“Hello” World

Hello? Hello? Yes, Nana speaking.

I thought it was my only form of answering the phone but when I left home to travel across the Middle East, Europe and North America my routine starting to change.

Pronto, Hola, Ja, Hallo, Bueno, Asalam Alekum, Good day, Yellow, ...

Answering the phone became fun. Depending on where I landed I had a new voice. When I spent time studying in Italy and then working, I was thrilled to learn that in Italy they answer the phone by saying “Pronto.” Which means: I’m ready! I took this to my advantage. If a friend was running late, I’d tease, “But you answered that you were ready!”

In Mexico my family would answer calls with “Bueno,” which means good. I always feel pleased because everything starts with “good.” Nothing beats a good hello.

Back over to Germany and Austria answering the phone differed depending on the party on the other line. “Hallo,” “Ja” and “Mayen”: “Hello,” “yes” and “my last name.”

When it was a friend you say “hello,” your family member you say “yes,” and if it was an unknown number you let them know who they’re calling.

In the Middle East where my immediate family lives, we answer with “Hello” and “Yes.” “Hello” to friends and “Yes” to family. “Yes” is to let the family know that I already agree on the call before taking it.

When my Arabic heritage kicks in, I love saying “Asalam Alekum.” “Peace be upon you.” It is a highly respectful and used in the Arab region.

So depending where my feet take me, I answer my phone with a new hello. That’s many hello’s.

Coffee homeground, anywhere

“Let’s grab a coffee together!”

Almost everything and anything is discussed over a cup of coffee. It has become an international tradition; it’s definitely become a tradition of mine.

In almost every part of the world people can be found sitting together in coffee houses enjoying their favorite coffee drink. Whether it’s an American cup of Joe, Italian espresso, Viennese Melange, French Café Crème or Arabic Qahwah, the experience of meeting for coffee has become popular in social interactions.

I bless the discovery of coffee, which was found in Ethiopia and explains its popularity throughout the Arab World. Coffee was so high in demand that Arabs, and later the Europeans, created coffee houses.

During my travels through Europe, I was fascinated by the similarities and differences in coffee houses.

Let me take you first to Milan, the fashion central of both Italy and Europe. Italians are seen standing together conversing by the bar of a café taking a shot of espresso. They don’t waste any time drinking a quick espresso and indulge in a shot of caffeine. That’s the origins of the word espresso, express in English, i.e. a fast and quick caffeine fix.

In neighboring Greece, Greeks can be found enjoying their famous cold coffee known as frappe and they can nurse the glass for hours while playing a game of backgammon. I must admit I’m prone to also enjoy the never-ending glass of cold coffee over a challenging game of backgammon. I dare anyone to try challenging the elderly Greeks in a game; you’ll gulp down a frappe sooner than you think.

Among the most beautiful coffee houses I’ve ever been to are in Vienna, Austria. They’re old, classic and contain many books that call out to be read. People are elegantly dressed as they sip the famous Viennese mélange and enjoy it with a delicious slice of Austrian cake.

Back here in the Middle East, coffee is a different treat. Coffee houses are usually crowded with men enjoying what is commonly called Turkish coffee or Qahwah. People get together to meet and enjoy several cups of Qahwah while playing cards or a game of backgammon and enjoying flavored hookah also known as shisha.

I know I’ve learned one thing in my travels, wherever I go, that a place that serves coffee is the place to be.