So I have been a bit quiet of late on the old blog, sorry about that Mum and anyone else that's reading. The reason was the lack of any real Wi-Fi connection at the Hotel I was staying at. I did try a few times to update the blog and came very close at one point to lobbing my laptop out of the window. Only the window didn't open, which didn't help the situation. Anyway, Wi-Fi woes be over! And why are they over? Well I have moved into my shiny new home at long last. I will write more about that in another post, it is very shiny. Today's ramble is dedicated to the process of gaining my RP or Residency Permit. Fun times.
The RP is apparently the key to life here in Doha. You can't get anything without one like a booze permit for example. It's been at least 30 days since I purchased alcohol. This is a concern. Not 30 days since I drank it of course, I have my ways. But still, I can't actually buy my own booze yet, or drive, or get a current account, or sign any kind of contract for anything. So you can see getting your RP is quite important for getting yourself set up when you arrive.
The RP process actually started back when I was in good old sunny Nelson. I had to dig out copies of various documents and send those off and then I had to get my lovely Mum on the case with getting my Degree signed by countless people in the UK like the Foreign Office. This apparently was all so I could have the title 'Manageress' on my RP which was very important, to my new employers at least.
Then on arrival in Doha came the photographs. Pretty easy, 12 passport photos needed on blue background. No handy passport photo booths here so have to go to photographer and sit in dodgy backroom studio. All very strange.
Blood typing came next. I was told it would take 5 minutes at the clinic next door to the mall where the Lush shop is. I scoffed. Surely you mean I make an appointment, I turn up, I wait for my appointment, I wait a bit more, I wait REALLY patiently and then go in at least 30 minutes late for said appointment, I probably faint (it's me after all), I then get told results will be back in a week. Nope, it literally takes 5 minutes. I go in pay at the front desk, nice lady takes me round to the blood typing area, another nice lady pricks my finger, runs the blood through some magical box thingy tells me to wait two minutes, she calls me back and hands me paper with my blood type on it and I leave. Now that's efficient, or witchcraft one of the two.
OK, so after this came the least fun part of the process which involved the public chest x-ray and blood test. I got taken by a driver to a building on the outskirts of the city where by I had to go into the 'ladies' entrance and was given a number, much like at the cheese counter in the supermarket. Although it turned out the number was pretty much pointless. I sat for ages whilst nothing happened and more and more 'ladies' arrived. Finally numbers were randomly called, not in chronological order of course. You handed in your paperwork and were stamped. After that we were vaguely directed to the blood testing area where what I assume were Vampires took our blood because before you knew it was over, blood taken another stamp acquired and you had been moved along as if nothing had happened.
Then came the aforementioned public chest x-ray. Crazy x-ray lady barked at everyone to either get into a gown in a changing room or just take off their bra depending on how loose their tops were and then we lined up and were marched into an x-ray room. No-one really seemed to know what was going on, frankly it was a bit alarming. We were then told to stand behind a line in a line, no-one moved so she shouted at us to do it again and being British and quite good at forming a queue I thought I'd start us off. I'm glad I did I got to go first and get it all over with. I once again handed over my paperwork, got my x-ray and my final stamp, quest complete! Or so I thought....
This morning came the final (I really bloody hope) part of the RP quest. I was supposed to be picked up to go for my fingerprinting at 8am by one of the drivers. A lovely driver did come but part way into the journey when we started picking up some other lovelies also on their way to Landmark Mall I twigged that all was not quite right. Turns out the message got lost, or my driver did.
Anyway, on arrival at the mall and now late for my appointment I get into my second minivan of the day and head off. I end up god knows where, miles out of the city but the building does say fingerprinting, plus some other stuff. The man from the office with my paperwork for more stamp collecting is calling frantically to ask where I am, 'I'm here!' I reply. He can't see me anywhere and he's right outside. 'I'm the only lady, I'm quite obvious' I tell him, everyone is of course staring at me. I am indeed the only lady to be seen. At that point a small but nagging alarm bell begins in my head. Yes why are you the only lady Kasia? Hmmm? Check with the driver. He asks someone. We are at the wrong place, we are the fingerprinting place for men. Ladies go somewhere completely different.
Back in the van now an hour late for my appointment. We drive to another building quite far away and on arrival the man from the office points out all of the obvious things. 'You are late. You went to the wrong place. This is the place for the ladies. You need a black pen.' Wait, what? Why? Are they going to draw my fingerprints? I have only blue pens!!! Argh! Will this quest never be over?!
Yes, yes it will, a black pen is found, turns out it's for my signature which we could have done many times at the office. Brilliant. Then I go in for fingerprinting, with the ladies, I'm given another cheese counter number and I want to weep. We know what this means. Only this time I'm ushered straight in, there's no one there, I'm in and out in five minutes, quest complete! After that we went on some other mission to god knows where with a mysterious bit of paper, I think I have literally seen ALL of Doha today. Maybe that is also part of the RP process, a secret final test of sorts but damn it I didn't get my stamp!
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