Many of you already know that I left Tunis and moved to Dubai few weeks ago. And as all of you also know, moving is not an easy process, but to be honest, I didn’t really imagine it could reach a level of complication and stress that will make me suffer the way I did.

Each country has its own rules, its own laws, and it’s own unique way of making things really hard for those who come to live in it, and even those who are leaving it. It’s as if governments are competing on regional and international levels, in making things really really difficult for any individual stepping foot in or out their “territories”. But you’d think that, ok well, you’re Arab, living in one Arab country, leaving to another Arab country, so come on, how hard can it be? well trust me, it’s HARDER than you think it is.

If you’re anything but Arab, traveling around the Arab countries could never be easier, there are rules that you’ll still have to stick to that’s for sure, but things will go smooth and easy for you, making it an experience you wont forget. Now if you’re Arab, it will also be an unforgettable experience, but in a completely different way…

Paperwork required to enter a country, now that’s normal; paperwork required to leave a country, that’s also normal, but what’s not normal is the time your paperwork takes to get processed, and the fact that they NEVER tell you what the needed documents for your paperwork are, even when you ask; I guess it gives them a thrill to watch you go back and forth a zillion times in the rain, with a little child, with “pissed off” showing clearly on your forehead.

Eman: Sir, is that all I need to get signed? please, I’m running out of time, and as you can see I have a child, so I’d appreciate it if you could just tell me if there’s anything I still need to get!

“Sir”: Let me see (scans my papers), no, you just need to get …. and your file will be complete.

Eman: so that’s all, are you sure?

“Sir”: wanna come teach me how to do my job?

Next day:

Eman: here are the papers you asked for (with a happy content smile)

“Sir”: ok, now you need to go to …, get …, get it signed by … and come back to me here.

Eman: but didn’t you…

“Sir”: Next

Eman: (you &*&***@ bastard)

3 days later:

Eman: (please God let that be it) I hand over my file.

“Sir”: Ok, complete. Now your work here is done. You need to proceed in …

Eman: proceed what? I thought ….

“Sir”: Go to … and start your application there. NEXT.

Eman: ?! (speechless)

Needless to say that this conversation kept repeating itself everywhere I went to get my papers processed for leaving Tunisia, and even for getting the other papers processed for entering the UAE. What got on my nerves is the fact that I have no criminal records, I’ve been a good resident, and no one ever complained about me, and I was treated as if I’m some kind of worthless useless troublemaker, having to wait (with my son) in line with those who have criminal records, being shouted at just like those who are misbehaving, and that’s just not fair. People need to be treated with more dignity, if a person is good and is not crossing any lines then they should be treated with some respect! and this kind of mistreatment is not limited to a certain Arab country, this is common practice in most of the Arab countries regardless whether you were a citizen, a resident or even a visitor (of Arab origin).

Anyway, besides the long 2 months it took to get my passport renewed, and the extra month it took for my paperwork to get all done, it turned out legal paperwork is not the only thing I had to worry about, there were loads of other stuff that needed to be done, like notifying companies to stop certain services, and paying bills, and selling stuff, and buying stuff, and packing… blah blah blah.

The past few months have been, without a doubt, the craziest ever, yes worse than when I moved to Tunisia, because back then, I had my family to help me out, and no big responsibilities; but this time, I was all alone, with my dear little son who hated that period as well, and I had to do everything within a timetable, which was just too much. Not to mention the fact that I had no phone line or internet connection for a long while and that sucked big time.

It was just the the innocent stress-free smile of Adam that gave me the strength to hold on and kept reminding me of the excitement of starting a whole new stage of my life… a couple of hugs from him, a couple of childish naughtiness at the end of the day, managed to magically delete a stressful exhausting day and fill up my energy level to be prepared for yet another stressful exhausting day to come…