Moments of Being a Stranger -Part Three

A short memoir by Soran Mustafa Kurdi

Before going to New York City, I reserved a hotel room online. Up on arriving at the hotel, the receptionist, an Asian American as one could easily tell by his small eyes, asked for a photo ID. I showed him my passport. 

He looked at the passport, stole a glance at me, and smiled a little. 

“Where are you from?” He asked.

“Iraq!” I answered.

His smile got bigger till I could easily see his front teeth.

“Salam u Alaikum!” he said, giving me the room key. 

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* Salam u Alaikum is an Arabic expression for greeting, it means “Peace be upon you”.