Hafle (Party!)

So there was me thinking that this party I had been invited to was going to be a bit of a knees up with 'a few of the guys'.

Believe me, I'm learning not to make even the most basic assumptions when living in a foreign country.

Hafle, which is Arabic for party, would have been better translated in this case as 'large reception in which most people who will be graduating invite their entire family and the department staff to a suit and tie style bash'.

Oldman rocks up in his jeans and t-shirt. -1 point for the foreigner.

I've been to weddings that are less grandiose than this event was. All the soon-to-be graduates, holding candles, paraded into the hall (down a flight of stairs) to some very dramatic music, walked down the two side aisle to the back of the room, then up the centre aisle, through three hooped arches and took their seats on a platform. After a prayer (or something to this effect) for the day's shaheedas (martyrs = blokes killed by Israel), there was then speeches, presentations of certificates, dancing, singing, more dancing, more speeches, and a cake cutting. All of the above was interspersed with lots of music, played at an extemely loud volume. It seemed like I was the only one to notice/dislike this though.

I have to say that the whole event was some what overwhelming. I guess it was essentially a communal wide graduation party. There was no food and only soft drinks (standard for a predominantly Islamic country), and apparently things were toned down because of the earlier incursion/murders. (Goodness knows what it would have been like had it gone off as planned!) Despite all this, I have to say I found the whole event rather boring. Every graduate to be got to give a speech (see update on the seminars post) and combined with the hot weather, and slightly stuffy atmosphere, I think I'd just had enough. Plus hungry oldman isn't a happy oldman.

Nevertheless, it was quite the experience.