We’re half way through the list now:
26. You call a chicken burrito a “shwarma.”
27. Your dorm room/apartment/living room looks a little like a museum with all the “exotic” things you have around.
28. You’ve heard of or tried “hubbly bubbly.”
29. You’ve woken up in the middle of the night to watch the Superbowl on cable.
30. You have sat in a “men’s” or “women’s” section in a home, hospital, or restaurant.
31. You know the geography of the rest of the world, but you don’t know the geography of your own country. (Isn’t Philadelphia its own state?)
32. Your best friends are from 5 different countries.
33. You’re spoiled. You know it. You’re VERY spoiled. (the kounouz debated this one with me)
34. You ask your roommate when the house-helper is scheduled to come clean. (this will NOT be the kounouz, must’ve been a dip-kid addition)
35. You have never spent a summer with your friends from high school because you all go back to your home town/state/country June – August
36. Camping involves duning, getting stuck, and counting how many camels you saw
Very original! Loved it!
First of all, thank you so much for your comments, it means more to me that you could ever know. Shakaraallahu Sa’ayakom, may dad R.I.P.
Nice list!
However, the 3 part series confused me a bit … is this ExPat kid living in Europe/America but was born somewhere else? Or was he/she born in USA/Europe then went to live in an Arab country? .. some points elude to the first scenario, others elude to the latter.
Re: the shawerma/burrito,
You also eat enchiladas/soft tacos made from SHRAK bread and whatever other Mexican improvisations you throw in, and comment on how darn authentic they taste.
Our motto in Jordan: Necessity is the mother of invention.
These have been so entertaining! Thanks.
Yup, that’s all pretty much spot on! Man, I miss a decent shawarma.
i love this series of posts kinzi….worthy of circulating them around to my expat friends and their kids!
how have you been doing?
Hey all, I’m too sleep to comment back well, will try tomorrow. BUT, suffice it to say I am happy to leave you with a laugh!!
For zar3tar,
EXPAT (short version of EXPATRIATE) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person’s upbringing.
Why are you sleepy dear?