"What is ma'adre chechi?", I asked my Indian colleague.
"Ma'adre? I don't know".
I got silent for a while and continued suctioning the tracheostomy tube of one of our patients. After closing the T-vent to hyperoxygenate the patient, I said again, "because I always hear that word. Ma'adre. I don't know what it means".
"It means I don't know"
I started laughing. "What? Ma'adre means I don't know? I thought you're saying you don't know what's the meaning of it!" Chechi Mini started laughing too, realizing why I asked her again.
I'm already nearing half a year here but I admit I am still ignorant to most Arabic words. Sometimes, I even ask the patients or the watchers and/or visitors if they can understand English.
On my first day at the hospital for my orientation and signing of contract, I already heard the words mafi mushkella and shukran many times. The first time I heard it was the only time it occured to me that I must learn their language. When I knew that I was hired already in this hospital, I have googled the place including the language, and I have learned that English is already a part of their daily language. Good, I said, I wouldn't have difficulty in communicating with my patients.
But my first day at the ward proven me wrong. While I was taking the vital signs of one of my patients, the daughter asked me, "kif dacht? Kif harara?" Of course, I answered in English, but she smiled and said, "mafi maloom englizi sister". I smiled also, but in my mind, what? What on earth is she talking about? Good thing, the patient's Indonesian watcher--who doesn't know and understand English as well--said that I am a new nurse here. As I remembered on our PDOS (Pre-departure Orientation Seminar), if you cannot understand what they are saying, look at their body language. The other daughter motioned that I write in her palm but I didn't know what to right. So you see, I really look like an idiot there. I don't know what to do. And on my fright and nai'vety, I wrote the whole vital signs of the patient in her hands, making all the five children laughing at me. Until now, I didn't know what they asked me to do during that time.
I actually bought a small English-Arabic dictionary a month or so before my departure but upon reading alien-like words, I stopped reading it, not to mention I am hooked to my V.C. Andrew's books as well. My colleagues at the hospital I have worked said that I will just learn the language if I would be interacting with Arabic-speaking people.
Our charge nurse assigned me someone who would orient me in the ward on my first day. And the good news is she is my fellow Bicolana! She's from Naga, studied in Manila and was married to Irigueno. Small world, huh? I kept asking her every single Arabic word that I can hear and she was patient enough to answer me. She said I don't have to force myself to learn the language that fast, three words per day is enough. There was also a small compilation of basic English to Arabic translations available in the ward.
One staff advised me that if someone is talking to me in Arabic, I should answer "Ana jadid, mafi maloom Arabi", which means I am new, I don't know how to speak in Arabic. True enough, when I am saying that to our patients or to anyone speaking in Arabic, others would try their best to speak the simplest Arabic term possible or will do sign language. But others will ask for "thani mommarida" (other nurse) to talk to them.
Because good and effective communication is an essential tool to being an effective nurse and to give quality patient care, day by day, I am trying to understand new words. I am often disappointed with myself if I am not able to understand my patient.
And to start, here are the few basic Arabic I have learned so far:
Arabic is like any other languages. Some words are hard to learn, others are easy. All we need is constant practice and before we knew it, we can easily communicate with our patients without the need of a mutarjim. Sa wa lala? :)
For those who are planning to go to Saudi, I hope I was able to help. To those who knows Arabic, I accept suggestions and corrections..:)
"Ma'adre? I don't know".
I got silent for a while and continued suctioning the tracheostomy tube of one of our patients. After closing the T-vent to hyperoxygenate the patient, I said again, "because I always hear that word. Ma'adre. I don't know what it means".
"It means I don't know"
I started laughing. "What? Ma'adre means I don't know? I thought you're saying you don't know what's the meaning of it!" Chechi Mini started laughing too, realizing why I asked her again.
I'm already nearing half a year here but I admit I am still ignorant to most Arabic words. Sometimes, I even ask the patients or the watchers and/or visitors if they can understand English.
On my first day at the hospital for my orientation and signing of contract, I already heard the words mafi mushkella and shukran many times. The first time I heard it was the only time it occured to me that I must learn their language. When I knew that I was hired already in this hospital, I have googled the place including the language, and I have learned that English is already a part of their daily language. Good, I said, I wouldn't have difficulty in communicating with my patients.
But my first day at the ward proven me wrong. While I was taking the vital signs of one of my patients, the daughter asked me, "kif dacht? Kif harara?" Of course, I answered in English, but she smiled and said, "mafi maloom englizi sister". I smiled also, but in my mind, what? What on earth is she talking about? Good thing, the patient's Indonesian watcher--who doesn't know and understand English as well--said that I am a new nurse here. As I remembered on our PDOS (Pre-departure Orientation Seminar), if you cannot understand what they are saying, look at their body language. The other daughter motioned that I write in her palm but I didn't know what to right. So you see, I really look like an idiot there. I don't know what to do. And on my fright and nai'vety, I wrote the whole vital signs of the patient in her hands, making all the five children laughing at me. Until now, I didn't know what they asked me to do during that time.
I actually bought a small English-Arabic dictionary a month or so before my departure but upon reading alien-like words, I stopped reading it, not to mention I am hooked to my V.C. Andrew's books as well. My colleagues at the hospital I have worked said that I will just learn the language if I would be interacting with Arabic-speaking people.
 |
| When I first arrived at the ward, this signage caught my attention. Of course, it is expected from us, I thought, but when the Filipino staff talked and welcomed me, they are all speaking in Tagalog! |
Our charge nurse assigned me someone who would orient me in the ward on my first day. And the good news is she is my fellow Bicolana! She's from Naga, studied in Manila and was married to Irigueno. Small world, huh? I kept asking her every single Arabic word that I can hear and she was patient enough to answer me. She said I don't have to force myself to learn the language that fast, three words per day is enough. There was also a small compilation of basic English to Arabic translations available in the ward.
One staff advised me that if someone is talking to me in Arabic, I should answer "Ana jadid, mafi maloom Arabi", which means I am new, I don't know how to speak in Arabic. True enough, when I am saying that to our patients or to anyone speaking in Arabic, others would try their best to speak the simplest Arabic term possible or will do sign language. But others will ask for "thani mommarida" (other nurse) to talk to them.
Because good and effective communication is an essential tool to being an effective nurse and to give quality patient care, day by day, I am trying to understand new words. I am often disappointed with myself if I am not able to understand my patient.
And to start, here are the few basic Arabic I have learned so far:
Arabic is like any other languages. Some words are hard to learn, others are easy. All we need is constant practice and before we knew it, we can easily communicate with our patients without the need of a mutarjim. Sa wa lala? :)
For those who are planning to go to Saudi, I hope I was able to help. To those who knows Arabic, I accept suggestions and corrections..:)
I want more po salamat sa help
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