So yesterday morning I started my day on quite a bright and bubbly note as I encountered or heard one funny story after the other. As soon as the clock struck 7 am I grabbed my bag and dashed down the corridor making my way to the laundry to pick up my lab coats. I was one of the first people to have arrived and hence when I stepped inside I greeted the Sudanese gentleman at the counter. ' Sabahal khair.....Good morning.".....In quite an excited tone he replied " Sabahan noor....Good morning..' There was a slight pause and then he said ' I love you" I found this statement to be most odd and naturally the facial expression on my face changed. As I got closer to the counter I then realized that the man greeted me whilst being in the middle of a telephonic conversation as well. The problem is that I just didn't notice the tiny ear piece that made its way down into his trouser pocket naturally connected to his mobile phone. I had this huge grin on my face and left the laundry building with inner giggles. Then I made my way home. But first I needed to pass by the compound guard to give him water and a few other goodies. He started relating a few funny stories that he had encountered over the past few days. Apparently a gentleman was caught entering the female compound whilst clad in a full abaya and niqaab. The poor soul passed the first security guard with flying colours but his shoes gave up the game. The second guard on duty caught him and naturally he was sent packing out of Saudi. Then there was a gentleman who has been fooling the guards for quite some time now by entering the female compound premises on numerous occasions. He wore the abaya and niqaab to perfection and completed the get up with a perfect pair of lady's high heel shoes. So how did he manage to get caught.Well, he and his girlfriend were trying to brew home made alcohol and in the process started up a small fire in the kitchen. The smoke detectors went off and voila the security guards arrived on the scene within minutes and he was caught. Naturally he was also given his marching orders. Then we have the case of the two Saudi employees who chose to shower their love and affection for each other at the back of my apartment building. A free 'Basic Instinct' show with unlimited seating lol. With the security cameras having picked up their 'odd' activities, naturally our compound guard was asked to investigate. They were so embroiled in their own 'lovey dovey' world that they didn't notice the guard approaching the car. He knocked at the window. Within seconds the girl jumped out of the car and put on her niqaab and abaya. As for her flame, he sped off from the compound premises faster than bugs bunny. I was laughing myself into stitches as I observed the scene from my lounge window. The girl started crying, then she opened up her handbag and removed money that she was desperately trying to give to the guard. Then she suggested that she will buy him clothes, perfumes and send his meals everyday provided that he does not report their activities. Of course he refused to accept her bribes and she was reported for her actions. In the afternoon I made my way back to the hospital and bumped into my colleagues who related to me a few other hilarious stories. The cameras apparently picked up two western nurses smooching in the ward and hence the executive on duty was asked to deal with the situation. As he was relating the story to me he was simply laughing and said that he had more serious issues to deal with than disciplining two people who are definitely in love....So he sat them down in his office, gave them each a cold glass of water and said....." Drink this and cool off.....Its great to love but please keep it out of the hospital premises." He is way too soft a human being to terminate or fire someone from their job. Then another colleague of mine related his hilarious story to me. He was waiting near the elevator to meet up with one his friends from another department. He noticed the lift going up and down and each time the door opened the same two people were in it. A male messenger and a female security guard. They chose to spend their private escapade in the elevator. So they simply went up and down until my colleague decided to step inside the lift. Both of them apparently froze to the point that the poor messenger did n't even recognize the first floor despite working on that floor everyday. My colleague apparently exited the lift with a huge smile on his face and a wink. Now in any other country or society, people would socialize in a mall or a restaurant. In Saudi Arabia, the hospital is the main center of socializing as it is an open environment where males and females are allowed to interact with each other. I have come across patients who have no medical issues at all and simply frequent the emergency department to interact with medical professionals of the opposite sex. Take note that for some Saudi males and females it is the first time that they have interacted with members of the opposite sex when they start working within a hospital environment. When you have young males and females that have been brought up in a repressed manner, " there will be high levels of love in the air and so anything can be expected." according to my Nigerian counterpart. Some friendly advise to the western expats out there, bear in mind that when you are coming to Saudi Arabia to work here, that you need to adhere and abide to the laws of the country in the same way that other nationalities would have to respect your country's laws and regulations.Before you choose to make a complete fool out of yourself in the public arena, remember that Big brother is watching!!!
