I happened across a rather extensive list of Arabic insults (NSFW), and felt obligated to point out some of the more entertaining among them (profanity follows):

• Add ma emmak neketo la bayyak men tizo, hebil fik men bayadto. — Your mother fucked your father in the ass so much that he got pregnant and held you in his balls (Yes, I swear that’s what it says)
• Badi lahsak manbat sha’er baidi — I will make you lick the roots of the hairs of my balls (Not just the hairs; the roots of the hairs!)
• Una bede et’hash zebe be dant bentok — I wish to place my penis in your daughter’s ear

Ever since I lived in Iraq and visited Jordan, I’ve had a thing for Arabic pop—or rather, female Arabic pop; Arab male pop stars are even more effeminate than American boy bands, if that’s possible. It’s been hard to find Arabic pop artists here in the States, but I—er…a friend of mine—stumbled across a few great Arabic pop torrents. I particularly like Nancy Ajram and Elissa. This is roughly equivalent to an Arab man saying he likes Britney Spears and whats-her-name the scary-looking 14 year old girl, with a few notable differences:

My Arabic vocab so far:

• shukran — Thank you
• afwan — You’re welcome
• zien — Good
• nam — Yes
• samoon — Type of bread
• hubuz — bread in general, or large flat pita loaves
• gus — Iraqi shwarma
• mezgoof — Grilled fish
• burag — Meat and spices baked in a flaky crust
• laham-bageen — Grilled and chopped meat on a flat pita loaf
• itfadhal — Please accept this
• ismahli — Excuse me/may I?
• ishtah — Begone/Fuck off
• salamu a linkum — Peace of God be with you
• walinkum a salaam — Peace be also upon you
• shaku — What? (casual/slang)

Days two and three of DSAC-Iraq proceeded much like the first. Day two covered Arab and Muslim culture, which I found fascinating. Some noteworthy aspects: