She didn't like us, any of us. We didn't do anything to hurt her and she didn't know us. But that didn't matter. She still didn't like us.
As new teachers in the Emirati School, we Westerners greeted her every day. She came into our office and passed by us as she shook hands with all the non-Westerners in the office. Whenever we saw her, she avoided eye contact with us. Finally, we stopped trying to be friendly with her.
Her friends had been fired from the school. We were chosen to be in their place and we have different nationalities. These were enough for her to have nothing to do with us.
Well after 16 months in the school, we had a secret pal gifting. I drew her name from the box and that meant she was my secret pal. My role was to buy her a gift and say something about her when we publicly revealed who our secret pal was.
I bought her a small potted plant and asked one of the Emiratis to write a little message on it. Then I sent it to her room secretly. She was so touched. The next day I sent a beautiful candle but I wrote the message in English. She needed to know her secret pal was a Westerner before the reveal day so that she was prepared.
Then came the day of the reveal. We all gathered in the staff meeting room and everyone was excited. When you received your gift, you said something about your secret pal and passed the gift to him/her. What could I say? Everyone knew she didn't like the Westerners. She taught music in the school so I said, "My secret pal is someone who brings music to our ears every day." I didn't even need to say her name. Everyone knew exactly who I meant.
She came forward with a huge warm and sweet smile. She hugged me and kissed me on both cheeks and politely accepted my gift.
This was a lovely experience but I wondered how it would pan out. Would she go back to avoiding eye contact with me and all other Westerners? Later that day, I passed by her. She was smiling and she told me she loved my gifts. One of my Western colleagues told me that she too was benefiting from this change in attitude.
I reached out my hand in friendship hoping to be befriended and in return I have been met with love and friendship. Things happen for a reason. We must have faith in seeing the goodness in others, and it is there. We may just need to show extra love to receive the rewards.
