When in Rome……everyone has heard this saying. Here, obviously, it is “When in Abu Dhabi…” It happens to all of us. After ripping one long skirt (can’t show the ankles at school you know) and having another one spend the day creeping up my waist, I bought some Abayas. It costs $3 a piece to get them picked up, dry cleaned, and delivered by a really cure guy AND it saves me time in the morning. I throw on a pair of shorts or leggings and a tank top then pull on the abaya and roll. Coming home is the same: I pull off the abaya, drink a pot of coffee, and head to the gym. NO, I do not wear a Shayla. I CANNOT stand having anything on my head. Except my sunglasses. That’s only because it keeps me from losing them or sitting on them.
Nowhere is the old adage about Rome truer than in the towers where we are experiencing a population explosion of sorts. The western teachers are joining their Arabic counterparts and getting pregnant by the dozens!! The number of babies expected between May and August is staggering. Soon the building will be teeming with nannies! Now me, I would take a pass on having a baby in a country where you have to severe a limb to get a Percocet. Wallah! There were 2 different pregnant women in the pool at various times during my workout yesterday. There is no way I am ever getting in that pool. Maybe that’s where the babies are coming from!!
As the months have gone by, we have also seen an outbreak of Arabish. This is when one speaks English with random Arabic words thrown in. Obviously, they have to be used correctly. You do it occasionally to get your students attention and then it becomes second nature. Teaching High Schools girls as I do, they enjoy teaching me new words. They, however, did not enjoy it so much when the principal showed up in my 11-4 class to yell at me for sending 4 girls out to get a “test I forgot”. As I was explaining that they walked out without permission and that their make-up test was in my bag……and she wasn’t listening….I looked at the girls in question……and screamed “Cathaba”. Even the principal took a step back and blinked. It was very effective!!
Common Arabic words used in Arabish:
Wallah: (I swear to Allah/God)
cathaba: (liar)
khallas: (finished, done, over) or as I use it: STFU
zanuba:(bathroom shoes, i.e. flip flops)
hamam: (bathroom)
habla: (teacher)
haram: (unclean)
shukran: (thank-you)
afwan: (you’re welcome)
la: (no) I have a tendency to start singing lalalalalalalalalala
mafi mashcala:(no problem)
jazza saeeda: (happy weekend)
perfect, Bev!! Now how do you say FUBUR in arabic? After communicating with some of you already there, I think it's a term I'll need...
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