Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Roadtrip to the Second Arab Homeland..

Having had a depressing first day of Eid, I decided that I would not wallow in self-pity and instead make the best of it.

After an hour of contemplating different options I decided I'd go on a roadtrip. I love driving my car, windows down, soft alternative music, warm day.. it's so therapeutic. My choices were either Pennsylvania or Virginia. I wanted to tour Lancaster, where all the amish live or I could go shopping in Virginia and enjoy seeing a bunch of arabs milling about.

I settled for the latter, mostly because I needed clothes since I'm allergic to shopping and always avoid it. Plus.. I just wanted to see a bunch of arabs, a lot of people just don't get this. Many go out of their way to avoid them. I'm surrounded by locals all yearlong. For me, sometimes just the sight of some good ol' arab blood is a comfort .. honestly I can't describe it.. it's like.. a weight is lifted off my heart.

I talk to my mom and mention my plan.. she asks who I'm going with and I said.. alone. It never occurred to me to invite anyone. That's the thing, in the past 2 years I've really grown to enjoy the company of myself.. and no it isn't odd. It's truly a .. serene feeling. I feel like people around me are so self-involved and can't just shut up for two seconds and enjoy what's around them.

Often I take to the road.. go random places and just walk around.. enjoy the scenery and the weather. It's amazing-- you're constantly surrounded by people most of your life and it's like a gray cloud you have to muddle through to get to the clear skies beyond.

But I digress...

So after an hour and a half I get to the mall.. they have real nice malls in Virginia. Tifta7 il nifs 3al shopping.
But the most interesting is of course the hoards and hoards of arabs there. Mostly khaleejis. I'd be walking and encounter a group of guys with oily, slicked back hair and painfully colorful clothing that would eye me .. and I know they're trying to figure if I'm "one of them" or not..

Or I walk by starbucks and it's jam packed full of arab guys lounging about.. what is it with us and starbucks?.. The Gulf alone probably has supported that franchise for decades to come

I go into Abercrombie & Fitch-- a classic blonde-bimbo-wannabe surfer white girl store-- and at the counter a young arab girl is purchasing a tanktop and shorts. She's not only wearing 7jab, but has also brought it across her nose.. creating and eerie alluring effect..

As I'm heading to another store, there's a guy on the phone and leaning against the rail outside. He's Saudi.. I heard him talking on the phone before he saw me.. I pass by and he turns..
As I walk into the store I smile knowing what's next..
Sure enough..as I'm admiring a gorgeous coat, he comes in and almost bumps into me while speaking obnoxiously loud on the phone.. in arabic. heh.. oh sweeeet familiarity!

This is obviously not to knock my fellow arabs.. one is just more likely to notice and be amused by the usual quirks.. I did have some other amazing encounters..

As I was sauntering along, I saw a woman in all black sitting down..
I had a flashback of Riyadh.. but wait! I'm not in Riyadh..
Is this woman really wearing an Abaya in the U.S !?

Yes indeed.. there she was in full black garb, complete with 3abaya and burgu3 too.
I swear to god, tears came to my eyes. I wanted to hug that woman..
I resigned myself to "salam 3alaikom"..
She looked up at me.. smiled easily and sallamat back.. and probably made my day.. heck my whole month.
I know it sounds odd .. but I just can't explain it.

I saw so much in this woman..

The way she sat comfortably.. she is who she is by choice-- be it back home or abroad-- .. as people pass by her they see nothing out of the ordinary because she carries herself with such confidence, dignity, and complete pride in who she is and where she is from.

I've personally never been so proud to be arab than I was at that moment.

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