In our childhood, we all remember hanging out with cousins during the summer holidays. Sometimes it can be at our parent's house or at theirs. If we are lucky and living in the same city, it is different.
And sometimes it would be at our (living) grandparents' house (in the countryside). Yet, we would not know the real reason why their house (our grandparents) is so far from the city. And this is where we would learn that it is at their house we will spend the holidays with our cousins.
I think we all had this in our childhood… or something close to it.
Then one day in my life, because of family history. We had to move into our grandparent's houses. I learned that day, my grandparent's house is also here to host every family member who has nowhere to go. It was like a shelter. On a personal level, i found myself switching from life in town to live in the village. It was not the only change to integrate.
In fact, my siblings, my parents, and I were not the only ones in the house. My cousins were living there. So this is how I learned how to live with roommates. We all share the same food, there was no way to be alone, and we would enjoy from time to time spontaneous gathering. But I learned awareness of others during my stay (of 3 years) in my hometown.
In urbanized cities, it is hard to be nice to any unknown face. Due to the fact that any strangers is potentially a threat to your belongings. In a small town, It is different, you have to because everyone knows someone in your family. Better, you might be asked questions because of your facial features that remind them of someone they know. That’s why you have to be aware of your surroundings and greet (almost) everyone on your way. Once a friend told me “let's not take it that way” and when I asked him the reason, he answered that there are too many people to greet. Well, that’s the first introvert I ever met.
One day, I was walking from school with my classmates and there were some boys fighting. One of us went to separate them and I asked him why he did that because it is none of his business what is happening between the 2 boys, he just told me “we are not in the capital and here everyone knows each other, so these kids are my responsibility” And I realized there was another kind of awareness because I linked it to the greeting conversation I had with my friend.
I remember one fun fact I observed. We had this acquaintance at home. He used to come and watch TV with us on the veranda. One day, he got a small job at the capital, and he left for quite a long time. And we stayed many months without seeing him at home until there was Eid. So one night, like his habit, he came home and I could see that his fashion taste changed and even the way he would talk. I thought It is the kinda thing happening (only) in books. And I also notice he would always complain about the town. I laughed.
I’ll end with a funny situation that happened to me. I was asked to go and fetch my brother. I find him sitting with some acquaintance. So I told him to follow me. When I left him, so he can say goodbye to his friends. Then he found me at home while laughing hard and told me that his friends thought I can’t speak …. well
