Despite the arguments and fits of tears I had no choice but to follow my mother back to my ‘real home’, although my mom said I had a choice, I didn’t”,
The scorching heat and lack of air had me gasping for air, as soon as we stepped out of the airport.
“I am dying! I am dying! How do people cover up in this heat?’ I said sweating profusely. I wondered why people would wear such thing in such a hot place. The only visible part were their dark eyes. The place is too religious, and if females don’t cover up they get punished. The only thought than ran through my mind was how absurd it all was. In California the heat is cool, with a chaotic breeze, but here the air was hot and thick.
( describe the heat, in like a paragraph of how hot it is, either saying am sweating or the weather and what visible part of what/)
The searing air slapped my face as we left the airport. It was as if I had just opened a heated oven. Men were wearing dazzling white robes that fell lazily down to their ankles. The ladies looked as if they were drowning in their sea of black cloth, yet they looked elegant and poised. I hastily turned around to see that Ma had changed into the burqa when she had taken a quick trip to the toilet. Ma dragged our luggage towards a little olive-skinned man who signalled to us. He said something that sounded like gibberish to me, and took began placing our luggage into the car,
It was at that point that I realised everyone was watching me. A tall woman with the most extravagant eye makeup approached me and told me I had to cover up. I almost laughed at her in bewilderment. Did they actually think I would wear a burqa? I smiled, nodded and got into the car.
The strong cherry scent of the car lingered around me as I stepped out of the cool air-conditioned car and made my way towards the grandest house I had ever seen. Four similar looking females stood eagerly by the front door. From Ma’s shrieks and shrills and striking resemblance I guessed they were my aunts. They stood in array of multicolored dresses that flashed beneath their loose fitted burqa’s. The burqas they wore were modern and stylish with encrusted jewels that made it look as if they had been dipped into a sea of glitter.
As soon as my head touched the pillow I fell into the deepest slumber and woke up to someone gradually touching my arm. I came to learn that it was my cousin Sara tapping my arm for twenty minutes without quitting. She was gentle, kind and loved listening to my stories. Unlike my self-centered and selfish friends back home I had someone finally give me the chance to talk. The culture was so different compared to California.
My aunties, cousins planned to go out for dinner and as I made my way down the stairs everyone’s eyes were fixed on me. I had a short dress that sat above my knees and exposed a little cleavage. Compared to the burqa’s everyone was wearing I felt naked. My cheeks grew scarlet red as I felt their piercing eyes and saw the condescending head shakes. In a flurry I grabbed Sara’s hand and told her to make me over. Although I had opposed to wearing the burqa, I felt empowered and beautiful as soon as I had put it on.
Walking down Al-Hussien Street, all the men moved out of the way when they saw us coming; and for the first time in a very long time I did not hear a man whistle or shout to catch my attention. When we had arrived at the restaurant we realized that we had forgotten to book reservations. A group of men who overheard our circumstances gave up their table and said they would wait. The respect and kindness they had expressed was far from anything I had seen back home in California.
(Describe your friendship- it wasn’t all fake, describe the good and bad nd how they influenced u)
Despite it being the first time I had ever met Ma’s family they welcomed me with open arms and I felt at ease. I felt I was able to be myself around them. I had no show to put on or need to prove anything to anyone. I was so different from Sara and her sister but they still accepted me for who I was. They didn’t judge what I was wearing or who I was wearing like they did back ‘home’.
(when the girl was coming down the stairs they looked at her and made her look naked, which means they didn’t accept her and suddenly they accepted me--- its contrast so show how they changed there mind)
Day by day I understood the meaning of family, respect and love. Spending time with my new found family I understand why we Muslim females cover our bodies. Ma was right, our bodies are not a commodity or something of a low degree, but rather like a temple of gold we should conserve. My father left ma and I when I was only two years of age, I had no brothers and no one to teach me right from wrong. Instead I depended on my friends who I learnt were humans making mistakes themselves and taking me down with them. Their superficial emphasis on keeping up with trends gave them no space to guard their bodies and morals.
(Give more example on why u changed so much- instead of saying day by day, show it)
by
ruwidha (student)
