Source of photo: www.supre.com.au

My plane landed around 9PM on Saturday, 24 July 2010.  I had been flying/sitting in an airport for almost 24 anxious hours.  After having traveled for so long, all I wanted to see was the person who got me into this world-traveling mess: my boyfriend, Capt America.  Now, Capt America really is a Captain, but not for the Avengers, rather for the US Air Force and he had been stationed at the Naval Base in Al Manama, Bahrain.  I told him I was adventurous and wanted to have an adventure…..I was in for a surprise.

Squatting
When we found out we were moving to Bahrain, we did our homework, or so we thought.  We learned Bahrain was a tourist country; they were progressive Muslims; they liked their alcohol (but only at hotels); I would be able to wield by mini skirts; they spoke English.  I was sold.  My first rude awakening came after being reunited with my love; I had to pee.  Navigating into a confusing bathroom, I was confronted with a hole in the ground.  Was there a mistake?  I wasn’t supposed to go to the bathroom in that, was I?  I checked the other stalls, much to the amusement of a snickering 8yr old girl in there with me. Yes.  They really did expect me to squat.  After having mastered that event, I felt like I was already an Arabic world professional.  Turns out, most bathrooms aren’t truly like that here in Bahrain.  I think they put those squatters there just to weed out the weak.

It’s getting hot in here……..

Before I left everyone said, I hope you sure do like it hot.  Yes, I realized that it would be hot, but I didn’t know just how hot it really would be.  Arriving to Bahrain late at night, I didn’t realize just how hot it would feel.  At 9PM it was 99 degrees with about 80% humidity.  Good thing I’m not really big on makeup or we would have a serious problem.  For the next week, the low would be around 100, highs edging dangerously close to 120.  Although we Georgians pride ourselves for being able to withstand incredible heat waves, I was not prepared for that.  As I unpacked my suitcase, I left my bathing suits in their little bag: All my visions of laying out on our roof top deck were quickly squashed with the oppressive wall of heat that I was encountered with once I opened the door.

Posted by Bahraini Blogger

Aasia Rahguzar and Aalia Rahguzar, The Muslim Youth Girls Association:

“You would think that a hijabi can’t wear a mini skirt…and you’d be 100% correct if you were reffering to the normal way it is worn around the world. But there is a new mini skirt out there that is, in my opinion, the best way to make your outfits longer They have an elastic band around the top so you can easily slide it on. You would wear a top under, the mini skirt on top (a little below your chest and little above your hips), and skinny jeans/pants under. This creates an illusion that the skirt and top actually is a one peice top. You can get them in any girl stores in America and Canada as far as I know. They are super handy, I myself have about 4 pairs. You can get them in any color, pattern and design (flare fit, straight fit, tight fit)” …More

  Saman Kareem, Sulaimanyah, Iraq

Kurdish beauty Diba.

” I am a Kurd, Muslim and I live in Northern Iraq. It is not rare case to see Muslim girls in mini skirt on the street of my town.  They have no problems because the Muslim traditionalists are not power in our society.  In those part of Iraq where radical Islamism has power, as is on South od country, Muslim girls may be killed if only try  to wear anything  like this. Personally, I do not think anything bad about girls in mini skirt, because all depends of person. Is a girl bad or good do not depends of mini skirt and rest of the clothes. I am ready to be married with girl in mini skirt and it would not be problem for me to allow my wife to walk with mi in “mini”. But Islam and Muslims will never in complete accept “mini” because it ruined the Islam rules about hidden female body. Long skirt is ideal compromise for modern Islam society. As I told, I can accept girl and wife in mini skirt. Although, I will try to change her need for mini skirts only from the one reason: according to Islam it is sin. I do not want to both be in sin. I am not afraid of other men, I am afraid of God’s revenge”