change

When maam is going for vacation Lilibeth is showing me how to read the news on internet. When I am getting little time now I am reading this. It is little bit change for me but I like it. Because it is like reading newspaper but I get news from some other country also. 

Anyway I am reading that in Saudi there is a new rule. That if any man is change hair style to any funny hair style then he can be arrested. Really. I am thinking that if these boys want to do funny hair then they already have punishment. That they are looking funny and everyone will laugh. That is the punishment. No need for more punishment.

I am laughing little bit at this news because it is so silly. but I also feel sad he is not allow to change hair style how he is wanting. Then I am thinking that at least he is allow to show his hair. If he was woman he would have to cover his hair. Even in Dubai the local girl have to do hijab and cover hair but it is not so strict like in Saudi. In Saudi everyone even if you are not local is having to cover hair and full body.

Like that Saudi girl in the olympics. She is doing judo. She is having to wear a swim cap to cover her hair because it is not allow to show hair. And it is not allow in judo in olympic to wear hijab. It is first time she is doing judo in big competition like this. Other wise she is only fighting with her brother. And brother is always winning. This girl is so important because she is first Saudi girl to go in olympics.

She is staying only one minute or something in the fight. She is losing fight just like she is losing fight with her brother at home. She is not winning any medal but everyone is clapping when she is losing. Why? Because she is winning the biggest fight of all. The fight for change. I hope many more girl from Saudi is able to take part in olympics next time. 

Better than the best

This old friend of Sara is coming to stay for one week. From London. Her mother and father is not coming. They are going for vacation somewhere and leave this girl in Dubai in our house. I am not liking this girl. Her name is Sophie. I think even Sara is now not liking Sophie. I tell you why.

If Sara play the piano Sophie say I can play better than Sara. If Sara do swimming Sophie say I can swim better than Sophie. All the time better better better. If Sara is reading a book she say I read this book 3 years ago. Sara says Sophie this is new book how you can read it 3 years ago? Her school is better her car is better her house is better. Everything is better. Maam is also getting little bit irritate with this girl but she is not saying anything.

But past few days lot of things are happening. First Sophie is pinching Sara. Because Sara says she is not wanting to watch some show on tv. Because Sophie wants to watch another show which is better. Pinching with her nails. Sara is not saying anything to maam. but maam see the nail mark on her hand. Sara tell her what happen. Maam say nothing she just put some first aid cream on it and tell Sara she is so sorry. But I know maam is very upset. She tell me Sally it is better if you or I keep eye on Sophie while she is here. 

Then maam is seeing Sophie try to poke Rayan with her nail. Now she see it her own eyes. She say Sophie if you cannot keep your hand to your self you will have to go to your room. Sophie say oh I was only tickling Rayan because he is so cute. Maam say I see the marks on Saras hand Sophie it is better if you keep your hands to yourself. I am surprise maam is so cool and calm. If I was maam and Sophie was doing all this in my house I would slap her face.

Then the next thing is happening. Rayan is finishing making this big lego thing. Ninjago. He love Ninjago. He is spending 3 or 4 days to make this thing. Like this big car thing. Maybe 300 or something piece of lego. Sophie is saying let me see. She is picking it up and throwing it on the floor. All the pieces are falling out. Rayan is starting to cry. Sara say Sophie dont do that it is not fair. Sophie say its only stupid lego he can make it again. I can make it in 5 minutes. 

Rayan tells maam. Maam say Sophie that was not nice. he had spent a lot of time on this. Sophie say I am not throwing it. It just fell from my hand. She is lying. I see how she is throwing it. Maam is looking at all 3 of them. She is getting really upset but still she is quiet. 

She tell Sara and Sophie to go watch TV. Then we help Rayan make it again. After some time we hear Sophie talk to Sara. She say what is big deal? It is only lego. I can make bigger and better lego. He took so long to make it. I can make it in one hour. Your mother hates me. she is always saying dont do this dont do that. my mother never tells me anything she is the best mother.

Maam is now really irritated. She tells me Sally this child needs to be taught a lesson. I am tired of this nonsense. But she is not doing anything. It is like she is waiting. like a lion waits to catch its food.

She is not having to wait for lot of time. When Sara is playing piano again Sophie says Sara you practice so much and you are still making so many mistakes. I dont know how you get this big trophy. I never get any trophy but I can play better than this. 

Maam is reach boiling now. She say Sally I need to end this now. She tell Sophie can you please play the piano for us. Lets see how well you play. Sophie say oh I used to learn but now I dont have a teacher because there is no teacher where I live. Even I know there has to be a piano teacher in London. Maam starts laughing. Sara is also smiling. Rayan also is laughing. Sophie stamp her leg and go upstairs.

I have never seen maam being mean to any child. Lot of children come to the house and they have lot of fun. Maam never tell them anything. Not even to pick up toys or anything. She always say children have to have fun. But this time it is different. She has had enough of this better better better best best best. She has become mean for this mean child. But only for one minute. Now she tell Sara go tell your friend to come down for ice cream.

Sara does not want to go talk to Sophie. But she is good girl. She is not mean to her friend even if her friend is mean to her. And I know why. Sara does not need to be mean because she knows her mother will be there for her. Sophie comes down for ice cream. She eats one bite. She says Sara I dont know how you can pick this ice cream flavour. I pick better flavours. Sara and maam start laughing. Even I start laughing. Maam says so sorry Sophie this is the only flavour we have. Sophie eats all the ice cream.

Sophie have to go back to London yesterday. She is so excited. When her mother come to pick her up she tell everyone that they have tickets for olympics. Best seats. Sophie is showing off to Sara and Rayan. I am going to Olympics I am going to Olympics.

Her mother stay and talk to maam for little time. She say to maam why are you living in this place? It is so hot. It is so dusty. The schools are bad. The weather is bad. You cannot even eat in public. You could be living anywhere. London chicago New York singapore. Anywhere is better than living in Dubai. London is the best. Come live in London. Maam just smiles.

Then she say something really good. I try to remember. She say there will always be some place better. someone better. something better. It does not matter. you dont always have to be the best. as long as you do your best. I want to clap for maam. It is like she is getting the gold medal in the mommy olympics.

After Sophie and her mother go maam say to children lets go buy some new lego. and we can go in the best car and have some best ice cream at the best mall in the world. They all laugh. And I know why maam is better than the best mother in the world. 

will power

Ramadan is going on here in Dubai. Means all Muslim people have to do fasting. Means you cannot eat in public place. Even if you are not Muslim. Really. If you eat in public you can get fined. One time I am going to mall in Ramadan and I am forgetting to spit my chewing gum. Mall security is tell me to spit out otherwise I get fine. I am so scared I am quickly spitting it. But it is better over here in Dubai. In Saudi if they catch you eating in public you are deported. Really. Thats what I am reading in paper.

During Ramadan time a lot of restaurant is closed in the day. Or if they are open the restaurant have black curtain. So you cannot see a person eating. Children are allowed to eat but I think now Sara is not allowed because she is become big girl. You cannot eat in public because if you eat the person who is fasting will also want to eat. And they are not able to eat. So it is not fair for them if you eat in front of them. That is why the rule is like this.

Lot of office places are closing at 3 in the afternoon. Maam is not like to drive at this time. She tell Sir also not to drive at this time. But even in the evening it is not safe for driving. It is not safe until it is time for the iftar. That is when they do break the fast and can eat. Maam say Sally people are so hungry they are rushing to go home to break the fast. It is better not to drive at this time.

I tell her maam if I have not eaten full day even I will be running home to eat. Maam smile and say Sally you will never be in that situation because you cannot go full day without eating. I do not know if maam is making fun of me or she is angry with me because I like to eat.

Few years ago maam is going to Egypt during Ramadan. She tell me this story yesterday. It is so hot. The guide man who is taking them to see everything is fasting. And maam and children and sir do not know that he is fasting. In Egypt they are not having this rule of not eating in public. I am not knowing this. I think everywhere the rule is same but maam say no Sally in Egypt you can eat and drink in public. So maam and sir and children are eating and drinking in front of this man. It is so hot that they are full day drinking water. Rayan is saying more water more water. Maam and Sara are saying more water. Sir is buying more water. And full day this man is fasting. Only at the end of the day he tell maam that he is fasting. 

Maam say she is feeling so bad for him but she cannot change the day. She is not knowing he is fasting or she would not keep saying it is so hot she is so thirsty. She say that this man is passing the biggest test of his faith. He was able to fast even when he sees other people eating and drinking. Even when he hears other people say how hot it is and how thirsty they are feeling. Because he was able to give up his thirst and hunger but not give up. Maam then say this man has so much will power because he has such strong faith.

I have become little fat after coming to work here. I wish I could also do little bit fasting. like dieting. but I am not strong like this guide man. When I see food I have to eat it. I feel so hungry when I see someone else eating food. If I am hot I have to drink water. Maam say Sally it is all about will power. If you have will power to do something you can do it. Then she say something that make me angry. She say Sally when it comes to food you have no will power.

How she can say this I am not knowing. She has never had to give anything up. How can she tell me about will power? Maam does not know anything about my life. After my father is leaving my family we are so poor. We are just happy if we are getting food to eat. I have to have will power because I have to give my brothers and sisters the food from my plate. I have to have will power because I have to leave my family to become ofw. so I can earn more money. So my family does not need will power to give the food on their plate to someone else. Maam does not understand. I have to have will power because I have no other power to help my family.

All these people who are fasting also have so much will power. Their faith will power them for their fast. and their life. Ramadan Kareem.