Old is still gold..

By Anis Albasha

Photo from Pixabay

“There is something unique and distinguished about the 90s, don’t you think so?” that's what I told my wife while watching a new Arabic series which sounded dull and counterfeit at the same time. My wife smiled and said that the old cliché ‘old is gold’ is just a sentimental reflection that has been produced by each generation. She added that our parents had said the same before and most probably our children would feel the same in the future.

Though I was aware of the reason my wife used, I do still believe that there is something different about the 90s. This is not an arbitrary nostalgic feeling by a person who was a teenager during the 90s. Actually, I think that there are some reasons which indicate that the 90s was a remarkable era indeed.

Before the advent of the digital and the satellite television, people in a country like Yemen widely used the analog television. Even during the 90s, the old color TV was used in many parts of the country. In 1993, people started to use the satellite television service in which the signals of this service were received via an outdoor satellite dishes. This technology was considered – at that time- as a unique breakthrough in the TV history and those who were experts in the installation of those dishes got paid very well and were in high demand. Those satellite channels we started to watch in the 90s have opened a magical world for us. Though there were dozens TV channels and many free packages, almost all the TV programs, the serials and the movies we used to watch were distinctive and fascinating.

On the other hand, the process of receiving visual channels has become much easier lately where no complicated installation is required. People can simply buy a smart TV and immediately be able to watch hundreds of channels. However, the content of the TV programs did not develop in parallel with the techniques used to receive them. Most modern serials and TV shows are senseless and inauthentic. For example, all the recent Arabic series revolve around stories and themes which are far from the reality. More to the point, most modern Arabic serials are actually an imitation of the Turkish and the Mexican serials. Conversely, there are many series from the nineties which we still want to see more than once. 

When it comes to music, I think most people from different backgrounds would agree that, no matter what genre, the 90s had some of the best music. The 90s witnessed the rise of the best artists not only in the Arab world, but also at a global level. It is not only about nostalgic feelings we might feel towards some old songs that give us a twinge of pain in our hearts. Actually, there is something special about the nineties’ music. As many people say, the 90s songs do not sound like part of the past, but still linger as representations of the present.

Politically, the 90s was – to some extent- a peaceful decade, at least when compared to the current situations in many parts of the world. It is true that there were some wars and armed conflicts during the 90s. For example, the 90s witnessed the Balkan wars weather the Bosnian War (1992-1995) or the Kosovo War (1998-1999) as well as the Gulf War (1990-1991). However, these conflicts were confined to limited ranges. There was a kind of peace that prevailed once these conflicts ended. But after 2001, the scene has drastically changed and the armed conflicts have become a permanent part in many regions of the world. We shouldn’t forget that in the 90s, there was no factual presence or strong influence of extremist and terrorist groups such as al-Qaeda and ISIS!  

From a social perspective, the life in the 90s was simpler and less stressful. Before the advent of the social media, people didn’t have to worry about other people or “followers” finding out about their latest news or posts. Before the social media, communication among people was more intimate and people used to have real relationships and real friends. In addition, during the 90s, modern technology represented in the cell phones and the ipads had not taken over human communication and interaction.

All in all, there is indeed so much to love about the past, particularly about the 90s. It is no wonder that many people feel a twinge of nostalgia towards this decade. Whether we agree with the old saying ‘old is gold’ or not, no one can deny how special the old time was. This point of view might not be exclusive to our generation. It might be repeated by each generation as my wife thinks. It is OK for each generation to feel that their time was so special. Yet, we should also enjoy the moment and try not to dwell deeply in the past. As the fictional character Andy Brand from the U.S. comedy television series, The Office said, “I wish there was a way to know you're in the good old days before you've actually left them.” 

How do Muslims feel about alcohol?

By Rasha Almaqaleh

Before moving to Europe, I had never seen alcoholic drinks except on TV. Due to religious reasons, alcohol is not part of our food culture and we are taught to despise it. In Islam, drinking alcohol is considered a sin. Accordingly, alcoholic beverages are prohibited in Yemen, a Muslim country, and can neither be sold in markets nor consumed in public. So, as a person who comes from such a cultural background which has zero tolerance for drinking alcohol, how do I get along living in a Western society where alcoholics are regularly sold in supermarkets and occasionally served in social gatherings?

I still remember my first time encounter with wine bottles: it was a couple of years ago, I was with my husband and my child at a grocery store in Rome, shopping for some snacks and there! I saw so many wine bottles standing on the shelves. I was nonplussed for a moment and I just wanted to flee the scene! All the alarming bells rang in my head and I felt as if I transgressed my culture values by just passing by wine bottles.

It was such a confusing feeling which I have experienced over and over each time I would go to the grocery store and see the stacked wine bottles. It was exactly like crossing a rough river, leaving people I know on the other side, and by ‘people I know’ I mean ‘my culture values’. My first inner reaction was ‘scare and guilt’.

Moreover, coming across alcoholic beverages is not restricted to grocery stores, but also extends to social life. I remember the time when I was invited to a birthday party of one of my German acquaintances. The moment I entered the restaurant where the party was held and saw that almost everyone was holding a glass of alcohol, I felt so uncomfortable. It was as if every glass was screaming: “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?” But since glasses don’t usually scream, I guess the scream was just in my head.

It got even louder when I saw the waitress coming towards us, carrying a drink tray! The tray had glasses of transparent gassy drink (I knew later it was champagne!) and also some glasses of a fruity juice. When the waitress offered us the drinks, the scream in my head got so loud that it nearly deafened both my ears. I don’t really know how I managed to smile and say “NO, THANK YOU!” while what I actually wanted to say was: “HOW DARE YOU!”

I hoped that it would end at this point and the tray would just go away, but the birthday girl rushed to draw my attention to the non-alcoholic drink. I couldn’t explain to her that it was difficult for me to reach out my hand and pick up a glass of fruit juice from among champagne glasses! Instead, I said that I wasn’t thirsty at all! It was more polite and, more importantly, less seemingly crazy.

I was relieved when the drink tray moved away from us, even though I was really thirsty and could use a fruit juice. I did need to drink something to help me swallow all the cultural mess that was going on around me, especially when my friends made a toast and clinked their glasses. Clinking glasses is a very wine-related tradition and we aren’t familiar with it AT ALL!

 While my fellows were busy talking and laughing and really having a good time, I was utterly distracted by the screams in my head, the glasses in my friends’ hands and the waitress with the tray. I was feeling miserable but trying so hard to contain the uneasiness. 

That party was a cultural remark for me.  Generally speaking, people who come from highly religious cultures that practice a strict ban on alcoholics in terms of sacred rules e.g. Islam, understandably they get a sense of unease around alcoholic beverages. Some might even feel offended when alcoholic drinks are sold or served.

A couple of years ago, and in order to understand the whole drinking thing, I asked my Italian friend whether she drinks or not and whether she ‘gets drunk’ and how does it feel! She laughed at my question but we had such an interesting conversation that was followed by a couple of emails.

She explained to me that wine is just food for them and that there is a huge difference between drinking and ‘getting drunk’. She said that it takes more than one drink to get drunk. Interestingly, she argues that most Muslims are ‘lightweight’ drinkers, which means that they get tipsy just after a small amount of alcohol. She literally said: "The most drunken people here are Muslims and the result is very bad. They become more violent. Completely in the street after drinking one beer” she also added: “My 100-year-old grandmother will never get drunk after one beer!"

I still cannot explicitly agree with her opinion but I also cannot refute it. I’ve read somewhere that how one’s body handles drinks lies in their genes, not in their religious believes. However, during my stay here, I have attended a number of social events where alcohol was occasionally served, and I noticed that my Western acquaintances who had a couple of drinks in these occasions were reasonably steady on their feet; they managed somehow to maintain their balance, spoke coherently and politely. Remarkably, they never got aggressive or crossed any line. But I still don’t know how “Muslims”, or Arabs, handle alcohol and whether they really get violent or not.  

Ultimately, living with cultural differences is exhausting and needs a continuous adjustment. It also takes a while for a newcomer to familiarize themselves with the unfamiliar and ease into their new world. That is why after a while, the sight of wine bottles at grocery stores no longer evokes fear and guilt. I don’t drink alcohol and I don’t smoke. So, alcoholic beverages are just as cigarettes for me: they are both products that are sold in markets and only damage one’s health. And that’s the best adjustment I could make!

  

Hello school!

By Rasha Almaqaleh

“By all these lovely tokens

September days are here,

With summer's best of weather

And autumn's best of cheer.”

When it comes to September, no one describes it better than the American poet Helen Hunt Jackson in her famous poem ‘September’!  But if Helen Jackson had lived in Germany, I am sure that she would have replaced the word ‘tokens’ with the word ‘cones’ for the reason that September in Germany is marked by the lovely ‘school cones’ which are carried by first graders in their first day of school!

I can imagine the German people I know hitting the ceiling right now after reading the previous paragraph and I can hear them shouting hysterically: “September?! But school in Germany doesn’t always start in September! Sometimes it starts in August!” Well, since I am in a mood for poetry, I will not give the ANNOYING ‘German accuracy’ a chance to ruin this special moment for me!

My son started primary school this week and he was one of the lovely tokens of September. When school begins in Germany, all first graders get a school cone “Schultüte” from their parents. This is an old tradition that is believed to have started in Germany in 1810. School cones are also called sugar cones “Zuckertüten” because they are filled with sweets. However, the cones today are not only filled with sweets but also with other gifts such as small toys, school materials, stuffed animals and some other small gifts.   

Starting school in Germany is considered a big step in a child’s life. Therefore, it is sugared with sugar cones and greatly celebrated at school and also at home. On this special day, first graders are celebrated in school with a nice ceremony called Enrollment celebration “Einschulungsfeier”.  

Since kindergarten in Germany is not part of the regular education system, school is the first place where children start learning to read and write. This could be the reason behind this great festive beginning which marks a major milestone in a child's life. You can find more about kindergarten in Germany and how kindergartners normally spend their day in this post Goodbye kindergarten!.

My husband and I started preparing a school cone for our son during the summer holidays. We bought a big one and each time we would put something in it until it got full by the end of the summer. During that time, we had to hide the cone from our son’s curious eyes to keep it a surprise until his first day of school. In addition to the school cone, we had to shop for the essential school gear, most importantly the school bag, "Schulranzen"! Interestingly, German school backpacks have a square design! The theory behind this design is to keep the school supplies especially books and notebooks from getting crumpled. These school bags are relatively expensive but the good news is that they come with a number of items such as a pencil case and a sack. 

The big day has finally arrived! My son woke up very early out of excitement and his first question was: “Where is my school cone?” When he saw it, he got really happy and started imagining what could be inside.

Wearing his new clothes, carrying his new school bag and holding joyfully his school cone, we headed together to his school around half past ten as the enrollment ceremony was to start at 11. When we arrived, the school yard was already full of kids with colorful school cones, parents, grandparents, family members, and friends who came to celebrate this special day of the first grader in the family. We noticed that some guests dressed really well as they were attending a wedding ceremony!

We waited in a long line to enter the sports hall where the enrollment celebration was held. When we walked into the building, a teacher asked about our son’s name. He proudly answered, then she searched for his name on the board behind her where cute name tags of all the first graders were hung. She picked his name tag and pinned it to his jacket. He looked at his name tag, smiled and felt prouder and happier!

 When we entered the hall, we saw that it was already overcrowded with first graders and their loved ones. The hall was equipped with chairs and a stage for the event. My son’s class teacher showed him his seat but we, as many other parents, had to remain standing because all seats were already full. 

The headmistress kicked off the event with a welcome speech, telling the first graders that the fourth graders prepared something nice for them on this special day. Then, the fourth graders sang a lovely song “You come to school”. The song was followed by a lovely musical performance of the classic children’s book “The very hungry caterpillar”. I really liked that the eldest pupils in the school perform something for the youngest ones! That was really sweet!

After that, it was time to take the first graders to their classrooms. This was done in a ceremonial way, too! There are four first-grade classes in my son’s school: 1a, 1b, 1c and 1d, and there is a class teacher for each one. So, every class teacher stood on stage and called for her pupils, name by name. Each child, once heard their names, he or she went to stage, shook hands with the class teacher, and waited until all the names of the group were called. Then, the class teacher took her pupils with her to their new classroom. It was really so sweet watching those young children shaking hands with their future teachers and waiting quietly on the stage! It was such an emotional moment that made me feel that my baby has grown up to a child! 

In the classroom, they spent an hour or so getting to know their new environment,their teacher, and classmates. It was really thoughtful to give the first graders a chance to ease into their new world! Meanwhile, parents and all the guests waited in the multi-purpose room where the school booster club prepared coffee, cakes and snacks for the waiting parents.

Around one O’clock, the parents were allowed to go to the classrooms to pick up their kids. I liked the classroom so much! It is spacious and flooded with light. My son was proud showing us around. We wanted to stay longer and take more pictures but my son was so excited to go home to FINALLY open his school cone!

Obviously, starting school marks a new phase in any child’s life and in their parents', too. In Germany, this new phase is sweetened, celebrated and made unforgettable. The memory of this special day will always bring joy and delight. In many places around the world, including where I come from (Yemen), the first day of school is not made memorable at all. I had always been sad that my first day of school wasn't a special day and I think many people around the world share the same feeling. Thanks to Germany, my son will never forget his! Just as Helen Hunt Jackson said:

'T is a thing which I remember;

To name it thrills me yet:

One day of one September

I never can forget.