For three years I lived in the capital where between embassy employees, NGO workers, and Arabic students there are literally hundreds of foreigners residing all over the city. My presence in most areas of the city went fairly unnoticed. Obviously there were areas of the city and times of day where my presence drew more attention but for the most part residing foreigners have become commonplace. With many of the surrounding countries running a bit unstable, the number has increased with people seeking a safe haven or a place to ride out conflict.
Now just to clarify, this didn't mean that I was treated like a local, and most people spoke English to me despite my attempts to speak to them in Arabic.
Recently I have moved to a smaller city where there aren't as many foreigners and my experiences as a foreigner in this country has changed a bit.** Gone are the swanky restaurants and coffee shops, glittery shopping malls, and beautiful supermarkets. These have been replaced with small shops in obscure areas, cramped grocery stores and no malls. Shopping for my weekly groceries takes me to about 3-4 stores, and if I need to get anything for our workshop, I'm usually on a hunt in a few different obscure shops.
**what I list below does happen in the capital as well.
So due to some recent experiences I give you:
5 Way Living as a Female in the Middle East is Like Being a Celebrity
Forget privacy, forget blending in. You are now the center of attention anywhere you go. Drivers slow their cars, people stop in the middle of the street, men shout at you and honk their horns if you grace the street with your presence. Comments are made about you by males and females alike as you pass them on the sidewalk. Eating in a restaurant, waiting for falafel, buying coffee, all your motions will not go unnoticed.
4. The Paparazzi exist and come out in full force when you are attached to a child.
You could be sitting in a restaurant and a woman will lean over and ask to take a picture with you. If you are carrying a child, this child will be ripped from your side and will now be the center of many cell phone pictures by local shop owners. Unfortunately this also means people will covertly take pictures of you with their cell phones. Some are too shy to ask apparently.
3. You can never leave your house without your sunglasses and your "cover" clothes
Covering your eyes (due to the intense sun and prying eyes of men) is a must as well as your arms. Maybe if they can't see these parts of you, then they won't know it's you. With all your layers and sunglasses, people may not notice you. Well it's worth a try anyway.
2. Giggling and an awestruck silence occurs when they find you are "just like them"
Some people just don't know how to act around you and it shows. Awkward giggling and intense staring. In an attempt to acknowledge them or even greet these people, shock takes over as they realize you "speak their language" or that you are wanting to "buy the same shirt they are". Realizing you as the elite are, "just like them" affects their rationality and you find yourself tripping over them as they stand, star struck, way too close in proximity to you.
1. People know your name and everything you do, but you have no idea who they are
Many times when out and about you will be greeted by name, or hear your name shouted from afar by a women who seems to know you. People talk to you as if they know all about you. Other times you will enter stores or offices and employees will appear to know everything about you as you are left clueless as to how they know what you do. Apparently there is a gossip magazine floating around with a story about you or your family that you didn't know about.
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