Just a quickie to let you know I'm back and fine. I learned a lot about what I will need for next time, even tho
it won't be for a week or so. I'll email again, but in a nut shell--IT WAS GREAT ! I have some great dance footage and
cultural background info.
my presence. After they got used to the actual sight of me, they became quite comfortable because I know the my
presence. After they got used to the actual sight of me, they became quite comfortable because I know the politeness
rules here and I quietly blended into the background as much as I could.
politeness rules here and I quietly blended into the background as much as I could.
At the end of the trip Mohammad told me he was testing 'me' and that I passed with flying colors. He was very excited
about my calmness, patience, politeness, etc. He was especially surprised at how I handled the children. Children can
be little pests here (as they were at this wedding). They try to get my attention in the
weirdest ways (hit me with sticks, pull my hair, throw rocks at me), it's not out of maliciousness, but just to get my
attention. I am so used to this over the years that it did not faze me at all and I reacted beautifully. I would say 'hello',
'what's your name' (in Arabic) and then tell them my name. With some of the major agitators, I would stand up and
greet them, introduce myself and shake their little hands. This quieted them down immediately and they left me alone.
Mohammad was very pleased. The village elder noticed this, too, and was also impressed that I didn't respond in
anger or get upset in any way when I was hit, etc.
Luckily I was dehydrated and only had to pee once during the festivities, but when I did, Mohammad escorted me to a
village house and the bathroom was a hole in the ground with shit and bugs every where--he waited outside and I
know he was expecting a reaction, I gave none--he was happy and relieved. Also, when I ate, they had wanted to set
up a chair and table for me and I absolutely refused, I sat on the ground like everyone else--another kudo for me.—no
special treatment.
I also ate everything they offered me with great appetite and enthusiasm (another big thing here). I'm pretty
acclimated to the food now, so I wasn't worried (besides, I'm loaded with meds in case of an emergency). Lastly, the
bugs. Carol, I've been living here a long time now, but never have I seen bugs like they had in this village. The
wedding took place in the middle of a corn field, so I think most of the bugs were vegetation type of bugs, so I wasn't
worried about anything being poisonous. I mostly sat on the ground throughout the festivities and bugs of all types
and sizes (flying and crawling) were all over me and flying into me at all times. I blew one filming shot because a big
flying thing hit me in the forehead and I flinched when it dropped down onto my neck and into my collar (had to get the
thing off me). But, throughout, I acted like I was totally used to all these bugs and never flinched or acted weird in
anyway. I would very calmly and casually brush them off as if it happened to me all the time. Mohammad was
especially shocked at my response to the bugs and commented on all these things after we were all done.
In the back of my head I knew this would be a test of 'me', too, so I'm glad I was psychologically prepared.
It was 104 degrees at midnight, so I was uncomfortable at times, but dealt with it. The ride in to the village was hot and
dusty and I was immediately dirty and grimy because the dust stuck to my sweat, but I didn't let it bother me. We
made a stop on the way in and picked up a duck. I sat next to the duck on the way in to the festivities. It cracked me
up to be sitting next to a duck, but I acted like I sit next to ducks all the time (the duck
was a gift for the bride).
I did end up with 2 giant mosquito bites on my eyelid (what a horrible place to be bit). My eye was swollen shut for a
day, but I wasn't concerned. I put a little benedryl cream on it to keep me from touching it and making it worse. I'm
fine now.
More later.
it won't be for a week or so. I'll email again, but in a nut shell--IT WAS GREAT ! I have some great dance footage and
cultural background info.
my presence. After they got used to the actual sight of me, they became quite comfortable because I know the my
presence. After they got used to the actual sight of me, they became quite comfortable because I know the politeness
rules here and I quietly blended into the background as much as I could.
politeness rules here and I quietly blended into the background as much as I could.
At the end of the trip Mohammad told me he was testing 'me' and that I passed with flying colors. He was very excited
about my calmness, patience, politeness, etc. He was especially surprised at how I handled the children. Children can
be little pests here (as they were at this wedding). They try to get my attention in the
weirdest ways (hit me with sticks, pull my hair, throw rocks at me), it's not out of maliciousness, but just to get my
attention. I am so used to this over the years that it did not faze me at all and I reacted beautifully. I would say 'hello',
'what's your name' (in Arabic) and then tell them my name. With some of the major agitators, I would stand up and
greet them, introduce myself and shake their little hands. This quieted them down immediately and they left me alone.
Mohammad was very pleased. The village elder noticed this, too, and was also impressed that I didn't respond in
anger or get upset in any way when I was hit, etc.
Luckily I was dehydrated and only had to pee once during the festivities, but when I did, Mohammad escorted me to a
village house and the bathroom was a hole in the ground with shit and bugs every where--he waited outside and I
know he was expecting a reaction, I gave none--he was happy and relieved. Also, when I ate, they had wanted to set
up a chair and table for me and I absolutely refused, I sat on the ground like everyone else--another kudo for me.—no
special treatment.
I also ate everything they offered me with great appetite and enthusiasm (another big thing here). I'm pretty
acclimated to the food now, so I wasn't worried (besides, I'm loaded with meds in case of an emergency). Lastly, the
bugs. Carol, I've been living here a long time now, but never have I seen bugs like they had in this village. The
wedding took place in the middle of a corn field, so I think most of the bugs were vegetation type of bugs, so I wasn't
worried about anything being poisonous. I mostly sat on the ground throughout the festivities and bugs of all types
and sizes (flying and crawling) were all over me and flying into me at all times. I blew one filming shot because a big
flying thing hit me in the forehead and I flinched when it dropped down onto my neck and into my collar (had to get the
thing off me). But, throughout, I acted like I was totally used to all these bugs and never flinched or acted weird in
anyway. I would very calmly and casually brush them off as if it happened to me all the time. Mohammad was
especially shocked at my response to the bugs and commented on all these things after we were all done.
In the back of my head I knew this would be a test of 'me', too, so I'm glad I was psychologically prepared.
It was 104 degrees at midnight, so I was uncomfortable at times, but dealt with it. The ride in to the village was hot and
dusty and I was immediately dirty and grimy because the dust stuck to my sweat, but I didn't let it bother me. We
made a stop on the way in and picked up a duck. I sat next to the duck on the way in to the festivities. It cracked me
up to be sitting next to a duck, but I acted like I sit next to ducks all the time (the duck
was a gift for the bride).
I did end up with 2 giant mosquito bites on my eyelid (what a horrible place to be bit). My eye was swollen shut for a
day, but I wasn't concerned. I put a little benedryl cream on it to keep me from touching it and making it worse. I'm
fine now.
More later.
Subject: Bugs--Not the Watergate Kind
