My night with the Palestinians

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Posted by Lauren on September 26, 2001 at 17:23:45:

First, I gotta thank you all for all the nice stuff you said about
me.

Anyway, I was supposed to go to the house where they're staying at 7,
but got a call during the day to say they were visiting relatives
until 7:30 and could I come at 8. I try to go to bed by 9, but
having told them that, we decided it would be worthwhile to go and do
what i could int he time I had. They're leaving this week so this
would be the last chance.
I got there as they were saying goodbye to some of their relatives.
They asked why I was there and when the hosts told them I was there
to do henna, they got that question-mark but-you're-a-white-american?
face and immediately started asking friendly questions. I think I
may have a lead on some new business after the lady with the
headcloth came and looked at my hand :) We came in and sat down and
I gave them books to look through. as it turns out, they speak
almost no English, and nobody there spoke Arabic, either, so we did a
lot of gesturing and smiling. I did the little girl first. She
looked through CCJ's book for most of the length of it, then jumped
up and started chattering and pointing excitedly. One of CCJ's
arabic-word designs is the same as the little girl's name, Marwa.
She wanted THAT ONE. She was all happy and excited that HEr name was
in my book. I used the arabic but did the rest of the pattern in my
own designs. It was at this time that I realized that I'd made the
mix too thin. I had to do some thicker lines than I'd intended, and
even then it smudged and almost ran in places. She was very good at
keeping still, though. I did her mom with an across-the-palm-and-up-
on-finger rose design that turned out fairly well, then lemon-sugared
the little girl, then her mom, and wrapped them in cotton then
plastic wrap. Apparently, the words for lemon and sugar are much the
same in arabic. I had brought along some Palestinian embroidery that
I'd done, to ask if I was putting the dress right, and I;m not sure
but I think they were impressed. The mom gave me a piece of cross-
stitch she'd done that's the face of a clock that you add the
mechanism and arms to. It's modern and europeanized, but I'm pleased
to have it. I think they were pleased overall, even though they were
disappointed that i didn't have the energy or time to do more for
them. I've been invited to their going-away party on Friday and I
think I'll go.
I took pictures. I think I'm going to try the Yahoo picture service
and see if I can put them up since the damn website doesn't seem to
be doing anything.
I'll let you know.

Follow Ups

Re: My night with the Palestinians jolynn 05:25:23 9/27/2001 (0)
Turning green with envy CorasMama 05:21:59 9/27/2001 (0)

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: First, I gotta thank you all for all the nice stuff you said about : me. : : Anyway, I was supposed to go to the house where they're staying at 7, : but got a call during the day to say they were visiting relatives : until 7:30 and could I come at 8. I try to go to bed by 9, but : having told them that, we decided it would be worthwhile to go and do : what i could int he time I had. They're leaving this week so this : would be the last chance. : I got there as they were saying goodbye to some of their relatives. : They asked why I was there and when the hosts told them I was there : to do henna, they got that question-mark but-you're-a-white-american? : face and immediately started asking friendly questions. I think I : may have a lead on some new business after the lady with the : headcloth came and looked at my hand :) We came in and sat down and : I gave them books to look through. as it turns out, they speak : almost no English, and nobody there spoke Arabic, either, so we did a : lot of gesturing and smiling. I did the little girl first. She : looked through CCJ's book for most of the length of it, then jumped : up and started chattering and pointing excitedly. One of CCJ's : arabic-word designs is the same as the little girl's name, Marwa. : She wanted THAT ONE. She was all happy and excited that HEr name was : in my book. I used the arabic but did the rest of the pattern in my : own designs. It was at this time that I realized that I'd made the : mix too thin. I had to do some thicker lines than I'd intended, and : even then it smudged and almost ran in places. She was very good at : keeping still, though. I did her mom with an across-the-palm-and-up- : on-finger rose design that turned out fairly well, then lemon-sugared : the little girl, then her mom, and wrapped them in cotton then : plastic wrap. Apparently, the words for lemon and sugar are much the : same in arabic. I had brought along some Palestinian embroidery that : I'd done, to ask if I was putting the dress right, and I;m not sure : but I think they were impressed. The mom gave me a piece of cross- : stitch she'd done that's the face of a clock that you add the : mechanism and arms to. It's modern and europeanized, but I'm pleased : to have it. I think they were pleased overall, even though they were : disappointed that i didn't have the energy or time to do more for : them. I've been invited to their going-away party on Friday and I : think I'll go. : I took pictures. I think I'm going to try the Yahoo picture service : and see if I can put them up since the damn website doesn't seem to : be doing anything. : I'll let you know.
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