By Marium Saeed
A few signs that will identify you as a student at Education City. Original, we know.
1. Any mention of the “choo choo” train gives you chills
We’ve all had that one day where we’ve overslept and are hastily driving to class (this is before we had to use buses of course), when we suddenly come to a screeching halt because the choo choo train is basically moving slower than a snail. You anxiously wait as the minutes pass and you inch closer to facing the wrath of your professor for being late. Needless to say, I think we’re all happier now that the choo choo train has been retired. Hopefully, to Siberia.
2. You’re always eating Papa Johns Pizza
It’s not an exaggeration to say that Papa Johns is pretty much responsible for every student in EC gaining his or her Freshman Fifteen pounds. Whether you’re having pizza for lunch with friends or attending an event at university, it’s pretty much impossible to resist a piece (or two…or four) of that spicy chicken ranch pizza. And as we’ve all had to learn the hard way—from your lips straight to your hips.
3. “Wanna walk?” “Nah, it’s too far”
Education City is by no means the biggest campus to ever be built. Yet many of us can’t even stand the idea of walking from CMU to the Student Center without using the buses. But it’s easy to understand why someone would be reluctant to walk anywhere here. Let’s face it, burning off those Papa John’s calories are not worth the five minute walk in Doha’s 50 degree heat.
4. You know the difference between the yellow and green bus.
It’s taken you a few weeks to figure out the bus routes in and around Education City but you’ve finally cracked it! You can now get onto the green bus without crossing your fingers that it will take you back to QNCC. You’re finally in control of your own fate. Just yesterday you were one of those students who asked the bus drivers where they were going and knew exactly what they meant—successs!
5. On the other hand, you also may have no idea what the difference between yellow and green buses is.
If you fit into this category, don’t feel bad. You’re not alone. And on the bright side, the buses aren’t going anywhere anytime soon, so you have plenty of time to get the hang of the bus routes!
6. EC confessions serves up your daily dose of procrastination and entertainment.
Oh, don’t pretend you don’t know what “EC Confessions” is. We’ve all visited this Facebook page when we’ve had a paper due and felt like procrastinating. It’s everyone’s not-so-secret indulgence. As the sophomore communications student Mayar Hamdan so eloquently pointed out, the Facebook page has an extremely high entertainment value for many: “it’s like watching Kim Kardashian cry,” she said.
7. Construction has become a part of your daily life
People in Qatar think they’ve seen it all when it comes to construction projects. Well, they haven’t seen anything unless they’ve tried driving around EC. That’s all.
8. Trying to outsmart security to avoid parking at QNCC
We’ve all tried to get our cars past the security checkpoints to avoid parking all the way in QNCC. It makes sense that we’d go to such great lengths to not have to part with our cars, after all we’re not really into the whole walking thing are we? (Please refer to point number 3).
Although each individual university on campus has a distinct character of its own, there’s something about the EC community as a whole that makes it a unique place. These are just a few signs (or some might say quirks?) that students in EC share. It is by no means complete, but can definitely be a way to mark yourself as an EC student.