Driving License At Last
Sunday, February 28, 2010
At last, I have got my driving license.
It took me two years and one month after I first step in to the driving school, 3 enrollments, 8 driving tests and substantial amount of money and time.
The 2 years includes a year of waiting for nothing as my immediate boss at that time promised to assist me to resolve my driving license. Hopeful that they will be able to pull some string to get me a license, I waited patiently. Unfortunately, after a year of waiting, I was told that it is not worth to give in to the demands of their contact, I was advised to enroll again and patiently pass the driving test. Their contact was asking for QAR10,000 grease money, as our Administration Manager put it, it is a Mafia business here.
Our Administration Manager promised me that he can help me if I can provide him a Philippine driving license. He will just convert it for me. But the problem is, I’ve been away too long from my motherland, how do you expect me to have a driving license back home.
I called my sister to look for me someone who can fix my license and I am willing to pay. She returned to me, that my father have contacted someone who can fix my license for PHP 10,000, however, it is not the original thing, it is from Recto. I declined, I cannot spend PHP 10,000 for something made in Recto.
Desperate, and had failed six times already, I tried to find someone who can help. Someone who know somebody inside the school and just pay it. But my wife is coming to join me in a few months and I need the license urgently. I end up enrolling again for the third time and paying QAR 2,300.
I thought I will pass on my seventh try, check what happened in my other post.
On my 8th try, my wife asked me to just relax. She must be right. I tend to be more focused and know what’s happening around me, I know my actions. I realized during my last seven tries, I was always nervous once I sat down on the driver’s seat with the traffic police on the passenger seat and at the end of the test I always wonder if I did it right, have I checked the mirrors? turn on the signal in every turn? did I put on my seat belt? and so on....
I nailed it this time, I can now drive my wife around and outside Doha. Hopefully that she will like it more here and decides to stay with me.
Upon hearing that I passed, our driver relayed it to our Administration Manager, “Sir, Mr. Lopez has got his driving license”. “What?, really?, are you sure? Oh come?, our Administration Manager responded with disbelief, as if I can never have a driving license, not in this lifetime….Make no mistake, our Administration Manager is a joker.
And so, I went later to see our Administration Manager.
“Good afternoon Mr. Gabriel, do you know why I came to see you?”
“Why?”
“Someone has promised to declare a holiday if I passed the driving test” referring to him.
He laughed and said “Well, you can go home now, it is your holiday you must celebrate”.
“But the most expensive driving license has no use if I have no car.”, I said.
“OK Mr. Lopez, I will give you a car and consider it done, just give me two days and some sweets later.” gesturing a treat and smiling.
“Having the most expensive driving license, I have nothing to buy sweets, unless you give me my salary now.”
“I can wait for a few days for the sweets. In the meantime, give me a copy of your license and we will announce to everyone that you have passed the driving test.” Mr. Gabriel said jokingly.
I went out of Mr. Gabriel's office hoping that I will have my car in two days. Only then, I can use my driving license.
Wondering what type of car he will give....guessing....
Wondering what type of car he will give....guessing....
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