Troubles with Arabic and other stories
I am sooooo depressed about missing Thanksgiving. Turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy and stuffing and rolls (mom's rolls are soooo good) and pumpkin pie and cranberry sauce (even though I've never really been a fan) and red wine and football and food coma and leftovers! Argh. A group of Mormons in Amman invited the PC to feast with them, but I wouldn't be able to get back to Safi afterwards, and I've used my "out of site" days for the month already, and I'm still scared to go to Amman. So no Thanksgiving for Hilary. Only a little over a month until Egypt, though, and I GET TO SEE MY FAMILY!!! Super fun. And Dan's coming with me. Hopefully my family will like him.
I taught English all day yesterday. The adults actually showed up this time, 15 minutes late, which annoyed me to no end, but they just blamed their own culture and acted a little shocked that I was so upset. The 12 year old girls are always on time, and the adults aren't. (!!!) My Arabic is coming along, despite not having a tutor, but there are still many instances every day that are so incredibly frustrating because of the language barrier. For instance, last night a 17 year old girl who I don't really know appeared at my door. She took off her shoes (like you do), walked in, and sat on my farsha and started watching tv. I was still standing at the door, watching her do this, simply amazed at the rude and unexpected guest. Who does that?? So I tired to explain to her that I was tired and in my pajamas, and was watching the West Wing, my favorite show, and while I would allow her to stay, I was not in the mood to entertain. She then proceeded to ask me about 2,000 questions, ranging from my love life (which is non-existent according to every Jordanian I meet), my consumption of alcohol (also only happens in church, never outside of church), whether or not my sister lives with her fiancee (again, not according to Jordan), whether or not I've ever kissed a boy (no no no no), if I would teach her Karate (I really don't know Karate, but she insisted I did...bizarre), if I would teach her Chinese (again, no knowledge of it, but she insisted I was fluent), if i would take her to America with me (I said no, cause she's rude, but I said it in English, which she didn't understand, so I didn't hurt her feelings), etc. She also tried to change the channel three times during the West Wing which is so so so forbidden....but I kept my temper and was nearly enjoying her presence until she demanded I walk her home.
She spoke enough English and simple Arabic so that I could understand her, but no matter how I pronounced a word or whatever simple English I could conjure, she could not understand ANYTHING I tried to explain to her. For instance, "No, I am wearing pajamas and it's dark and if I walk you home, I then have to walk home alone in the dark which I don't want to do," translated in her mind, came out as "Sure!"
I ended up finding a neighbor boy to walk her home, while I stood outside with one of my neighbors who is about my age, with three kids, and we discussed how tired we were, and how visitors never seem to understand that (she had about 6 men sitting outside her house with her husband, to whom she was faithfully serving endless amounts of tea).
I'm super upset about missing out on Harry Potter in the theatre, as well as all the other movies I've heard are so good but I'll only get to see on DVD....
Gosh. I've missed America so much in the past three days. I never thought I'd miss America.
Until next time...
I taught English all day yesterday. The adults actually showed up this time, 15 minutes late, which annoyed me to no end, but they just blamed their own culture and acted a little shocked that I was so upset. The 12 year old girls are always on time, and the adults aren't. (!!!) My Arabic is coming along, despite not having a tutor, but there are still many instances every day that are so incredibly frustrating because of the language barrier. For instance, last night a 17 year old girl who I don't really know appeared at my door. She took off her shoes (like you do), walked in, and sat on my farsha and started watching tv. I was still standing at the door, watching her do this, simply amazed at the rude and unexpected guest. Who does that?? So I tired to explain to her that I was tired and in my pajamas, and was watching the West Wing, my favorite show, and while I would allow her to stay, I was not in the mood to entertain. She then proceeded to ask me about 2,000 questions, ranging from my love life (which is non-existent according to every Jordanian I meet), my consumption of alcohol (also only happens in church, never outside of church), whether or not my sister lives with her fiancee (again, not according to Jordan), whether or not I've ever kissed a boy (no no no no), if I would teach her Karate (I really don't know Karate, but she insisted I did...bizarre), if I would teach her Chinese (again, no knowledge of it, but she insisted I was fluent), if i would take her to America with me (I said no, cause she's rude, but I said it in English, which she didn't understand, so I didn't hurt her feelings), etc. She also tried to change the channel three times during the West Wing which is so so so forbidden....but I kept my temper and was nearly enjoying her presence until she demanded I walk her home.
She spoke enough English and simple Arabic so that I could understand her, but no matter how I pronounced a word or whatever simple English I could conjure, she could not understand ANYTHING I tried to explain to her. For instance, "No, I am wearing pajamas and it's dark and if I walk you home, I then have to walk home alone in the dark which I don't want to do," translated in her mind, came out as "Sure!"
I ended up finding a neighbor boy to walk her home, while I stood outside with one of my neighbors who is about my age, with three kids, and we discussed how tired we were, and how visitors never seem to understand that (she had about 6 men sitting outside her house with her husband, to whom she was faithfully serving endless amounts of tea).
I'm super upset about missing out on Harry Potter in the theatre, as well as all the other movies I've heard are so good but I'll only get to see on DVD....
Gosh. I've missed America so much in the past three days. I never thought I'd miss America.
Until next time...
posted by Hilary at 10:32 AM
2 Comments:
HAHAHA...the story about the little girl is one of the greatest stories ever!! The idea of a little Arabic girl that you dont know bursting into your house and asking you to teach her Karate is unbelievably funny to me, and it had me rolling (this is partially because I can picture your face and mannerisms at each moment, i.e. when she changed the West Wing, BAhahaha) Anyways, thank you for that, much appreciated. Thanksgiving...I feel your PAIN, i want a damn Turkey, and I love cranberry sauce, damnit. Oh well, we will have to double up when we get back to the states and have a spontaneous Thanksgiving feast for no reason. PEACE and much love lil Sis...don't do anything I wouldn't do, oh wait...you can't. MIss you, love you TONS!!
i love the story, see, frustration with my english wasnt so bad :) i still tell everyone the story about how you taught me how to say annapolis.. Ill try to get harry potter for you at china town :)
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