Back

Hey people, I’m back. After that last post I figured I couldn’t handle it, had to pack up and leave. Was planning to get away only for the week-end, but decided to stay a few days longer, and then a few days longer…
I had a great time. Yes, I hate Abu Dhabi weather and what it does to my hair, I hate it that it is so hot, I hate the humidity, I hate that whenever a girl goes out a guy has to flirt with her (actually I don’t) but I LOVE the people who live there (mainly, my family). I spent some time with my cousin Saeeda and I learnt a lot about taking care of babies (Saeeda’s sister just had a baby, the little one is just over a month old and certainly the cutest little being I’ve ever laid eyes on, I’ll post her picture). But let’s just say I won’t be having any children of my own any time soon. Then I spent some time with my cousin Yusra, chilled with her brother’s wife (the one who got married a month ago). I still haven’t managed to have a whole conversation with her, the house is so crowded, but I can tell she’s perfect for my cousin. I love happy weddings, especially successful arranged marriages. It makes me believe that sometimes parents do know best. Anyway, I spent some time with my uncle’s little baby (the one who refuses to cry). He bites his tongue and always looks like he is in deep thought when he does that. Probably wondering what to laugh about next. Sadly, no success in trying to make him cry yet. He is too happy, mashalla. I think I would rather have a baby boy. They’re less fussy. But then again, two incidents made me realize that having kids is such a great responsiblity, greater than I ever thought. One was losing my little cousin, 4 years old, in the park. Her name is Sara and she is truly hyperactive. We were sitting on the grass and suddenly she got up and decided to leave. By the time we managed to get up and start after her, she was off to some underground tunnel and running. We lost sight of her and that's when we panicked. She still has no concept of danger, is not afraid of strangers, and is very trusting. The 3 of us split up to look for her and my cousin asked a man if he saw a little girl in blue. He said yeah, she ran off to the road (on the main street!). Finally we found her, and the moment Sara saw my cousin (my cousin later told us) she looked scared, and then relieved, and then angry, and said loudly "Areeed Mama!!!" (I want mom). So maybe that means she did experience some fear when she realized we weren't playing a game anymore. The other incident was having my other cousin, 7 months old, drop from the bed. It's not as bad as it sounds. We put him in the middle of the bed and decided that if he wanted to roll over, he would either roll to the left or to the right. So we placed a blanket on either side of him. Then we sat on the floor and started playing cards. A few minutes into the game we heard this great "thump" and I got dizzy with fear. I kept searching the bed for him but I couldn't see him anywhere. Finally my cousin noticed two little feet sticking up from under a blanket, on the floor, and I pulled the blanket up, and there was my baby cousin. Needless to say, he was laughing his little head off. He had decided to roll frontwards, since on both sides of him there were barriers, and he fell with the blanket on top of him. Luckily he dropped onto a mattress that we were sitting on. It was a funny incident, we were laughing like crazy, especially cause the little one seemed to want to do it again. But I'm afraid to think what would have happened if there was no mattress. So yeah, no kids any time soon. It would probably also mean that I'd have to grow up, and I really have no intentions of doing that anytime soon.
I also met up with my grandmother and aunt. Yes, they did the whole pitying me for not having my dad around thing. But I didn’t mind so much this time, I actually found it amusing. My cousin and I cracked up every time they swore at my dad for leaving. It’s like, he is their own son/brother and yet they enjoy trashing him so much. Besides, Swahili swearing is HILARIOUS. They come up with all sorts of analogies. It was too funny to take seriously. Its like when a mother complains about her son, but she does so lovingly, you know? “Your father is so immature, he is SUCH a womanizer!” with just a little hint of pride right there. Really amusing.
I went to another wedding this weekend and for the first time I’ve been to an Arab wedding where the bride was not timid or coy at all. She walked down the isle and every time someone would snap a picture she would actually strike a pose, lift up a shoulder, wink, and giggle at the camera. It was absolutely adorable. Next night they had a big dinner party and she belly-danced like you wouldn’t believe. I loved it. One of the girls explained to me that she was the youngest child of this millionaire in Dubai, and she was the last of his daughters to get married, and that she was absolutely spoiled and indulged with anything she ever wanted, and now she was leaving her mom and dad and moving to AD to be with the man she loves. I danced with her a bit and I think I would love to be that outgoing and unreserved at my own wedding, instead of the usual bashful, nervous, coy look that most brides go for.
So much talk of weddings! Must be boring you out of your minds!
Oh, yeh, and I had a great birthday. I sat at my cousin’s place and watched TV, and had some cake and tea later on. Turning 20 is cool, but I still wish I could have stayed 18 for the rest of my life. I just got home and I’m going to bed. Hope you all missed me.