Getting to Know Hanan Part 3 --- TCU vs. WVU

            Since Hanan had never been to a football game before, I decided that our third meeting should be at Amon G. Carter Stadium, where TCU played West Virginia University. Prior to the Thursday night game, Hanan had been texting me how excited she was to go to the football game. Hanan has been in the Intensive English Program for almost two years at TCU, but not once has she ever been to a sporting event. Being a sports lover myself, I was completely baffled by this fact. Once I had asked her if she liked to watch soccer in Saudi Arabia. She said she had been to a couple of games when she lived at home. I guess the professional Saudi Arabian team is pretty good.

I forgot to tell Hanan that the theme for the football game was blackout, so she had to borrow some of my clothes. It took a while for her to find something to wear because she has to fully cover her upper body. I was also curious about this Islamic practice, so I decided to a little research again. Wearing a hijab (a head covering) is common in Islamic cultures today. Educated Muslim women follow this dress code as a way to show that they are receiving guidance from God and His prophet Muhammad. God knows what is best for human beings, far better than any human being could understanding. Muslim women also wear a hijab for another main principle reason: modesty. Modesty for women in the Islamic culture means not wanting to receive unnecessary attention from others, such as flattery, compliments, envy, or sexual attraction.

When we were walking over to the game, Hanan started her spree of taking pictures on her phone. She wanted to brag to all of her Arabic and IEP friends that she was going to an American football game. When we got into our seats, Hanan was overwhelmed by the amount of people in the student section. Although we weren’t talking that much, she continued to take pictures and send snapchats to her friends, so I knew she was enjoying herself.

Once the actual game started, I had to explain the game of football to her and her friend from the IEP who we ran into at the game. It was almost harder having to explain football in simple terms to someone who has never seen a game before. When everyone started cheering when TCU scored a touchdown, I had to explain to them how the players have to get the football into the “purple box” at the end of field by either throwing it or running it in. They were confused by the fact that the football could never touch the ground. Hanan and her friend also quickly caught onto the different TCU cheers. They thought it was the coolest thing since sliced bread. They were taking pictures and videoing it every time the student section did a cheer. Hanan wanted to go to the concession stand during the second quarter. She paid for my snacks and water, and was making sure that she was sharing her food equally with me. When I protested that I didn’t want her to pay, she said that I was ridiculous and that she was repaying me for taking her to the game.

Since Hanan didn’t wear comfortable shoes to stand in, she kept sitting down on the bleachers. At one point, I wanted to make sure that she didn’t want to leave. Hanan responded, “I am having so much fun, I just don’t know how to show it.” Hanan keeps up our conversation pace very well; there are usually just long pauses in between her sentences when she is trying to remember the correct English word to say. This translation process also dips into her emotions. I believe she doesn’t want to say or make the wrong facial expression, so she just doesn’t make any at all. Her response just made me smile. I adore Hanan for her peaceful nature and loving heart. Once again, I cannot wait to meet up with her again soon!