Since the accident, I have been trying to be more cautious and careful on the road. And so far, no more scrapes. The roads here are somewhat scary, with the roundabouts being the toughest to adapt to. It's hard to explain, but picture a circle with four exits extending from it. Cars in the roundabout have the right of way, but the cars outside of it trying to get in, don't. So it's kind of a game of give and take, sort of, where if and when there's a gap anywhere in traffic, you shoot out as fast as you can and try to merge with the traffic. Maybe I can take a video of it someday and post it here. You can't really get a feel for it, until you're driving. Even riding as a passenger, I didn't understand how perilous it was until I was behind the wheel. Maalish.

That being said, I am kind of beginning to enjoy driving around in my own vehicle. I am slowly but surely getting used to driving to and from school, within campus and within the vicinity of my compound. I like the freedom that it provides me - something that I had in fact, thought I didn't need. While I still feel like I'd take public transit if it existed here, I am finding the convenience of driving around, scarily convenient. Eeek...!

On a different note, I am finding that life in the compound to be very weird. It reeks of artificiality, yet it is very much my current life. Nothing about the place seems home-like (except for, maybe my bedroom where I can sort of tuck away in my own little world and forget what awaits outside). People are fine for the most part. Something that adds to the weirdness though, is having to work and live with your colleagues, which I have never experienced before. Some have been making a great effort at lying low and not being seen around much while others are conspicuous figures in the compound and campus. I am doing my best to strike a balance between the two but it's hard. The thought of being here for a year to three is daunting in moments like these...

A highlight amidst all this weirdness was discovering a little Thai restaurant somewhere in Doha called 'Thai Snack'. I will go again I'm sure. It was such a surprise to enter this place and see people of various nationalities stuffing their faces with pad thais, curries and soups. It had a distinctly Thai feel to the place, without the beach. I did feel a hint of nostalgia, remembering my time in Ban Phe way back when, but I digress. So yes, this was a great discovery and I will definitely go back.

Okay, that's it for now. More posts to come, inshallah.