We took Naief's documents to the Health Center two weeks ago to get his birth certificate. Well, Hashim went to pick it up yesterday and guess what..... they misspelled his name. Needless to say, I wasn't surprised. I have come to realize that a lot of ppl here don't want to work and a lot of the others are idiots. Instead of spelling it the way we wanted, it was spelled Nayef, and since we do not want our baby's name spelled that way, the hubby took it back to the health center and requested a change in the spelling. This was two days ago.
This morning he gets a call from the health center to come there.... so off he goes. I guess after about 10 minutes, I get a phone call and it's Hashim. Seems their little office can't change the spelling of Naief's name... and you know why?!! Because they don't have the spelling we want in their freakin ass database!!!! And they can't do anything about it, we're hearing.
Hashim is on his way to Isa Town because that's where the CIO is and in order to possibly get it changed, he has to go thru that office to do so. And not only this, but the health center says they don't have the telephone number to the CIO's office because they say they have no dealings w/ that office. What a crock of shit!
I refuse to allow them to spell it Nayef. We don't want it spelled like that and if they spell it like that, it means that all of his other paperwork will be spelled like that, including his passports, and that isn't going to work!
I've never heard of such a ridiculous statement "our database doesn't have that spelling so we can't spell it like that". Doesn't anyone know how to CHANGE THE DATABASE????? What is wrong w/ this freakin country!??? What in the hell are these ppl doing and what good are they if they don't know how to add or update the database?! Can't anyone have any freakin individuality in this country???? So basically... when someone is born here and applies for a birth certificate, you get the spelling that some crackpot came up w/ and you should be happy for it! Don't expect or want something unique because it just ain't gonna happen.
This is REALLY pissing me off. I can't stand incompetence and this shows a total lack of ability on their part. Thankfully Hashim is handling this because I might be one to make a total fool of myself if I were there... because I don't think I'd be polite in the slightest of ways....
Update: The hubby went to see the CIO and what did they say?? They can't change it either and we can try going to the Ministry of Health.... because the procedure takes too long and they just can't do it. Hubby isn't going to go to the Ministry of Health... so... I guess what's left is going to the American Embassy and seeing if they'll allow us to get his passport w/ the spelling the way we want it instead of relying upon the birth certificate. Who knows... maybe they will. I know that my mom's name is different on her birth certificate compared to her other identification papers....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
15 comments:
I've been reading some of your posts lately, and to me you don't seem happy in Bahrain. I know your most probably homesick and u do lots of things differently in the states, but you should respect the country's culture and the way things are done (esp now that it's considered to be ur home). I live abroad as well, but not once have I decided to change the way things are just because I do things differently back home. Also, to me, you are just giving a bad name to Bahrain and make us all look stupid "a lot of ppl here don't want to work and a lot of the others are idiots"
But that's just my point of view.. :)
Anonymous,
speaking as an American who lives abroad as well (Japan, in case you don't already know me), I'd say Tooners is probably just "venting". I tend to spew a lot about things that irritate me here in Japan, but the fact is that I'm very much attached to my life here. It's just my way of helping me deal with it calmly...by venting out the negative feelings safely. I wouldn't be surprised if Tooners were doing the same thing.
If you're able to live abroad in total peace of mind all the time I really envy you. It shows very great strength of character.
Anonymous,
And I am a Brit who spent many years living in America, and even though I am back in my home country, I get very frustrated with it as well.
I often comment, "They wouldn't do it like this in the States" when dealing with certain situations.
Anyway, Tooners, obviously I feel your frustration. I can't believe it has to become such a big deal. Every database had to be added to at some point, so I just think someone is not willing to do their job. As usual.
Vent away, my dear, vent away :)
Anonymous..
Sadly she is just reporting the truth..and heh I must admit Bahraini "government" people aren't the easiest to deal with..too many papers to get stamped and certified to get anything done..i spent 3 days going from one place to another just to get a permission to train for a driving license..it was frustrating..and yea the name spelling..they keep on spelling my last name wrong..we write it "El-HIlo"..somehow they dont like that..so they keep on spelling it "Al-Helo"..it took us 2 years to convince them to change it (upon passport renewal) that was in Jordan though..so good luck with that ;)
I think this situation can be summed up in one word: dumb. No, make that two words; dumb and irritating. Good luck with the red tape bs.
OMG,
I would be totally ticked off!
That ISN'T HIS NAME!!!!
You know how much it hurts Mom that her birth certificate reads a different name. I would do all I could to MAKE them change it. It isn't fair.
Come home!
lol You sound like me only I am Bahraini living in the US. Sometimes ppl ask me really don't like it here, and I just respond 'why would you think that?" lol only I know why!! I like it here but nothing is like home.
About the name spelling, all I can say is girl welcome to the club. My whole family do not recognize nor go by the way our family name is spelled out in english. And I am talking about different everything not just a letter or 2!! But the CIO will not change it. You can get the spelling you want on your son's passport and he can use that spelling in the future with no problems. If someone asks, we just say its a translation thing. Work/University records etc usually accept that and go with the spelling we want. So if you cannot change it on his CPR, get the spelling you want on his passport.
dumb and irritating
Jane, isn't that THREE words? ;-)
What a strange story Tooners, but believable, as I have lived in a foreign country and red tape can be really irritating. Why not make up a brilliant birth certificate on the computer with fancy fonts and all! A stat. dec. could easily be written to say about the name spelling and a passport surely could do it correctly.
Don't sweat over it now, you are too busy singing songs to your little 'Naive' baby! Sorry, I couldn't help that one.
w.
Memo to anonymous.
Living in a different country does not mean losing your identity as a person. Also being able to vent your spleen occasionally and criticize is surely good for your health.
Okay, there's a time and a place.
I know that if we were currently living in Fiji where there is a military dictatorship, I would soon get into trouble with my loose words and be taken up to the barracks to strip down and do push-ups... and that ain't a pretty sight!
There's a compromise I guess - in accepting a new environment/cultural milieu gracefully, but without letting go of your real self and your principles.
w.
Annon,
"you are giving a bad name to Bahrain and make us all look stupid"
Isn't it true though? If you've never had to go to a government institute to get paper work done, count yourself lucky. Because the sad, inconvenient truth, is that most, and I repeat, most people that work there have no clue what they're doing. They're just there because the company has to hire Bahrainies, simple as that. As far as qualifications, they are null.
anon, to be perfectly honest, i don't respect the way things are done here... or some of the things. i have worked in the govt sector for the last 3 yrs, and sadly, the fact is that a LOT of bahrainis don't do their jobs and don't have any wanting to do things better. they can't be fired in the govt sector, no matter what, so many take total advantage of the situation/system. i find THAT to be disrespectful towards their country and for the place they're working. i'm not the only person who sees this. i know many bahrainis who feel the exact same way and even say more negative things than me. if i were living in the states, i'd make the same negative comments about things that i find to be wrong or done wrong. change doesn't happen unless ppl open their mouths and try to bring about change... and i believe bahrain could benefit from hearing ppl's opinions. change is a positive thing - most times - and i see nothing wrong w/ complaining about things that irritate me. actually, i think it to be quite healthy! so... i will continue to complain about things that bother me and i will continue to point out things that i find to be irritating. if you were living in the states and were complaining about things there, i would never tell you that you are disrespecting that country and that you should buckle down and not complain... hell, change happens when ppl complain.... nothing's wrong w/ having a voice. but you are entitled to have your own opinion. :)
change doesn't happen unless ppl open their mouths and try to bring about change..
Amen to that!
Let me remind you that the Anonymous person speaks for him or herself, and most certainly does not represent me or the rest of Bahrain. He or she is shortsighted and considers it better to burying heads in sand is the best way forward.
Good for him. Fools don't suffer insomnia.
Back to the topic at hand. I too got very frustrated with the CIO who took it upon themselves to force people to change the way they prefer to spell their names into a set "standard" they arbitrarily put in place, without getting back to the people. They spell names phonetically and force that on everyone.
I finally gave up the fight and tolerated my surname being spelt as "Yusuf" in the official documents, rather than the way I do spell it, which is "Yousif".
Live with it, spell it the way you want everywhere else, it doesn't really matter much, except for it being irritated. Over the years, I got to the decision that it's best to save my temper for other things.
You will always lose when fighting with morons!
I guess Mahmood beat me to it, but let me say it anyway :)
I spell my name Yousif...my official passport spelling is Yusuf (because the government says so) but my CPR and driving license both say Yousif!
SO...let the govt spell it whatever way it wants to spell Naeif..and you spell it your way ;)
FYI:
http://www.globalvoicesonline.org/2007/03/09/bahrain-bloggers-consider-starting-official-society/
(see the comment)
Post a Comment