AN AFTER MIDNIGHT SAUNTER WITH A TWIST

(http://www.love-meter.net/love-pictures/love-wallpapers/?id=2 - picture)

A week ago I was returning home from the hospital in the early hours of the morning. As I walked down the long hospital main corridor I passed a few members of the nursing staff possibly on their way home for a much needed break, I encountered a member of the cleaning department who greeted me in a polite manner whilst merrily cleaning away and as I exited the hospital I encountered a few Saudi colleagues who were taking a small smoke break to calm their nerves down as they mentioned. I left them behind and continued strolling down the paved sidewalk. After a few minutes I realized that I was completely alone as there was not a soul around me to be seen. I stared up in the sky and ogled at the sight of the gorgeous moon in front of me. Whenever I stare at the moon I always think about my dad simply because whenever he looks at the moon he always recites a prayer in praise of the Almighty for creating the moon with such splendour and perfection. Whilst engrossed in the beauty of the moon I suddenly became startled at the screeching sound of a car that abruptly stopped near the entrance of the compound.It was a black caprice with black tinted windows. I heard the door opening and suddenly a western woman emerged from inside the car. She was hurling foul and abusive language at the top of her voice and then slammed the door behind her. Her abaya was open and underneath it she had adorned a tight,body fit black and silver short dress.When the compound guard heard her shouting and screaming, he naturally ran up to her to see if everything was alright. She then followed him to his small guard post. Suddenly, she decided to hug the guard.He was a bit shocked and moved away. Then she whispered something in his ears. The expression on his face suddenly changed and all I heard him saying was La La...NO NO...As I got closer to the two of them, he suddenly noticed me making my way to the compound. He came up to me to enquire about my health and if I required anything. I could not figure out why was the woman sitting in the guard post room. I thought that something must have transpired and may be she required help. So I asked him if everything was alright. He looked at me with a grin on his face and said in Arabic:"This lady is crazy. She asked me to kiss her and to accompany her to her apartment. Naturally I said no. But now she is refusing to go home.These western women are cheap and disrespectful".The compound security guard is a young, well groomed Saudi gentleman in his early twenties.He hails from a very respectable family as I was given an opportunity of meeting his parents. He respects me as a sisterly figure in his life and always comes to me if he requires assistance in his English language course that he has taken up part time.The compound guard accompanied me until the bench near the swimming pool. He then scampered off to get me some water.

So many thoughts ran through my mind. Middle Eastern people have always considered western women as being loose and immoral. Of course this is a pure generalization and can not be applied to everyone for in every society you get women who belong to both ends of the spectrum. On the other hand do you really blame the society for thinking in this manner if the few Western women you do encounter behave in this ludicrous manner. He returned with the water after a while and then we both heard the sound of car coming inside the compound. It was the head security guard on duty and his presence certainly caused the woman to leave the guard post cubicle.She scurried off down the road making her way home as fast as she possibly could and certainly left both of us watching with stitches of laughter............

Feeling a bit under the weather

Being in a hospital environment helping others is always a rewarding and fulfilling experience. It brings satisfaction and joy internally being able to assist another human being in need. For a medical professional like myself, working in a hospital is a feeling of achievement as I now realize that a childhood dream has finally materialized.It has become a reality.However, these feelings quickly diminish when the roles are reversed and you become a patient in the hospital you work at. For the past few weeks now I have been experiencing severe coughing to the point where my body now feels sore and fatigued. Yesterday morning I had an appointment with the physician for a thorough head to toe check up. Whilst he could find nothing wrong with me during my examination, he instructed me to have a few chest x-rays done. At the same time I asked for a full blood report to be done as well. When I went down to the X-Ray department, I was surrounded by many people young and old. Some of the them were simply accompanying their family member to the hospital. As I looked across the large waiting area I noticed an old man in a wheelchair accompanied by two young men. Three seats away from me there was a woman probably in her early thirties who had sprained her ankle. Whilst she did not seem to be in much physical pain,she was in anguish as her baby had been diagnosed with a rare medical condition.In front of me there was a mom who accompanied her three abnormal children.How difficult it must be for her to cope with her kids. She probably spends most of her time visiting the hospital.Whilst sitting in the waiting area, I couldn't help but feel the agony and the distress of those around me and a thought came to my mind. Sometimes, we as medical professionals become irritated with our patients. Patients complain about long waiting times or staff being rude to them when they asking a question repeatedly simply because they do not understand.When you on the other side of the fence, you quickly realize their sentiments and feel for them.I am still waiting for my blood results. Hopefully God willing all will be clear. May the Almighty grant one and all good health and provide complete cure to those who are ill! Ameen

The Hanafi method of Praying for women

One thing I have noticed whilst traveling throughout the Middle East especially Saudi Arabia is that Arabs in general are not familiar with the other Islamic schools of thought with regards to the method of perfo

rming prayers. A few weeks ago whilst in Makkah, mom and I were breaking our fast in the hotel masjid overlooking the grand mosque as I had developed a severe chest infection and coming into contact with millions of other people would have simply exacerbated the situation.Mom and I found ourselves surrounded by Khaleeji women from Bahrain, UAE, Oman, Qatar and of course the local inhabitants of the Kingdom.I actually enjoyed sitting in their company and learning more about their customs and traditions. They offered us Arabic coffee (Qahwa) and dates along with an assortment of sweets and chocolates. The annoying bit kicked in though,once we all stood up to perform our prayers. According to the Hanafi sect of Islam, the women prostrate in a different manner to the men.As soon as I went down into sajda (prostrated) I had a few Arab women trying to straighten my legs.The one woman was mumbling and grumbling telling me that my position is wrong. Another woman was trying to straighten my headscarf even though my head was fully covered and a third woman was pulling my arms. And because I'm quite a ticklish person I simply burst out laughing in my prayers. Naturally, I was a bit annoyed that they broke my prayer but at the same time I thought to myself that it was a perfect opportunity to educate them about the Hanafi school of Islam so that they do not repeat this ludicrous behaviour in the future when they see other Hanafi Muslim women praying.The video below illustrates the Hanafi method of praying for women.

RUDE BEHAVIOUR---DON'T MESS WITH ME!!!

( http://blue-skytransformation.com/WP/blog/2010/09/the-impact-of-rude-behavior-on-a-business/ - Picture)

So a few nights ago I had one of those "Do you know who my father is" type of patients.She was a a female in her late twenties and was more plastic than real if I might add..The type with tattooed eyebrows, botox lips, enhanced cheek bones and lets not forget the evident boob job. A friend of mine once said that plastic women would not decompose after death 

as their bodies are non biodegradable. I couldn't stop laughing at that remark. Nonetheless coming back to my patient, she came down to the pharmacy to collect her medication with absolute attitude. I couldn't help but wonder what kind of a home does she come from? Perhaps her family failed to instill values and good character into her. Perhaps her family are a mirror image of her.She came to the window and started snapping her fingers at me whilst banging her hands on the counter top.She failed to acknowledge that I smiled at her and greeted her. She started yelling in Arabic first and then in English,"Come on, make quick..hand over my medication. I don't have time to sit outside a pharmacy." At this point, I was speechless and flabbergasted at this woman's behaviour. I told her,"I am so sorry but I do not entertain rude people and I will not allow anyone to treat me in a disrespectful manner. I am not your slave and neither do I work for you. You require my help and expertise. I certainly do not need you.If you have a problem with me kindly go upstairs and speak to the night duty manager. He will send someone down to collect your medication. But I am certainly not dealing with you."...She left the pharmacy hurling out curses and insults at me along with using foul language.After a few minutes I got a call from the night duty manager who was equally perturbed by this patients behaviour. Being the kind person that he is, he sent down a messenger to collect the medication and also apologized on behalf of the woman's pathetic behaviour. It turns out that she was not even a VIP member of society. She was just the daughter of a wealthy businessman and hence in my opinion she made quite an ass of herself in front of so many highly qualified and educated individuals. What I have noticed in this part of the world is that all the "WANNABES" would display rude and shocking behaviour towards other people whilst those individuals who are VIP members of society would always come across as courteous, polite and kind. Many of them would even wait in a queue without shouting out "Do you know who I am or do you know who my father is"...