American Bedu

Accidents can happen…
Current mood: apathetic
Category: Travel and Places

The Toyota Cressida is a popular vehicle in Saudi.  White also seems to be the primary color of choice. One day an individual known to Abdullah shared an experience he had when he drove with his wife in his Toyota Cressida to the local Tamimi (Safeway) grocery store. It is typical here for the wife to often remain in the car while a husband runs an errand or is doing some quick grocery shopping.  Naturally the traditional Saudi wife will be fully covered and veiled while waiting in the car.The individual known to Abdullah finished his shopping and walked back to his car.  As usual, he opened the back door and began loading the groceries in the back seat.  When he was finished he got into the drivers seat and put the key in the ignition.  There seemed to be a problem with the key not wanting to fit properly into the ignition.  He muttered to himself as he tried to get it to work and turned to look at his wife.  As he did, his heart was ready to stop beating and he cried out in arabic in shock.  The woman in the car was not his wife!  In fact, the more closely he looked he realized that he had inadvertantly got into the wrong Toyota Cressida.  He  muttered profuse apologies to the strange woman and quickly removed himself from the vehicle.  He did not bother to retrieve his groceries.  He went directly to his own vehicle where his wife was still patiently waiting for him. He told her they’d get groceries at another time and left the area immediately.The strange woman according to this individual seemed to take the incident in stride, realizing that it was an innocent mistake.  She never said a word.  However in Saudi society it is forbidden by law for unrelated males and females to be alone together in public or private hence the urgency on this individual to want to remove himself immediately as soon as he discovered his error.  He did not want to take any risk of an innocent mistake being misinterpreted.Even in my own short time here thus far I can easily see how such mistakes can happen.  When out in public, all the women basically do dress alike in the black abaya and with the traditionally Saudi women, the faces are fully covered.  The men at first glance also look very similar as well in their thobes and ghutras (headcovers).  Of course over time one does begin to easily distinguish differences and unique characteristics.  Now, even with his back to me, I can spot Abdullah at a distance by his walk, his stance and the way he happens to fling his ghutra as he walks.  But…sometimes, accidents such as mistaken identity can happen.  After all, we are only human.

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