Thank god, I’m finally in Yemen [Archives:2005/869/Opinion]
By Hakim Almasmari
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Going into the 21st century while being born and raised in the western part of the world, I thought life has reached its pinnacle. Many changes happen so quickly. Time is the treasure that many cherish.
The movement of life reached the extreme.
In this on going situation, an opportunity for visiting my home country was running through my mind. Friends and family members continuously mention the great climate and environment of Yemen, which made me, only love it more. I decided that I needed a change and a chance to experience this country from within. I agreed to visit Yemen, for the first time.
I had this weird happy feeling that ran throughout my body and would not stop. I prepared and packed one month prior to the trip.
My ticket was booked two weeks in advance. The wait for the trip was not a good experience. Hours were like days and days like months, so anxious to see family members and the rich culture that hides within Yemen. I wanted to experience the country of Saba and the great Damn of Marib, to see the developments that my country had reached. Reading history books about Yemen made me even more enthusiastic and excited.
I arrived around midnight, walking threw the isle at Sana'a International Airport, seeing people smiling from joy awaiting to see their loved ones. That feeling alone had me flying so high, only I could bring myself down.
I left the airport, and went on a taxi asking for a ride to the nearest hotel in the heart of the city. On our way to the hotel, I started talking to the driver and expressing to him the great feelings I had. Suddenly, I heard a bang, as if we hit something. I asked the driver so nervously “What was that”. He replied in a normal tone, “Ooh, don't worry, it was only a dog in my way, and I hit it by accident”. I froze and felt so surprised at what happened. I looked threw the rear window and saw the poor dog lying dead in the middle of the road being stomped by cars continuously. I tried to forget what happened. I said to my self ” Let me roll down the window and smell the fresh breeze of Sana'a “. Just seconds later, I started coughing and disgusted at the bad smell that came threw the window. I asked the driver “what's that disgusting smell?”. He replied, “Aah, that's just our sewer system, it's been under construction for almost a decade, it's not ready yet”.
I virtually froze for a couple of minutes, I felt sad and sorry that I even thought of coming to Yemen in the first place.
Look at the world, the countries around us, to which extent they have reached in developments. How far behind are we? Simple essentials of life are not even available in this country, even after the 21st century. That's over 2000 years that have passed! Many doors could have been used to allow further improvement.
I am not trying to exaggerate, but this is how I really felt when I came to Yemen for the first time. I asked myself was this the country of the great Kingdom of Saba. The country that passed through numerous golden era's throughout time. Historians mention that Hamdan, a suburb to the capital Sana'a, was so rich and fruitful, that if you walked under its gardens with a basket on top of your head, when leaving the garden, the basket would be full of fruits which fell from the trees above you. Go walk in Hamdan know, and all you'll see is bullets falling instead of fruits.
The great Damn of Marib was the greatest accomplishment of its time, and showed to the world that Yemen was the most civilized country of that time. Well, look at it know, that's if you could avoid the mosquitoes and flying insects that surround the whole area.
The power to unify two countries into one in 1990, in such a time where global tensions were on the rise, was a landmark victory not to be forgotten. The unity was the greatest success in this region since decades. It showed a sign of forwardness and that a bright future lays ahead of us. But as we know, some signs fade away very fast.
In short, we are melting in the world of modernization and advanced technology. We cannot allow ourselves to be so far behind from the world that surrounds us. We have to build in ourselves the feelings that our ancestors had throughout time, and proved it threw the many accomplishments and successes that tallied one after the other.
How bright will our future be? Do you think it will be better? Looking the current situation, and the slim development plans that we are preparing for in the near future, I don't think so, but I really hope I am wrong.
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[archive-e:869-v:13-y:2005-d:2005-08-18-p:opinion]
