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You
can call me Tina. But my real name is Her Highness Sheikha Fatima
Bin Mohammed Ali Al Abu Bin Nahyan. I was born in a country called
United Arab Emirates and for the North Americans out there, it's
right next to Iraq. In fact, Saddam Hussein is a distant cousin
of my fiancé, Mohammed. I was born the third daughter of my father's
ninth wife. My father's name is Mohammed. My father is a wealthy
landowner who owns four score ten flock and herd, and his camels
are some of the swiftest in the land. One day I was summoned to
his chambers and was informed that I was to journey to a distant
land to be instructed in the ways of the west. I was nervous because
I had never stepped outside the women's chambers of the palace
before. In fact, this was the first time I had ever seen my father's
private quarters.
In the
honor of my exodus my father held a huge feast and we ate of the
fattened calf. After traveling by camels for seven suns, we reached
Baghdad by the morn of the eighth sun. And lo, before my eyes was
Allah in the form of a great white dove. This "aero-plane" was to
carry me to the promised land. Upon arrival at the university I
found myself surrounded by faces as white as the holy scrolls, speaking
a foreign tongue. I was then presented to my future roommate. I
could see why my father had sent me here. It was just like home!
Only they referred to the women's chambers as "Fraser Hall." As
I stepped outside the confines of my residence, an overwhelming
fear swept over my entire body at being in the presence of the forbidden
gender. I felt naked without my veil and despite my fear proceeded
cautiously. The soles of my feet throbbed with excruciating pain.
It was difficult having to walk everywhere. I was so used to being
carried around.
As I
rested on my bed at the end of my grand tour I was well aware of
the feeling of sadness that had engulfed me. I missed home. I missed
the smiles of my camels. I missed my daily afternoon fresh goat
milk. As I looked at the white girl sitting across the room, I knew
she would never feed me grapes like my servants did at home.
Riiiiiiiiiight!
And Caucasian is a type of dog. Well, that is what I thought when
I first came here. I guess we all have our share of ignorance. I
might have exaggerated for the most part, but I do come from a country
called United Arab Emirates and these were truly some of the myths
imposed upon me. And it's hard when the country in which you have
lived your entire life is non-existent to those around you.
I speak
English. I know what McDonald's is. I know the lyrics to the song
"Torn" by Natalie Imbruglia. My father is a partner in an advertising
company. And I will get married when I darn well want to, to whomever
I want to! Just a suggestion, guys: Be sensitive, don't over-generalize
and don't be scared to talk to us. You will find out that we are
not all that different from you.
And
by the way, my real name is Tina Elizabeth Anthony Francis. Not
all that exotic, eh? And… I actually, know only two Mohammeds.
Copyright
© 2001 Tina Francis. All Rights Reserved.
Tina Francis is an 18-year-old communications major in her sophomore
year at Trinity Western University. As you can see, she is extremely
passionate about her country and it infuriates her that it remains
unknown to the rest of the world (primarily North Americans)!
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