Dentist
I went to a local dentist last week. Apparently I've been grinding my teeth at night.
The clinic is on Hadda Street, one of Sana'a's main streets and is quite a big clinic. My guy was actually an orthodontist - and a professor. His name was on stickers all over the place so it was probably his clinic, but there were a few other dentists also. It was busy but I didn't have to wait.
I go in and am met by a very pleasant, middle-aged man. There's a big corporate-looking desk and a sitting area on one side of the room. In the other, The Chair and where it all happens. I'd never seen a purple dentist's chair with matching purple cabinets before.
Anyway, Prof had spent some time in Malaysia, methinks on sabbatical at University Sains Malaysia in Penang. He liked it there.
"Malaysia is a good country."
He had two female assistants and that day his son was also there.
He gave me some meds after the first appointment but I went back after three days, still sore, and so he made me a night guard.
Before he started, he asked if I wanted to hear Malaysian music and went over to his laptop and put on a Siti Nurhaliza song!
So there I was, trying not to chuck up while we waited for the mould inside my mouth to set, listening to Siti Nurhaliza singing "...sayang, sayangku..."
I have to go back next week to pick up my night guard. When booking the appointment at reception, the lady put me down for the 11 o'clock slot. Good thing I wanted to practice my Arabic:
Me: "Nafs al waqt?" (The same time, as today?)
Lady: "No, 11 at night."
Me: "Laish?" (Why?)
Lady: "It's Ramadhan."
Which made me laugh. For two reasons: night becomes day and vice versa during Ramadhan in Yemen, and this is why I don't get to practice my Arabic - they like to speak in English!
Me: "Ah...shukran. Ma'asalama."
Lady: "You are welcome. Goodbye."
The clinic is on Hadda Street, one of Sana'a's main streets and is quite a big clinic. My guy was actually an orthodontist - and a professor. His name was on stickers all over the place so it was probably his clinic, but there were a few other dentists also. It was busy but I didn't have to wait.
I go in and am met by a very pleasant, middle-aged man. There's a big corporate-looking desk and a sitting area on one side of the room. In the other, The Chair and where it all happens. I'd never seen a purple dentist's chair with matching purple cabinets before.
Anyway, Prof had spent some time in Malaysia, methinks on sabbatical at University Sains Malaysia in Penang. He liked it there.
"Malaysia is a good country."
He had two female assistants and that day his son was also there.
He gave me some meds after the first appointment but I went back after three days, still sore, and so he made me a night guard.
Before he started, he asked if I wanted to hear Malaysian music and went over to his laptop and put on a Siti Nurhaliza song!
So there I was, trying not to chuck up while we waited for the mould inside my mouth to set, listening to Siti Nurhaliza singing "...sayang, sayangku..."
I have to go back next week to pick up my night guard. When booking the appointment at reception, the lady put me down for the 11 o'clock slot. Good thing I wanted to practice my Arabic:
Me: "Nafs al waqt?" (The same time, as today?)
Lady: "No, 11 at night."
Me: "Laish?" (Why?)
Lady: "It's Ramadhan."
Which made me laugh. For two reasons: night becomes day and vice versa during Ramadhan in Yemen, and this is why I don't get to practice my Arabic - they like to speak in English!
Me: "Ah...shukran. Ma'asalama."
Lady: "You are welcome. Goodbye."
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