 years. Things are much quieter and calmer than I'm used to. Seems very strange.
- I'm running the Dubai Marathon next month. I'm looking forward to crossing my second continent off the list. I'm not looking forward to what I imagine will be a dearth of crowd support and entertainment along the course.
- I miss driving my TT, but i'm glad I'm not driving it over here. The drivers are so crazy that we're getting two sturdy SUVs to keep us safe as we master the right blend of defensive and aggressive driving necessary to get through the city.
- I wish I could bring myself to do all the things my running coaches want me to do. It's just so much easier to eat pizza than cook chicken and veggies.
- I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing the Saudi women here wearing their full face veils while talking on their iPhones. Those two worlds just seem so far apart.
- I find it amusing when my mother tells me that my nephews want to tell me all about their football games or want to hear all about what I'm up to. Considering they barely stay on the phone for two minutes when I call, I'd say she's projecting.
Nov 27, 2011
Marine Corps Marathon Race Report
Better late than never, right? Pictures to follow once I buy them.
Race weekend started for me when I left Doha at 8am on Friday. As much as I wanted to take advantage of the vintage champagne and 2000 Bordeaux being offered during the flight, I knew I had to behave myself. Somewhat. I did have a few glasses of champagne with breakfast, but I also downed four liters of water during the next 14 hours too. I think the flight attendants got a little tired of me asking for more bottles of water, but after a week in the desert air, I didn't want to get any more dehydrated.
After watching several movies and reading a few magazines, I landed at Dulles a little before 4. Thanks to the wonders of the Global Entry System (well worth the $100 fee for the background check), I skipped the 500-600 person line at immigration and was out of the airport and on my way in 15 minutes. I grabbed my Dodge econobox rental car from National and went straight to the expo.
I was a little disappointed by the expo. Picking up my bib, shirt, and other goodies was really quick and easy, but once that was finished, there weren't as many vendors there as I was expecting. I appreciated the ones that were there (stocked up on more Kayanos at one), but compared to Disney and RnR expos, the MCM expo just didn't have the variety and number of booths as the others. I stocked up on Kayanos to bring to Doha but wasn't able to find a single vendor selling the Rider flip-flops that Heather wanted another few pairs of.
I spent most of Saturday relaxing in my room, watching the rain slowly change into heavy wet snow. The overnight low temperature forecast kept dropping throughout the day, so I shifted my race day outfit from short sleeves and shorts to long sleeves and tights. I remember thinking when I was packing my running bag before leaving for Doha that I doubted I'd need all the cold weather gear I was throwing in (hat, gloves, tights, etc.) but better to be safe than sorry. After a nice sushi dinner with Eva and Steve, I climbed into bed and hoped the remainder of my jet lag would be gone by the time the race started.
I awoke Sunday morning to clear skies and 32 degree temps, perfect weather for a marathon. I put on my race outfit, donned my throw-away clothes, grabbed my Clif bar, and headed off to the bag check area. Watching the Metro cars go by jammed with runners made me glad to only have a short 15-minute walk from the hotel.
The race started right at 8am, just after a really cool fly-over by a formation of V22 Osprey. Marine Corps doesn't use formal corrals like Rock n Roll or Disney. Instead, they set up ones by pace and ask people to voluntarily sort themselves. The theory is a good one, but in practice, it makes for a pretty chaotic first few miles as there are always far too many runners who line up much closer to the front than they should, causing everyone else to have to weave and dodge around them.
By the time we hit the top of the hills in Rosslyn (the first two miles are pretty much all uphill), the sun was out and I was warming up nicely. I tied my trusty jacket around my waist, tucked my hat and gloves into my belt, and settled into a nice comfortable pace for the trip back down to and across the Potomac. A mile later, the jacket rubbing against my legs really started to bother me, so I left it on the side of the road. It served me well for five years and any number of cold or rainy days, which made me sad to let it go, but I'm sure someone else came along to claim it and will get good use out of it too.
After crossing the river, we turned left to run a four-mile loop up to Rock Creek Park, around the reservoir, and back. Not many spectators along this part of the course, which was fine with me because they just would've interfered with the beautiful scenery. People say this race is so scenic due to all the monuments and buildings in DC, but the foliage and views along the Potomac from mile 4.5 to mile 15 are just gorgeous. Of course, it helps to be running under clear, sunny skies.
The Rock Creek loop finished, it was time for a quick trip through Georgetown and then back down to the river for the next five miles. I had been wondering in my head whether I would've been better off in shorts or tights since the trip around Rock Creek had warmed me up quite a bit, and I had my answer as soon as I was hit by the wind coming off the river. Tights were definitely a good choice. The shade and the breeze cooled me right off again.
We got our first monument sightings as we turned back from Hains Point and had the whole city and much of the Mall laid out in front of us. Starting with the new MLK memorial near mile 16, the next four miles were nothing but monuments, memorials, impressive buildings, and hundreds of thousands of cheering spectators. The spectacular views coupled with the energy from the crowd made this stretch one of the best of any race I've ever done. You couldn't possibly feel yourself hurting or struggling because without even trying, all your attention gravitated to everything around you. It really is as great a part of the course as everyone says it is.
The trip through DC reaches its end just past mile 20 where there is a huge contingent of drummers getting you amped and pumped to Beat the Bridge. If you're not across the 14th Street bridge by 115 in the afternoon, they make you stop running and bring you to the finish on a bus. I wasn't at all worried about this, but I can certainly see why the drummers are placed where they are on the course. The noise and rhythm naturally cause you to increase your pace and motivate you to get across that bridge no matter what.
Unfortunately, the high of the drummers is quickly matched by the low of the bridge. If you're one of those people that hits the wall at mile 20 and really struggles after that, you're going to hate this part of the race. For nearly two miles, I found myself trudging along what's normally I395, and yes, it was about as thrilling as it sounds. The scenery looking up and down the river was nice and the guys on the boat blasting music helped, but it's still a pretty big let down after the incredible wonders of the city.
After getting off the highway, the next few miles were a loop through Crystal City. Not a whole lot of interesting things to look at along this part of the course, but the spectator support was pretty good. Lots of people out cheering, passing out oranges, and even one small group of people handing cold beer. Unlike in Houston where the Hash goes through several kegs at our beer stop at mile 24, these guys seemed surprised that I actually drank what they were offering.
The last two miles of the race took us around the Pentagon and back along the river past the National Cemetery. I could hear the roar of the crowd getting louder as I approached mile 26 and the final turn to the finish. The finish in this race is one of the most difficult I've ever encountered. When you turn left off the main road, you run straight uphill for a tenth of a mile, followed by a right turn and a more gentle uphill to the finish line. I knew it was coming since I walked down it on my way to the start five hours earlier, so I just gritted my teeth, shortened my stride, and sprinted up as fast as I could. It felt good to pass a lot of people in those last few hundred yards, and I crossed the finish line with a huge smile on my face.
Unfortunately, the smile didn't last very long, about ten feet to be exact. That's when the downside of finishing in a park comes into play. The finish is on a narrow park road leading to the Iwo Jima Memorial, so there's no room for people to spread out as they wait to get their mylar blankets and medals. We just shuffled along in a big mass of runners, and it took quite a while to finally move forward enough to get to the Marines handing out the goodies. That was another highlight of the race. You've got all these Marines, mostly young officers, giving you a blanket, hanging a medal around your neck, and saying "Congratulations, sir," as they do. Pretty cool.
Overall, I can't say enough great things about this race. The organization was as stellar as you'd expect from the Marines, the course was gorgeous, and the support along the way was fantastic. It's definitely one to add to your bucket list.
Race weekend started for me when I left Doha at 8am on Friday. As much as I wanted to take advantage of the vintage champagne and 2000 Bordeaux being offered during the flight, I knew I had to behave myself. Somewhat. I did have a few glasses of champagne with breakfast, but I also downed four liters of water during the next 14 hours too. I think the flight attendants got a little tired of me asking for more bottles of water, but after a week in the desert air, I didn't want to get any more dehydrated.
After watching several movies and reading a few magazines, I landed at Dulles a little before 4. Thanks to the wonders of the Global Entry System (well worth the $100 fee for the background check), I skipped the 500-600 person line at immigration and was out of the airport and on my way in 15 minutes. I grabbed my Dodge econobox rental car from National and went straight to the expo.
I was a little disappointed by the expo. Picking up my bib, shirt, and other goodies was really quick and easy, but once that was finished, there weren't as many vendors there as I was expecting. I appreciated the ones that were there (stocked up on more Kayanos at one), but compared to Disney and RnR expos, the MCM expo just didn't have the variety and number of booths as the others. I stocked up on Kayanos to bring to Doha but wasn't able to find a single vendor selling the Rider flip-flops that Heather wanted another few pairs of.
I spent most of Saturday relaxing in my room, watching the rain slowly change into heavy wet snow. The overnight low temperature forecast kept dropping throughout the day, so I shifted my race day outfit from short sleeves and shorts to long sleeves and tights. I remember thinking when I was packing my running bag before leaving for Doha that I doubted I'd need all the cold weather gear I was throwing in (hat, gloves, tights, etc.) but better to be safe than sorry. After a nice sushi dinner with Eva and Steve, I climbed into bed and hoped the remainder of my jet lag would be gone by the time the race started.
I awoke Sunday morning to clear skies and 32 degree temps, perfect weather for a marathon. I put on my race outfit, donned my throw-away clothes, grabbed my Clif bar, and headed off to the bag check area. Watching the Metro cars go by jammed with runners made me glad to only have a short 15-minute walk from the hotel.
The race started right at 8am, just after a really cool fly-over by a formation of V22 Osprey. Marine Corps doesn't use formal corrals like Rock n Roll or Disney. Instead, they set up ones by pace and ask people to voluntarily sort themselves. The theory is a good one, but in practice, it makes for a pretty chaotic first few miles as there are always far too many runners who line up much closer to the front than they should, causing everyone else to have to weave and dodge around them.
By the time we hit the top of the hills in Rosslyn (the first two miles are pretty much all uphill), the sun was out and I was warming up nicely. I tied my trusty jacket around my waist, tucked my hat and gloves into my belt, and settled into a nice comfortable pace for the trip back down to and across the Potomac. A mile later, the jacket rubbing against my legs really started to bother me, so I left it on the side of the road. It served me well for five years and any number of cold or rainy days, which made me sad to let it go, but I'm sure someone else came along to claim it and will get good use out of it too.
After crossing the river, we turned left to run a four-mile loop up to Rock Creek Park, around the reservoir, and back. Not many spectators along this part of the course, which was fine with me because they just would've interfered with the beautiful scenery. People say this race is so scenic due to all the monuments and buildings in DC, but the foliage and views along the Potomac from mile 4.5 to mile 15 are just gorgeous. Of course, it helps to be running under clear, sunny skies.
The Rock Creek loop finished, it was time for a quick trip through Georgetown and then back down to the river for the next five miles. I had been wondering in my head whether I would've been better off in shorts or tights since the trip around Rock Creek had warmed me up quite a bit, and I had my answer as soon as I was hit by the wind coming off the river. Tights were definitely a good choice. The shade and the breeze cooled me right off again.
We got our first monument sightings as we turned back from Hains Point and had the whole city and much of the Mall laid out in front of us. Starting with the new MLK memorial near mile 16, the next four miles were nothing but monuments, memorials, impressive buildings, and hundreds of thousands of cheering spectators. The spectacular views coupled with the energy from the crowd made this stretch one of the best of any race I've ever done. You couldn't possibly feel yourself hurting or struggling because without even trying, all your attention gravitated to everything around you. It really is as great a part of the course as everyone says it is.
The trip through DC reaches its end just past mile 20 where there is a huge contingent of drummers getting you amped and pumped to Beat the Bridge. If you're not across the 14th Street bridge by 115 in the afternoon, they make you stop running and bring you to the finish on a bus. I wasn't at all worried about this, but I can certainly see why the drummers are placed where they are on the course. The noise and rhythm naturally cause you to increase your pace and motivate you to get across that bridge no matter what.
Unfortunately, the high of the drummers is quickly matched by the low of the bridge. If you're one of those people that hits the wall at mile 20 and really struggles after that, you're going to hate this part of the race. For nearly two miles, I found myself trudging along what's normally I395, and yes, it was about as thrilling as it sounds. The scenery looking up and down the river was nice and the guys on the boat blasting music helped, but it's still a pretty big let down after the incredible wonders of the city.
After getting off the highway, the next few miles were a loop through Crystal City. Not a whole lot of interesting things to look at along this part of the course, but the spectator support was pretty good. Lots of people out cheering, passing out oranges, and even one small group of people handing cold beer. Unlike in Houston where the Hash goes through several kegs at our beer stop at mile 24, these guys seemed surprised that I actually drank what they were offering.
The last two miles of the race took us around the Pentagon and back along the river past the National Cemetery. I could hear the roar of the crowd getting louder as I approached mile 26 and the final turn to the finish. The finish in this race is one of the most difficult I've ever encountered. When you turn left off the main road, you run straight uphill for a tenth of a mile, followed by a right turn and a more gentle uphill to the finish line. I knew it was coming since I walked down it on my way to the start five hours earlier, so I just gritted my teeth, shortened my stride, and sprinted up as fast as I could. It felt good to pass a lot of people in those last few hundred yards, and I crossed the finish line with a huge smile on my face.
Unfortunately, the smile didn't last very long, about ten feet to be exact. That's when the downside of finishing in a park comes into play. The finish is on a narrow park road leading to the Iwo Jima Memorial, so there's no room for people to spread out as they wait to get their mylar blankets and medals. We just shuffled along in a big mass of runners, and it took quite a while to finally move forward enough to get to the Marines handing out the goodies. That was another highlight of the race. You've got all these Marines, mostly young officers, giving you a blanket, hanging a medal around your neck, and saying "Congratulations, sir," as they do. Pretty cool.
Overall, I can't say enough great things about this race. The organization was as stellar as you'd expect from the Marines, the course was gorgeous, and the support along the way was fantastic. It's definitely one to add to your bucket list.
Oct 22, 2011
Doha
Some observations about things that have interested me so far over here….
Seeing women run in full black burqas, Nike Frees, and Rudy Project sunglasses will take some getting used to
The drivers are nuts, but since they all know it and drive the same way, there doesn't seem to be any road rage
I can be happy in a country that brings you warm bread with hummus instead of butter during your meal
I'm curious to learn what is in the Sausage McMuffin at McDonald's since pork isn't allowed in Muslim countries
Coming into the arrivals terminal - Passport control line for business class: 1 person. Passport control line for economy class: 400 people. Glad work is paying for it.
The tinkering with the time zone reminds me of Russia. It's light by 530am and getting dark by 5pm.
Seeing women run in full black burqas, Nike Frees, and Rudy Project sunglasses will take some getting used to
The drivers are nuts, but since they all know it and drive the same way, there doesn't seem to be any road rage
I can be happy in a country that brings you warm bread with hummus instead of butter during your meal
I'm curious to learn what is in the Sausage McMuffin at McDonald's since pork isn't allowed in Muslim countries
Coming into the arrivals terminal - Passport control line for business class: 1 person. Passport control line for economy class: 400 people. Glad work is paying for it.
The tinkering with the time zone reminds me of Russia. It's light by 530am and getting dark by 5pm.
Oct 21, 2011
Greetings from Keflavik!
No, that's not a typo. Our non-stop to Doha took a slight detour. There's a medical emergency on board and we're landing in Iceland to get them off the plane. The woman sitting next to me has 40 minutes between this flight and her connecting one in Doha to KL. I don't think she's going to make it seeing as we've had to backtrack 30 minutes to get to Keflavik. Iceland sure is a pretty county from the air. Hopefully the next time I'm here, I can actually get off the plane and stay a while.
Oct 10, 2011
Last Lazy Weekend
It's going to be a crazy next six weeks, so I'm trying to enjoy this last lazy weekend as much as I can. Here's some of what's coming up:
- Monthly close
- Training my backfill
- Zach's show
- Saturday long runs
- BCPA Executive Committee & Board meetings
- First trip to Doha to train
- Marine Corps marathon
- Parents' visit
- Clean & sell house
- Sell one car
- Pack & move some stuff to Florida
- Get dogs to their temporary homes
- Medical exams
- Multitudes of paperwork
- Concerts - 5FDP, Corey Taylor
- Agility trial
Not to mention all the little stuff like changing addresses with USPS, shopping for supplies, etc. Bleh. I'll be glad when it's all over.
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