why is it so hard for you to ask for forgiveness when you made a mistake? why do you work around things instead of work through them? why do you talk sweetly instead of saying “sorry”? why do you serve me foods instead of saying “sorry”. why do you take a deep breath instead of saying “sorry”? what’s so hard about saying it, anyway?
do you notice that you get hungry more often when you’re home than when you’re working? do you realize that you are more sensitive to hunger or thirst when you’re not busy? do you respond to signs of hunger or thirst more quickly because you’re not doing anything, anyway?
i do. that’s why i’m fatter. i have frequent coffee breaks. and no one scolds me for this.
coffee cup
a japanese acquaintance told me that japanese don’t usually eat when they’re at home. reason? when you don’t do anything so physical or so mental, you don’t burn much calories, so, you have almost zero rights to consume them. you can have water though!
OUCH!
all were set. it’s a wedding gift from my dear friend (and her hubby). i was excited to experience this even when i was still in japan. hubby told me it can be very challenging. though i’m a little scared, i thought, i’d give it a try, i’m gonna be with him anyway. and it would be a shame not to try it when i’m already here. it’s the pride of every desert. yes. i am talking about the desert safari adventure.
i was looking forward to see some camels and some nice views. it turned out to be a rather extremely wild rollercoaster ride. it was positively wild at the start. we were shrieking and laughing in excitement each time we climbed up and went down the sand dunes. the first few minutes, i was thrilled and i felt safe. later, i got scared. i was anticipating a fall and turn over. but of course, it didn’t happen. the driver was very skillful and he kept reassuring us about our safety in his hands. so, i decided to just enjoy the ride, to just experience the thrill fully, although i sometimes closed my eyes (to lessen the fear). i relaxed. smiled. held hubby’s hands. enjoyed the beautiful desert scenery and every bit of feeling i had inside.
contrary to what i’ve decided to think, my body started to feel sick. i got so weak. i locked myself with seatbelt and sat like “i don’t care, i’m fainting.” hubby thought i was okay because i was smiling(lips were red with lollypops). but i was too weak to even say a word. liquids started to climb up my mouth – sour, salty and bitter. i was gonna throw up. i knew it. but the sound of the driver telling us we’ve almost reached the camp made me feel better. it felt like the longest “almost” in my entire life when it’s only 10 minutes. i really thought i was gonna faint. almost!
the sight of the camp, the camel, the sunset, the bbq, the feeling of fresh air made me feel good again.
so, there. i was alive again.
we rested. ate sweets. rode the camel. visited the comfort room. had henna. ate again. got entertained by a whirling dervish dancer (who spinned like a machine for like 20 minutes). tried the dance myself (got dizzy after 5 seconds). got entertained by a belly dancer. star gazed. went home. safe and sound.
butterfly and scorpion
me tryin the whirling dervish dance
thanks grace and M for the gift!
p.s. i ‘m dizzy until now. it’s been 2 days.
dear honey,
i left the comforts of japan to get myself tied to you. i knew it was a big decision.
i left my family to be with you. i’m jobless. not earning a single fil and yet, i don’t regret a thing. i am happy. of course. because i know i have you. and we’re okay. and nothing else should matter.
i was never this happy.
i love you.
went to hubby’s old flat (where he shared with some indians). i had a conversation with his indian friend named zen.
zen: are you and k related to each other by blood?
me: no. why? do we look almost the same? (a lot of friends told us so)
zen: no. not that. i just asked.
on our way home, i told hubby about this. and he explained that the question was to verify whether we are relatives, not because we look the same in some ways, but because a lot of the Muslims do practice that – having fixed marriages with relatives (cousins, uncles and the like).
oh! and i never thought these things are still in practice.
well, let me just say, i can not imagine sleeping with my uncle or cousin. but they certainly have their own way of doing things. and i am in no position to question this except that i believe the girl should be given the chance to decide.
and another thing, i refused to understand why your own family(usually father and brother) could kill you if you don’t follow them or if they suspect you are attracted to someone other than the one you married by their choice (a Pakistani told me all about this). OMG!
more info here(forced to marry my uncle):
to get here (UAE), i was given a temporary entry permit (i.e. temporary visa). to be able to stay here longer, i need to get the actual visa. to get the actual visa, i need to submit a medical certificate (blood test and x-ray results) and some related papers and pay some amount. to get the medical certificate, i need a health card. to get the health card, i need the following above all else:
(1) hubby’s health card – expired, need to renew
(2) accommodation agreement (real estate) under hubby’s name – under the company’s name, need to … (i don’t know)
an officer from hubby’s company is tasked to assist us in doing all these. however, his ways are crooked. we went to get my medical certificate even without the above 2 things. what he said? “try to ask if they could give the certificate to you, without the requirements.”
won’t this obviously give us a negative result? anyone can foretell.
why don’t we instead, renew hubby’s health card first and find a way to get the accommodation agreement or its substitute?
we went to get my medical certificate and as he instructed, i asked the officer to release my medical certificate even without the necessary papers. what happened of course is what i expected!
you won’t get what you want if you don’t provide what’s necessary.
he complained, “they asked for a lot of papers!”
is it not what they are there for? to make sure we follow rules and give what they need before we take what we want?
any layman understands that he needs documents to get a very important document. at least, this was what i thought, until…
