This is dedicated to the guy who called me ‘3awaleeg’. For those of you who don’t know the story, my last blog was about my observations while chillaxing in the ‘main’ in Khartoum University college of medicine. These observations were comments about college students in general, but happened to be ‘observed’ in the U of K. A graduate of afore mentioned university (year of graduation unknown but prolly late 90’s kida) felt offended after reading my post, and asked his friend where the writer had graduated from, and received the answer: Juba University. Hence the reply: ‘bala 3awaleeg’. I don’t usually care much what people think of my posts because in general I write them for myself rather than for my audience. It is my space, on my page, for my thoughts. Naturally, I am flattered when people read, comment and appraise. It is even more flattering when people follow. It’s annoying when people make stupid comments, but that is expected, and many times has provided food for thought (and in rare cases, doubt). However this particular comment I disliked immensely because it was a reply not to my opinions or style of writing, but to my background; i.e. the place I graduated from.
It is well known that graduates of certain universities have a sense of superiority and grandiosity, and a little bit of what we call ‘waham’ about them. They feel it necessary to push the fact that they have graduated from so and so university in people’s faces, and that graduates of other universities are by no means at their level in society or profession. It doesn’t matter whether they graduated top or bottom of class, how many years they had to repeat, or whether or not they got anywhere in the world after graduating. And it certainly doesn’t matter where that university stands compared to other universities in the present, since in the past it was the one and only. One of such universities is the University of Khartoum. Take note: I am not generalising. I have many friends who graduated from U of K who are down to earth, hardworking and good friends. U of K should be proud of having produced such people. My own parents graduated from U of K. However, what they are now is not at all related to where they graduated from. I’m pretty sure they would have turned out just as cool if they had graduated even from the lowest of the low universities, e.g. Juba University.
I don’t feel it necessary to defend my old school especially in such a context. I admit I hold no old sentiments to it at all, and have no intention of portraying any false impressions of pride or loyalty. In fact, there was even an attempt to transfer me to U of K during my first year in Sudan. However, I still find it annoying that people still hold on to the mentality (or lack of) that your status in the world is related to the place you had the luck to graduate from. And that this mentality has managed to find its way and applied itself to me, albeit by someone who has no sense of humour. I also don’t feel it necessary to portray my (and my fellow Juba graduates) accomplishments in life which are easily more than many graduates of U of K have managed, despite having the ill-luck to be a Juba graduate. Let it be enough that I have taken on 2 demanding tracks in the field of medicine, have taken and passed several specialisation and licensing exams, travelled all over the world to attend international conferences and workshops, and have come back home out of my own free will to pursue my career in a fashion I feel appropriate. I also have a blog that people read occasionally and that sometimes finds it’s way to the eyes of people who have prehistoric standards of judgement.
And so, to the guy who called me 3awaleeg, I have this and only this to say to you: Heeeeeeey wu heeeeeeeeey wu taaaaaani heeey! A3mal LINE wu ageef BEHIND! Bala 3awaleeg!
I read your post and I find it pretty funny and so true , you rock he suck.
and that is how its done…
mr. "3awaleeg", how do you like them apples….sour huh?
Good saying sister ..
just for record, some may backfire by saying "al-kadisa lamma ma t7a9il al-3inb betgol murr" (or something) ^_^ …. so, here is a story to tell from a non-UofK-er …
graduated from XXX university with 1st class degree, did not succeed to apply to any scholarship at that time (got my grades on June and every deadline on earth for the academic year starting Sep-Oct was over since four months back at least) … so, keeping in mind not to waste time i went to the holy UoK to apply for Masters … met a Prof., defined research problem (didn't wait the MSc by-courses not to waste time, again!), applied to the department, and waited the results … they were kind to accept the research proposal (with ZIRO comments!) but refused the supervisor bcuz he travelled to Cyprus by the time of feedback … since i knew the Prof. i felt like being put in a tight corner having accepted a substitute supervisor … but on the other hand, waiting him to come after the planned five months was not an option either …
soooo, three days later, during a workshop, i met this other Dr. from SUST … we chatted a little and he came to know about the story … then he asked me: "do u mind to join SUST? or u prefer UoK?"… i replied: "nop, i don't mind joining SUST… should i? or y would i have a preference on UoK?"… he said: "just some ppl prefer to go to UoK and no where else" … i said: "believe me Dr., i just don't care cuz they are all in Sudan … and to the world we are a third world !!!" …
The moral of the story is that: don't let any one get under your skin sister ^_^ … Sudan is still ranked somewhere at the bottom of any reputable list …. so, whoever have superiority illusions let them encapsulate where they are, cuz thats where they belong (at the narrow allays of their minds!!) … and as u mentioned, not all UoKs are brilliants or narrow-minded, and not others are low-level ^_^
I've posted my comment on this discussion on my blog, and being a graduate of no Sudanese university, I consider myself neutral in this discussion. But as it is an important question which should be addressed, I thought I would step into the fray, if you don't mind. Here's the link:
http://nileblues.net/2012/05/19/u-of-k-or-u-of-5/
Its called school pride!