Florida is very multi-cultural. . . . Much of Florida is comprised of people from the North so the culture is rather different from deep south states like GA or AL. However, there are advantages to this. Have you ever visited a state and felt like an outsider? Well, I have visited many states, and although I didn't fully realize it I have felt like an outsider. But it's not the same in Florida. It's impossible to feel like an outsider because most people that you see are technically "outsiders" as well! It's quite common to be asked where you're from and then hear that the person you're talking to is from somewhere else as well, but you both feel quite comfortable in Florida. The fact is, everybody is so united in their outsidership that there are virtually no outsiders!
Well, Florida ain't got nothin' on Dubai. Last night when I was Skyping with Craig, he asked, "Why don't you just study Arabic there?" The simple answer? Because I feel stupid talking Arabic on the street. I might as well study Arabic in Boston! Or Dearborn, Michigan! Betcha there's more Arabic spoken in Dearborn than here!
At the grocery store last night, the cashier was a Filipina. Same in McDonald's. Many of our neighbors here in the housing division are Indian. I go to the store and hear American accents, British, South African . . . rarely Arabic. Wikipedia states that less than 20% of the population of the country is Emirati. So four out of every five people I'm going to bump into here are outsiders. Kind of like Florida. Only not exactly like Florida, because not everyone is going to be as welcomed here (because of the blatant racism previously referenced), or thus as comfortable.
Still, it's a fascinating melting pot of cultures and can sometimes lead to some interesting interactions! Case in point: A South African couple has befriended us. They moved here just three months ago, so we share newbie common ground. Christine took us out last Thursday (as also previously referenced). The night before, she texted me this: "Ya, I'll fetch you. Bring your cozys!" I puzzled over "cozys" when I got the message. Too stubborn to text her back and ask, I Googled it. (Good ol' Google to the rescue!) No luck. I talked it over with Hannah and Sha. The closest thing I could land on was comfortable clothing, like comfies. But it could mean anything! Friends, sneakers, gym clothes . . . When Christine pulled up to our house the next morning, I asked her. "Oh, it's what you go swimming in! Your costume--cozy! What do you call it?" It was hard for her to get her mind around "bathing suit" or "swimsuit." We shared a good chuckle.
And then there's Ruby, the Indian house helper for the family Danny and Hannah stay with. She asked Hannah is she wanted her to make "luns" one day. Luns? Hannah could not understand! Danny reminded us of the times in Arabic we have used a word that is so close to the correct word, but not quite there, and we've utterly stumped people. It's a frustrating feeling, because what we want to say is so obvious to us. Well, it's obvious to Ruby that luns is the midday meal, lunch. And now that Hannah knows, she can graciously answer "yes."
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