The One Where Karen Slaps Her Sister Upside The Head…
Monday, April 23, 2007Posted in: Top ten places not to go on hols if you're black and fr
So, I was on the phone with my little sister yesterday, when she casually drops into the conversation, that her boyf wants them to go to Bahrain for their hols this year.
Bahrain. This year.
This is how the conversation went:
Sis: P wants to go to Bahrain in July, for a couple of weeks.
K: Silence
Sis: He’s got a friend over there, who’s got a lovely big house, and says we can stay with him.
K: Silence.
Sis: Silence.
Sis: Erm, what do you think?
K: You do know it’s a middle eastern country don’t you?
Sis: Um.. yeah
K: You do know you can’t wear short skirts there don’t you?
Sis: What do you mean?
K: They don’t like women wearing sexy clothes in public.
Sis: Why not?
K: Stupified silence.
K: Are you on a drugs?
Sis: What do you mean?
K: You do know it’s an Islamic country, right?
Sis: Um… yeah.
Sis: P sez it’ll be good.
K: Silence
Sis: He sez that at least it’ll be sunny all the time.
K: Silence.
K: You do know they hate Americans right?
Sis: But I’m not American
K: Babe, you’re black, they’ll just assume you’re American.
Sis: Oh.
K: You wont be able to kiss P in public over there.
Sis: Silence
K: You wont be able to drink either.
Sis: I’ll call you right back.
*Hangs up, then calls back 5 minutes later*
Sis: Are we ok to go to Cuba?
K: *Head-desk.*
I’m sorry, no offense to Bahrain, or any of its inhabitants, I just don’t want my sister stepping foot anywhere near the middle east, no matter how progressive they are. It’s nothing personal. Really. I just happen to like her head where it is.
*Make note to slap Sister’s boyfriend into the middle of next week the next time I see him.*
Gail
April 23
8:24 pm
But Cuba was the next choice? What? Does he think the Tourist Warning booklet is a “guide”???
Rosie
April 23
9:52 pm
I’d be worried but I see you have things well in hand.
Chantal
April 23
11:36 pm
Oh my. Yeah, I would have the same reaction you did if my little sister told me the same thing.
Yikes.
Reem
April 24
12:48 am
Hi there,
First time commenting here and please excuse me if my English is not good it’s my 2nd language. I just wanted to say even though Bahrain is an Islamic country women could wear whatever they want not all are covered from head to toe, also Bahrain is one of the Arab countries where alcohol is permitted so yeah you could drink over there 🙂 and no we don’t hate Americans/British ect..
I know you didn’t mean to be offensive and all and i understand where you’re coming from, thanks to the media we Arabs are portrayed as blood thirsty terrorists who love to be-head people but in reality the majority are not like that.
Thank you and take care. 🙂
katieM
April 24
1:15 am
You know, I wouldn’t be comfortable with my sister going to a middle eastern country either. All we see on the media is how the people (and no its not all people, its just a very vocal minority) drive cars into crowded markets or buildings and kill 50 or 60 people at a time.
After last Monday’s shooting, though, I might be loath to let my family visit here in the USA either.
Anyway, with my Black face it’s probably a good idea to just stay here in my little old city.
Shelly @ Bewitched
April 24
3:08 am
I definitely think a smack is in order for the BF. What the hell is he thinking? But I had to laugh because I have had similar conversations with my younger sister.
Karen Scott
April 24
6:08 am
Reem, I truly didn’t mean any offense, but with the world the way it is, and the happenings in the middle east, I’d rather my sister be safe than sorry.
As to the drinking, correct me if I’m wrong, but I do believe it’s frowned upon, I’m sure that people do indulge, but I can’t help but think the men probably get away with it more than the women.
With regards to dressing sexily, now I know that that’s something that can bring a whole heap of trouble on your head. I simply don’t trust a regime where women have only just been allowed to vote, and for the most part are treated like second class citizens.
No country is perfect, but I’d certainly feel safer in Europe, than anywhere in the middle east.
I know that Bahrain is a progressive country, and generally more liberal minded than most of the other countries, but I’m still wary of the practice of Sharia law, upheld by inconsistent judicials, and the fact that there are extremists factions within the country.
In short, I’d much rather my sister went to Spain on her holidays.
Ann(ie)
April 24
6:49 pm
I don’t blame you for wanting your sister to be safe, Karen, but I do think it’s a pity when the actions of a few are held against the many. It must be hurtful hurtful to be judged based on terrible things the majority of Middle Eastern people neither participate in, agree with, or condone.
Dalia
April 24
8:39 pm
Cuba’s great! Go there before Castro dies, the embargo is lifted and McDonalds moves in!!!
Karen Scott
April 24
10:00 pm
but I do think it’s a pity when the actions of a few are held against the many.
Annie, the problem is, its those few mad people who think nothing of murdering a whole bunch of people. Everyday I wake up with news that yet another suicide bomber has killed tens of people who were just going about their business. It’s not the masses who do these things, it’s the small, but vocal minority, and they tend to do the most damage.
These are the times we live in.
Anonymous
April 24
10:03 pm
Its not the middle-easterners’ fault if ya’ll just act too depraved and hedonistic… honestly: can’t ya go a minute without sex, showing off skin and drinking?
BTW: JOKE. Just teasing you, m’dears. Of course you can (– to fetch the chocolate. Ok, teasing you again.).
Just to prove it: Kissing does not equate sex. Wearing what you’re comfortable with does not equate showing off skin. Drinking is just a normal Western activity that occurs socially, but not excessively with sensible adults.
I’m Middle Eastern, and I don’t think you should go there if you’re very unaware of culture. You can get on the wrong side of people quite easily and if your sister isn’t the type to look that stuff up, then she isn’t the type to go on a holiday there or perhaps anywhere not Westernised. Probably safer somewhere Western… not sure about Asia. How about Japan or China, is China fine?
Please do excuse for any sarcasm that may be detected. Can’t seem to word it differently.
It is true; men do get away with more. So do foreigners to the country, however. But you never now how ‘justice’ gets served. However, the countries in The Gulf of the Middle East (where the oil is, besides Iraq) are pretty much following the American consumer tradition. They love their mobiles/jeeps/houses/Nike. That is miles removed from killing people. Only Saudi Arabia’s had a bit of trouble. The Emirates (where Dubai is located) is very popular with the British. I have no idea about Americans.
You can find ex-pat blogs around as well. Very interesting seeing what they have to say and the hypocrisy that abounds on all sides.
Invisible
April 25
12:16 am
OHHHH I am glad she rethought that… at least from cuba… she can tube to miami!!!
Ann(ie)
April 25
2:48 am
“These are the times we live in.”
Yes, I know. It’s terribly sad, isn’t it?
wendy
April 25
3:02 am
My big sister cancelled a trip to the USA and went instead to Egypt and Bahrain. She looooves her alcohol, so I imagine she was never too far from it.
Anonymous
April 25
10:33 pm
It does get a little old when you’re lumped in with the extremists who do these awful things just because you’re Middle Eastern. I can’t tell you how many times my oldest has come home from school upset because of a discussion that happened in class where the word “Muslim” was mentioned. She swears to me that every time the teacher is discussing something and “Muslim” comes up, that the whole class will turn and look at her expecting her to fly off the handle. We’ve had many discussions about this because the school she goes to is a mostly Christian school. She’s now turned it into a joke in class….now, whenever the teacher says Muslim, she comments “Now everyone turn and look at me, the lone Muslim in the room.” LOL That’s my girl! 🙂
Mad, who again has to post as Anon because Blogger won’t take my username and password…ughhh!
roslynholcomb
April 26
1:46 pm
Interesting, I didn’t know Brits said ‘upside the head.’ Now I can’t get that song out of my mind. ‘Whoops upside the head…’
I can relate Mad. I spent a ridiculous amount of time in classrooms whereas everytime there was a discussion of slavery or Civil Rights everyone in the classroom turned towards me. Fortunately (really unfortunately) American classrooms typically limit their discussion of black people to Harriet Tubman and Martin Luther King, and only during Black History Month. So my torture was short-lived
katieM
April 27
2:28 am
“I spent a ridiculous amount of time in classrooms whereas everytime there was a discussion of slavery or Civil Rights everyone in the classroom turned towards me.”
I know how you feel. I spent my high school life being the only black in most of my classes. And it was always MLK, Harriet Tubman, and George Washington Carver’s peanuts.
Meka
April 29
6:09 am
I guess y’ll don’t know bout them white women marrying Sheikhs down in Arabland? Guess s’long he’s rollin’ in $$$ will they consider movin’ to heathen country. See ’em in their white Mercs decked out in Paris Hilton threads lounging around the local Starbucks – in Bahrain. Oh Lordy!
Anonymous
April 30
4:07 am
Bahrain….love it there. I was there with my husband for 2 yrs. It is a beautiful and civilized country. Much safer than big U.S. cities. I don’t think people, especially American people realize how many middle eastern countries are wonderful places to visit.
The fact that ony 5% of Americans actually have passports says a lot. No wonder so many Americans are isolationists…seriously, get out…visit other places…broaden your minds. Amazing how small minded people are. Bahrain is not, nor has it ever been Iraq.
Karen Scott
April 30
5:52 am
Anon, neither me nor my sister are American, and we have passports which we use frequently, and regardless of how beautiful a country it is, in the current climate, it would be madness for me or my sister to visit there.
Bahrain may not be Iraq, but it’s in the middle east, and that’s all I need to know. That may be a tad myopic, but I’d rather suffer from tunnel-vision than have a some crazy arse blow my sister up. That’s just how I feel.
Sarah McCarty
April 30
1:05 pm
So? Where did she decide to go?
Karen Scott
April 30
1:42 pm
They haven’t decided yet Sarah, they were toying with Japan, when I last spoke to her, lol!
Sarah McCarty
April 30
2:01 pm
LOL! I waited as long as I could before curiosity overwhelmed me.
Not as exciting as the other choices, eh? *G* But it would be a great trip, I bet.
Anonymous
April 30
3:48 pm
I’m an American who lived in the Middle East and I can tell you that Bahrain is like the Las Vegas of the Middle East. That is where we went when we couldn’t take it anymore and we wanted to wear shorts, eat ham and have a glass of wine. All the arabs from around the middle east also go there to let loose.
But it is still the Middle East. It’s desert and it’s ugly, hot and it smells bad. And yes, they hate Americans and they will treat you with extreme distaste. That is the truth. Sorry if that offends anyone but it is the truth. Tell your sister to be with her boyfriend all the time in public, you don’t want to be caught alone without a male. Bad things can happen. If that means he has to go shopping with her then too bad.
There are a lot of warm places that are nice. Got there instead.
Jenyfer Matthews
April 30
8:59 pm
I’m chiming in a little late…
I am an American and have lived in the Middle East for many years – first in Dubai and currently in Cairo. I have never visited Bahrain but have never felt unsafe in all my time in the Middle East.
Safety issues aside, why would anyone want to holiday in Bahrain in JULY??? It’s hot and nasty and most people who have the means to (including the locals) go away June – Sept, LOL
Liz Fielding
May 3
11:38 am
I lived in Bahrain for three years. Heck, I even had a baby there and the people are delightful. However, Jenyfer is right — no one in their right mind would go there in the middle of the summer out of choice.
Liz
Anonymous
May 4
5:25 pm
okay…(head on desk).. am I the only one who sees this for what it is…
Karen, darling.. what is it with little sisters and their boyfriends..omg.
I love my sister.. could not imagine life without her. But just once I would like her to find a guy that 1)doesn’t drink 2)can think past the next pleasure moment 3)doesn’t seem to have a death wish 4)has any sense at all..
I swear there are times I think my mother ran out of common sense right before my sister was born… and she alone has given me enough gray hairs to warrant me investing in Ms. Clariol..
I think you need to slap her upside the head… really I do… hard…