In this post, I try to explain why the registration process took one month from me. I hope that the experience I gained here will guide any Syrian guy trying to get a certificate from Sun Microsystems in the Middle East.
Chapter One:
I always wanted to be a Java certified programmer. During my college studies, Java was the programming language used to teach Object-Oriented Programming concepts. I loved Java and I continue to do. It fascinates me with its elegant language constructs and stylish program structure.
Two months ago, I felt that the time has come for me to get that Java certificate. For my daily job, I use Microsoft’s products and technologies. I started feeling that I am loosing Java concepts and its well-designed programming model.
I shared my thoughts and ideas with a friend and a coworker here who, by the way, is not Syrian. He liked the idea and we both decided that during a maximum period of two months we should both be Sun certified Java programmers. My friend managed to get his certificate before I did. He wrapped things up quickly and, more importantly, he was not Syrian.
When I felt that I am ready to take the exam, I started contacting our local Thomson Prometric Office here in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The office representative explained to me that they do not sell Sun’s exam vouchers because Sun does not have a local office in Saudi Arabia. He directed me to Sun’s Middle East office in Dubai, UAE in order to pay the exam fees, get the voucher from them and then coordinate with him to take the exam here.
Following his suggestions, I contacted Sun’s Dubai Office. They gave me a local bank account in the Saudi-Hollandi Bank. They asked me to make a $200 deposit in that account (the exam fees) and then scan the payment receipt and email it to them. They were then supposed to send me the exam voucher as soon as they confirm the deposit. In the payment receipt, I wrote a single word that messed the whole thing up. The receipt asks for the nationality of the depositor. I, peacefully, indicated that I am Syrian (in Arabic). The deposit went fine and I scanned and emailed the payment receipt to Dubai.
Instead of replying with the exam voucher, the Sun’s Office representative replied asking me to confirm my nationality. At that moment, I felt that something is wrong. My nationality is on the payment receipt and she, Sun’s representative, can read Arabic (I guess). I replied that I am still Syrian and nothing has changed since my deposit. Few hours later, she replied to me telling me that Sun cannot provide me with any service or product since I come from an embargoed country. I was shocked; I never thought that being Syrian would not qualify me to be Suned. I contacted our local Prometric Office and some of my friends. They were all surprised and they agreed that it does not matter where you come from. It is where you take the exam that matters.
When I reached this dead-end with Sun’s Dubai Office, I asked for my $200 refund as early as possible. She then replied to me indicating that she is arranging with the accounting department to return my money at the earliest. After a week or so, I received $190 only. I contacted my local bank explaining that I should have received $200. The bank checked and replied that this is the total amount that they received and they did not take any transfer fees or what so ever. I emailed Sun in Dubai again inquiring about the missing $10. After a couple of emails moving back and forth, they decided that they are not going to refund this $10 since it is not their problem. According to the email I received, they did a complete $200 deposit and paid extra dollars for the transfer fees. I am not sure what happened and who's fault is this. What I am sure about is that if they received $1 less than the exam fees from you, they would not serve you at all.
That was not the end of my story, of course. I don’t care about the missing $10. I decided that I will prove them wrong and I will get that voucher number no matter what.
Chapter Two:
So I am Syrian and you can’t serve me. Here is a thought, I will ask one of my friends (who is not Syrian) to contact you and get that voucher number. I will then use that number in order to register and take the exam. The registration system does not keep track of the person who bought the voucher. Anyone holding a valid voucher number can register for an exam no matter where he got that voucher from.
I asked a Canadian friend of mine to contact Sun’s Dubai Office and follow my exact steps I used to pay and get the voucher. Surprisingly, they replied to my friend that any voucher purchase should go through the New Horizons Office in Dubai. I guess after the mess that happened with me, they decided that such service should be provided by New Horizons (and I think I agree with that). They gave my friend an email address at New Horizons to contact.
I decided that since we are going to contact New Horizons now, I don’t need to get my friend involved into this anymore. I can handle it from here (a step that I regretted later). At New Horizons, they do not know I am Syrian. So, I contacted New Horizons at the email that Sun's employee gave my friend. I received no replies. After a couple of telephone calls to New Horizons in Dubai, I finally managed to get another email address.
The same process was started again. They needed me to do a $200 deposit, scan and email the payment receipt and then they will give me the voucher. The difference this time is that New Horizons in Dubai does not have a bank account in Saudi Arabia (of course they would not, they are in Dubai!). The bank account they gave me is in Dubai and I had to pay extra SR90 ($24) for the transfer fees. I did the transfer, scanned and emailed the payment receipt and now I just have to wait for my voucher.
I’ve waited three days and still the New Horizons employee I contacted did not reply to me. I phone called New Horizons and they explained to me that he is taking a one-week vacation and, surprisingly, there is no backup for him. So I just had to wait for one week until he comes back. I guess I am OK with that, one week can’t hurt compared to the overall time this whole registration process has taken so far.
So he came back from his vacation and he replied to me that he has to check with his accounting department to confirm that the money was received. It has been more than a week now since my deposit and he still needs to confirm the reception! It is OK. I can wait. Few days later, he replied that they received the money and I finally got what I thought to be my lucky voucher number.
But, unfortunately, that was not my lucky voucher either.
Chapter Three:
So, I’ve got my voucher number from New Horizons in Dubai. I thought it is finally over and I can take that exam. I went to the Prometric Office in Jeddah with that voucher printed out, saved on my flash drive, in my wallet, and a copy is still in my email. At Prometric, the registration took a couple of minutes and I reserved my seat a couple of days from today.
The Prometric employee did not actually do the registration immediately. He just took my information and he said he would confirm soon. Half an hour later, he called me on my cell phone explaining that he could not use my voucher number. The registration system replies that this voucher either expired or was used before and here goes my lucky voucher. He told me that this happens from time to time (and I can't guess why?) He asked me to contact new Horizons in Dubai again and get a replacement voucher.
I sent an email to New Horizons employee explaining what happened and asking for a replacement voucher. I did not ever imagine that he would forward my email to Sun's Office in Dubai. Well, actually, he did. The guys at Sun’s Dubai Office do not like me. Why the hell he needed to forward my email to Sun with my name and everything (now you see why I regret taking my Canadian friend out of this earlier). Anyhow, it just happened. Now I just have to wait and see what happens next.
Surprisingly enough, Sun’s representative (the same employee who rejected me before because I am Syrian) replied with a replacement voucher. Well, maybe it is OK now to get a voucher. Besides, I have paid more than $200 for this exam so far, I have a new voucher and I am ready to take the exam. There is now way I going to hold the exam now. So, I immediately contacted my local Prometric Office and gave him the new voucher number. The registration went successful and I am set to take the exam on 28th of April 2007.
Ten minutes after her first email, she followed up with an email indicating that I should not use that voucher because it expired. How can that be true? I’ve just registered with that voucher and I am set for Saturday. In her email, she did a couple of things that a professional employee should never do:
- She messed up my name. My name is Ubaadah and I never thought that someone would ever write my name with three non-consecutive “d”s.
- She claimed that I come from Iran! I don’t know where the hell she got that from. I am Syrian and she knows that.
- She claimed that they refunded my money completely. What she did not mention is that I received $10 less than what I paid.
She also asked the New Horizons guy not serve me at all. I decided I will ignore that email. I will not reply to her although her last email was not even at the lowest levels of Sun Microsystems standards. Besides, I’ve registered for the exam and I should concentrate on my preparation now.
On Saturday, I took my exam, I passed with 94% score and I have to say I enjoyed studying Java and taking the Java exam.
Well you have to know me first. When I want something, I do whatever it takes to get it. I would never allow an argument that I believe not true to hold me back from reaching my target.
Just to Prove Them Wrong:
From the beginning, I knew that being Syrian will not disqualify a person from being Sun certified. Just to prove that the people at the Sun's Dubai Office are over enforcing Sun’s global polices, I contacted a Sun's Office in another region of the world. I said it clearly that I am Syrian but I do not live in Syria, will I be allowed to take that Java exam? The day after, I received a reply. The reply stated clearly that if I do not live in an embargoed country and I am not listed in the Blocked and Denied Parties List, I will be allowed to take that exam.
So now you have it; your complete Syrians' Guide to being Sun Certified.
Have a great day.
