Hey everyone,

So I am writing this whilst mid-air on an Etihad flight. I had a very interesting 12 hours but it is nothing short of a miracle but I am currently in flight to AUH. I was actually early, believe it or not, despite being very panicked that I was going to totally miss my flight.

So I checked in, went past security, duty free etc and was just in my own space, minding my own business, sitting in T2 of the airport in Manchester waiting for my boarding gate information, and charging my phone.

In a short space of time I had two very interesting experiences with members of the public. So one elderly man saw I was struggling to charge my phone, as a lot of the USB-C ports were not functioning. He moved from his seat to allow me to charge my phone and even moved my handbag and coat for me- without me asking at all. It was such a simple gesture but so thoughtful and kind to a complete stranger.

I then had another very distressing experience about 10 minutes later. I had a middle aged Caucasian British woman with her son being indirectly racist towards me. She actually said the exact words ‘do you want help packing to leave the country.’ She should have just had the guts and shouted ‘go back to your own country’- by the way this would be England, since I am born and raised here. I would have maybe had a little inch of respect for her then.

Honestly, it totally irritated me. I kept calm for so long and tried to ignore the negativity, stares and blatant rude behaviour. But then I had to get up and leave, probably would have done something I would highly have regretted if I stayed around her for any longer.

It is very interesting how the same evils are just disguised in this society. Gone are the days of Rosa Parks and the segregation of Caucasian skin and Afro Caribbean skin tones on public buses. However are they really gone?

Reflecting on it, there probably was not much of an age difference between me and this woman’s insolent son, and we probably had somewhat of a similar upbringing and exposure to societal and cultural norms as me, having being raised in Britain. Come to think of it… I actually think I might have been much older than him, however I don’t think he realised that- credit goes to Rachel for that for her amazing facials and skincare regime!

Anyway, on face value it does really come down to black vs white- to be very black and white about it (notice the pun there? Haha). And that is sad really. It really is very sad. He looks very Caucasian and British and I don’t with my tanned complexion. But whether I am or not, is that really a marker of me as a person, my kindness, my intelligence, my personality? Just because you speak one language and that one language happens to be English and you have a fair complexion, does not make you superior to anyone.

Anyway, I am catching up on Desperate Housewives. I say catching up but I have seen it like a gazillion times. But I still love the show- it’s such a good show all these years later and honestly so funny!

Hope you all have an amazing Friday! Fri-YAY!

Catch up soon! On the other end.. once I reach my destination InshaAllah (God willing).

With love,

Amina xo