The Daily IIJ

It was shocking, annoying, and uniquely frustrating. This mixture of feelings somehow explains what happened during the oral admission test I had seven days ago. The purpose of this test is to attend an MA degree at the newly established ‘Higher’ Institute for Translation in Damascus, Syria. 

It is the 15th of September 2008, I wake up early getting ready for the upcoming test. My brother drives me to the big gate of HAMAC compounds, and I continue my way alone heading with enthusiasm towards my hidden destiny. At that moment, I did not know I can change what I want in moments, at least now I know. After making sure my name is listed, the secretary hands me a piece in Arabic language asking me to read it before I commence my Arabic test.

Success and False Expectations

Indeed, I read the piece thoroughly and headed to the test room. With every step, I had a strong feeling of anxiety and stomach pain. I am sitting in front of two gentle professors. The conversation is completely standard, and to live in this community is to forget all about ‘Arabic Standard’. Nevertheless, I can say, the test was a success. The examiners were highly appreciated for their understanding, smiling faces, and most important their respect to the examinees. I managed to end the first test in victory after I brainstormed fairly enough so that I could bring what I learned in Arabic grammar back to my temporary-response memory system. 

I did not expect the following test will be disaster compared with the former one. I was the last one; I thought, ‘Lucky me! They will be tired and lenient.’ For the first time ever, I was not afraid, my stomach pain was anesthetized and I became fearless. I was fully confident I would pass it easily and competently. Unfortunately, I did not have a chance to show neither my confidence nor my competence.

My First Impression

The candidates, especially those who are girls, were leaving the test room upset and annoyed wondering about the way they were treated inside. Apparently, there was some kind of mocking and sarcastic remarks by the examiners. In short, it was not an option for anyone to toot the horn of his/her own potentials. Despite all of that, I kept strong and confident, as I believe. I remained calm and my mind was fully present and ready for the fight.

After waiting for 70 minutes, it was finally my turn. I knock the door and enter in no doubt. Well, yes, they looked tired, but bored. It seemed as if they wanted to entertain themselves in any possible way after spending the whole day flouting. I see three men and one woman. The woman is the dean of the Institute, somehow I feel women in my country are convinced their rights are totally recognized as they ‘delusionaly’ take up leading positions, to some degree, at the state. The three men are ‘supposedly’ professors lecturing at the Institute and of course at the University. 

During the Fight

The first five minutes of my test were all about my origins. As I come from Homs, ten questions – more or less - were about the jokes and the rumors people spread on those who come from Homs. Because the dean comes from Homs as well, relevant questions were more and more. Although I felt some kind of mocking, I decided to see the end of this.

The next seven minutes were completely a waste of time. They wondered, or I may say, they were stunned as I am not familiar with the personality of ‘Sarah Pallin’ who is the Republican Party’s vice-presidential candidate, and who boosted up McCain’s ticket towards a successful political campaign. According to them, I should know her very well as my name is alike. Unluckily, I am not a big fan of politics, nor am I interested in a future political career.

Only five minutes were allocated to conduct the real test, which is a test in translation. Once I began interpreting, a man entered the room, sat next to one of the examiners, chatting and whispering. The examiners were reading and I was interpreting. With the fairly ‘broken’ accent of some, I was able to translate ‘hardly fluently.’ Along with the ‘chatting and whispering’ party, the thing that shocked me the most and made me have a soft-spoken fight with one of the fresh examiners, was when he laughed loudly as I translated a name of a place as a name of a person. No doubt such a ‘tremendous’ mistake is a taboo especially when listening to a very well incomprehensible English accent. I think there is no need to justify the scene as the aforesaid does so. 

Finally

I am done, I am really done. I finished the lovely test and went home. With every single step I had away from the gate of the Institute, I was taking larger strides and larger decisions. I felt sorry, sad, and disappointed as we reached such a phase where indifference and disrespect are the main prevailing actors playing their roles effectively under the flag of the absolute higher education system.