We continue our short term stay in the United States. The other day I was at a well-known medical facility in Houston which attracts many international patients and visitors. I was sitting in the lobby with a family member. We noticed an abaya and niqab clad woman walk by but walking in a slow uncertain manner. She hesitantly stopped two women who were approaching her saying something undecipherable from my location. The two women approached shook their heads as if in a negative gesture that they did not understand her and walked on. I watched the woman continue to appear confused and uncertain. Therefore I, the blond hair, blue eyed American in jeans, short shirt and sneakers at the time, chose to approach her greeting her with ‘Salam Alaikum.’ She responded to me in kind, with a Saudi accent I may add, but I could easily see the look of surprise in her eyes wondering who was this Amerikiyah who had approached her. I then proceeded to ask her in Arabic if she needed assistance. The look of surprise faded quickly to one of relief and she asked me where was the nearest ladies washroom. I was pleased that I was able to respond to her and assist her. I’m not sure who was ultimately more surprised…me having that validation my Arabic continued to approve or the surprised Saudi woman who probably did not expect someone looking like me to be able to greet and communicate with her in her native language in Houston!
Filed under: America, Dress, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, culture, friendship, gender, travel | Tagged: America, culture, culture shock, customs, gender, KSA, language, places, Saudi, Saudi Arabia, Saudi culture, Saudi customs, travel, women
I bet she was more surprised.
Yeah, I bet she was more surprised! Nice story!
If I were her I would DEFINITELY be surprised & tell everyone, I know about the story. LOOOOOOL It doesn’t happen everyday Carol, & I guess she was lucky you were there
Good going Carol! At least she can tell her family that she had a positive experience with an American. Allah bless you for helping her.
Congratulations/Mashallah!
:D:D
Oh by the way, what I meant by “it doesn’t happen everyday” is the fact that an American speaks in Arabic, just so that my words won’t be misinterpreted
this is so funny.Travelling really does open ones eyes.before coming to saudi i was even scared to pass next to the lady wearing abaya the saudi style.the open face was fine.Now i know everyone is normal.Thank God you were there.
Nice story. Don’t you love it when you can use your arabic and shock the heck out of Saudis who are trying to figure out ‘why you know how to speak it’ as they listen to you converse?
And to make it even funnier, American Bedu probably has a Saudi accent when she speaks…
[...] 4, 2009 · No Comments I saw this amusing anecdote on American Bedu, and it reminded me of my own adventure with my sister. We were in Washington DC, headed from her [...]
Sweet story!
I love that! That happens to me on a regular basis, and like Caraboska said, I know they often wonder “where did the American get the Saudi accent.”
I know they wonder that because I have been asked that. Most Westerners who do speak Arabic do not have Saudi accents, rather Egyptian, Lebanese, Jordaniant, ect.
The last person to ask me that was a cashier at a local grocery store, a Palestinian from Jordan. He said “how did you get a Khaliji accent”.
See, there are some benefits to having a Saudi spouse………lol.
MashaAllah for the sister not removing her niqab and abaya in USA, instead of walking around in jeans, T-shirt, etc.
May Allah bless her!
Haha, Carol, for that lady you are a Godsend. Bless you!!
When you gotta go, you gotta go. But after hearing you talk Saudi Arabic she must have forgotten that she needs to go heheheh.
Amazing how women will bond over necessary washroom information! And, how Saudis, or at least a Saudi woman in search of an urgently needed washroom, will forgive exposed blond hair, blue eyes, blue jeans and short shirt in favour of linguistic and cultural competence. Well done USA/KSA diplomatic intervention!
It must have felt wonderful to be able to help her out like that!
Expat 21
@Spring – thanks! I’m also glad that I was there and able to assist.
@Tara – shukran aleki!!
@Spring – I follow you! (smile)
@gugu – I have found that people are generally people wherever one
goes and I’m no longer shy at the thought of saying a ‘hello’ or
’salam aliakum’ when traveling or seeing someone from afar in ‘my
territory.’
@Miriam Mac
Yes, indeed! It is a good feeling to not only have the language (up
to a point) but I do enjoy the look of surprise on the other faces
when they clearly do not expect a westerner to be speaking their
language – out of the Kingdom. Inside KSA I know of more westerners
who have taken some arabic than those who have not.
@caraboska – it’s funny you say that caraboska…just last night at
the hospital my family member was actually being tended by a male arab
nurse (just pure coincidence). They were conversing in arabic and at
one point I also chimed in (in arabic). The male nurse looked up in
surprise and said just what you commented that I was speaking with a
Saudi accent. I certainly was not aware of that but my husband also
agreed with him.
@Soumaya – I am presently in the Houston area and at least in my
present location I see abaya/niqab clad women every day from KSA,
Kuwait, Qatar, etc. I also see men in their thobes and smaughs too.
STAY TUNED AAFKE!
@DW – and I feel equally confident someone would help me out in turn
if necessary in KSA.
@mimi — that is funny! I guess I gave her something to think about
at least! (smile)
@chiara – yes, indeed! somehow when women are in a public washroom
some barriers seem to fall down and women will just naturally speak
with one another.
Only my friend Carol. Thank for putting a smile on my face. Your friend from Pittsburgh.
@Mary — I’d love to hear from you!! Please email me and I’ll give
you my US number!
Most exciting use of my Arabic ever? Helping an older Arab man get his tall hot chocolate from the three or four drinks at the end of a starbucks line. We were in some random Chicago suburb and he thanked me for the help, then did a giant double take. I smiled and left. It was the first time I used my Arabic outside the classroom.
Sometimes I wonder if he still remembers the random girl at Starbucks who spoke Arabic…
@Liz,
That is so cute! I like how we can get chances to practice when least expected!
Regards,
Carol