After
class on Thursday, November 8, 2012, I made plans to meet with my friend Clara,
from South Korea, and Abdul, from Saudi Arabia.
I decided that Momo’s would be an interesting setting and would probably
be very entertaining for both of them because I feel like it is a food landmark
in Tallahassee. Abdul had already eaten,
but Clara and I ate pizza slices “as big as your head.” We were all intrigued by how the employees
threw the dough to get it to be so enormous!
I liked having Clara around because the three of us had constant questions
for each other based on all our curiosities.
Somehow, we started to discuss
weddings. I think we began on this topic
because Abdul was talking about his sister.
He said that he loved having her around because she would always cook and
clean for him. I asked him if he thought
she would ever be interested in attending CIES and living in the states. Apparently, this was not an option. She wasn’t comfortable to be in a new, far-away
place, and she was already engaged anyways.
The marriage was pre-arranged, but Abdul thought that she was happy with
the man and the arrangements. He said
that many of his friends that were women had the option and even made the
decision to reject their suitors. He
said that the women were usually happy with the dowry system, as well, because
it allowed them money to use to go shopping.
It seems like shopping is universally accepted as a feminine hobby. I wouldn’t dare admit that I don’t
particularly enjoy it for fear that it would make me seem less woman-like!
I think different dating and marriage customs is a fascinating topic and exchange with our friends from other cultures. We could all learn a thing or two from each other.
ReplyDeleteIt has been an incredibly peaceful endeavor to put all judgements and misconceptions behind, and truly listen wholeheartedly to the stories of life from the perspective of the individual living in that different (and sometimes peculiar) culture.
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