Noor Salam Kadhim from Iraq works as a dentist at Maryina Horka Central District Hospital. The girl fell in love with Belarusian cuisine and dreams of marrying a Belarusian. But she also encountered stereotypes. "Sign me up for any doctor, just not this 'black' one," one patient demanded.
"I received my secondary education in Jordan and went to Germany. But I didn't like it there. I returned after a couple of weeks. I studied for two years to be a clothing design engineer, realizing it wasn't for me. I went to Minsk to join my sister. I entered BSMU because I used to joke as a child: I'll be a dentist. I liked it so much at the doctor's when I went to correct my bite," she tells "Minskaya Prauda".
The girl graduated from the Medical University in 2020 and completed her residency. She was assigned to Maryina Horka. Her first year of work was the most difficult in her life.
"I initially worked as a therapeutic dentist in the public department. I was used to people speaking Russian in the capital. But in Maryina Horka, grandmothers at the reception spoke to me in Belarusian! An elderly patient comes in with a complaint: 'My tooth is aching and shooting.' I look at the nurse questioningly: 'Maybe it's a disease I don't know about?' She smiles: 'They're explaining that the pain is sometimes aching, sometimes shooting.' So, the grandmothers taught me a little Belarusian," laughs the young doctor.
Noor speaks Russian well. But she continues to study the language with a teacher to speak without an accent.
Less than a year passed before Noor was transferred to a paid office.
The girl specializes in root canal treatment. All her appointments are booked until February.
The doctor receives many good reviews. But she also encountered stereotypes.
"A patient came into the office: 'Sign me up for any doctor, just not this 'black' one.' 'You know, there are no available appointments for the 'black' one,' the nurse replied. A week later, this woman came with her son. He had acute pain, his cheek was swollen. At the reception, they said: 'Appointments are over, only Dr. Kadhim is left.' 'The 'black' one?' — 'She is a doctor,' they reminded her.
And so the patient asks me: 'Please help.' Officially, my shift was already over. I told her I would take him, but only for the child's sake. It's unpleasant when I'm called that. Afterwards, she booked appointments for her husband and daughter with me. And now she is my favorite patient."
Noor lives in Minsk, and travels to Maryina Horka every day by public transport. She wakes up at five in the morning. She says she fell in love with the capital as soon as she saw it.
She also appreciated the national cuisine. She only takes her guests to restaurants with Belarusian dishes.
"My stomach is used to soup, borscht. I eat 'salo' (cured pork fat) with colleagues. I learned to make 'draniki' (potato pancakes). I really love your adjika (spicy paste). I like cabbage in any form."
Noor sees her parents once a year.
The girl dreams of meeting her soulmate among Belarusians.
"I've been here for ten years now. My mentality has changed. I wouldn't be able to live in the Emirates or Iraq. I want to start a family here. And my husband should not be an Arab, but a Belarusian. The main thing is that he sees me as a person."
Comments