Now I’m annoyed…

I have now passed the 3 month mark since leaving the land of Oz. If feels like it went quick but it also feels like it dragged. That might be because I’m still looking at the end point, the finish line of when we can go home. I’m hoping that will change before too long…

Since being here I have had to make changes and accept a different lifestyle. Don’t get me wrong, I have enjoyed most of it – the key word there being ‘most’.

The biggest thing here that I doubt I will ever get used to is censorship. I find it both restrictive and ridiculous. Yes, I do realise that I come from a very liberal country and yes, this is a Muslim country with different values, but come on!

I can just feel the perplexed looks coming through the computer screen.

Here is one example that for some reason really annoyed me today. Coming home from the department store, the local radio station – Hi FM – was playing a Robbie Williams song. I don’t know the name of it (I rarely do) but I know it has something to do with bodies… Anyway, a line in the song is “All we’ve ever wanted it to look good naked” (I see some of you recognise it and are saying the song title at the computer screen). Well, that is what song would sound like if it were unedited. Apparently saying that you want to look good naked is not halal here. The song was edited to remove the offending word – naked – and edited so badly! Instead of just putting a bleep over it (as MP – My Partner – suggested), they chopped the song so that the beat was all out of whack and it sounded like the CD was jumping.

And don’t get me started on the TV shows! Nothing and I mean nothing, is as it was meant to be. Everything has been edited from putting a ‘silence’ over swear words to shortening kissing scenes or just removing entire storylines from movies (for those who know the movie “Love Actually”, the storyline with Judy and Jack the fill-in actors is completely removed). I even watched an episode of “The Gilmore Girls” recently, only to find it heavily edited!

Oh I lie, you could probably watch kids shows and they wouldn’t be censored.

Okay, this next bits – for any lads out there who may be reading this – I must warn you that it is about girly things. Yes, that’s right, you have been warned! Are you man enough to continue reading??

I don’t know the exact reasoning behind this next issue that I have, MP suggested a few but I don’t think I’ll air them here.

I went to the supermarket to purchase girly products, namely tampons. MP took me to the more expensive supermarket thinking there’d be a wider range for me to choose from (this was my first venture into this area in the Middle East, my stocks I’d brought over had been depleted). I found the aisle I needed and began my search… And search… And search… Oh there were miles and miles of ‘nappy’ looking packages, all very colourful, but no tampons. I started to freak out – no way was I reverting! Then to my relief, I found some! Some, I repeat. I found 1 brand only, with 3 options – light, medium, heavy – and all with a delightful applicator. What have I gotten myself into!

See lads, I told you this was the girly section!

Can somebody please explain to me why tampons are so very taboo! It is a natural (and unfortunate) part of being a female. If I have to deal with it, like a vast majority of the populace on earth, then I’m going to endeavour to make it as easy as possible. So, does anyone want to send me a care package from Oz??

I could go on about the censorship here – certain book genres to banned movies – but I won’t. Clothing on the other hand, is not censored at all – go figure.

So, I’m annoyed. And I’m sure that I’ll be annoyed for some time to come. I don’t know if this is something I will ever get used to or accept.