Got Wasta?
So one of the beautiful things about being in an new culture is learning new words, cultural terms and the meaning behind them.
One big word in the Middle East is the concept of Wasta.
I am not sure I fully grasp the power of this word as right now I tend to simply stand back in amazement when I see Wasta at work. Wasta is an Arabic term that in English means clout, connections, influence or pull. Things in this country seem to get done based on your Wasta or your companies Wasta. There is an interesting article called,” How good is your wasta?” which outlines the power of and gives examples of Wasta.
It is interesting to note that this term does seem to be limited to the Middle East as when you type in Wasta to Wikipedia you get a listing for Wasta South Dakota.
Thanks
When I was about 8 years old I remember going to the grocery store with my Dad. He was buying a lot of items that we already had at our house. When he picked up a pancake flipper I said, “ We already have one of those at home.” He said he knew that but today we were buying things for another family who didn’t have some of the things we had. As he moved the pancake flipper up in the air he explained, “ Sometimes people just need some help to lift things up.”
We drove to a house near the school my Dad taught at he quickly put the groceries and pancake flipper on the front door step and then we left. As an eight year old I was confused. I asked, “ Why didn’t you ring the doorbell.” He looked at me and smiled as he said, “ Sometimes you have to find a way to help the people and the situation without hurting anyone’s pride.”
Over my three years teaching at an inner city school in Canada I have been blessed to work with people who on a daily basis find creative ways to help empower others, who each day make a difference and help lift people up. The first time I arrived at this school I really had no idea how much I was about to learn about resilience of the human spirit, Canadian poverty and compassion.
The end of school came today and I left that building, soon I will leave the country but the memories and the friends I have made at that school and in that community will last for a life time.
To those I met in those halls thank you all for the laughter and the learning.
One in six Ontario children – roughly 478, 480 lives in poverty and that pover is more severe than was the case in early 1990s. Most of thee children live in poverty for two to six years.
132, 000 Ontario children, who are 40 per cent of users, rely on a food bank each month.
Kuwait City, KUWAIT
Christine Oastler is a freelance travel writer, teacher and artist, currently living in Mahboula, Kuwait. Born and raised in Kingston, Ontario, Canada, Christine obtained her Bachelor of Arts at Trent University and her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University. Currently traveling around the Middle East she finds herself riding the odd camel and embracing a new culture!