#khaleeji

They’re not the type of person to make a big deal out of their own culture because they feel it’s invalid sometimes, not knowing much Japanese themselves and being called whitewashed for being queer and stuff… it’s a whole thing. But they don’t do that with you.

They adore learning about your culture like absolutely ADORE it, the fashion, cuisine, tradition, language, everything.

One day you come home from work to see them and as you call out that you’re here, say your hellos and hug them, you two go sit down and talk to eachother when they mention they have a “surprise” for you.

What is that surprise?

That question is answered when they respond to you in half fus5a/فسحة (like literary or standard or like Classical Arabic)l half slang Arabic. God knows what they’re saying but oh my god you could cry.

IT’S ADORABLE.

They then beg you to actually teach them Arabic and as shitty as you are trust me it’ll be insanely awesome to them.

They will have a bit of trouble with ح/خ and ع/غ and ق ya know the whole shebang of the “complicated” letters.

BUT IT’S SO CUTE AND SO SWEET. THEY LEARNT ARABIC FOR YOU.

If you celebrate Eid or them (yes I know it’s a religious thing and not a cultural thing) whether you’re religious or not they are going ALL OUT, especially if you either love eid or hate it cause of religious reasons, they make it the best or even better.

You introduce them to luqaimat/gaimat (donut holes) and ohhh my god you better bet they’re having that instead of cake for their birthday.

They always get the really weird versions though like they’ll somehow find a very whitewashed kinder egg sprinkles ice cream thing topping with it instead of just 3asel.

If you own a khanjar/khangar/خنجر (if you’re Omani or anything else) they absolutely adore it like favourite thing in the world they find it so cool. (It’s basically this really sick looking cultural hook shaped dagger that’s usually used as an heirloom).

Bit of a bummer like thing but they can relate to a lot of cultural rep being seen as hostile, Arabs in comics portrayed as terrorists a lot and the over usage of “orientalist” tropes and stereotypes with characters being overportrayed as “elite mercenaries” ALL THE TIME.

They’re also a person of color, they know the whole melodrama that more traditional people bring where all of a sudden you’re so white washed for having non conservative opinions oh boohoo.

Rocks both a keffiyeh AND those golden headpieces women usually wear on national day or eid and shit.

Picks up on how much you say “ya3ni” or “bas” like a lot.

And “uff” but uh idk if that’s a strictly Arab thing.

Finds the INSANELY FAST facial hair growth hilarious (hell even applies if you’re a woman according to my sister).

You never knew Arab fashion could be so androgynous and peak.