For a foreigner living in the exotic hybrid of tourist paradise and Islamic state that is the Maldives, it can be a sometimes tough, occasionally exotic, yet never-boring life as an expat.
But the last few weeks have been particularly odd, with the world seemingly coming to an end amidst the build up to an imminent world war of ideologies.
The emerging conflict I speak of is the growing cultural divide between us, accelerated by ‘nutjobs’ both Islamic and non-Islamic, with sanity – as usual – caught in the middle.
And yet with all the drama triggered by the acerbic comments of the Florida-based pastor, Terry Jones, who recently proposed a ‘Burn a Quran Day’ in his 40 person Gainesville church, there appears to be an unlikely middle ground at the Ameenee Magu offices of the Male’ Water and Sewerage Company.
After all, the potential threat of a global religious war and its resulting nuclear holocaust can only go some way in recreating the monthly spectre of having to waste a lunchtime queuing up to pay a utility bill in the nation’s capital.
But it is in these moments, hunched among Maldivian strangers, that you begin to gleam some hope for society. Awaiting the sight of your ticket number flashing up on the screen – still a hundred or so people away – so one can pay their dues for the privilege of coffee and hot showers, an unlikely solidarity seems to form.
As a distinctly non-Maldivian looking chap amongst a very alien local populace, I was surprised to find myself not excluded from being passed old tickets from my fellow lingerers in a modest attempt to speed up one’s own personal waiting hell.
Between muffled and confusingly pronounced “fank yous” and “shukiriyams”, everyone is soon passing tickets on to one another – whether black, white or anything in between – with a growing sense of ceremony and desire to beat the system. It is about as much fun as you can have paying 500 rufiyaa of your own money over a counter.
Sure, it may not be a significant blow for world peace, but for my fellow queue buddies in the line on Monday afternoon (September 13, 2010) – thank you, it was a hoot, and I look forward to passing on the tickets again next month.
So some advice for Terry Jones and the violent Islamic protestors: whether Maldivian, American or just a pasty white redhead, before giving up in despair at the state of the world, go pay your utility bills and get some faith in your fellow man. It’s what the Male’ Water and Sewerage Company would want.
Neil Merrett is a Maldives-based British writer and journalist and most definitely not an employee of the Male’ Water and Sewerage Company.
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Many expats who come to Maldives are frustrated with the way things happen here. You can be lucky that your fore parents have made your country what it is today for you. I am privileged to be part of the process to make my country a better place. Probably for us as for your fore parents it is a slow painful process.
It is refreshing when an expat sees something positive and can relate to other fellow beings (the group must have been a mixture of different nationalities)and also cross the boundaries of religion and culture. It helps to pass on the message.
It is great to know that at least some people can appreciate in a very cloudy and difficult times. This is positivism and this keep going in difficult and impossible time. It is very slow and mostly difficult "dilemma" time for us Maldivians. However like some or few of us are very sure to continue to see the progress not matter how hard it is and such words are like honey to our ears. So Thank you very much and we all need to be positive and bring good for the future...
Such a nice change,something good about humanity to read for once.
And yes it might be just a queue but it shows that we human beings are able to live in harmony looking past the barriers of race and nationality.
I used to like going to pay the bills in Male. I have also been involved in the ticket swap game while paying for bills and going to the bank. I think I double benefited because I am a woman and normally have a little toddler at my side. He provide everyone with entertainment during long lines with his chit chat and I got tickets to move me up in line. lol I have since discovered that I could have paid on Hulemale the whole time! Oh well. It was fun while it lasted. Oh and as an American I can tell you that the Florida Pastor no more represented America than a suicide bomber represents Islam. He is a nut job. You can tell by his funny looking mustache. Come on! Who still wears a handle bar mustache anymore. he he