Wednesday night I got out of class downtown at around 6:30. Me and a couple people from my class were waiting for the shuttle to go back to Tempe. Of course it didn't show up when it was supposed to so we ended up waiting an extra 30 min for it to come. While we were waiting there was a incoherent drunk, possibly homeless man chillin' on the curb near us. He was fine for a while, then he decided to come talk to us. He asked us generally where we were from but then he looks at me and freaks out. "WHOA WHOA WHOA" as he backs up twirling his finger around his face, "shes got that MUSLIM thing on".After this he completely diverts his attention to me. "Where are you from?" Arizona... "Are you sure?" uhh yes... "What are you guys doing here?" We go to school here... "Where?" over there.... "Whats it called?" ASU... "Is that a university?" yes.... "Are you going to stay in it?" yes.... "Your not going to quit? Your coming back tomorrow?" yes.......
He then proceeds to lecture me for 20 min about how good I am for being in school and how good university is. He tells me to stay on the road, pointing down the street, the road of university. Not the 'other' life. Drugs are bad. He continually repeated himself about how good school was. He then starts talking about drinking. You shouldn't drink in the street. Its OK in your home. You can invite some friends over and drink.... (me and smiling and nodding the whole time)
He also says that he can tell that I come from a beautiful family. And he knows when he sees a good thing. (me being in school is a good thing) Then he tells me I'm special. He looks to my classmates confirming to them how special I am.
This whole time my classmates are just standing there. More people started to gather waiting for the shuttle. Some of them were a little disturbed. When the bus FINALLY arrived I started inching my way around him. Then he says.... "I guess I'll let you go now."
On the bus, this girl who must have been on the downtown campus for the first time says to another girl, "do things like this happen a lot here?" hahaha.... Alhumdulilah it doesn't. And Alhumdulilah there were people around, otherwise I would have been very scared. That was one of the most awkward and uncomfortable experiences I've ever had.
