Here is a story of the week courtesy of Stacy Harris:
Last night we headed out at 7pm to have dinner with Rich and Stacy and then meet up with others from school to go watch Qatars soccer team play in a World Cup Qualifying game. But we got off to a rough start as we headed to the restaurant. I won't even try to explain the logistics of what happened but we were in a round-a-bout and ALMOST got in an accident with a Qatari woman in another car. She was in the wrong but thankfully just before impact both Rich (who was driving our car) and the woman slammed on their brakes. After about 2 seconds of looking at each other and waiting for the other to just move - we proceed on our way. Only to quickly realize that she did not make her turn and was now following us. How did we know?! Because she was blaring her horn over and over and flashing her lights. We drove on hoping she'd either give up or we'd lose her. Decided not to pull into the restaurant until she was gone. But unfortunately we got to a red light with her still behind us. Next thing we know this petite woman in full black robes with only her eyes showing is stomping up to our car. The rest of us are quickly reminding Rich not to aggravate her or antagonize her or argue with her. During orientation we'd been warned many times that if an accident occurs, especially with a Qatari, remain calm and unargumentative and that the law more often sides with a Qatari whether or not they were in the wrong. Should you upset them or the police anymore than they are they can come down on you much harder than necessary.
So Rich gets the window 1/2 way down and she's right there - hitting the window with her open palm. Yelling at him in Arabic - we understand the words "stop" and "accident". Rich is telling her he doesn't understand her and that there was no accident but she keeps hitting the window yelling about stopping and accident. The rest of us are telling Rich to just stop talking (however calm he was) and apologize. Which he does. Then, of course, she uses the words "call cop". Instantly there was a rock in the pit of all our stomachs. So Rich just tells her we'll make the turn and park - hoping she understands. We pull into a parking lot, she pulls in behind us. We just sit in the car. We can see her walking around her car on the phone. The waiting was agony! We of course are discussing how nothing happened, what could she possibly say to the police that would get us in trouble. After about 10 minutes I recall that in orientation they told us that if we're ever in an accident to call Mohammed (a man who's worked for the school since it began and speaks arabic). None of us had his number so we called the woman from HR who coordinated all of our moves and is really awesome. She didn't answer. I only have like 10 numbers on my phone and one of them was the Director of the school. Everyone was quick to say "CALL HIM". The high school was having parent orientation and I caught him in the middle of it. ugh - but he was his usual kind, calm, understanding self. He said he'd try and get a hold of Mohammed and asked where were we. I didn't give the exact location cuz I thought he'd call back - just the name of the restaurant we were going to across the street. So we sit another long 20 minutes until a van drives up and a man in white robes comes over to our car with the woman. We didn't know who he was - didn't look like a cop but you never know, and Rich. asked if he was her husband but we think he said no. Anyway, he was very calm and listened as Rich explained the situation - sometimes getting louder and a little worked up. Jenny and I kept quietly whispering to him to stay calm, remain submissive. Mark was turned around in his seat not able to watch cuz he had to bite his tongue.
Finally the man said, "Go". Hmm? That easily? We asked if we should stay for the cops - he said "No cops, Go". Sure? "Go". We could see on his face that he clearly saw that there was nothing we'd done wrong. No cops - should have guessed. Right when R. was backing out - the Director calls - I explained about the man and was it really safe to leave. He said if the man said go - then we can go. Phew. Unfortunately, the Director had come all the way down himself and was across the street at the restaurant I'd mentioned. Couldn't find us. Felt so bad!!! He's really great. The HR director called at the same time and also said we could go.
So we were a bit rattled but still went out for dinner. Thank goodness that Jenny has this amazing ability to be incredibly upbeat and positive and always have us laughing. We were at Johnny Rockets - in full American atmosphere (YAY!) eating greasy burgers, fries and chocolate shakes and that rock in our stomachs gradually went away.
