A page from my diary

Yes, I am Conservative. I don’t sing on streets. I don’t dance in public. I draw lines when dealing with guys. I like to speak, walk, and act gracefully. That is who I am, and that can't be changed by a setting. The thing is that I didn’t know how conservative I am until I reach the USA. The cultural shock I got was not only from Americans, but also from the Arabs with whom I lived and studied. Although I am open-minded, I looked closed among them. I felt wired. I wanted to fit in, and be myself at the same time. Somehow that wasn't easy!
But as time passed by, I could find my way to them thanks to  a person who inspired me and taught me a lot about dealing with others from different backgrounds and cultures. That person was Dr. David. He was neither Muslim nor Arab, but I felt that he understood me before the Arab students who were at my age. Thanks to him I could express myself and be open to others. I learned from him to be a part of the group without underestimating my values and principles. He made each of us feel worthy and interesting.  As we had to say good-bye to him we felt that we were about to get separated from our kind father, big brother, and dear friend.
As I got to know each member of the group I saw in each of them something unique and worthy. I found that they are not that different from me and that many of them share me the same interests. 
This experience gave me 17 more brothers and sisters, and handed me precious opportunities to meet people whose touchy personalities left golden fingerprints in my life forever. Dr. David, Dr. Jeffery, Mr.Ryan, Dr.Benjamin, Dr, Mirat, Kelsy, and my host family thank you for everything.






By: Amira Al Maawali
22th, July, 2011