Several years ago, the University of Bahrain sent my husband and me to England for a Master’s degree. We chose the University of Edinburgh because we had heard it was excellent.
We rented a house in the neighbourhood. December and January arrived, and it was very cold. Unfortunately, that year the temperature dropped to minus 10C.
I walked to the university holding my file pressed against my stomach (with my fingers). When I reached the campus, I rushed to get a hot drink. My fingers were so stiff that I had to pulled them out one by one. I even got an earache when walking despite trying to cover my hands as best as I could.
People smiled when they saw me. Once, I even slipped on the frozen street and fell.
One day I told my husband, “Look, we can put the chicken on the balcony instead of in the freezer!”
We had a garden at our house – a rather big area with grass and it was beautiful! When the grass started to grow and I was delighted.
Our neighbour looked at me angrily. “Well, they don’t like foreigners,” I told myself.
After a few days, small yellow flowers began to bloom in the green grass. Feeling happy, I told my husband, “We have small yellow flowers – look!”
I saw the neighbour over the fence and his eyes were red and wide.
Later, we received a letter from the landlord telling us to cut the lawn because weeds were growing in the grass! The yellow flowers were weeds – I didn’t know that.
I had never seen a grassy area before in my country. Why didn’t our brother neighbour tell us instead of looking so angry?
In Edinburgh, there was an Olympic size swimming pool offering swimming lessons for ladies – that was good news for me. So I registered because I love swimming, though I have a little fear of very deep water. Soon after registering, I joined the group.
The teacher asked us questions and helped me with the exercises.
I noticed some women sitting on the steps of the pool, not entering the water. Curious, I asked why. I was told, “These women have to first learn water confidence.”
Surprised, I asked, “What is water confidence?” They explained that some women are afraid of water and must overcome their fear first. This was new knowledge to me.
I come from an island – I swam in the sea with fish, in pools and in streams. I loved being in water.
Rooby, a Scottish lady, told me, “Fareeda, we were surprised when we watched you from above. You swam across the pool from beginning to end.
I replied, “Yes, I love the water.”
Every time I remember the words ‘weeds’ and ‘water confidence’, I smile to myself.
Well, well, it is all about where we come from. About the Background.