Jet Lagged

Today, I started my first day at the Arab League. I finally met the infamous Mr. Sameh Alfonse, and he does exist. (I wondered if he existed because of the 4 emails I sent him, I received no response). Mr. Sameh is actually quite the charming, endearing, charistmatic fellow in his late 30's or earl 40's. I also met an Ambassador along with a dozen or more people whose names I can't seem recollect. As usual, they ask me for my name, and in response, they say "oh eunice, yani, eunice is boy's name, you know....." and my response, "yes, i know (i've only been told this a 50 billion times at every introduction). Next they ask, "where are you from?" My response, "oh, ana min amreeka" (i'm from america). They say, "no, your face (which I'm assuming has multiple meanings...haha...face!)" And I reply, "oh, I received my face from my parents who are Korean-Americans." They say, "oh....yani...ok..." Mr. Sameh witnessed this introduction and later apologized for the questions. It was nice to hear some kind of reponse regarding race from an Egyptian.

I write the scenerio above to pen some thoughts... I believe I can know answer the question, "why middle east?" I've been asked countless times from my friends and family back home, "why egypt" or "why the middle east?" Eunice, why the "f****-ing desert?" I think I can answer the question now with clarity. First of all, I say yes to the middle east, b/c of the uncomfortable race and gender questions. Yes, I absolutely appreciate diversity, multiculturalism, and the differences in the United States, but sometimes even the freedom, democracy, and diversity can imprison the fundamental meaning and importance of diversity. In the States, we live in an egaliarian society that overall appreciates diversity of all forms- culture, language, race, politics, and religion. However, our ideals fail to truly appreciate or engage in diversity. In Egypt, I'm constantly sharpened by the so called "insensitive introductions." From an American, egalitarian viewpoint, the above introductory questions are ignorant and ridiculous, most definitely something I won't experience in the US except possibly in the middle of Mississippi (i, too, will fall into stereotyping and use Mississippi for this example, but please not that i recognize that diversity exists in Mississippi as well. so for all you Mississipians, please excuse). In Egypt, I am challenged, challenged and curiously provoked to remember me as for me, an individual whose race and gender co-exists for the ultimate purpose of creating advocacy. There's a saying, "iron sharpens iron." I think the Middle East is that other other iron for me. Without it, I could be the dull blade that fails to make an impact. That's why the Middle East, parents and friends. Most importantly, as a follower of Isa, my prayer is to continue to represent the nonconforming nature of the word.

peace-