Cala didn't like us. Any of us. We didn't do anything to offend 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 ignored us. She came into our rooms and bypassed us as she shook hands with all the non-Westerners. When- ever we saw her, she avoided eye contact with us. Eventually, we stopped trying to befriend her.
I wouldn't say her nationality but her friends had been fired from the school. We had been employed in their places and that was enough for her to have nothing to do with us.
Well after 16 months in the school we had a secret friend gifting. To my surprise, I drew her name from the glass jar and that meant she was my secret friend. My role was to buy her a gift and say some- thing about her when we publicly acknowledged who our secret friend was.
I decided to gift her a coloured bangle（手镯）. I added a postcard and wrote "Love and Blessings, Rose Marie. "
Then came the day. We all gathered in the meeting room. When you gave your gift, you said a few kind words about your secret friend and passed the gift to her. What could I say? Everyone knew she didn't like the Westerners. She taught music in the school, so I said "My secret friend is someone who brings music to our ears every day. "She came forward with a huge warm smile. She hugged me and kissed me on both cheeks and accepted my gift.
Since then, she smiles often. We hug and shake hands when we meet. I have seen her wear my gift several times and I am so pleased.
