habibi brooklyn
My friend & Oxford-to-Brooklyn homegirl SF emailed me this today. We have a soft spot for a particular corner store in our neighborhood, one that is owned by a sweet middle-aged Arab immigrant couple. The infatuation began because they sell Romi's yogurt--a Middle Eastern-style brand that also offers lebneh and ayran and Syrian cheese--and we purchase it in copious quantities. Then I amused them greatly with my disproportionate excitement when I discovered Turkish junk food (Biskrem! Ülker antepfıstıklı çikolata!) on their shelves.
Anyway, she writes:
Anyway, she writes:
I have to share with you the most amazing exchange I heard at the Corner Shop (the one on 16th and 5th that I love). A Latino dude walks in and he's like "Habibi! Tienes hielo? Hombre, you got ice?" to the Arab guy who owns the place. I kid you not, his exact words.I love this city.
posted by kitabet at 11:16 AM
3 Comments:
Those vatos are like that only!
I love this city too.
Quite likely, you know, that the Arab guy is Argentine, or Venezuelan, or from somewhere in South America. You should ask him. As far as I know, Habibi is of fairly common usage in Brazil, as well.
xoxo,
Brooklyn-to-Oxford SG
teju: yes! here we are all a little like that only, sometimes. it's a good thing.
and S dear: i think they're syrian or lebanese, based on a faint memory of a conversation whilst buying milk last winter. though as shakira shaking hips on the television today reminds me, you are right about the habibis of south america.
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