They barely looked away from each other and never made eye contact with anyone in the room besides each other. In the wake of the happenings in Pakistan, I could feel others peering their way. Gazes were piercing and most people chose to sit a table away from them. I don’t believe they were aware that I was observing their interactions, although I never planned to, as I was researching some journal pieces for the blog.
I don’t have any feelings of disdain or anger towards them, just questions, and I wanted the truth. In America, most of us interpret a lack of eye contact as disrespect, yet these women were not speaking or conversing with me and why would they? I’m a complete stranger trying to strip away there head cover and figure out why they choose to wear a covering when it’s 90 degrees outside. I know most of these women chose to wear a head covering at their own accord. They don’t feel it’s necessary to show what only their husbands should see. I can certainly appreciate this belief, yet I sit with my arms uncovered and blond locks trickling down my back. Am I a common harlot to them? Is this why they don’t show me respect when I smile at them?
This semester I’ll be including more personal accounts of mine, as I’m surrounded by old dusty anthropology and archaeology books in the archives of the library. I’ve also made a concrete connection with an Indian gentleman who will instruct me on some of the customs of his country and what the residents there actually think of Pakistan, their neighbor.
