Mysterious And Strange Looking Woman At A Day With Mary

[ariaane]

I was at A Day With Mary a few months ago, when break time emerged. Everyone went into the local hall where food was being served and Catholic gifts sold.

A woman caught my eye. She was a dark skinned, probably African/ Arab woman, in a dark Muslim-type Hijab and dark cloth.

Her eyes were quite striking.

My first thought was that she’s a Muslim who’s just checking out a Catholic celebration, but she seemed rather at home with buying rosaries and other Catholic gifts.

I’ve got to thinking that she’s probably some type of Catholic that I’m not familiar with. After looking at her intriguingly for about 10 or so minutes, I approached her and asked her if she happened to be Coptic.

She said no and turned her back on me- not in a rude way- but in a stand-offish kind of way, so I left it at that.

I tried google searching to try and figure out what group she belonged to, but I couldn't find anything.

Seeing as there are Catholics from the Eastern Church on this site, I’m wondering if someone can pinpoint what she is.

Again, she was dressed in Muslim- like attire but her face was uncovered. I know she certainly was not West or South African.

What rite/Church does she probably belong to?

[Ash Wednesday]

Even if she's buying Catholic items, she might be a Muslim with interest in Catholicism -- many Muslims do have an interest in Mary -- or maybe she had a Muslim husband that wanted her to wear the garb out in public.

Nice to see another UK person on here. I'm American but now living over in your parts now.

Edited May 12, 2009 by Ash Wednesday

[misereremi]

I know quite a few people who go to the day with Mary and I think I know who you're on about. She's friends with my sister. She's a devout Catholic and that's her style She likes saint bracelets a lot, too. Nice to see another UK PMer.

[ariaane]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1865393' date='May 12 2009, 09:28 PM']Even if she's buying Catholic items, she might be a Muslim with interest in Catholicism -- many Muslims do have an interest in Mary -- or maybe she had a Muslim husband that wanted her to wear the garb out in public.

Nice to see another UK person on here. I'm American but now living over in your parts now.[/quote]

It’s just that I’ve never come across a Muslim at a Church service- ever.

Not to mention that she seemed very comfortable in her surroundings.

As for her possibly being a Catholic who’s married to a Muslim which is why she was dressed the way she was, please place this as the millionth reason why I strongly dissuade Catholic women marrying Muslim men.

PS- Why did you move from the US to the UK?

Edited May 13, 2009 by ariaane

[ariaane]

[quote name='misereremi' post='1865531' date='May 13 2009, 12:20 AM']I know quite a few people who go to the day with Mary and I think I know who you're on about. She's friends with my sister. She's a devout Catholic and that's her style She likes saint bracelets a lot, too. Nice to see another UK PMer.[/quote]

Talk about 6 degrees of separation! You know who I’m talking about!

So, is she a Latin Rite Catholic, or does she belong to the Eastern Church? Is she [b]Coptic Catholic[/b] by any chance?

Are the clothes some type of cultural garb?

Salutes to a fellow Brit!

Edited May 13, 2009 by ariaane

[Ash Wednesday]

[quote name='ariaane' post='1865873' date='May 13 2009, 03:55 AM']It’s just that I’ve never come across a Muslim at a Church service- ever.

Not to mention that she seemed very comfortable in her surroundings.

As for her possibly being a Catholic who’s married to a Muslim which is why she was dressed the way she was, please place this as the millionth reason why I strongly dissuade Catholic women marrying Muslim men.

PS- Why did you move from the US to the UK? [/quote]

To make a long story short: I want to grad school in London and also married a Euro. Decided I liked it enough here for the time being, and it was easiest for my husband and I to both settle and work here. I miss the U.S. too, though. In a perfect world, I could drive from the rugged snow capped mountains of the Pacific Northwest......and be in central London in an hour or so.

Edited May 13, 2009 by Ash Wednesday

[ariaane]

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1865881' date='May 13 2009, 12:07 PM']To make a long story short: I want to grad school in London and also married a Euro. Decided I liked it enough here for the time being, and it was easiest for my husband and I to both settle and work here. I miss the U.S. too, though. In a perfect world, I could drive from the rugged snow capped mountains of the Pacific Northwest......and be in central London in an hour or so. [/quote]

I thought it must be because of love!

But hey, one thing to remind you about home is the cold weather!

Just out of curiosity, I’ve often heard that Yankies are not popular in foreign countries due to US foreign policy, and this shows in how they're treated abroad. Can you relate to this? (I apologise in advance on behalf of the Brits if this is your experience)

[Guest KevinSymonds]

to be honest, I thought this was going to be a "Did I just see the Blessed Mother?" thread.

[ariaane]

[quote name='KevinSymonds' post='1865902' date='May 13 2009, 02:02 PM']to be honest, I thought this was going to be a "Did I just see the Blessed Mother?" thread.[/quote]

[Ash Wednesday]

[quote name='ariaane' post='1865888' date='May 13 2009, 05:55 AM']I thought it must be because of love!

But hey, one thing to remind you about home is the cold weather!

Just out of curiosity, I’ve often heard that Yankies are not popular in foreign countries due to US foreign policy, and this shows in how they're treated abroad. Can you relate to this? (I apologise in advance on behalf of the Brits if this is your experience)[/quote]

Actually I've never really had any problems. When I was in school, the people that were the most outspoken about U.S. foreign policy were other international students rather than the British. (One was from Cyprus, one of the first things he blurted out when I said I was from the U.S. was "I don't like Bush!" but he is a sweet guy, still keep in touch with him) and some dude from Spain kind of had a chip on his shoulder about U.S. foreign policy in a discussion we got in, but generally I don't find that they place it on you, personally. Generally if foreign policy even comes up, they are usually just curious. I don't have any party affiliations but I found myself being a bit of a "Republican apologist" because a lot of people buy into the media that tells them "Democrat=Good, Republican=Evil" without even questioning it. I generally try to explain to them what exactly makes Americans "tick" and what makes us the way we are, and I've actually found most of the time they're open to what you have to say.

Of course now that Obama's in office, I guess Americans suddenly seem "smarter" because we all know he walks on water...

I think how someone is treated abroad has a lot to do with how they conduct themselves. Sometimes Americans traveling here act very obnoxious and condescending so they kind of ask for whatever rudeness they get.

[CatherineM]

[quote name='ariaane' post='1865888' date='May 13 2009, 05:55 AM']Just out of curiosity, I’ve often heard that Yankies are not popular in foreign countries due to US foreign policy, and this shows in how they're treated abroad. Can you relate to this? (I apologise in advance on behalf of the Brits if this is your experience)[/quote]

Another US ex-pat sticking my head in. I have a very thick Southern accent, so people know pretty quickly after I open my mouth that I'm not a native Canadian. People seem to fall all over themselves, but it got worse during the election. Obamamania is wide spread here. Everyone seemed in love with him. I had to explain to the head of our Knights of Columbus why I couldn't vote for him. They had no idea. Now that his anti-life stuff is more well publicized, I don't get that from Catholics as much anymore.

One of my older brothers also holds an Irish passport, and he said that when he travels he uses it except or re-entering the US. He said he feels safer. That was mostly during the Bush era though. I don't think he's left the country lately.

[Archaeology cat]

[quote name='ariaane' post='1865888' date='May 13 2009, 11:55 AM']Just out of curiosity, I’ve often heard that Yankies are not popular in foreign countries due to US foreign policy, and this shows in how they're treated abroad. Can you relate to this? (I apologise in advance on behalf of the Brits if this is your experience)[/quote]
I've never had a problem with that, really. Of course, I've also had people ask me if I'm Irish. (I'm from Kentucky originally, but have lost some of my Southern accent).

Oh, I moved here because I like the country, and dragged my husband with me. I was doing my MA, and he's working on his PhD. Our son was born here, though.

[ariaane]

It’s good that you’ve never really had any problems. I asked because unbeknownst to many, British history of wrong doing to foreigners is equally as bad as America’s, so there is a lot of hypocrisy when it comes to Brits condemning Yankies.

Please don’t get me started over the whole Obama fawning here in the UK. Smart? The guy reads off a teleprompter 99% of the time!

[quote name='Ash Wednesday' post='1866146' date='May 13 2009, 05:48 PM']I generally try to explain to them what exactly makes Americans "tick" and what makes us the way we are, and I've actually found most of the time they're open to what you have to say.[/quote]

Oh dear... don't get sucked in, now. The plan of socialist "nanny state" Britain is to turn the US and her people into loony left socialists who will elevate a shockingly large government structure as every citizen's personal father figure.

[ariaane]

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1866236' date='May 13 2009, 08:23 PM']Another US ex-pat sticking my head in. I have a very thick Southern accent, so people know pretty quickly after I open my mouth that I'm not a native Canadian.[/quote]

So you sound kinda like George Dubya?

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1866236' date='May 13 2009, 08:23 PM']People seem to fall all over themselves, but it got worse during the election. Obamamania is wide spread here. Everyone seemed in love with him.[/quote]

The middle class liberal white populace love a "magic negro", don't they?

(And before anyone thinks it, I'm not being racist. I am a person of colour myself).

[quote name='CatherineM' post='1866236' date='May 13 2009, 08:23 PM']One of my older brothers also holds an Irish passport, and he said that when he travels he uses it except or re-entering the US. He said he feels safer. That was mostly during the Bush era though. I don't think he's left the country lately.[/quote]

It just goes to show how intolerant the tolerant are (Brits [i]looove[/i] to wax ad nauseaum about "tolerance"). To think that some Yankies felt [b]unsafe[/b] to reveal their US identity in the UK during the Bush's presidency terms ...

Edited May 13, 2009 by ariaane

[ariaane]

[quote name='Archaeology cat' post='1866285' date='May 13 2009, 09:25 PM']I've never had a problem with that, really. Of course, I've also had people ask me if I'm Irish. (I'm from Kentucky originally, but have lost some of my Southern accent).

Oh, I moved here because I like the country, and dragged my husband with me. I was doing my MA, and he's working on his PhD. Our son was born here, though.[/quote]

The more the merrier!