My Kurdish Valentine

Photo credit goes to Botan, one of my students (the tall pretty one in the short dress).

Valentine's Day is certainly different here in Kurdistan. I arrived at university to find the cafeteria rearranged: tables moved to the sides of the room; space cleared for dancing. Heart-shaped ballons declaring, "I Love You" trailed tinsel from the ceiling. The ANd not only was the room decorated; many of the female student population were attired completely in red and black (or red, black and white) and there were even a couple of sexy red dresses! (Is this permissible in Hawler?)

Mostly boys danced with boys... or showed off hip hop moves on their own, but a few women who had returned from overseas got up and wowed/shocked the crowd. I danced briefly with Tf, but mostly, I was just eager to get upstairs see which students would show up in class... All but 2 or 3! They were the ones responsible for the music and the entertainment program (yes, there was entertainment). I am not sure why, but every "entertainment program" put on by students involves cross-dressing men (very Shakespearean). All three of the men above are from my class, so you can image the fun I have on a daily basis at work. I don't know the woman, but love that she decided to get into the act and dress as a man! No double standards here.

PS. I want to thank those nice boys who gave me (and the other women in our class) flowers, real or plastic.