VIP

As anyone here can attest, Dubai is all about VIP. There is "VIP" metro seating, VIP areas at every media event, VIP seating at any and every concert, VIP seating's at many many restaurants, and... as I am learning, VIP patient's. But that too can be hit or miss.

I was working a Saturday a few weeks ago, and right before  my lunch break (hmph), a doc runs up to me, looking all frenzied, saying he has a "VIP" patient that needs to be seen ASAP... and that he has "connections"  and a good referral source (what is it about people and their "connections?). Of course with VIP it always has to be NOW and URGENT. I was having one of those days where I had a totally packed schedule, was running late with pretty much everyone, didn't even have a second to go to the toilet, drink water, or even eat anything. Buuuuuut, darn it, I'm a sucker and made a little huff about starving myself, but I would see this local guy during my lunch break. Of course it happened that I did treat him and he was nothing else than an accountant. How is this VIP? Just kidding, I didn't know the extent of this accounting business, and whatever. I tried not to be disgruntled about it because again, I was just having a crazy crazy day and NEEDED some down time to just catch up on notes, breathe.... eat something. Now it's a few sessions later, I still don't see how he is VIP but he offered not only to take me to Milan to see a soccer game, but also he would buy me a TV because I was saying I am going to try and live without a TV (which I have done before and don't think it will be too hard). He on the other hand just could't believe it and said that when I get an apartment, just to tell him, and he will bring me whatever size and shape TV I want. In that case, VIP or not, I won't complain. Of course, will I really have him do either of those? Probably not, but it's fun to think about. :-)

The next "real" VIP came just a couple of days ago. I got a call that our Medical Director specifically asked me to treat this Sheikh that our building is named after. Wow. 1st of course I was flattered, 2nd was trying to fit him in my schedule with his via his assistant. I finagled something without too much hassle. The funny thing was before the admin said it was the wife of the sheikh (or should I say one of them), then it was the sister of the sheikh, then when I spoke to his assistant she said it was a HE and he's 20 years old. Well, whatever. So of course he came late (grrrr... I hate it when they come so late, it just throws everything off) and ... just looked like a kid, but in a silk gold-colored kandura (or dishash, known by the expats, the long cloats that locals wear). I admit I was a wee bit nervous and tried to be as professional and efficient as possible because again, he was late and I had a patient scheduled next. He was pretty normal and I kept the conversation going about the States because he's been there, he goes to an American University, etc. I mostly was giving him exercises to do at home, and was breezing them fairly quickly. When we finished, after I gave him my little speech about how important it is to do the home exercise program  (I wrote out all the explanations, how often, how much, etc), he waltzed away and I was left with the assistant to give the exercises to. Then came the fun part... we were walking out, and she kind of grabs my arm and tucks this small envelope in my lab coat (yes, we have to wear lab coats). I of course lasted about 2 seconds before I tried to sneak off and see what was it... and i was 1000 dh, which is the equivalent of $272 USD!!! Awwww yea!!! So then the assistant (he had gone by then) said that she is 100% sure he will NOT do the exercises and he NEEDS to come back again. I won't complain about that if I'm getting close to $300 each time! Just kidding (kinda). He does really need to do it and although it's a bit stressful finagling VIP's in, it really is good connections.
So that brings me to my next Lesson. For the uber rich locals, it really really is customary to tip for every service. An Emirate Airline worker I was treating says that whenever their is a Sheikh or someone of that caliber on board, they will give like $3000 to the crew and have them divide it up. Wow... do have all that money.

Lesson #18: It is customary to tip for any service if you are a sheikh or uber rich local. 

THEN, this is the same day I saw the Sheikh, I was treating a local girl that I had treated several times before. You could tell she was spoiled and was always talking about how many animals she has and about her horses, etc. I randomly just commented how I need to learn more about horseback riding because I'm getting some patients with injuries from it, like just today this patient with a shoulder dislocation. Then she's like "really? What's his name? Is he local?" And I said his name is the name on our building AND Rashed. And she's like, "that's my brother!" Eh? And then I did the, "your brother brother? Not like a cousin who you call a brother?" She said her brother brother. I was totally floored. I didn't even believe it, and we both went back and forth making sure it was the right person. The confusing thing is the name is different than what it should be, and here, because there is a lot of wives and inter-family marriages, it's hard to differentiate who's who and everyone's status. I actually preferred NOT knowing she too was a VIP because I felt a little different after she told me that, like more on guard and I guess professional (oops to the sessions before! hehe). But then on the other hand, I thought how different it was just her being female and him male and him wearing these special robes and having an assistant that travels after him, and she was just... like everyone else. After the session, then I noticed that she did have a fancy abaya (the cloak garb for woman).

Phew! That's my VIP connection! Maybe a TV, maybe a trip to Milan, $270 USD, and who knows what's next?!!? :-)