Most people enjoy living in a country with order. Being able to predict what comes next provides comfort and security all members of a society need and benefit from. People like knowing they can safely drive through a green light at an intersection without worrying about being broadsided by a car running through a red. A well-planned and organised society allows its members to not only live in security, but also to thrive in an efficient environment.
While living in the US, I was able to enjoy a highly organised system where very few surprises occur. My transition from the States to the Emirates was made easier because I had moved from one progressive society to another. But what I liked more about the Emirati system is its greater capacity to be flexible, trusting and humane.
Dealing with law enforcement was a prime example of this.
I had recently arrived in the US when I was pulled over by the police. When asked for my driver's licence, I tried to explain my circumstance as a newly arrived foreign student and presented the officer with an Emirati driver's licence. All the officer could see and hear was I did not have an American licence and proceeded to ticket me instantly. No matter how hard I tried to elaborate on my situation, he stood stone-faced and said: "You can't drive with that licence."
I found myself in a similar situation soon after returning to the UAE.
Now with a US licence and without an Emirati one, I again explained my circumstance of having just arrived. This time, the officer replied as if he was more man than machine - he let me off with a warning and even welcomed me back to the country.
This suppleness of structure is also evident in the UAE's private sector.
The US had got me accustomed to "money first, product and service last" transactions. So I was surprised when, after realising I had forgotten my wallet, a shopkeeper told me I could take the item and come back to pay later. I had never met this employee in my life and he was willing to trust I would return.
Another example was a car cleaner in a mall car park. Trying to save time, I opted to take advantage of his services. When I returned to my gleaming car, all that was left of him was his phone number on a piece of paper. He had trusted I would call him, and risked losing Dh25, most likely not a measly sum to him.
Once, a mechanic let me drive off with my vehicle so I could withdraw the Dh2,500 I owed him for repairing my car.
As the UAE continues to develop, it should make sure it doesn't sacrifice the more humane and personal elements of society, such as these acts of faith, which create trust and cohesiveness among its people.
Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
The biog
Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi
Age: 23
How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them
Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need
Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman
Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs
Word of advice: By being patient, good things will come and by staying positive you’ll have the will to continue to love what you're doing
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
Result:
1. Cecilie Hatteland (NOR) atop Alex - 31.46 seconds
2. Anna Gorbacheva (RUS) atop Curt 13 - 31.82 seconds
3. Georgia Tame (GBR) atop Cash Up - 32.81 seconds
4. Sheikha Latifa bint Ahmed Al Maktoum (UAE) atop Peanuts de Beaufour - 35.85 seconds
5. Miriam Schneider (GER) atop Benur du Romet - 37.53 seconds
6. Annika Sande (NOR) atop For Cash 2 - 31.42 seconds (4 penalties)