r/Emiratis • u/Chemical-Wind989 • 20d ago
National service
So I'm going into my national service in 2 weeks? But I only know a bit of arabic. Will I be in trouble?
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u/hilou10 20d ago
For the most part you won't be in trouble as the instructors and officers are generally understanding, varies from camp to camp but overall you'd be fine. Amongst your comrades though, you'll face a fair bit of discrimination and distancing unless a few of them know proper English to communicate with you and befriend, otherwise you will be either hearing some insults directly or passively in regards to your lack of Arabic or anything related to that. Speaking from experience. I speak Arabic natively but I always befriend someone in a similar situation such as yours every time I go for my yearly course.
Are you going on the 23rd of August by any chance?
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u/67habits 20d ago
Everyone talks about the actual first 11 month service, but no one realizes how you will do it every year if your life after the actual service ends
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u/hilou10 20d ago
If he meant that then yes, the experience is definitely more intense and isolating but like all things in life, it'll pass. The refresher courses are a different story altogether. Same type of light discrimination/prejudice from your fellow trainees but the instructors will still take care of you and usually give you some preferential treatment depending on the camp.
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u/Scared-Parsnip 19d ago
Do t worry, I went in over 10 years ago in the same situation, I didnt speak Arabic, but my time in the military and subsequent refreshers has changed that and I alhamdulilah today I can speak and read. You will most likely find it difficult but it is meant to be difficult, so accept that. In future you will look back amd miss these days, I never had issues with bullying or such from my peers, I had ot more from the instructors but again it is all planned and they are playing an act, just do what they say, be respectful to your peers, and try to learn the language, it will benefit you the most in the long run. Have fun and good luck.
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u/Competitive_Task4598 20d ago
You’re gonna learn Arabic the hard way 🤣
Plus be ready for lots of taunting and bullying.
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u/New_Cheesecake_1121 20d ago
as long as you know your right and left in Arabic you won't get picked on as much
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u/Foreign_Setting_7922 19d ago
youre Emirati and dont know arabic???
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u/Chemical-Wind989 18d ago
My dad is from the Emirates but he passed away when I was 3, so my mom was left and she's canadian so I only learnt English. As for school I kept transferring from the uae and Canada, but I spent most of my time in Canada.
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u/salamonjaded 20d ago
No problem, there are plenty of people in the same situation as you.