One of my co-workers is Syrian.
He's basically obsessed with his roots, and he loves nothing more than a good conversation in Arabic with whomever from our multitudinous Arabic-patronage happens to be buying coffee at the moment.
So, there's this big, middle-aged Saudi man who always comes into the shop with a varying assortment of college-aged Arabic guys. Like every day. Oh yeah, and they always pull up in a different Ferrari, Lamborghini, or otherwise ridiculously expensive car (*note: I know nothing of the value/awesomeness of cars - this I've simply ascertained from the freak-outs on the part of my male co-workers each time the crew rolls up). The gang just chills there for a couple hours drinking white mochas (after they like totally load our tip jar).
Naturally, we've always been curious about what the story is with this unlikely crew - is the older guy a friend? cool uncle? some sort of mentor, perhaps? Why in the world do they tip us double the cost of their drinks? What's with all the sweet rides?
Finally, my co-worker who loves him some Arabic-convo, does some preliminary digging and asks the older guy what he does, only to find out that he's some kind of a hot-shot in the Saudi military, currently acting as a bodyguard. His charge: one of the young guys who's always part of the group, who, oh - by the way - just happens to be one of the sons of the king of Saudi Arabia!? He's going to college here in DC or something.
So, I guess we have royalty in our midst?
It kind of reminded me of all those different movies like Roman Holiday or (on a cheesier note) The Prince and Me where royal personages try to slip into 'average' life undetected.
It's weird that we all finally know the great mystery behind the generous-tipping, Ferrari-driving, multi-generational Saudi crew- like we're privy to some great big secret (the princes and princesses in the movies never want to be found out).
Well, when I got home of course I wikipedia-ed it because I just had to know more. Apparently, our prince in question is one of the 'at least thirty-five children' fathered by King Abdullah.
I wonder where he falls in the birth order!
He's basically obsessed with his roots, and he loves nothing more than a good conversation in Arabic with whomever from our multitudinous Arabic-patronage happens to be buying coffee at the moment.
So, there's this big, middle-aged Saudi man who always comes into the shop with a varying assortment of college-aged Arabic guys. Like every day. Oh yeah, and they always pull up in a different Ferrari, Lamborghini, or otherwise ridiculously expensive car (*note: I know nothing of the value/awesomeness of cars - this I've simply ascertained from the freak-outs on the part of my male co-workers each time the crew rolls up). The gang just chills there for a couple hours drinking white mochas (after they like totally load our tip jar).
Naturally, we've always been curious about what the story is with this unlikely crew - is the older guy a friend? cool uncle? some sort of mentor, perhaps? Why in the world do they tip us double the cost of their drinks? What's with all the sweet rides?
Finally, my co-worker who loves him some Arabic-convo, does some preliminary digging and asks the older guy what he does, only to find out that he's some kind of a hot-shot in the Saudi military, currently acting as a bodyguard. His charge: one of the young guys who's always part of the group, who, oh - by the way - just happens to be one of the sons of the king of Saudi Arabia!? He's going to college here in DC or something.
So, I guess we have royalty in our midst?
It kind of reminded me of all those different movies like Roman Holiday or (on a cheesier note) The Prince and Me where royal personages try to slip into 'average' life undetected.
It's weird that we all finally know the great mystery behind the generous-tipping, Ferrari-driving, multi-generational Saudi crew- like we're privy to some great big secret (the princes and princesses in the movies never want to be found out).
Well, when I got home of course I wikipedia-ed it because I just had to know more. Apparently, our prince in question is one of the 'at least thirty-five children' fathered by King Abdullah.
I wonder where he falls in the birth order!
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