I went to a street party!!!

Me and another friend were the only ones who didnt have a "headress" we both pretty much look local.. so these ppl were prob thinking what they doing here!? until they find out we're foreigners then we're cool. =) They were so kind....they kept offering us soda... i think they passed out food in some boxes.. they didnt get to me, bcuz kids were snatching them out of their hands, but i drank 2 sodas... out of obligation... restroom please?

SETTING: The alley between two buildings, Colorful lightbulbs hanging overhead from the two buldings. Chairs lined up against the walls in like a circle, in the middle a table with a fake cake out of paper with big colorful candles and a doll that belly dances. (YES i'm going to buy one!) And at the end of the alley, a DJ with like 8 speakers.

Anyways, i had always seen these so called street weddings, and if ya know me, i want to be where the party is at. So i was so excited when my friend invited me to go the party, turns out its a bachelorette party for a 45 yr old lady getting married for the first time!! HUGE reason to party it up. You could hear the music a block away. She was all beautified, in white and gold, she had glitter all over her face, and henna on her hands.

What happens at these bachelorette parties: All the women sit waiting for the bride to be to arrive from the coiffeur, once she does, everyone gets up and go to her to hug her and all that mushy stuff. Oh and the women do this yell with their tongues... like indians? hard to describe... but its loud.... then PPl bunch up around in circle to dance with her, she's in the middle and by dance i mean belly dance. They hold hands and do the greek thing too... like in my big fat greek wedding.

FYI: there is no drinking at these parties. Also, I thought it was only for women, but i guess since this one was out in public, men were obviously watching, and family guy members attended.

I ask the girls, do you know how to dance like that? They all answer the same way... every ninevan girl knows how to dance like this..... WOW.... its like amazing. I might just take some classes

So there is this one song that I love, and its THE song at all the parties, so I'm told. Its called El Ainab.... The GRAPES... yeah? check it out, umm yea you wont see women wearing that here... but as far as the dancing, yea men dance like that too =/

There are no Lines

So on Friday I was able to go to the "biggest amusement park in Ninevah" lol.... Disney World came up, I guess so that i can have an idea of what it was like.

It was pretty awesome. Except it wasn't like Disney... of course,more like a state fair. yes with sketchy rides and all. There was a total of ONE actual roller coaster, for which we stood in "line" for about 3 hrs. =)

By line I mean crowd of ppl pushing towards the front, only controlled by some railings. My friends were like forget lines Jaz, there are no lines here. Groups of kids (by kids i mean shibaab teenagers, and ummm 20 something yr olds..) jumped in front of us, jumped in front of the whole "line" no shame... whatsoever. JAW DROPPED. I didnt understand why some girls kept tellin me to move up, I was like.. ARE U SERIOUS? They were doing some major eye rolling and shoving, in my mind... there's no need for me to be all up against this guy infront of me, we're not going anywhere.... the line is not going to get any shorter, nor faster, might as well have some breathing room. They insisted... later i found out why.... ppl as in, those in the back trying to move forward, will squeeze in wherever there is a piece of floor. so therefore.... the theology is.... lets make sure we're all so close together no one can jump in front of us... Gotta love it! Welcome to __________ =)

Overall though...I had a great time. I'm all about doing the big rides. Oh man but i was praying, because you know they dont check these rides, some seats were not "working" I dunno, but anyways I'm alive! PTL. The bumper cars were soo much fun, great stress reliever, plus i havent drove a car in a looong time.

Guess what? they had corn dogs!! I wasn't too convinced by the oil they were dipping them in, so i opted out. But it was nice to see them, I had no id

ea they knew what corn dogs were... no one was buying them though, rob bcuz they didnt know what they were but at least the guy who was making them knew what they were.

Ooooo and i had a slushie too!! strawberry one! mmmmm....

oh and last... i think i sat on a seat that someone threw up on.... i thought it was water... after being buckled mmmm i saw chunks on the floor ='(

oh and only the crazy american raises her hands on the rides... lol i stood out... but malesh (oh well)

No, I'm not from here...

So... I've never felt more discriminated against than I have here. 

It's actually kind of funny. Because I can't believe how real it is, and how it still exists very openly.

I went out with my local friend, to a local restaurant, I asked for an english menu, at that moment the guy told her, she'll have to pay more for her fo

od than you will. So she decided to just order for me. So here's my friend, trying to get our order, going back and forth, doing the work on a waitress basically.

We went to sit at a table outside, and were told that we couldn't sit there, because we would have to pay more, now I was just really annoyed, where can we eat? She said.. we'd have to take it to go. We were so far away, there was no way we'd be able to just ta

ke it. 

Anyways.. they just made it so hard on her/us.  I busted out my english, for the first time without any arabic. I was being charged way more, and my friend was doing all the work.... not fair.

This was the climaz from this weeks events, everything has a price for foreigners and a price for locals. One place a local pays 1 pound, and a foreigner pays 50. 

I live here!!! sigh......

I think its more frustrating because they think i'm from here at first a

nd when they finally figure it out, prices rise.... and i'm like what!? seriously....??

The place of the incident, good food must I add =)

Insha allah

So, ppl use insha allah all the time here. It stands for "Lord Willing" Some say its basically saying  I'll see what happens, or how I feel. Just to avoid saying "NO" and possibly shaming the other person. 

Its become a part of my new vernacular, it took a while, you know, let your yes be yes and your no be no, but well in this culture I think they'd prefer an insha allah instead of a No, its a whole honor/shame thing, and saving face. I use it, at least when haggling, insha allah I will buy this from you at this price, or return later. 

But anyways. Last night I took a taxi, for a non-local, the price would be like 3 pounds, but ofcourse I say about 5, he says ok, I get in, and he says insha allah 7. I say ok, insha allah, soon after we get out, i give him 5, it wasn't even far.... he said no, 7, I used my arabic, YAY, and told him you told me 5, and he said... i said insha allah 7. So I learned a new meaning for insha allah. 

"These ppl with their mouths, they honor me, but their hearts are far away from me." 

- The Creator

Silver lining

This last week while doing my hair and listening to a podcast, I was overwhelmed with happiness. I realized I felt at home... and I thought I should compile a list of little things that I'm thankful for here... they are commodities that I didn't think I would have at all...

I've learned to give thanks for the blessings, its better than focusing on all the toughies of living in this place and It makes for a more enjoyable journey:

Wireless internet. 

SKYPE!!! 

Itunes Radio- I even enjoy the commercials =)

Itunes Podcasts- I hear one of my favorite speakers weekly.

IPOD- read previous blogs to see why

Local Market (STRAWBERRIES)

My balcony (Daniel 6)

Microwave

Hot Water

Grass (when i see it....The couple of places that have it)

My dark sunglasses

Washing machine

Straightner

Thats black from the "dust" that builds up a day after another.. imagine not having a washing machine...

OH...It's not hot yet, ask me about what I'm thankful then, lets pray I'm quick to answer.