neurotic Iraqi wife
July 16, 2008
The Entrancing Noor...
Before I came here, I used to be a book worm for novels. I reached a point where I could devour 2 books a day! Yup. It used to drive my poor mom nuts!!! I would lock myself in the room and just read, immersing all my feelings to the words on the page, ignoring my mom’s ear shattering voice calling me for lunch, calling me for dinner, calling me for social commitments. Books used to take me away from reality. I guess I was a big dreamer then, not sure what happened and changed all that? Aaaaah I forgot, I came here.
Come today, and after three years in this prison society, the only time I manage to read is when I go on vacation. I still buy books though, bestsellers, by the dozen but so far I haven’t been able to read one page. Reason being, I stare at two screens for over 12 hours daily. At the end of the work day, my eyes feel like popping out. Then I go back to my room, and again stare at the skype screen while chatting with HUBBY. So really, no eye power is left for reading. A great pity I know.
But for about 2 months now, I became hooked on something else. And apparently, I found out its not just me, but the majority of Iraqis too. There is this soap opera. A Turkish soap opera called Noor named after one of the characters. Well her name in Turkish is actually Gumus (Silver) but I guess they translated it to Noor (Light). It is the most captivating story I have ever seen. Forget Bold and the Beautiful or Days of our Lives. Nah, these are far too unrealistic with over orangey Californian tans.
Noor is a story that every Middle Eastern family can relate to. It tells a story about family values, marriage, love, respect, betrayal, motherhood and everything else. It was about 2 months ago when I was flipping channels to see whats on, that I found it. At first I wasn’t interested, as I don’t really like watching something that’s being translated using other peoples voices rather than the actual casts’. But somehow, the storyline and the characters just caught my attention.
It is so real and easy to relate to because it touches on every aspect of life. I didn’t think anyone here watched it. One day, as I came to work pretty late by my own standards, a coworker of mine asked if I was ok. I said well I over slept cuz I was watching Noor late last night. She laughed and said, oh nooooo, not you as well. Do you watch it? I asked. Yes, the whole family watches it, she said. When its time for Noor everyone just gathers around the TV and watches anxiously as the events unfold. Neurotica, its taken over all Iraqis. Everyone is just hooked.
Wow, who woulda thought. But I don’t blame them. Even H tells me that his uncle comes up with conspiracy theories and analysis during the show. Its just enlightening to know that with all that’s happening here, and the semi non existent electricity, people don’t mind using up their generator power just for Noor. Iraqis have found something that can take their minds away from their daily struggle. It just is amazing. Instead of who got kidnapped and where did the mortar fall, people are now calling each other asking about the events in Noor. I wonder if insurgents watch it too? That would be interesting. Lol
And its because of Noor and the captivating views of Istanbul, that I convinced HUBBY on going to Turkey this upcoming R&R. I myself have already been there twice, but HUBBY has never seen it, and Im sure he would love it. First stop is Istanbul, maybe I should ask a tour operator if they can take us and visit that beautiful, breathtaking family house on the Bosphorus. Next stop is Bodrum on the Aegean Sea. And hopefully my brother and his wife will be able to join us as well. I just can’t wait to leave.
Kudos to the writer of the Noor series. He truly was able to give many Iraqis a slight shining Light, Noor. The Entrancing Noor…
Come today, and after three years in this prison society, the only time I manage to read is when I go on vacation. I still buy books though, bestsellers, by the dozen but so far I haven’t been able to read one page. Reason being, I stare at two screens for over 12 hours daily. At the end of the work day, my eyes feel like popping out. Then I go back to my room, and again stare at the skype screen while chatting with HUBBY. So really, no eye power is left for reading. A great pity I know.
But for about 2 months now, I became hooked on something else. And apparently, I found out its not just me, but the majority of Iraqis too. There is this soap opera. A Turkish soap opera called Noor named after one of the characters. Well her name in Turkish is actually Gumus (Silver) but I guess they translated it to Noor (Light). It is the most captivating story I have ever seen. Forget Bold and the Beautiful or Days of our Lives. Nah, these are far too unrealistic with over orangey Californian tans.
Noor is a story that every Middle Eastern family can relate to. It tells a story about family values, marriage, love, respect, betrayal, motherhood and everything else. It was about 2 months ago when I was flipping channels to see whats on, that I found it. At first I wasn’t interested, as I don’t really like watching something that’s being translated using other peoples voices rather than the actual casts’. But somehow, the storyline and the characters just caught my attention.
It is so real and easy to relate to because it touches on every aspect of life. I didn’t think anyone here watched it. One day, as I came to work pretty late by my own standards, a coworker of mine asked if I was ok. I said well I over slept cuz I was watching Noor late last night. She laughed and said, oh nooooo, not you as well. Do you watch it? I asked. Yes, the whole family watches it, she said. When its time for Noor everyone just gathers around the TV and watches anxiously as the events unfold. Neurotica, its taken over all Iraqis. Everyone is just hooked.
Wow, who woulda thought. But I don’t blame them. Even H tells me that his uncle comes up with conspiracy theories and analysis during the show. Its just enlightening to know that with all that’s happening here, and the semi non existent electricity, people don’t mind using up their generator power just for Noor. Iraqis have found something that can take their minds away from their daily struggle. It just is amazing. Instead of who got kidnapped and where did the mortar fall, people are now calling each other asking about the events in Noor. I wonder if insurgents watch it too? That would be interesting. Lol
And its because of Noor and the captivating views of Istanbul, that I convinced HUBBY on going to Turkey this upcoming R&R. I myself have already been there twice, but HUBBY has never seen it, and Im sure he would love it. First stop is Istanbul, maybe I should ask a tour operator if they can take us and visit that beautiful, breathtaking family house on the Bosphorus. Next stop is Bodrum on the Aegean Sea. And hopefully my brother and his wife will be able to join us as well. I just can’t wait to leave.
Kudos to the writer of the Noor series. He truly was able to give many Iraqis a slight shining Light, Noor. The Entrancing Noor…
34 Comments:
hi...im one of the iraqi girls who have addiction on that show beside sanwat al dhaia3 hehe...actually im watching the show just becus the actor is sooo handsome (muhanad) which his name in turkish language is (mohmet) and i've been in turkey twice too i adore that country not only becuz i have roots from there but the people there r awsome.
Actually I was reading an article yesterday regarding the house where the show is filmed. Apparantly, It's becoming a hot tourist attraction catering to the mostly arab crowd. I'm not sure if you read arabic but here's the article published by Sayidaty magazine http://www.sayidaty.net/NewsList.asp?NewsID=12857&MenuID=1&BoxID=1
lol...to comical. Escapism in shows, in Canada we have the term 'the dumbing down of America', looks like it's spreading. When you start seeking information on the actors, it will be complete. Then they will have a show, showing the celebrities and their life, then the escapism becomes nirvana.
Its not just in Iraq, its a show that has actually captivated the whole middle east to the point that its crazy! You got women called noor demanding that they only marry a muhannad, women getting divorced coz they put muhannad's pic and the list goes on besides the dozen of forwards that i get daily.. I myself don't watch the show since i'm in the US and don't have MBC, but i follow all the stories through my friends who can't stop talking about it!!
Nirvana hurty *ouch*
http://www.youtube.com/v/ygG1eIctRHg&hl=en&fs=1
did you see that Moodle?
Hi Neorotica,
I heard about that, actually, I had even received some Turkish song, all that because of the series,that's great, I gonna see the series as soon as possible
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAzq-MEcJfY
an interview with the actors of Sanawat Aldhya' series
Hello NIW!
How are things in Iraq these days?
SAM NY
Hiya Sam, Iraq, well Baghdad, IS HOT!!! lol. And from what I hear from my coworkers, the red zone is much more quieter than it used to be. Explosions are there, but not in large numbers. Some people have also started taking summer vacations by travelling to Beirut, Turkey, Syria and Kurdistan. I also hear that people are going out more often, and in some cases, there are shops opened till 9 or 10 at night. So I guess, some improvement...
Hiya IT!!!Ishonak???Yeah you have to watch it, its really nice. And many people would think its more directed to women, but not really, its more of a family story. Im in love with it...
Lol r, I knowwwww. I was on the phone with my sister in AD, and asked her if she was watching it, unfortunately, it comes late about 11 their time, so she doesnt, but she told me that everyone in AD watches it now...Its amazing...
WH, how else could they forget their woes?
Oh wow, so they do have tour operators showing the house!!! YAAAAAAAAY...I doubt HUBBY would be inetersted, but maybe from an engineering point of view he wouldnt mind...And anon, ofcourse I read Arabic :)
Hi Anon, so u like it huh..He is handsome isnt he???Apparently he is only 25!!!
Can you imagine? Even I understand no word, I watch it also; I surprise myself:) My Lovely was joking about me yesterday evening when he came home and found me watching this soap opera.He wanted to tell me ab his day, but I was busy with "Noor", hahaha!!!I got the idea of the story, but I still can't figure out a lot of things.Anyway, I challenge myself :)
HELLO NEUROTICA LUV,HAVE ALWAYS SAID THAT IRAQ SHOULD DEVELOP SOMETHING ALONG THE TURKISH CUM ARABIAN GULF LIFESTYLE MODEL PEOPLE SHOULD RID THEMSELVES OF THE AXIS OF EVIL PUPPETS THUGS MILITIAS &START LEADING AN INTERESTING PROSPEROUS LIVES NOT ONLY IN SOAP OPERAS DREAMS &FICTION BUT IN REALITY,.QUESTION HOW NEUTRAL &EASY ARE THE CUSTOMS &IMMIGRATION PASS CONTROL UPON IRAQIS ARRIVING FOR A VISIT ,DO THEY BEHAVE DECENTLY &NEUTRALLY &OBJECTIVELY &IN A FRIENDLY MANNER TO IRAQIS COMMING TO VISIT !!!!! LOADS OF THE BEST OF MERRY JOLLY GREETINGS &KINDEST REGARDS FROM US WWW.BFBS.COM TO YOU LUVLY NEUROTICA &ALL THE DECENT IRAQI FOLK,CHEERS:)YOURS AS ALWAYS OLAFF
sorry luv just meant upon IRAQIS COMING TO VISIT TURKEY ,ARE THE TURKES FRIENDLY &NEUTRAL UPON ENTRY ETC,LOADS OF THE BEST GREETINGS CHEERS OLAFF:)
dominant sleep cycles and responsible people.
Hmmm, I don't get it. It's not a Western, there are no action packed car chases, no cool motorcycles. Ah well, I guess that's neither here Noor there ; D Solo
Hi, I used to live in Turkey - I liked a soap called Deli Yurek and one called Kurtlar Vadisi (even though they kept taking it off tv for too much violence, then bringing it back again), Noor is a new one to me.
Have fun in Bodrum, I used to live there too.
oh no, that horrid show again. I can't see what's really new about it, it reminds me of the Mexican Serials wave back in the 1990s, anyway I do hope they find a cure for all of you one-day.
I heard that the show wasn't much of a hit in Turkey itself.
Ahmad Shokeir seems to have a different take on this soapy.
See his July 19th entry at
http://www.shokeir.blogspot.com/
Sam
You said before you had an allergy to the Turkish people. Unrefined Turkish business intelligence splitting then recollecting people,... slowly shrinking cultural sub categories. You wrote, "God,... please give us the North!" Anyhoo, Olaf and yourself have been boldly hinting at the dilution of breeding rights for your commonwealth's conquest scenario now circumcising your weaker classes. At that point I managed to identify "The stuff dreams are made from". I hope Whitee keeps freeing Moodles so you and Olaf aren't as racist as the year before. If I ever get fat I'll give a Moodle all the babies the Noor holds free in their head. Where ever they don't bury Whitee I'll give her babies there.
Salaam aleikum. I've somehow come across your blog, and have been avidly reading for the past week or two, and have being nosily going through your previous posts to fully understand whats going on in your life. (So far, I'm in Jan 05..still a long way to go!)Ok, that sounds a bit weird, but I must admit, I LOVE your posts, you're neurotic rants, the undying love for your husband, and gutsy opinions about the Iraq situation. I once once married to an Iraqi, and since then have been totally culturally confused, (sometimes I think i am Iraqi, tho I am 100% Mexican American!)and have also felt the Iraqis pain for their country, and their loved ones. Anyway..just thought I'd tell you I love your posts, you do a great job at posting, and most of all, helping us Americans and many other realize what the real Iraq is like.
hey neurotic_wife! noor is written by two women writers, eylem canpolat and sema ergenekon...
Wow crazy you bring this up...I just came back from visiting my family in Detroit, Michigan over in the states and apparently it has gained their attention as well.
That is all my sister and mother would talk about that weekend...they overlooked the fact that I was visiting :(.
Apparently it is not only the Iraqis in Iraq who are captivated by Noor but even Iraqis in the States.
Personally I hope you get back to your reading habit...I am jealous at the fact you were able to read two books a day in the past, I would love to have that completion rate.
Wish we could get it in the States. My niece and her husband (both Iraqi now living in Syria)just got approval as refugees and will be here in a month with their 2 babies. He speaks good English, but she doesn't, and I am worried that this will not be an easy endeavor for her especially this being the first time away from her family. Wonder if I can find it on YouTube...
Oh! I can see that the Tv series Noor is being watched all over the world not only in Eritrea.
I and my brothers and my neices like it so much and we gather ecery evening to know what's happening in this episode and what in the nexr.
But the is we know a little arabic and most of the time we missed very important conversation. So, had it had been a subtitle in English we would n't miss a word. Otherwise the movies is interesting. And the place, Stambul real facinating and historical scenery, not speaking about the house where the family is living with it's overshores. I woould love to visit it one day.
Thank you MBC4.
HELLO NEUROTICA,JUST MENTIONINIG A WEB PAGE THAT MAY BE OF INTEREST TO RETURN BACK TO WHERE A STAGE OF IRAQ STARTED EARLY 1900 LATE 1800 &MAYBE ALL &SUNDRY SHOULD TAKE A STEP BACK & JUST READ HOW & THE WHERS & WHENS OF IT ALL TO GRASP THE PRESENT DAY GLIMPSE OF THE STATE OF THE NATION:-"http: www.bbc.co.uk-history recentiraq -britain_iraq_03.shtml ALL THE VERY BEST OF MERRY JOLLY GREETINGS &KINDEST REGARDS WWW.BFBS.COM CHEERS "OLAFF":)
ran to execute 30 on Sunday. Among the crimes: "being a public nuisance while drunk." Uh-oh
Iran to hang 30 convicts on Sunday
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/meast/07/26/iran.hangings/index.html
I need 30 reasons for surviving in Iran no fair erasing my brain. Survival should detail out solid enough that we don't have to lure any unsuspecting humans into a causality workshop for observation whilst torturing and causing. I understand the empowered individuals with the open source community may have a baited relay compromising normal thoughts with lifestyle adding into delusion reprocessing. Previous motivations withstanding cumulative memory standards coursing beyond actual WYSIWYG harness a future exchange rate of powerful invisible wealth demons that get us arrested for explaining butt sex as being a limited pinnacle or summit, climax what have you for remembering where you left your house keys, universe keys, any keys. The absence of such memory joggers, ahem large cranes with non crane like effects warding off supposed insanity and masochistic prospects outside of understanding nature and human with religious effects such as planning and sacrifice. Noting the propensity of contribution sating the victims of angelic interference with cue ins such as civil minded intiators killing without the cranes behind closed doors. I am hereby going to the beach.
NIW,
Glad you have something to take your mind off the day in day out of work and everything else over there! Sorry for not having commented in a looong time, I just got back three weeks ago and have been quite busy. Hope all is good!
Neurotic...you fall off the Planet?
did a ever devil kill everyone, you can tell?
noor, the turkish soap, sounds really good! i wish we had soemthing as good. i read in the paper this weekend, americans have 125 channels available to watch on tv, but on average only watch 13 of them. and still, and still... there's never anything good on!
Where are you Neurotica? You have not posted in a long time, I'm starting to worry about you. Please post so we will know you are OK.
This comment has been removed by the author.
Did you see the experts at the Olympics beginning? Not incorrigible were the futuristic designs of tomorrow? Hardened withstanding gain segments the intense statuesque composition of the performers. The likes of which never an instinct beyond triumphant reconcile. Corrective grace and torpid standards seeking auxiliary thought and finance. The sated content still securing propulsion. The drop in consular dynamics ridden with oblivion. A semblance of disconnection if only success ridden. They say not everyone has television.
How about some Noor based divorces and some "much needed" fatwas??
http://www.ammaro.com/2008/07/divorces-tv-shows-fatwas.html
Sorry I havent posted, didnt think I was missed Kathy,lol...I was in Turkey.
Post a Comment
<< Home