Henna and Hoodwinked!

As I was out yesterday I wanted to treat myself to some henna artwork on my foot. I’ve got henna before in UAE and it was black. The henna tattoo was super cheap and really cute. It lasted for almost a month before it faded away. I found this saloon down the street from my home and decided to give them a try. I opened the door and politely asked how much is the henna?

The woman looked at me and tried desperately to figure me out. She couldn’t understand how my english was so good but I was black. Typically here in the UAE the people who are black are Sudanese or from some other part of Africa. Your always put through this awkward immigration process everywhere you go The reason it is awkward is because they think you’re lying. They have a huge disbelief that black people exist in America. Little do they know outside of Native Americans we built that country on our backs. However, before citing me the price the heavy-set woman with olive skin and heavy arabic accent replied “Where are you from, Africa?”

I turned to her and said I am American. She then swayed toward her colleague who was sitting in the corner on a ratty brown carpet in disbelief to say something in arabic about me. The woman on the carpet without shoes eating a piece of bread asks me “Are you on holiday?” I still haven’t got the answer to the question I asked but it is culture for the people to ask a million questions. I said “No I am not, how much is the henna?” I repeated politely.

The heavy-set woman yells to me “Okay no problem.” Then shuffles me to the boards of henna designs. I asked her did she have black henna and she advised me it was against UAE law to use it due to some people having skin reactions. That was odd because my last henna tattoo was with black henna and I got it done in a mall. Anyway I picked a design but I am still left in the dark about how much it cost. The last tattoo I got in the mall no less was 20 AED. So I am thinking for the work I received that it couldn’t have been anymore than 30 AED. The design I chose was simple.

The woman tells me to sit down and she offers me food. I told her I wasn’t hungry and then she offered me tea. Which they made me drink because it was from their country of Morocco. After picking my design I had to wait 30 minutes before they even started the henna. I was like what is taking so long? She says “No problem, No problem she is coming.”

Finally I am getting the henna they’re asking me a million questions about America. It’s not because they are interested it’s because they’re checking my authenticity. Which makes me laugh because how would they know if I was full of shit when neither them had been to America. Like I said meeting the locals is like going through immigration. Only thing missing was a photo opt.

Still not having the price and the henna is drying I ask again how much is it? The heavy woman with the olive skin yells “No problem, No problem let dry.” So at this point I know they are making up a price based on where I am from. I was ready for whatever bullshit they would try to charge. The henna then dries and I ask the woman who did it how much is it so I can go. Her reply “Madam she will be out in five minutes.” Five minutes turned into 15 minutes. At this point in America I would have walked out but not being fully aware of the law I stayed put.

She finally comes and I say how much is the henna please? She says 50 AED! I was like 50 AED that’s crazy! She didn’t explain why and stared at me for the money. I said to her why is it 50 AED? She continue to stare so I stared at her. It was like the wild west for a moment. I was waiting for a tumbleweed to pass our feet because I sure as hell wasn’t backing down. She gave me some bullshit about the henna being the highest quality and that’s why it is 50 AED.

Due her attempt to pull that bullshit out her ass I paid but then I did something I am sure they weren’t expecting. She gives me the receipt and says “Thank you.” I then smiled at her and said “I know you up-charged me because I am American but that is okay it won’t happen again.” I said it with the biggest smile on my face. Then before closing the door I turned around and said “By the way I know Arabic.”

They looked shocked and upset. Mind you I don’t know Arabic but the expression said it all when they thought I knew. LOL! I was tricked but it won’t happen again. I know you are wondering well did I at least like the henna? It was okay but you can hardly see it because I have the brown skin.

xoxo

Jersey