Biography 42: Nearby cities

When we were living in Umluz (Saudi Arabia) we use to visit two other nearby cities, Yanbu and Alwaz (As far as I could remember the name), apart from Mocca and Madian. In Yanbu, there was an airport. Maybe international, that's why we had to go there. Because every year our parents visited Bangladesh, while they were in Saudi Arabia. The only thing I remember about the city that I'm waiting in a big hall in the airport. There weren't many people in that airport. The cleaners (Probably Bangladeshi) were cleaning/wiping the airport. One person started wiping the floor, when he is in the middle, another person started from the starting point. So, there is no chance become dirty.

The other city Alwaz was very interesting. It was a small city. The whole city is on a hill. (As my childhood memory said). When we go to the city, my dad drives up the hill. That was scary. Then we could see an open market. This city has a very good hospital. Many Bangladeshi doctors and nurses use to work here, including my mom's friends. We had visited their homes. In this city, my youngest sister Shekha gets born.

Government support

 Each country has a different policy to help the general people. Even each province or state has different policies too. Now the question is, how much these policies are available to the people.

Or we can ask, how many people actually know about these policies? The way they are published now, it seems, the government doesn't want you to know about these benefits. If anyhow you get to know about it, then you will be able to apply for it.

I think, government websites should have help or benefit sections, where these benefits will be mentioned clearly in categories. So, that whenever feel that you are in trouble, you can visit that page and find the right help for you.

Biography 41: 2nd home at Umluz

 I'm sure the reason wasn't the incident happens to me, my parents move to a better place. This was such an organized housing system. In a block, in the middle, there was a park with some beautiful stone-made path. It was small that we could see the road from the other side. The park was surrounded by wide roads. Then we had the houses. Our houses were divided into two buildings. The front building was taken by a Bangladeshi doctor's family. My parent took the one which was behind that building. We had a narrow path beside the first building to go to the next one. In middle, there were about 10 feet in distance. The whole area was covered with cement. In the end, we had a small space and a small portion of that part was open with soil. Both buildings were one-storey. We had stairs to go the roof. The houses were made of concrete. All the bricks were made of concrete. As we took the last building we have got a big balcony extra. The rooms were very well planned. In front of every room, we have an open space. The kitchen was big. We had two bathrooms, one was well decorated with modern fittings, another one was in the old style (Low commode). We had front and back doors. I'm explaining in detail because I had a dream, someday I will have such a house and I have so many memories in this house. Those will come to my next posts, insha'Allah. So, fasten your belt, my readers. We have a long journey to make.

It's a beautiful song

 Though the song is very common, you heard it everywhere, but still, I like it. I like it more than the original one.

Original cover of "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" by Frankie Valli. LYRICS: I love you, baby, and if it's quite all right I need you, baby, to warm these lonely nights I love you baby Trust in me when I say

Artist: 

Surf Mesa

Biography 40: New home in Umluz (Saudi Arabia)

 My dad and mom planned to settle in one place. People from Alkaseem, liked mom a lot. They wanted to bring my dad to that place. But my dad decided to live in town, not in the village. So, we moved to Umluz (Local people called it Umlez).

Umluz was a small city in Saudi Arabia (I heard now it became a big tourist city). The red sea is just beside the city. The water is crystal clear. The colour is blue. Later I have seen in the BCS guide book that The red sea's watercolour is red. No, I have seen it blue. Weather is better than Alkaseem. Has beautiful housing and a road system. 

My dad at the beginning used to live with other men in one house by sharing the rent. As he planned to bring us there, others moved away. When we went there we found an old one-storey building. Doors and windows are made of wood and the colour was green. In the middle of all rooms, there was an open space. A very small one. On one side of that space, there was some area that wasn't covered with concrete. Somebody planted red leaf vegetables (Laal shaak, in Bangla).

It was an old building, some part of it was broken. One day some part of the door or window comes out and it was placed in that open space. I use to walk or run around so I put my foot on it. I didn't know a big screw was there. That screw totally went inside my feet. My mom took it out, lots of blood comes out and she put a bandage on it. Still, I have a small black circle under my feet.

We didn't have any furniture over there. So, my mom decorated a window as a dressing table. She put a mirror and all her staff over there. This became my older sister Sharmin's favourite place. She uses to comb her hair many times in front of the mirror. Maybe that's why later she had the longest and thick black hair among all sisters. Her hair was about to touch her knees.

Ratings

 Rating became very important when you have too many competitors. Before we watch a movie, we check the rating. When we are buying furniture online, we check ratings.

In the same way, whenever you are taking for any services, they are asking you to rate. 

In most cases, I don't rate. Because I don't want to give anyone a negative rating. The service was that person's earning source, I just can't give any negative mark on it.

But I also didn't like the service. So, I'm not going to give good ratings. I can't give the wrong message to other customers, right?

For example, when I take a ride from Uber, I found some cars are clean, some not. Some drivers are very good with chatting with customers, some don't talk, some don't turn on AC, even in the heat-alert weather, some are driving rough, not maintaining road rules. What to say, I don't want to hurt any of them. It's their earning source.

Biography 39: travel experience on highways in Saudi Arabia

 Saudi Arabia mainly a desert area. You will see only sands everywhere with some hills and mountains. I have seen the Himalayan and Mountains in Canada. But Saudi Mountains are totally different. You will see only rocks, big hard rocks. Their colours are different. No sign of mud or soil or plants. All hills are build of solid rocks.

One day I was travelling with my mom and other local people. It was a pickup truck. As usual, we were travelling through a desert. I became thirsty. The driver stopped the car and went outside. Then from the back open area, he brought a bag of water. It is called by local people "mesok" (As far as I remember).  It was outside in the sun. But when I drink water from it, I could the water was cold. Then the driver put it inside the car. Later when I asked for water again, he gave it from the same bag. But this time the water became warm. I didn't like that at all. I wanted to ask him to put the bag outside again. but couldn't get the courage. Later mom said mesok water became cold by the air. 

Whenever my dad drove us to another city we had to drive through the desert for hours. Saudi Arabia is a big country. The tradition was, my mom always sits at the front with my little sister Shekha. I had the total space in the back seat. So, I always slept in the back seat during the journey. I was only 5/6 years old girl. So, I could easily fit on it.

In one journey to Madina (Probably) two Bangladeshi men also joined us. Maybe my dad was giving them a ride. On that day, I didn't have space to sleep. So I went back to the storage space and lay on our suitcase. Then I slept on the suitcase.

I like this song

 Released on: 2010-02-17

Composer: Arfin Rumey

Music Publisher: Laser Vision Limited

Author: Shafiq Tuhin (https://www.facebook.com/shafiq.tuhin.71)

Source: Youtube

Lyrics (In Bangla):

Chokh mellei dekhi tomake
Chokh bujhlei pai aaro kache (*2)

Aro beshi bhalobasha ami dite chaii
Joto bhalobasha prithibite achee

Bhalobashi boro bhalobashi,
Er beshi bhalobasha jayna,
O amar jaan pakhi moyna

Bhalobashi boro bhalobashi,
Er beshi bhalobasha jayna,
O amar jaan pakhi moyna.

Shurjer buke ache jotota alo,
Taro beshi tomake beshechi bhalo

Raat joto pore thaak adhar kaloy,
Alokito hote chai tomar alooy

Bhalobashi boro bhalobashi
Er beshi bhalobasha jayna
O amar pran pakhi moyna

Bhalobashi boro bhalobashi
Er beshi bhalobasha jayna
O amar jaan pakhi moyna

Ekti o polok ekaki tumi hina
Chena chena lage shobi ochena

Raat joto pore thaak adhar kaloy
Alokito hote chai tomar alooy

Bhalobashi boro Bhalobashi
Er beshi…

Source: Musixmatch

Biography 38: Taken help from a Bedouin family

One day we went to the beach. When we were returning home, it was already dark. My dad made a mistake, he put the car on the sand and our car gets stuck. My dad tried very hard but couldn't take out of the car. Then a Bedouin (Local people call them Badoo) family came to help us out. First, they took us to their tent area. 

One thing I must say, I have never seen any people afraid of strangers in Saudi. Generally, all people are very friendly and helpful. So, when a couple of men came to help and ask girls to go to their tent area, we felt relieved. We saw all girls and kids are in the tent. They give us a mattress to sit on and give welcome drink Gahwa (A black coffee but the colour is red and mixed with spices). Adults like it and I felt the taste is bitter so I didn't want it. They speak with my mom in the Arabic language, which I have no clue about. They tried to feed us too, but my mom stopped them somehow.

After some time my dad came and said, these guys helped us with the car. They give some advice to handle this kind of problem. For them, this is an everyday problem. We thanked them and came back home.

It was an amazing night. I have seen lots of stars in the sky. I have expended a beautiful time with very nice bedouin girls. 

 I don't have any road accident experience in Saudi Arabia. Then why I'm writing this post. Well, I heard from adults, and I wanted to put those memories over here.

In Saudi, I don't remember that I have seen any road speed sign. I was too little to look at. I don't remember even I had seen any speed limit sign in Bangladesh too. Anyway, in high ways, cars run like a bullet. Saudi people like to drive fast (Who doesn't). My mom said in an intersection she saw two cars touched slightly and then explode like a bomb. I assumed, because of speed.

My dad never experienced an accident. He was a good driver and he told us to alert on some major issues in Saudi high road.

1. Camels: They can come from know where (Maybe behind the bush or hill) and cross the road. It's a big mammal and your car will definitely destroy.

2. Sands: sometimes the wind blows sands and puts them on the road. As you are running too fast, this may cause trouble.

3. Sleep: in desert roads, you may feel sleepy often. You have to be careful always.

How to save yourself from heatstroke

 When I was studying in grade 10, my mom and dad went to Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj. In that year, the summer or autumn in Bangladesh was terrible. The temperature and humidity were too high that at home all my siblings got high fever. I have called our known doctor. Got medicine. I cooked for everyone. Every day I sponge everyone, In Bangladesh, we give water on the head during high fever. I did too with each and every one. I fed them. I cleaned the whole house. Did these make me tired? Yes, but I didn't fall in sick. Because I was following one thing.

Whenever you feel too much heat in your body, go to the bathroom and just take a shower. You don't have to put soap or shampoo every time. Do your regular bath once. Then if you feel too much heat. Go to the bathroom, take off your clothes, take a shower with room temperature water, wipe off your body and put your clothes on. It won't take much time but it will help you to keep your body temperature in good condition. Continue this as times as needed.

You will feel better. I make my son follow this. He doesn't like to take shower. But he agreed, this makes him feel better.

This is my tip to save yourself from heatstroke.

Biography 37: Dress up

 If you know me, you have seen I'm not a fashion concern person. Never I was. I like to wear new dresses and I like to wear comfortable dresses. I actually don't bother how I am looking with any dress. But I like people who are concern about their dresses.

In Alkaseem (Saudi Arabia) I wanted to wear different dresses. But my mom didn't give me that luxury. I had to wear the old dresses from my older sister. This situation continued until I became taller than her. So, what I did, I wanted to make changes to the dresses. Another reason was, every day I found that my dress became dirty. So, I thought if I wear more than one dress then every day I will just put off the front one and a new clean dress will come out.

So, I wear the longest dress first, then a longer one and at the end the shortest dress. So, all of my dresses are visible (New fashion) and also I can take off one at the end of the day.

But this didn't continue for a long time. Because adults use to laugh at me and make me felt ashamed.

City tour, when we were in the school

With our teacher Mithu apa, in the Boldha Garden

Enjoying lunch near the pond at Boldha Garden

With my best friend Masuma

In the Boldha garden

At the Buriganga Bridge

In the Lalbagh Kella

In the Lalbagh Kella

 I like to see different places. I wanted to travel to different places. But my parent didn't have that much time or didn't think this is important for me. During school (Matijhil Govt Girls High School) days, I was thinking about how to arrange a tour of the city so that I can see some places. I have discussed it with my best friend Masuma. Then, we thought if we could take a teacher with us to travel, parents won't have any problem with this tour.

On those days a new teacher came to our school from Khulna (A district of Bangladesh). We call her Mithu Apa. I have taken private tuition from her for Bangla grammar. I felt she likes me, so I have decided to ask her. She was new in the city so she agreed to go on this tour.

In the beginning, we decided to go, 4/5 girls. Then we realize if we can take more people then per head cost will be reduced. We also need cars to travel. So, if any girl can provide the car, we can give the gas cost and that can save the car rental cost. So, I have asked all girls in the class to join us. Many of them agreed and 2 girls ready to provide their parent's car.

As I told you the teacher was new in the city so she wanted some more guide for this tour. Masuma's mom agrees to go with us. Mithu APA asked, if any boys give trouble to any girl, what she will do. I steal remember Masuma's mom's reply, "How many teeth that boy has in his mouth?" Our teacher felt relief. She said, "you (Masuma's mom) have to come with us, then I will go with the girls". I must say, in those days, the city environment was much better. Nobody disturbed us.

The teacher and moms decided that our teacher will do the grocery shopping and she will cook the chicken biriyani for lunch. I can remember she cooks great. Biriyani was very tasty. We all enjoyed that in the Boldha garden. Where we took the lunch. When Mithu apa was serving food on our plate she asked me, "do you anything extra". I replied, I like potatoes. She gave me some extra potatoes.

We had visited Buriganga bridge (That was newly built) and Lalbagh Kella too. We also go the Ahsan Manjil, but due to construction work (To open to visitors), it was close.

Biography 36: My younger sister Sonia

 In Alkaseem (Saudi Arabia) we 4 use to live together. My mom, older sister, I and my younger sister Sonia. She was a very little girl, couldn't walk by herself. She uses to scroll all over the yard(In Bangla, Udhan) that's why all of her full pants were torn up at the knee.

When she gets born many neighbours came to see her. Mostly they give long cloth as a gift. In Saudi Arabia, there were a lot of flies. These flies always sit on food and also on kids' bodies. So, parents had to keep them covered with a long cloth. This was an important element to raise a kid in that desert area.

Sonia (My younger sister) didn't talk much when she was 1 year old. My mom thought this kid will take extra time to learn to speak.

She uses to scroll to the clinic and drink Vitamin syrups which were at the bottom selves, at her reach. My mom felt embarrassed but everyone liked this kid so much, no one ever tries to stop her.

Her hair was a little curly, light brown and she became very skinny. So, everybody thought she was a Saudi girl. As I told you before we were living in a desert area. The weather was very dry. Sonia uses to drink bottles of water. If it finishes, she cried out loud. But didn't want to let go of the bottle to refill with water. As she uses to drink a lot of water, so she didn't want to eat food. As a result, she became skinny soon.

One day my dad came to visit us. He was living in another city in Saudi Arabia. He performed Hajj first, then came to visit us. You know, after performing Hajj, men bold their heads, so he did too. When he arrived Sonia was on my mom's lap. A coloured bold man took her and smile, she got scared. She cried out loud. I have never seen her cried this loudly before. Mom took her back and went inside. She looked back over mom's shoulder and saw that guy is coming inside too. She shouted louder again.

Next year again dad came. This time he brought a lot of toys with him. He gave Sonia those toys first then came close to her. Those bribes worked. The second time, she didn't cry.

Test rides

Yes, it's test rides, not a test drive. Due to my current situation, I am using Uber to ride. Every time I call, a different brand of the car appears. I am checking which car is conformation, running great etc. I liked Honda CRV, Nissan rough because of comfort. The Uber driving informs me that Nissan doesn't take much gas. So, It's economic too. I have ridden on Mercedes, Toyota and Ram. I like Ram's smooth ride. 

When I was a kid in Saudi Arabia, I thought someday I will buy a truck like Ram 1500. Now a day I am trying to avoid the car, which consumes more gas. Though I still like trucks.

Biography 35: Simoom

Simoom is a storm that only happens in the desert.

In Alakaseem (Saudi Arabia) I have faced simoom a couple of times. One day I was playing on the veranda. Suddenly the wind started to blow very fast and moving around me like a tornado and my visibility became zero. I couldn't see anything but sand. I put my hand on my face to save my eyes and nose. Within 2/3 seconds suddenly everything stopped.  I saw the entire area around me covered with sands. My mom run from the clinic and came to me in this storm. She asked, are you OK. I said yes. She checked me and left. This is the only time, I have seen my mom worried about me. Later somehow I proved myself too tough that nobody ever worries about me.

Another day I and my older sister were coming back from school. We were walking through an open space. Suddenly the wind became mad, like a tornado and we could only see sand. We even couldn't see our hands. We felt the wind will blow us away. We scared. We found a wooden pillar near the field and hold it that the wind cannot take us away. After few seconds all stopped like nothing happened. My older sister said "we were scared for nothing. Look, the wind couldn't take away any small stones. How could it take away our bodies?" Hmm, I thought she was right.

Solar eclipse

 From Ontario, we suppose to see the solar eclipse today from 5.30 am to 5.48 am. Shafeen made a pinhole projector to watch the eclipse. He took help from the Youtube video where NASA trained how to make this projector.

We set alarm at 5.00 am and I woke up. Pulled Shafeen out from the bed and both get ready. My apartment is at the corner of the northwest side. So, there is no way I can watch the solar eclipse from home. We went out at 5.15 am and start walking towards the east. The best we could found is a big school ground, which has a little bumped-up area. We stood there, but still, at the end of the ground, there were big trees. So, we couldn't see the solar eclipse. We have waited till 5.48 am. But the sun started showing up from the trees at 5.50 am. So, with a broken heart, we had to come back. Maybe it was good for our eyes.

While we were waiting there, a teenage girl also came to the ground to view the eclipse. She said she was trying to watch from her home, then came here, but the trees are blocking the view.

I wish I knew someone who lives in those big apartments which are faced at the east side.

Biography 34: Madrasa

 In Saudi Arabia, people called Madrasa to the school. I and my older sister got visa to Saudi Arabia because my mom had got a government job. But we couldn't join to local madrasa as we were not the citizen. There could be other reasons, but this is what I know.

But Alkaseem was a small area and everybody knew my mom. So, the ameer (Mayor) give us permission to sit in school, as a guest.

I have some memories of this school. I and my sister used to sit in the same class. We didn't get any uniform (Government gives to the students). 

I have learned so many small sura (From the Quran) from this school. Later I forget many of them but when I had started learning again, I could remember them.

Our teachers were from Egypt. I guess mostly. They speak Arabic in the class. I didn't understand them, but we could manage with the sign.

It was a girl's school. Their uniform was maxi. 

Whenever any girl felt upset, she uses to put her head on the desk and cover her face with her arms. And the teacher always goes to the girl and asks what happen and tries to solve her problem. I felt I should try this. One day I put my head on the desk and the next moment the teacher put her hand on my head and ask what happen. I felt shame, I shouldn't do this, I smiled and said, "Nothing". Well, we understood each other's language and the teacher left. I never did this again.

The girls in the class used to fight regularly and then make a complaint to the teacher. They use to lie a lot. But my older sister already proved that she doesn't lie. So, whenever anything happened, our teacher uses to ask my older sister (I told you, everybody loves her).

One day when I went outside the class, a girl threw water on me from the water fountain. She was trying to bully me. I felt so upset, my tears come out. But I don't know enough language to explain it to the teacher, but that girl gave her own version of the story. The teacher looked at me with an angry face but didn't do anything. That broke my heart more.

the girls use to come to the school in a truck, it looked like a military truck. I wanted to ride on that too. but never get that chance. We use to walk back home.

In the drawing class, the teacher showed on the board how to draw fruits and vegetables. After that, she cut different coloured papers with the shape of the fruits and vegetables and give them to the students. They glued it on their drawings. I wanted those papers too. But as we were not the actual students, we can't have anything from the school. At home, I have asked my mom to bring those papers for me. She had taken me to the stores and asked me, "Show me those papers, I will buy for you." I wasn't that big to search in the store and find the right thing for me. I never had those colour papers. Later when my son couldn't get anything from anywhere I tried to buy for him. That made him so happy and confident like if you don't give me the thing, my mom will bring it. After coming to Canada, life became so expensive. No matter I much I want, I can't buy all things for my son that he liked to have.

Doctors

 In my immediate family, we have 4 doctors. My 2 sisters and their husbands are doctors. But still, I don't like doctors. I can't say this to their face. Because I need their help. 

I don't know why in my tests no problem found. This happened in both Bangladesh and Canada. When I become ill too much, that I can't stand on my foot. I go the hospital, and then they found nothing. After getting a painkiller and one-night observation I return. This happens many times with me in both countries. I don't know what is the reason. They just told me, they didn't find any problem in my body.

I'm maintaining a healthy life. I never smoked or take a hard drink. I stopped drinking soft drinks, ice cream and sugar. Well, there is some exception on these three items but mostly I follow. I do stretching every day (Again, I try to do it every day).

For many years, I didn't visit any doctor because didn't get sick. Now I'm sick of doctors and tests.

Now a day most of the time. I just can't work. Why? Is it my mental problem? Oh, Allah! I'm trying hard to fix everything with and around me. And I will keep trying. As long as I can. It may be a tiny bit every day, but I will keep trying. Unless I became totally mad.

Biography 33: Oasis

 One day we were invited to visit an oasis / Date tree garden in Alkaseem (Saudi Arabia). When we entered the garden, we felt a very nice, cold, green area. The soil looks like desert soil, but date trees are planted well by 10/10 feet gaps. in between, they have cut a drain to flow water. We touched the water, it was surprisingly cold (Especially in the desert area). Because of tree branches, the whole area was coved with shades and some little gap to enter the sunlight. I could hear the chirpings of the birds. it was amazing. 

Some of the visitor's drunk water from that clay drain. They said it was cold and tasty. My mom said the way fruits grown here, the soil must be very fertile. Even in small trees dates grown. Some of them have too many dates that the tree can't stand still because of the weight.

Became a fan

Became a fan of this Bangladeshi music group. "Jilapi".

Biography 32: Baakhit

 In Alkaseem (Saudi Arabia) we lived in an extension of a clinic. It was at the end of the clinic. After our rooms, there was a high clay-made wall. We knew that was the house of a doctor from the clinic. His name was Baakhit. He came from Sudan or any other country, he was black. According to his culture, kids uses to call him by his name. His colleagues asked him to teach his kids to call him DAD/Abu (In Arabic). He had a couple of kids. Whenever anything needed at home his kids use to sit on the wall/roof and called him. We could see them and hear them clearly from our room.

The kids first started calling him by saying "Abu!". He didn't answer, maybe he wanted all to listen that his kids aren't calling him by his name. After a couple of times calling "Abu," they directly call, "Baakhit!". Whenever they called "Baakhit" he always replied immediately. He didn't want anyone to listen to this. :)

When we went to visit his house, we saw a clay-made two storied house. There were a couple of kids in the house. Some of them are teenagers, the rest were kids. In the front open area (In Bangla, uthan) there is a bed (In Bangla, choki). His wife was sitting on it. She welcomes us with a big smile. They were very nice and caring to us. She asked her older kids to bring food for us. Her children took very good care of the guests. When we left she said goodbye from that bed. She was overweighted. Someone told me, no one saw her walking or standing. She was always staying in bed.

The way I heard, I felt she is lazy, as she doesn't move, she became overweight. But now I'm thinking, maybe she has some medical condition, that's why she was in bed always.

Physiotherapy

 Last year my mom started going to the physiotherapy center. During Pandemic I have told her to do stretching at home. So, she doesn't need to go there, it is safe and also will save her money. But she doesn't want to listen to me, she never did. What can I do? I can only give suggestions, except for my son I don't force anyone to listen to me. Even I let go of my son if he comes up with good logic.

Today I went to the physiotherapy center. Because of the car accident. I have some pain in my neck. They put electric flow and heat on that area. They also put Tape on it. I really felt well. I think, if I complete all the sessions, my pain will go permanently. Now I understand why mom chooses to go the physiotherapy.

Biography 32: Black people

 Before I start talking, I must inform you that I'm writing about my very childhood stories. I don't know, what is the current situation now.

One day my mom had to go far away for her work. Her office gave her a car with a driver to pick and drop. As she may stay the whole day she took her kids with her. So, I got a chance to visit that place. I could remember that we drove with the main driveway for a long time. then on the left side of the road, we turn to a rough road. Then came to a village. I moment I reach there I could feel that the village is different. Hear houses are made of clay. Roofs are made of date dry leaves. Everywhere I could feel a calm environment. People were living there happily, but they are poor. And all of them are black. This was totally new for me.

Later my mom told me (I don't weather that is true or she just assumed), These people were caught and bring as a slave. Now there is no slavery, but still, elite people don't want to mix with them. So, their village is outside of the main village and separated.

I didn't have any idea how black or white people treated in this world. But I liked their separated village. If they can live peacefully separately, then why not. Who wants trouble in their life?