Naeem's Blog

Two incidents occurred in the past few days that highlight the unique nature of life in KSA.

First, I walked into one of our favorite bakeries to get some pita bread and biscuits. We've been going there on a regular basis for the past 4 years. My wife has made some large orders to take back to the US with her, so they know us well. But I guess not well enough:

Nice elderly man (as he's preparing my order): "So how many years has it been?"

Me: "Years since what?"

Nice man: "since you've been..."

Me: "Since I came last?? Yaar, I just came last week...I come almost every week!"

Nice man: "No, no...I mean how many years have you been working"

Me: "Huh? I've been here for 4 years working the entire time. What do you mean?"

Nice man: "I mean working for that Amriki lady. You know the lady who comes with you – how many years have you been driving for her?"

Me: "Oh bhai, I'm not her driver…that Amriki lady is my wife."

Nice man (turning as red as a brown-skinner can become): "Doh!"

Ahhh, the sweet benefits of being a Pakistani married to an Arab woman while living in the Gulf.

Then yesterday, we're at the hospital getting an ultrasound done on baby Ayah. Its no easy feat in holding down a crying baby to get the proper ultrasound pictures. My wife and the technician were positioning Ayah, while the ultrasound doctor was taking the images.

In the middle of all this, the doctor's cell phone rings and he proceeds to hold a casual 5 minute conversation with his friend. All the while, Ayah is lying on the examination bed, with her diaper off, crying to be held. And my wife couldn't pick her up because she had that ultrasound gel all over her waist and hips.

Once done with his conversation, the doctor simply turns and finishes the ultrasound, as if nothing had happened.

Oh well.

These types of interruptions are actually very common. I've sat in a doctor's room more than once and witnessed the doctor take phone calls in the middle of our conversation/examination.