Of Men and Henna!

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Posted by Babaganooj on May 12, 2000 at 02:58:48:

In fact this was a follow-up of the question kenzi
asked about my experiences or my attitude towards
henna.

I lived in an urban setting in Syria where henna
was associated with women's desire to look their
best, even when time starts to show grey ones hereand there.

It's amazing how withing the same culture sometimes
things may vary on the local level. I mean you travel
only 45 minutes south of my hometown, and you find
henna being used for women not only on their hair
but as ornaments on their hands as well.

As a kid, I visited a rural wedding, and lined up
with the rest of the kids in that village ( from both genders by the way) and it was a bad memory after that
having been judged by the urban environment I returned to.
I decided not to touch it again, and to tell you the truth
I don't know if it was the association of that memory that made me feel that this thing smells funny.

Here is another thing that amazes me in my culture,
and it is also within driving distance that you see
how outlooks towards things change.

In my home town Aleppo (Halab) in the north of Syria,
I often sat in coffee shops in summer evenings and
smoked the Nargila (Hubble Bubble, or Hukkah) and chatted
and played cards with other guys there.

My father, in fact, has more than one, and is a proud
collector of some that he boasts belong to the Ottoman era.

You drive two hours west, and you reach Latakia, the coastal city, the main Syrian Port, and your concept
of Nargila acquires a whole new cultural meaning.
Nargila, my dear, in Latakia, is for women, shame befalls
the guy that thinks about sucking on that thing :-)))))

Regards

Babaganooj

Follow Ups:

Re: Of Men and Henna! Catherine Cartwright Jones 07:58:46 5/12/00 (3)
- Re: Of Men and Henna! Babaganooj 17:11:45 5/12/00 (2)
  - Sabah Fakhri Kree 07:42:10 5/16/00 (0)
  - Re: Of Men and Henna! Catherine Cartwright Jones 18:08:07 5/12/00 (0)

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: In fact this was a follow-up of the question kenzi : asked about my experiences or my attitude towards : henna. : I lived in an urban setting in Syria where henna : was associated with women's desire to look their : best, even when time starts to show grey ones hereand there. : It's amazing how withing the same culture sometimes : things may vary on the local level. I mean you travel : only 45 minutes south of my hometown, and you find : henna being used for women not only on their hair : but as ornaments on their hands as well. : As a kid, I visited a rural wedding, and lined up : with the rest of the kids in that village ( from both genders by the way) and it was a bad memory after that : having been judged by the urban environment I returned to. : I decided not to touch it again, and to tell you the truth : I don't know if it was the association of that memory that made me feel that this thing smells funny. : Here is another thing that amazes me in my culture, : and it is also within driving distance that you see : how outlooks towards things change. : In my home town Aleppo (Halab) in the north of Syria, : I often sat in coffee shops in summer evenings and : smoked the Nargila (Hubble Bubble, or Hukkah) and chatted : and played cards with other guys there. : My father, in fact, has more than one, and is a proud : collector of some that he boasts belong to the Ottoman era. : You drive two hours west, and you reach Latakia, the coastal city, the main Syrian Port, and your concept : of Nargila acquires a whole new cultural meaning. : Nargila, my dear, in Latakia, is for women, shame befalls : the guy that thinks about sucking on that thing :-))))) : Regards : Babaganooj

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