Getting to Know Arabs

When I was first invited to co-blog here, I was somewhat apprehensive. I love writing in all of its sense but I mostly feel comfortable if I knew what I was writing about. I guess that would mean the same for other writers.

I am thankful though that Humanist gave me this opportunity. It made me read up a little more, study a little harder and think a little deeper.

I don't know many Arabs to be honest. I know a few, but none really on a personal level.

I was once invited to a lunch at the Saudi Ambassador's residence when I was on holiday in Geneva. When I say on holiday, it means I had a study break, and when I say Geneva, it was where my dad was working at that holiday break in time.

Anyway, my mum was active with the United Nations' Women's Guild and the ladies there would rotate entertaining luncheons and other get-together activities.

The lunch was really grand, and so was the residence.

Firstly we were stopped at the entrance with all the ither invitees and were chauffered from the gate to the house, troop by troop. That was a weird experience. I am pretty sure I could have walked.

The lunch was great though. There was plenty to eat and the food was awesome masha'Allah. Never have I enjoyed food like that. The walls were lined with salads and yoghurts and all sorts of yummies with cream. There was plenty of bread and a lamb at the end of the aisle. I love lamb. I love food. Now I know I love Arab food. LOL

The hostess was a sure one of the mostest. When I first met her in public, she was dressed as her comrades were dressed - modestly - in black and observed the full hijab. Just in case there are men reading this, I will not mention what she was wearing when we were there, but she looked gorgeous and worth a million dollars.

In between stuffing my face with all the goodies, I tried not to talk to the other ladies. I was not being rude or anything, but at that age... sitting there with your mum's buddies, let's just say I would rather eat than talk about the weather.

The usual questions flew by though... where are you from? How long have you been here? How do you like it in Geneva? How old are you? That was directed to me obviously.

However, I noticed two ladies at the end of our table who were doing even less talking than I was. In fact, they were just talking to each other and barely eating. I wondered if it was because they were both blonde and white, whereas the other participants at the table were Asian, African, Middle Eastern even, and many of us were Muslim.

Then a question flew over to them from a Singaporean friend. "Where are YOU from?"

One blonde lady answered, after clearing her throat: The United States of America.

That's all she said. Then she looked back at her friend and back at her food.

Everyone else just looked at each other uncomfortably.

Maybe it was because it was the summer of 2002 and the US had just attacked Iraq. I don't know. But at that point in time, I convinced myself that I was right. They did not talk to us because they were American, unlike me, who refused to talk because I kept eating the lamb.

It must have been weird being American, lounging around in an Arab lady's residence with a load of women from different continents.

After reading Humanist's last post though, I guess I would double-guess myself. What if the 2 American ladies had actually had opposing thoughts to the war than their administration had? After all, they showed up at an Arab's family's house for a lunch. They sat at a table full of apparently foreign people who just kept asking each other where the other came from.

They sat through the lunch and were extremely discreet about themselves being there, unlike the boisterous Asians.

What if they had difficulty accepting the violence in Iraq but had to remain subdued due to their loyalty to the United States of America?

I can second-guess myself now because I'm co-blogging here. Now I'm reading a little more, studying a little harder and thinking alot more deeper.

I never really looked back at the American ladies. Yes, yes, I was too busy stuffing down a date pudding. Years later, I am pretty sure they felt uncomfortable because of the hostile environment their administration caused.

I'm pretty sure.

And I'm pretty sure I could have enjoyed a car-ride down to front gate rather than walk back to the car after all that eating.

Hmm...Are You Trying To Tell Me Something?

I have been teaching at my local university for the past four years. I love it. I teach education. We discuss issues related to education today.

This semester is a bit different. Why? Because this is the first time I have assigned Baghdad Burning : Girl Blog from Iraq for my students to read, so we can discuss in class.

However, I have two students who seem to think I am being "anti-American" because to them I represent an Arab, Muslim, Arab Muslim, or the "other." They have refused to read the book. They display pencil sketches from their notebook paper of an American flag. One of the students is planning to join the military within a year, he announced to the class sometime in the semester.

One student gets all upset if we talk about a different point of view on Iraq. He thinks we are being un-American. I tell him that it is un-American when we can't discuss controversial issues in a democratic manner.

At first, I didn't even pay attention to the displaying of the flag. However, one student purposely displayed the flag standing up looking directly at me. Then I realized...hmmm, are they trying to tell me something?

Just yesterday, as one of the students turned their homework, they had dropped a small, handmade American flag on the floor.

I think they want me to react. I pretend I don't understand what they are doing. I have a feeling they want me to get riled up. I don't and I won't.

When I discuss issues, I talk and think like an American and an Arab.

What do you think I should do? Do leave ideas and opinions in the comment section.

Just Because...

Today over coffee, friends told me that they hadn't called me during Ramadan because they "didn't want to bother" me. I asked what do they mean?

They said "Because it was your holy month, Ramadan. We wanted to wait." I explained to them that if they had called, they wouldn't be disturbing me or my family. We don't go into our own little world during this time.

Yes, I know there are prayers and reflections, but that is not 24 hours per day, and seven days per week. We still function in this world.

That is what I had explained to my friends, but in a nice tone. In my opinion, no question or thought is too stupid unless people don't really want to learn.

So, my dear Arab and Muslim friends, I strongly encourage you to be open with your non-Arab or non-Muslim friends, so that they may learn from you on how Arabs and Muslims really are.

With Knowledge Comes Power

Now, who said that? Was it Uncle Ben in Spiderman? Or one of Kent's parents in Superman. I'm pretty sure Stan Lee used this line in one or more of his many lengedary comic books.

I am also pretty sure it is somewhere in the Qur'an and / or the Hadith. There are plenty of sayings by Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to seek knowledge, and to even seek it to the depths of China (Bukhari). So, there is power in knowledge, and the opposite of knowledge is pure ignorance through and through.

Alot of misconceptions of Islam and Arabs in the non-Muslim world, is pretty much due to the mainstream media that easily lines up the "good guys" against the "bad guys." Not everyone is given the opportunity or makes that extra effort to read up on the other side of the story.

However, there is a fair segment of the Muslim and Arab society who sometimes encourage negative perceptions of the religion to be formed.

Personally I have found that many misuderstandings about Islam are due to cultural interferences in Islamic practice that give rise to the perception that the religion is tedious and embalmed in ritual practices without the sense of logic.

Some examples are such as wedding celebrations, funeral proceedings and even simple things like the 'Eid festival. While Islam makes everything really simple, without much weight on obligations, many cultures practice this differently and often forget that Islam frowns upon many of their superstitious traditions that usually translate into a waste of money, valuable time and energy. Some practices can even turn into shirk - associating partners with Allah. Astargfirullah....

Coupled with the fact that all of this done without knowledge, stress and anger quickly settle in. For example, dealing with debt after and elaborate wedding, not having to hold "follow up" ceremonies after a funeral, or wasting time on the night of 'Eid baking cookies until 4 in the morning and missing the 'Eid prayer.

If you are a Muslim and you reading this, you would probably know what I'm talking about. Islam outlines the complete way of life without any hardship upon us, but we always manage to find ways to complicate matters.

When in doubt of traditions, it is probably best to consult the Qur'an and / or the Hadith, to ensure what we are doing does not violate Islamic teaching. :)

The last thing a Muslim wants to do is to displease Allah Ta'ala and it is obligatory for every Muslim to make that extra effort to read His side of the story.

Arabic restaurants

I just found out in my area, we are going to have three Arabic restaurants opening up within the next few months. How cool is that! With careful planning and marketing, Arabic food could be as common as other ethnic foods in the area.

Hopefully, Arabic restaurants will not only have Arab customers. Arabic food needs to be introduced to many because this the key to learning about other cultures. People like to eat. With eating comes comfort and trust.

I will keep you posted when I hear things about the Arabic restaurants.