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For a better YOU.
A mish-mash of beauty, fashion brand launches, sweetened with recipes and restaurant reviews, a dose of health, and pinch of life.
Find out what's hot, in fashion, food and fitness and of course beauty!
As you know I'm a huge Taylor Swift fan, but when I watched this new 'remix' I laughed till tears came out of my eyes. Check it out, and let me know what you think. :D
Every time there is a school holiday Jeddah is flooded with visitors from other cities in Saudi Arabia. Now for those of you who maybe unaware, Jeddah is the Paris of Saudi Arabia. Seriously, I kid you not. People think Jeddahwis are quite liberal and rather depraved, I might add. There is a burgeoning expat community, a pretty dormant PVPV or mutawah, and it has the Corniche beach and Obhur Creek beach resorts. The visitors are attracted to the beach like flies to honey. Its hard to find a place to park from 5pm till 4am!
Many of the Saudi visitors are from Riyadh, and Jeddawis can spot them a mile away. They walk around like they own the place, drive crazier (yes I know its possbile), and love to wear their esteemed headgear everywhere and all the time. You may remember that a while ago I did a post called How Not to Wear a Ghutra/Shemagh, this was targeted generally at Hollywood producers and the odd Western expat trying to assimiliate. Well, now I think I need to do a post targeted at Saudis from Riyadh, Where not to wear the ghutra/shemagh!
Captions are welcome
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I was asked to give Saudi students travelling to the U.K some orientation training, and instead of simply handing them the above list, which I feel is more appropriate if you are in a business/work context, I would make use of my own experiences at uni in London.
The first few days I spent running around doing the things freshers do: registration, trying to find classes, and auditoriums, a place to sit in the cafeteria, etc. I found most of the students were quite friendly, and was setlling in fast, there was just one problem: Every time I met someone and said 'Hi!' the ' Hi!" would be returned accompanied by an "Are you alrght?""You alright?"
Now the first time, although I was slightly taken aback, by being asked whether I was alright, I'd been rushing to make it to class- so I probably did look a bit flustered. As I continued to get the 'You alright" thrown at me, I actually went to the ladies' and gave myself a quick once over, IMHO I didn't look like I'd been struck by lightning or run over by a bus. I reapplied my Body Shop Strawberry lipbalm, pinched my cheeks, I tend to look pale in the cold, and returned to class. As the day progressed the 'You alright' s didn't cease. Exasperated, I finally yelled at asked someone: " I'm fine! Why does everyone keep asking me that-do I look that bad?!'
The poor girl, eyes widened, said that she was just being polite..looking at the incredulous look on my face ..she asked 'Don't you ask someone when you meet them how they are?'
It started to dawn on me that You alright? = How are you?
Now, why wasn't that in the Freshers' handbook? Over the next few weeks I discovered other international students, and American students who'd been through the same thing, and being self-conscious freshers had ended up feeling far from alright!
Other terms you might like to keep a note of:
Uni= university -US-school Read -
If someone asks you what you read at university, they mean what was your major at school
Halls= Dorms Duvet -
Most Brits have dispensed with blankets and sheets and now sleep under a duvet. It is similar to a comforter
but has a removable cover that can be washed. Duvet's warmth is
measured in togs, 2 or 3 togs for summer duvets and 11 or more for
winter ones. Wicked= Great Smashing = Terrific Pants= is short for Underpants not Trousers... Cheers=Thanks..sometimes G'bye Quid =
A pound in money is called a quid.
Luv, Hun, Ducky= Habibti :-) Arse =It basically means the same as ass,
but is much ruder. It is used in phrases like "pain in the arse" (a
nuisance) or I "can't be arsed" (I can't be bothered) or you might hear
something was "a half arsed attempt" meaning that it was not done
properly. Bollocks= Not good/Rubbish.. Chuffed=Pleased Gutted=Really upset Naff = Uncool. Nosh/Grub=
Food Waffle= To waffle means to talk on and on about nothing Quite =
When used alone, this word means the same as absolutely!
Pear shaped=
If something has gone pear shaped it means it has become a disaster. .
Chips -
French Fries Crisps- Chips- Lays etc Doner -
Short for a doner kebab- abit like a Shawerma but ususally the Turkish version Lemonade -
Lemonade in England is a clear, sparkling, lemon flavoured drink Seven-up and sprite would both qualify as lemonade in England.
Jacket potato -
Baked potato 99 -
When you visit England, go up to the ice cream van and ask for a 99. You
will get a cone filled with soft ice cream and a Cadbury's flake - a long crumbly stick of chocolate White goods -
When you visit a British store that sells things for the home you will find a section for white goods. These are the electrical appliances
that you have in your kitchen or utility room like fridges, freezers,
washing machines and driers. The name is cunningly derived from their
colour!
I'll leave you with this flashback from the nineties, East 17's It's alright :-)
The more I blog the more comfortable I am with posting things which maybe of a controversial nature. In real life I avoid controversy and contradiction if I can help it. I'm no doormat though, if you provoke me or if I feel the need to express my values or take a stand I'll do it-passionately. But, I don't enjoy it. The anonymity of a blog, the lack of comments(turns out this can be a good thing) has made me more willing to post things some people might take issue with.
I saw the following video on the Colours of My Life Blog by Shahirah Elaizah, and I found it hilarious so I thought why not share. in my experience I think it is a better caricature of American white people as compared to white Britsh people as the ones in the big cities are more culturally aware.
Having said that, not all white Americans are like this, and even if they are..its a product of the society they have been brought up in- with Fox and CNN shaping their views on the outside world for many.
Even in the U.K, some of the students I became friends with, had never met let alone been friends with a non-white person before...so there's a reason they don't quite know what to say- at least they are trying...right? Its better than a racial slur.
Again, my dear American readers, this isn't intended to be racist it is supposed to funny, its good for you to know what the other side thinks when you say such stuff, a bit like the movie Crash but much more light-hearted. Think of it as intercultural dialogue!
*Disclaimer: I love Saudi Arabia and its wonderful people;
this post is not meant to be offensive, or judgemental about anyone or their
culture. It is written for the purpose of light hearted entertainment, and if someone reads it
they might be able to shed some light on the matter ....*
WHY?
1. When a couple dines out, more often than not they sit next
to each other, rather than opposite each other. I always thought it would be easier
to talk if you are facing one another, (Please get your mind out of the gutter;
overt p.d.a is not an option in Saudi.) Although you see less of this seating
arrangement now, it still happens.
2. When someone bumps into you by accident etc, instead of
saying ‘Sorry’ or انا اسفه / انا اسف,
people often say ma3lesh which basically means it’s okay-no problem/no harm
done, for a while this used to really aggravate me: Excuse me! I will be the judge
of that, I’m the ‘victim’ or aggrieved party here. But as it’s said with a
smile, and some (hey chill out dude) gestures, you get used to it and just accept it, as instead of
sorry, but deep down you know that it doesn't really mean sorry, although some people including Google translate it as forgive me, you know. It is a malady that can affects the whole culture and create a somewhat irresposible attitude to things, it can be found in Egypt as well. Again, I’ve noticed the younger set has switched
to the English- "Sorry" or its Arabic equivalent.
3. When strict
segregation of sexes is practiced everywhere but male gynaecologists are common. You would think all the male ob-gyns would be
unemployed.
4.We have male lingerie
salesmen, see above-thankfully this is slowly being phased out.
5. Bedouin women, who
live in the villages/desert can drive-yes, they can and do; while urban women can’t. It seems they are far
more modernised. It has been said that they can take care of themselves, as
they carry guns. I guess it’s high time designers such as Gucci, LV, and Burberry introduced their
own line of revolvers, and pistols, the empowerment of urban Saudi ladies depends on it!
Until then will a BB gun do?
Remember if you are here, please drop me a line to let me know, what you think of this post or my blog in general.
