Why I Love my Arab Friend...
By: Emily Devereaux/ Arab America Contributing Writer
This year, I have the privilege of being an abroad buddy to a student studying abroad at the American University. An abroad buddy is another student or peer that is tasked with helping students studying abroad here acclimate and feel at home.
Luckily, I was fortunate enough to befriend my abroad buddy!
Her name is Soheila, and she is studying here from Lebanon.
1. She introduces me to new foods.
Admittedly, I am a picky eater. Soheila tells me about all of the foods she typically eats at home, and we have gone out into the city to try new foods. She encourages me to try new things, even if I do not think I will like it. While I enjoy food adventures, the best part of these meals is going out with her (and sometimes her friends!) is the conversation, and learning about what she typically likes to eat at home.
2. She greets me with more affection and enthusiasm.
Soheila always greets me and her other friends with a hug. It is common for Arab people to greet others with a hug or affection, which is always a warm greeting and makes everyone being greeted feel welcome.
3. She is always open to adventure.
Soheila is always looking for fun and new things to do throughout the city. She finds interesting events and always makes an effort to go to the different events she has been finding. Whether it be a concert for a band she likes or a workshop for a new skill she is looking to pick up, she always invites her friends to come along and share a new experience with her!
4. She appreciates art and various cultural mediums.
Soheila has a strong interest in seeing not only fine arts but other forms of arts too. She appreciates zines, which are underground publications, and wants to learn more about music. She is someone that makes an effort to look at various forms of art, in order to understand the significance of it or the message the artist will convey.
5. She is coming home with my family for Thanksgiving!
Soheila will be joining my family and me for Thanksgiving! She accepted our invitation with enthusiasm and excitement and will be coming back to South Jersey to celebrate with my family.
6. She always offers to help me with my Arabic homework.
She has seen me struggle through Arabic homeworks and quizzes, and she always offers to help me. In fact, she offers her help in many different things. Soheila is always willing to help those around her, but she especially tries to help me with my homework. Maybe I will pronounce something correctly with her help!
7. She is always giving her undivided attention and kindness to others.
Soheila has met my friends and I have met hers. Upon being in a group setting together, I see her always give her undivided attention in conversation. She always asks more questions and wants to learn more about people. She also always offers words of encouragement or a helping hand when someone seems to be struggling. Her attitude toward others and kindness is unmatched by many!
8. She teaches everyone around her.
Soheila is knowledgeable in many different fields, from anthropology to biology and to every other letter of the alphabet. She is a joy to have a conversation with about politics, journalism, and many other fields. However, she unknowingly teaches everyone around her. She shares her experiences and knowledge with others, but she also teaches others about learning and how you can learn from many different things. She has learned a lot by understanding the people at her University better and has given many people a lesson on the importance of understanding one another and how that can lead to many different avenues.
9. She follows her passions.
Soheila is passionate about anthropology and the ethical understanding of indigenous lands and people. Through discourse, workshops she attends, and her strong opinions in class, I have seen her fight for what she believes in and works hard toward a degree that will help her achieve an avenue into serving populations that have been marginalized.
10. She has taught me so much!
While Soheila is knowledgeable about many different topics, she has taught me a lot about becoming a better person and working toward understanding those around me. She works to ensure everyone thinks fairly and appreciates one another, which I believe has the power to make the world a much better place.
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