My weekends, much like yours are precious. Each work week is intense and extremely demanding. Aside from leading the educational components and dealing with personnel requests, this past week I had seven scheduled parent meetings, one true medical emergency complete with a 911 call, 7 paramedics, and two ambulances. Wednesday as we finishing off our week, we celebrated our first theme day called “Red Day”. At our morning assembly looking at all the little darlings dressed in red, one teacher commented, “Look at the sea of red. Oh I guess we could call it the Red Sea!” They were very cute in their party dresses, red shoes, handbags, headgear, t-shirts and even red trousers. Wednesday was the precursor to my weekend.
Wednesday morning I went with the driver to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to get Glenn’s visa papers. I was very excited to be getting this important and necessary document as we are working within a time frame. Hajj (an important Muslim holiday) occurs November 11th and all government offices will close for the week. We need the visa before Hajj.
The office was an interesting old one story building. I noticed in each department ancient one piece solid marble counters spanning the across the room. The counter was like a Lego design where some parts were elevated over others. Those marble countertops do not move! The atmosphere was sombre, it was not well lit, and there were old chairs everywhere. With all those mismatched chairs, I thought I was in for a very long day. I was directed to go to the “Women’s section” without my interpreter. Instantly my first affirmation and prayer started. “I can do this, I can do this.”
After one worker looked into the room and saw three women, he told us to sit down, left the room and closed the door behind him. “I will wait, I can do this.” Another man returned about 10 minutes later and it is not uncommon here that people jump the order of service. The last woman in, was the first woman served as she reached the counter first.
When it was my turn, the man looked at my documents and said, “Sister, you must get these degrees translated in Arabic, get the application stamped and go to the bank and pay SR2000.” Hence my Thursday adventure was set.
Thankfully, the translation office was open on Thursday. I called at 8:30 and they said yes they would be waiting for me. The translator would be available at 10:00. Great I thought, as doing anything here takes a long time. If I leave at 9:00 I might get there by 10:00.
Part way to the translator’s office my driver and vehicle changed. Whisked off one bus, into another I repeat, “No problem, keep smiling because today I will get the documents I need.”
We arrive at Nader Office at 11:00. We are told to wait for a little while – people always tell me “Wait about 10 minutes.” One hour later we are invited into the elaborately decorated office. Sitting in a tan high backed leather chair, I quickly realize something is not quite right. The elderly man behind the desk speaks very little English, and I now know I am not speaking to the same man I talked with at 8:30. A few more phone calls and I realize we are at a law office not a translator’s office! We have been offered tea and coffee so it is far too rude to jet out of there. We sit and enjoy our coffee, make small talk and then politely excuse ourselves.
Unfortunately the man who set up my Thursday appointment, gave me the phone number for AGS’ translator, and the address for their lawyer’s office. Just another example of the language barrier and how twisted things can become because each person believes they understand what the other person is saying.
Repeating another affirmation, “There is still time, there is still time,” helps me as we make our way on the busy streets to the next office. Of course the translator is not there but we are invited to come in and sit. We are told he should be arriving in about, yes, 10 minutes.
When Mohammed arrives he asks what took me so long to get to his office. I sheepishly tell him we were at the Nader lawyer’s office instead of his office. Being the gracious man that he is, he tells me no problem. When I am informed that my documents should be ready on Saturday, another mantra begins. “I am not leaving this office today without my translated documents; I am not leaving this office today without my translated documents.”
‘The Madame’ who translate the documents is in yet another office and presently unavailable. Mohammed continuously tries to reach her to tell her these documents are most urgent. Finally at 1:30 he is able to reach her and she speaks to me via Skype. She is most apologetic and says she will do my documents immediately. Halleluiah!!!
While we have really done nothing all day, we are exhausted and hungry. As we waited for ‘The Madame’ to translate and email the documents back to Mohammed, we step out for a bite to eat. Bravely I order chicken and rice from a sidewalk cafe. The man cooking and serving the chicken assured me he was not related to “Osama Bin Laden”. You can see by his dress he is from Pakistan. This is a common communication to Expats in Jeddah. It is said with a smile on their face; however, I think they clearly want to be known as an Pakistani.
Arriving back at the office at 3:00, the documents were ready. Although Mohammed refused me offering to buy him lunch, I left a tip for him. He had worked one hour past his regular shift to accommodate my request for my four documents. He kept telling me in his heart he felt like I was a good person and wanted to help me. He was so sweet and genuine with his Indian accent and ways.
As I struggle with the slow pace of business in Saudi Arabia, I remember back to when I was studying my Masters degree. My favourite Canadian affirmation then was, “I have just the right amount of time to get everything done.” I must incorporate that affirmation again here in SA. Adding a prayer, I expect Glenn will be here at the end of November.
