Today, completely out of the blue, I met a guy from Kuwait and a guy from Saudi Arabia. They came into the bar (?!) and were drinking vodka red bulls and eating chocolate cake. I finally had to ask them where they were from....The Middle East! Ahlan wa Sahlan!!!! They were shocked!
مسعئا (Mishayeel) was from Kuwait, which was so exciting because I have a presentation due next week on the effects of oil on democracy in Kuwait! I got out my little notepad and interviewed him about how much each citizen of Kuwait receives from the government, since it is a rentier state and how he feels about his government, Islam, the U.S., Qaddafi (ruler of Libya) the economic effects within Qatar from oil and corruption.
The most interesting part of the night was at the very beginning when I started to speak to them in Arabic. He told me that I would never be able to learn Arabic because it would be too hard for me. Well, as the night progressed, I was able to speak more and more to them in Arabic and he finally acknowledged the fact that I was able to speak it. He told me that I am the only Western woman who he has ever known to speak Arabic. :)
To me, it really seemed like he was trying to convince me to not learn it....like he didn't want Westerners learning Arabic, as if the threat of U.S. imperialism was impending. As the night went on, he helped me out with a lot of new words and phrases. So fun!
عمر (Omar) was from Saudi Arabia. He came to the states 3 weeks ago, so his English was minimal. He was listening to Arabic music on his ipod, which he let me listen to. ( on a side note, I am LOVING the new rap music Allen has sent me...some of it has a Middle Eastern vibe to it that is just so sexy with rap lyrics!) He was really interesting because I think he was quite fascinated with my flowing blonde hair, tight jeans and desire to learn Arabic and go to the Middle East. If I lived in Saudi, I would have to wear the حجب (hijab). So, I took a picture to see what I would look like....
They were asking me about going to Kuwait and going to Saudi. I laughed and told them that I wouldn't be able to visit Saudi because I wouldn't have a MAN to escort me. I told them that I was a good driver and that maybe I would be granted an exception...they laughed and said I'd be walking! (Women aren't allowed to drive in Saudi and cannot go out in public unless they are escorted by a man- only a husband or relative)
At the end of the night, I asked them, in al arabiya, if I could have their phone numbers. Mishayeel volunteered to help me with my presentation, so I got his number in case I have any questions. I told Omar that he and I should get together for al Arabiya/ al Englese speaking sessions!
Meeting them sparked my fire for learning Arabic even more. They were actually able to understand me, and I could understand them. Validation for all my long hours of studying and talking to the cats who don't respond in Arabic phrases, just meows!
