I sometimes dread it when people ask where I come from.  Not more than 10% of people who hear “Bahrain” as answer have some sort of idea where that country might be, but that’s not my cause of annoyance.For those who know that Bahrain is indeed in the Persian Gulf, there is one thing that comes to mind- wealth.

Some people might ask, but it’s those who assume who annoy me the most. For the past two months I made a lot of friends, mainly Indians given the demographics of the student body in my program. Despite the fact that most of these are actually Indian elites, owners of chains of businesses and are wealthy themselves- they love to point out that I must be wealthy. When at some occasions I said just that, it appeared that some have the notion that we’re unnecessarily wealthy, that is, it’s undeserved wealth; while theirs is hard worked for. Oh, and they use Bahrain and Dubai interchangeably.

-    Public transport here is not very good, but getting a car is very expensive. I would’ve got one
-    Used or new?
-    Used, I’m only here for a short period of time.
-    Get a new one it’s better
-    It’ll be much more expensive
-    But you come from Bahrain, you can buy a car!

-    You mean you’re not rich?
-    Actually, no.
-    Everyone in Dubai was rich.
-    I don’t know about that, but not everyone in Bahrain is rich.
-    Only expats are poor.
-    That’s very misguided.

-    No one speaks Arabic there.
-    Expats tend to not learn it.
-    No, I stayed in Dubai for four years and no one speaks Arabic.

-    You live on your own?
-    Yes.
-    Doesn’t it work out to be expensive? But it’s ok for you, you’re from Bahrain.
-    I live 2 miles away from the university, you live across the street. Apartments where I live are much cheaper. Oh, and my scholarship actually pays for the rent not my dad.
-    But your dad would, if they didn’t.
-    He would if he could.
-    You mean he couldn’t?
-    No.
-    Come on.
-    I’m serious.