May 23, 2009
May 18, 2009
The "Other" Wife
It was a typical Egyptian dinner party. The usual faces brought the regular desserts. The same jokes were told and I laughed hysterically as if I heard it for the first time. Guests were hours late. Children were restless: jumping the trampoline and stealing toys from the smaller and weaker. Women were inspecting the latest fashions in the room. The same old with exception to a particular guest from out of town. A Caucasian woman tagged behind him as the host ushered them into our area. The odd guest was dressed in a t-shirt and Capri shorts: a typical young and "hip" American look. The woman on the other hand dressed simply and modestly. The age gap was evident. She must have looked well into her sixties, him in his late thirties.
After pleasantries were exchanged, I learned that the visitors were extended relatives of my host. They've been married a good number of years and he has acquired citizenship through this marriage and is insisting to stay married to this nice lady because he feels "sorry" for her otherwise.
For a moment I felt a tinge of respect that this man chose not to betray this woman and throw her like a piece of meat once his paperwork is complete like so many other Arab and Muslim men. But that all changed once I learned the truth.
The man had remarried secretly a few years ago in Egypt and has started a family. He now has two children and a young wife abroad. The current American wife is clueless to the truth. She thinks her husband sends all that money back "home" for his mother and sisters. The late night calls in Arabic aren't made to his sisters as he claims, but to his very young and beautiful wife.
In essence, the man is living a double life. I sat there contemplating while they both enjoyed our festive Egyptian dinner how could someone live such a lie? Everyone sitting at the dinner table knew except one. The poor woman thinks her husband married her for love and maybe he did. But what kind of love allows betrayal?
I leave you in disgust.
May 13, 2009
On Mowing Lawns
The brothers that were leaving the masjid yesterday were faced with an odd sight: a Muslim woman in hijab mowing the lawn of the mosque.
They looked twice alright!
May 11, 2009
May 9, 2009
The Funny and the Not so Funny!
I sat near my computer area in my classroom while my students ate breakfast. I was preparing a 2-week packet for a student who will be absent that long. I have a bad habit of not sitting all the way in my seat. I got up several times to check the printer. The one time I was close to returning to my seat, a boy called my name and said, "Ms. O, there is juice on your chair! I don't know who did it?"
I look at the chair that I've been occupying for at least 20 minutes. Grape juice all over it. I look up to identify the little snitch and lo and behold he had the murder weapon between his hands: grape juice! He still claims it wasn't him. It was another boy over there. Good thing he didn't let me sit, I was wearing a white dress!
**
The school is near an airport and my classroom has at least 10 windows to look outside to the crossing planes. They fly by every 5 minutes. While teaching an important lesson on the hatching of brine shrimp and salinity levels required to do so, I was greatly pleased to see my students taking notes in their science journals and paying attention--or so I thought!
Suddenly, one of the students started jumping with joy and screaming, "It's Southwest. It's Southwest! I won! I won!"
I turn around and run to the window. I see a large Southwest airline plane. I look back at the students, they start giggling. One of them shuts his science journal quickly and hides it under his desk.
They were betting.
May 8, 2009
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