I remember one time I was sleeping over at my friend Taiki's house. For dinner, we had sushi, a dish Im not sure what the name is, and popcorn shrimp (which was for me and friend Jake). It was strange eating with a new culture because there we many things that they did at the table that I've never done before. For example, they gave thanks before the meal, they ate with chopsticks at home, and they spoke in Japanese many times throughout the meal.

With all this going on, my friend Jake and I weren't used to any of it. I mean I've eaten with chopsticks before just not at the house. Also, the family was speaking a different language where as Jake and I only spoke English to each other. Lastly, the dish my friend Jake and I ate (which was delicious) we had never seen before.

At my home, we never really give thanks for the meal were about to eat, we all speak English even though my mom and dad can speak Arabic, and the meals we eat are Lebanese meals which I'm much more used to.

What's in a Name

Names to me aren't a big deal. I've never thought about my name in detail and tried to see if it hindered me or helps me. I personally don't believe a name can do either of those things. Some people go by nicknames because they don't like their name, some because their name is too hard to pronounce, and some because it makes them more confident.

In class we talked about how in "The Namesake" Gogul introduces himself to a girl as Nikhil, which to be honest isn't much better. But him doing this allows him to be a different person. I'm not that kind of person where if I introduce myself to a stranger with a different name I become a different person. I am still exactly the same the only difference is that I carry a different name.

In the end I don't understand how people can let their name control their life. All a name does is give someone an identity to be referenced as, nothing less, nothing more.

Ethnicity/Culture Blog

When it comes to who I am, I'm seventy five percent Palestinian and twenty five percent American. Even though I am Palestinian, I consider myself more Lebanese than anything. This because of the place I was raised when I was younger and the places we visited in those times.

From kindergarden to 5th grade I was raised in Abu Dhabi. In those six years I found a home and have never felt more at home anywhere than there. I know that I was born here, but I spent the important parts of my life developing there which makes Abu Dhabi feel like my main home. The reason I consider myself to be Lebanese is because in the time of living in Abu Dhabi my family and I went on a trip to Lebanon and I remember my dad saying this is where I was born, this is where I grew up, this was my home. I never visited Palestine, partially because it does not exist anymore. But I also know so much more about Lebanese culture than Palestinian culture. In fact, I actually know literally nothing about my Palestinian culture/backround.