Learn Levantine Arabic Everywhere & Anywhere
Today’s Topic: Be stubborn, be persistent, be yourself
Marhaba y’all
Learn Levantine Arabic E&A is simply a series where I post random clips I find online and provide the Arabic transcript, English translation as well as insights into some phrases if necessary.
The idea is that one can learn the language from any type of sources, thus the phrase ‘everywhere and anywhere’. Also, it is a good opportunity to learn vocabulary from a specific topic each time
So for this second post of Learn Levantine Arabic E&A, I’ve chosen two clips about two women from Lebanon who shared their experiences surrounding the difficulties they faced for simply being a woman in their country.
I came across the videos after watching a few episodes from an animated show called بميت راجل that is available on Youtube. The show was part of an initiative to shed light on the various issues faced by women in society.
Also, if you haven’t had the chance to check out the first post of the Learn Levantine Arabic E&A series, you can do so here.
Ok, yalla, let’s go!
VIDEO #01:
مرحبا اسمي ميسان ناصر
Hello, my name is Maysan Nasser
sidewalk Beirut شاعرة, خريجة علم نفس ومسرح ومؤسسة ومديرة بالمشورع
A poet, a graduate in psychology and theater, founder and organiser of the project, Sidewalk Beirut
حليا عم بعمل ماجستير بكتابة إبداعية عبر الحدود ودبلوم بعلم النفس تعليم
I’m currently doing a Masters in Creative Writing Across Border and a diploma in educational psychology
اذا بدي احكي عن الصراعات اللي بوجهها في المجتمع العربي كإمراة
If I were to talk about the challenges that I faced in the Arab society as a woman,
فهي معظم تتعلق باثبات وجود
then, most of them relate to having to prove oneself
فانا بصارع يوميا, بعتقد متل معظم النساء
So I struggle every day, I suppose like most women
لأثبت وجودي كإنسان, ك كيان وليس مجرد جسم
to prove myself as a human, as an entity and not just a body
كشخص بيستحق يحصل على الفرص اللي هو تعب ليحصلا
As a person who deserves the opportunities that she worked hard for
وكشخص بيستحق يعامل بنفس الطريقة
and as a person who deserves to be treated the same way
بيعامل فيها كرجل بالمجتمع
as a man treated in society
صفاتي منيحة اللي بحبا بنفسي هي العند
The good things (characteristics) that I love about myself are my stubbornness
انا شخص كتير عنيد بعتقد هي واحدة من اشياء للي بضل بتدفعني لقدام
I am someone who is very stubborn, and I believe that this has always pushed me forward in life
انا شخصة كتير عندي اسرار
I am someone who is very persistent
يعني بصر بصر لحد ما وصل لشي اللي بدي اياه
I keep persisting until I get what I want
واهمن بعتقد هي اني شخص بيطرح كتير اسئلة
and most importantly, I am someone who throws out many questions
وما باخد اي شي كمستلم فيه
and I don’t take any of them for granted
شكة دائم. تشكيك بمعطيات
Constant doubt. I’m critically doubtful of everything (data/information)
وهيك صفة فيني
this is my most important trait
وشي للي يدفعني للامام
and it is also something that pushes me forward
وكتير فخورة باربعة وعشرين سنة عشتن على الارض لهلا باشياء اللي انجزتا
I’m very proud of the 24 years I spent on earth so far, the things I have achieved
اسّست مشروع او منتدى بالاحرى وصارلو اربعة فروعة بأنحاء لبنان وفرع بايطاليا
I founded an initiative or a forum that has branched out into 4 branches, all over Lebanon and a branch in Italy
رح ينفتح فرع تانية قريبا
and there will be one opening up soon
نشرت كتاب من اول..اول كتاب من حوالي تلات تشهور. لاقى صدى كتير منيح
I published my first book three months ago, it was very well received
عم بتبع شغفي وعم حاول اني وصل لمحل بالحياة
I am growing my passion and trying to get to a point in my life where
كون راضية عن الحياة اللي عم بقودا
I am satisfied with the life I’m leading
اذا فيني اعطي نصيحة لأي إمرأة عربية
If I were to give advice to an Arab woman,
بتكون هي ما تسمحي لنفسك تصدقي توقعات المجتمع منك او مخاوفك
it would be to not allow yourself to believe society’s expectations of you or your fears
لانو غالبا بتكون كاذبة
because these are often misleading (fake)
وغالبا بتكون ما جاية منك
and often imposed upon you [often, they did not come/originate from you]
فعرفي تميزي بين التنين
so, know how to differentiate between the two
وكوني…لا تكوني قنوعة
and be…don’t be pleased (convinced)
كوني عنيدة يعني اذا في شي بدك ياه
Be stubborn. If there is something that you want
كوني عنيدة لانو باخر النهار الحقيقة الصعبة اللي منتقبلا هي انو نحنا اذا ما حاولنا نوصل للحياة يلي بدنا ياها
be stubborn because, at the end of the day, the hard truth is that if we didn’t try to accomplish the life that we want,
ما في حدا نلومو غير نفسنا
then there is no one to blame for that except ourselves
فاصري كوني عنيدة ودايما اطرحي اسئلة
so, insist, be stubborn, and always ask questions
لانك انتي عنجد باخر نهار بتستاهلي تعيشي الحياة اللي بدك اياة
because eventually, you deserve to live the life that you want
ما تخلي اي حدا يقنعك غير هيك
don’t let anyone convince you otherwise
انا مش بميت راجل, انا قد حالي
I’m not worth a hundred men, I’m just myself
VIDEO #02:
مرحبا انا اسمي ريما من لبنان
Hello, my name is Rima and I’m from Lebanon
انا بشتغل مدرس رقص بمشروع مُمول لدعم نساء لبنانيات
I work as a dance teacher in a project funded for supporting Lebanese women
وهو عبارة عن نادي رياضي
It is basically a sports club
خلالو حبيت انقل تجربت مع رقص واليوغا
through which, I wanted to share my experience in dance and yoga
ونقلتا وشاركتا مع النساء
and I managed to do so, and I shared it with many women
مصرة لانقلا لعدد اكبر واكبر وبعدني مستمرة
I insist on sharing it with many more, and I’m still persisting
لكن الآمل موجود. ومتل ما بيقولوا دايما ما رح نكون متشائمين
But there is hope. Like I always say, we will not despair
بعتبره فعلا هو مصدر قوتي واستمراريتي
I believe this is truly my source of strength and persistence
وانا متلي متل كل النساء بالعالم العربي
Like many other women in the Arab world,
تعرضت لانواع العنف – منا جسدي, منا نفسي
I have been subjected to different types of violence, physical and mental
ما رح جيب سيرتن هلا
But I won’t talk about them now
بعدني بتعرض لمضايقات قمع ممنوعة اعبر عن رائي
I still get subjected to harassments, oppression, inability to express my opinion
ممنوعة عيش وجودي كمرأة
I am unable to express myself as a woman
للاسف هيدا الوقع عند العربي يعني
Sadly, this is the reality in the Arab world
بس انا مصرة لعيش حقيقتي, لعيش وجودي بكل معنى الكلمة
But I’m persistent to live as who I truly am, to live by my existence in all sense of the word
اذا كانت ثقافات الرجل بتتميز بقطع [بمقاطعة] إمرأة بتتحدث وبرفض المبادرات لانو مصدرها إمرأة
If our patriarchal culture is distinguished/characterised by interrupting women from speaking and refusing initiatives just because they are created by women
*So, I was told by my Syrian friend that the word بقطع is inaccurately used and instead the word should be بمقاطعة
فانا ما بدي اكون جزء من هي الثقافة نهائيا
then I do not want to be part of that culture after all
انا مرأة قوية لانو ولا مرة قبلت كون ضحية ولا رح كون ضحية, ما ببقبل
I’m a strong woman because I have never accepted being the victim. And I never will, I will not accept that
لاني دايما بعيش على حقيقتي وعيش على حقيقتي
Also because I have always been true to myself and I always will
لاني كمان واقفة على مرايتي النفسية دايما باستمرار
Because I stand in front of my mirror, always keeping my head high,
دايما دايما بارادة حديدية وبتمنى كلنا هيك نكون سوا
always, always with a robust (iron) willpower, and I hope we can all unite together
كلنا عنا ارادة حديدي
All of us with a strong willpower
انا مش بميت راجل, انا قد حالي
I’m not worth a hundred men, I’m just myself
Notes:
بميت راجل
This phrase is from an Egyptian expression called ست بميت راجل which translates to “a woman worth a hundred men”. And it is often said in situations where a woman actually stands up for her rights.
For further explanation, I would like to quote from this article which sums up the problem with such an expression:
As for the name, B100Ragl is an Egyptian expression qualifying influential and accomplished women that are said to be worth 100 men, and Qureshi hopes the show can provide a platform to many such women.
“When it comes to media and women’s empowerment, there is a common misconception that we need to empower women to use their voice,” she says. “We often forget that women already have a voice and more often than not, they just need a platform to be heard.
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That’s it, folks!
As usual, let me know your thoughts in the comment section below.
And don’t forget to share the post if you find it useful!
Till then, take care and I’ll see you around in the hosh,
Lyn
P.S. Here’s a tip: Read aloud the transcript and practice, practice, practice till you find yourself narrating it in a natural and casual manner! 🙂
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