Let Me Tell You About Ahmed Taha

My daughter, Ada Verastic, and I were at IHOP (Store #2121, located at 8620 Pulaski Highway, Rosedale, MD 21237), and Ahmed was our server. I admired his professionalism and swiftness, and when I pleaded with him to bring my food out hot, not lukewarm, he understood the assignment. So, naturally, I was drawn to find out more about this man who was unlike most of the other servers I had encountered at this particular IHOP location.

 

I knew from his accent that he was an immigrant, and I guessed from his looks that he was Arab, possibly. Well, there was only one way to find out.

 

Ahmed Taha was Egyptian. So, Arab-speaking but not Arab. You know, like French-speaking, but not French. Or English-speaking but not English. Okay, you get the point.

 

I introduced myself to Ahmed and asked if I could write about him. He agreed with a smile and even added a ‘Thank you,” but when I told him I was Nigerian after he told me he was Egyptian, his smile became wider and broader, and his countenance became more relaxed as if he had run into an old friend. Two Africans, we had unexpectedly found each other, and there is a warmth and comfort that comes with finding people who share the continent with you. There is just comfort in finding people who remind you of you. That could be a woman finding a fellow woman in a room full of men or a child finding a child in a room full of adults or even a dog finding a dog in a room full of humans. Okay, you get the point again.

 

We talked about our rich continent, our incompetent leaders, and the challenges of raising children in America while still trying to immerse them in our culture and without having said culture positioned authentically within our immediate geographical means. It is an ‘It’s complicated’ relationship status.

 

Ahmed owned a barbershop and spa in Egypt before he visited America and decided he would like to start a life here. He finally moved to America in 2017 with the help of the owner of this IHOP location, who sponsored him. He loves Maryland because he finds the people to be more tolerant of his African and Muslim self and family. The short time he previously spent in California and New Jersey was uncomfortable as people stared at him when he prayed outside, and his wife, who wears the full hijab did not feel welcome. But Maryland is nice, he said. His wife originally did not like the idea of living in America, but every year, her disposition toward America becomes warmer, so Ahmed is pleased.

 

Ahmed’s barbershop and spa were only for men. The men came there to get pampered with haircuts and Moroccan baths. I asked him why it was only for men, and he reminded me that his Islamic religion did not allow the mixing of men and women in that way. He showed me a promotional video, and for a brief second, I wished I was a man.

 

The spa is still open in Egypt, but it is not what it used to be when he was there. Today, Ahmed still cuts hair every day, except Friday and Saturday, because he reserves those days for his family. He is currently saving up and actively working towards opening another spa and barbing salon in Maryland, probably in Towson. This time, however, it will be sectioned into two, and services will be provided for women, too.

 

 

So, IHOP, I don’t know what you do for your great employees, but this one deserves his flowers: money, global recognition on your website, and a promotion.

 

There are 8 billion people in the world, and this is just one story. I guess I have a lot of storytelling to do.