Sketching

I am a compulsive fidget-er. One of my early memories consists of me trying to sit on my mother's lap during church and she, understandably, having to move me off because I couldn't sit still. I was dubbed a "wiggle worm" and deservedly so. I've always maintained this is one of the reasons why I took to playing an instrument so readily. My fingers don't like to remain still and music is a great occupation for them... so is doodling. My school papers generally had very neat precise outlined notes on one side and margins filled from top to bottom with patterns, picture fragments, and ornate letters on the other.

I haven't seemed to break this habit and honestly haven't found any real need to. However, since the majority of my Arabic learning is spent listening to recordings of my lessons, I've had to brain-storm some ideas of how to keep my hands occupied (picking at callouses or the dirt under my nails not generally being acceptable or preferable...) During the winter I would knit. As it is now too hot for me to want to handle anything warm, I have taken to sketching. Thankfully I have wonderful blank walls and grateful friends that I can distribute to, so I'm not inundated with my drawings.

 

Matthew 11:28 - 30 in Arabic

 

My List of Nationalities

It's almost impossible to be invisible walking down the street of a smaller Arab city as a foreigner. I may not dress like a tourist yet on most days walking outside I will be greeted with a "Hello, how are you?" and on the rare occasion, it will be followed by a swear word when I don't respond. I think they are just trying out the English they know from watching films, though there could be other motivations as well, but as the local women here do not talk to men or young boys on the street, I follow their example and ignore the comments. To be honest there are days, particularly when I am tired, that I would much rather be left alone and not be quite so visible. However, for the majority of the time I find ways to treat it as amusing. 

For example... I have a list of nationalities. Nine times out of ten they will guess correctly that I am American and start speaking to me in English but every once in a while I will be greeted or asked if I am from someplace else. To be greeted differently is almost refreshing and so I have a little inward smile and laugh... and keep walking. Over four months I've been able to gather quite the interesting list so please enjoy:

1. Enti urduniyye? (Are you Jordanian?) - I got this question within my first month and it surprised me. Yet, there are some Arabs who do have light colored eyes and even hair so I guess it's not impossible.
2. Enti arabiyye? (Are you Arabic?) - This is along the same lines as the first, though a bit more general.
3. Enti turkiyye? (Are you Turkish?) - On the occasion I heard this one I was walking home and a group of young men asked in rapid succession whether I was a foreigner, Arabic, or Turkish. They didn't really give me a chance to respond which was just as well since I wouldn't have anyway.
4. Ajnobiyye! (Foreigner!) - I think I've already explained this one in an earlier post.
5. British - Well, the speaking English part is correct anyway....
6. Bonjour! - Apparently this fellow who greeted me on the street thought I was French.
7. Swiss! - I'm not exactly sure why this pair of young men keep on shouting "Swiss" at my friend and I, but I added it to this list.
8. Russian - This was asked in a village where some of the men had married Russian women. They also asked me if I wanted to get married...

And here are my favorite two because they make absolutely no sense whatsoever:

9. Ya Hindi! - This little boy decided to call me Indian. As far as I know, I don't look a bit like I'm from India but hey, the people there are quite beautiful so I think I'll take it as a compliment.
10. Nee Hao - Why someone decided to greet me in Chinese I will also never know...