“My neighbor was Arab, ” a lady at work said, “AND THEY ARE GORGEOUS! Mona!! Your eyes and Arab makeup are amazing!”

Arab makeup? What Arab makeup I thought to my self. Dark eye shadow and eye liner are classified as Arab makeup only?

I told her, “Thanks!”

She then said, “Years ago I went to a Lebanese wedding, and oh boy, I had fun! Weddings with traditions are amazing!”

I said, “You should see the modern Arab weddings. Show room lovely girls.”

She said, “Oh I bet! I want to go to one so bad!”

Mind you guys, this lady is in her late 40′s, and amazingly beautiful for her age. I can see men now staring seductively at her. I wish when I am her age I can even look close to what she is now.

Oh well, it is good to know that Arabs are known for something very positive! I am sick of the media and closed minded idiots continually labeling Arabs as terrorists. That really pisses me off!

I wish now that Arabs walk that extra mile and continue contributing to enhance their culture and become world leaders in everything else!

Blah Blah, Culture, Thank you, They said what?, Whatever!

I was listening to a podcast today at work, and yes, I use a Macintosh and I use iTunes because it is FREE! Anyways, one of the podcast topics was how far can we remember? Most Scientists say that we can remember things as far back as three years old.

(This is a picture of me (MONA) when I was 2.5 years old!)

So, I thought about it, and I have many recollections when I was very young. One memorializing event was when I realized how people look at me from a distant. Because I saw my self in the mirror all the time, I kept wondering how I looked like in someone else’s eye. Strange as it may sound, but I do remember that.

I also remember the time when we arrived home from a long trip. I remember bags brought in to the house, and me standing looking around the house leaning against the wall in the living room.

I also remember one time when we were on a trip, and my dad did not want to drive in the mud, and the trip was over!

I finally remember, and I was always remember when my mom used to rock me to sleep in the balcony and sing me songs. The reason I remember this because my mom keeps telling me that she had serious time putting me to sleep when I was young.

I don’t know what age I was. I could have been 3, 4 or 5. All I remember was vague images of childhood. Some say it is best to not look at pictures when you were young, especially event related pictures, and try to remember something from the past.

Do you remember anything as far back as three years old?

Blah Blah, Geeky, Random Thoughts, They said what?, Whatever!

Now that’s new!

Oh my Lord! I have not had any hate mail or any form of negative criticism in a while!

You guys make me super happy. And for this guy who figured out my real motives and my medical needs, well, all I can say is, “Grazie!! Ti amo!”

Your Name:   Common Sense
Email:  melon_mec3@hotmail.com

Dear Rebellious Arab Chick,

What is wrong with you? I can understand your frustrations but why would you make a career out of this. Whats next…anti-arab merchandise???????

My dear you dont a website…what you need is to lie on a nice couch and spew all your insecurities to a psychiatrist…..

I don’t know if you knows this but arabs weren’t built in an assembly line…they come in different sizes, colors and walks of life….but you wouldn’t know that since you’re too busy trashing your own.

Yes we have problems but thats the result of “devious socio-economic conditions” imposed by evil western nations….

The other day you where complaining that arab guys like to imitate movies like the Godfather but thats every North American Male’s fantasy…that and scarface…

Right now I’m havig second thoughts about emailing you because for all I know you could be some Israelie linguist creating this blog for ‘Negative PR” purposes

…Or you’re probably some pathetic girl just hngry for attention…

What I’m trying to say is “Get a life”..take everything with stride, try to assimilate, and have a positive attitude towards life.

Blah Blah, Culture, Idiots, They said what?, Whatever!

I received an email today, and I thought to my self, “Did I just write this and email it to my self?” I do that a lot, but come on!! I always thought I was the odd one out with unprecedented thoughts, but I guess not!

So, a cute Palestinian girl from Finland emailed me today telling me that she is stuck in the middle, and it is something she realized later on!

She wrote:

Hi Mona!

I want to tell you something. I must say, that I like everything you write. It reminds me of my “inner-self” and the way I am in my heart. Rebellious.

I want to share the way I feel, as an Arab girl, with you. Mostly because I feel like you understand.

Let me add to this story; that I live in Europe. My mother is a European and my father is an Arab.

Now, I remember that there was an Arabic guy writing to you about marriages between Arabs and non-Arabs. In this case, the marriage didn’t last forever.  But believe it or not, it was not because they lived and had different cultures. There were other reasons.  I’d also like to say, that my mother re-married another Arab man. And she converted also to Islam. And their marriage has last this far.

Now I’d like to get back to the real story. It hasn’t always been easy to live in Europe as an Arab girl.

I have always been afraid that I’d say something wrong, if I express myself.

I was taught during my early teen life, that I had to be careful how I talked and expressed myself.

Now, in Europe they live differently. There are not any specific limits how you can express yourself, especially in the northern parts of Europe.

I was afraid of talking about my feelings with my family, just in case they wouldn’t accept the way I thought.  But I learned quickly I could talk with my good European friends. These friends also understood my Arabic culture. I want to say that I love many things in my culture, but I don’t like to feel insecure.

As I grew older and my friends started talking about guys, I felt I didn’t belong with my friends.

They went out with guys and talked about things with them. When they wanted me to talk with a friend of their, that was a guy, I didn’t know what to say. I was afraid I’d say something terribly wrong and they would think I am a bad girl. I started to worry so much about what others were thinking about my appearance. I started to worry what would happen if I lived a liberal life, like a European.

Maybe my family would reject me?  But I lived all my life among my friends and knew what kind of life they lived. I came to the decision that I didn’t belong to the Arab culture, nor the European.

I was something in the middle of these two.

Last year, I understood that I had to stop looking for other people’s acceptance. Because, in the end God, Allah, made me to the person I am. I love myself for who I am. I don’t say sorry for the way I think now. I maybe act more like an Arab girl, but there is also something European in me.

Before I could feel sinful and bad, but I think it was time to show people that I stand up for myself.

As I was younger I tried to be a perfect Arab girl. But I would have lied, not only to other people, but to myself. I am no less Arab than anyone else, but I have an opinion and I want to express how I feel without feeling ashamed or afraid of rejection.

So what do you think? Are you stuck in the middle too?

Blah Blah, Culture, Palestine, Religion, They said what?

Today, I had a conversation with a co-worker about homeless people. He kept complaining that there are so many of them, even young ones that are begging in the streets. Since I work in the heart of downtown, it is more common to find them.

I told him, “Yah.. I give them money all the time. Sometimes 5 dollars, sometimes 10 dollars. Whatever I can give.”

He said, “What? You give them money, and THAT much? They should go find a job. Even minimum wage is better than begging.”

I said, “You don’t know their situations. When I see someone so skinny and helpless begging for change, I am not going to turn the other way. I don’t care if I don’t get junk food with it. Someone else needs it!”

He was still mystified and then said, “You know our tax money goes to the welfare people.”

I said, “I am aware of it. I am not happy about it. I don’t think it is even enough money to give to people. It’s below poverty for those people that receive welfare. However, it helps a lot of people in bad situations. So it’s not good or bad. ”

He was still amazed with the whole conversation. So what? Give money to the poor people. Don’t judge them and wonder why they cannot get a job like us. Not everyone is lucky or has a stable life or people supporting them. Give people a break!

Angry, Blah Blah, Random Thoughts, They said what?, Whatever!