In memory of those who lost their lives today...

It's September 11. And I think we can all remember where we were and how we found out about the tragedy of the World Trade Centers 11 years ago. I find it ironic, and in a TOTALLY non-racist way, that I am living in a city where the majority of people are of Arab origin and Arabic is the second most common language and today was my first Arabic class. Now, I say this because these key words "Arab, Arabic" have a certain connotation in the States. I don't mean that everyone who hears this word is racist and thinks of terrorists, but in the back of our minds, culturally we can't help it, there is a little negative voice that reminds us of the connotation with Arabs and the U.S.. I feel privileged to be in a place where I can really learn about Arab culture to help break down the stéreotypes.

Arabic is hard. Like, really hard. But I love the challenge. Our professor, Hilda, teaches very non-traditionally, and is very unorganized in my opinion. But I love her energy and she is encouraging when we are clearly overwhelmed by the very foreign sounds we are not used to hearing. We already have to memorize certain parts of the alphabet, so I think by the time we go to Morocco in November, and at the end of the semester, we will feel stronger on our feet with the language.



More Facts de Fun:

For those of you who are curious about what life is like in the city:

1. There is no such thing as pedestrian rights in the street. ça n'existe pas. You must ALWAYS look where you're going, even when you have the right of way, sinon vous allez vous faire crié par le conducteur!! Ou pire, vous allez vous faire blessé! Très peu de gens sont assez gentils de vous laisser passer.

2. If you are a woman, you don't respond to men in the street. I suppose it might be like this in big cities around the world. But the goal for women in France is to be the femme fatale, avec le regard indifférent et confiant, qui ne répond pas à l'homme qui vous donne des compliments dans la rue. Often when I don't respond to men, they tell me, "Oh you could at least say thank you!" But they don't mean it, they are just trying to get a reaction out of you.

More later!

Bises,
Katherine