My First TV Appearance

I used to live in the UAE, as many of you know. I was fortunate enough to have been there just prior to the insane boom that the UAE has experienced. Having lived there for around 8 years meant that I was able to witness this crazy progress and the process of modernization, the transformation from a plain, dull, dusty desert city into an out-of-this-world cosmopolis, which is not something most people get a chance to witness in their lifetime, so I'm grateful for it.

But back in the day, were things were still simple, and AbuDhabi only had one TV channel, I had a chance to be on TV. I used to study piano with Mr. Wei, probably the best piano teacher in town (to whom I owe any musical sense I have). One day he told me a friend of his who works at the TV wants one of his students to be on her show and play a few pieces, and he wanted me to do it.

So I agreed, and after practicing a couple of pieces for a couple of weeks, I was off to the TV studio with my mom. It was pretty exciting, being in the TV studio and all. I met the hostess of the show, and she gave me the few questions that she was going to ask, so I would prepare my answers. There was only one problem, the show was LIVE! So there was no room for screwing up, otherwise I'd have been embarassed in front of everyone I knew (again, back then there was only one TV station).

So anyway, as I'm preparing backstage, the show gets under way. I was the second guest (btw I was probably 15 or 16 back then). The first guest, interestingly, is this Arab cleric, an Islamic sheikh, and this is during Ramadan.

So they go on and on speaking in Arabic, and I had no idea what they were talking about. They also received calls from people on air. Now mind you, I had told all my friends to stay tuned that evening. But the guy just kept on talking.

Now this Islamic cleric, let's just say he's not the biggest fan of music. And apparently he doesn't hide his feelings in the interview either. So it would have been a little ironic if I had gone on stage right after him playing my jolly tunes, or at least that was what the hostess thought, so the show ended without me ever doing my thing.

Of course she felt really bad about it and apologized a million times and said she's going to have me on another show the same week.

She called me a gazillion times after that and wanted me back on her show but I kept refusing, making it clear I was pissed about the other incident. To be honest a part of me was relieved for not having to go on live TV.

So, that was my first (non)appearance on national TV!