My First Wedding Ring

The average hollywood blockbuster lasts something like 1.5 hours. In that time the average leading lady (Western) meets a man, is seduced and gets naked. It is no wonder that Western women, with which arabic men have little real contact, make assumptions based on what they see in the cinema or on DVDs - we're easy.

The result is simple. Eye contact, smiles or, heaven forbid, a giggle, will get attention. Sometimes it will be an innocent "hello" or "welcome," but sometimes a more direct illicit offer of a personal tour guide or bedroom playmate. While true harassment happens far less than Western perceptions of the Middle East would have you believe, it's nice to have a backup.

"Are you married?"
"Where is your husband?"
"Why don't you wear a ring?"

Yes.
Working.
...I do, or at least now I do...

Partially to compliment my tall tale to be used as needed and partially as an excuse to buy jewelry (a weakness of mine as everybody knows), I took a trip to the Gold Souk (or gold market) in Dubai and bought myself my first wedding ring. Feels nice, looks nice and is sure beats a jar filled with various colors of sand or a stuffed camel as a souvenier.