After class this afternoon I was invited to my first social gathering in Yemen, a going away party for our new friend Lauren (who is actually from Portland, incidentally). The party was held in the courtyard of the women's "dorm" and was hosted by the dorm mother, Um Ibrahim, the wife of Am, the school's groundskeeper (see above field trip post for more on Am). Also in attendance were 2 of Um Ibrahim's 4 daughters and 2 of her 4 sons (who are both under 5 years old, which excludes them from the normal taboos of mixed-gender gatherings), in addition to several local Yemeni women, and most of our school's (+ / - 10) female students. It was amazing seeing these women in a private (women-only) setting, sans veils. The women were so funny, and loud, and outgoing. Although I understood so little of the conversation (which was almost entirely conducted in Arabic), I felt an incredible connection to the group of strong, vibrant women surrounding me, and I felt an urgency and excitement to gain proficiency in Arabic so that I too will be able to exchange jokes and stories with my new neighbors and friends.
Following the afternoon ladies' gathering, Nate and I explored the neighborhood across the silah (sunken highway/riverbed) from our apartment. We found a cafe on the roof of a 6-story hotel and treated ourselves to Becks (non-alcoholic) beers and an absolutely breathtaking view of the City. Later that evening, following our sunset "cocktails", we were invited to our first western party in Sana'a, held in the apartment of two SIAL students. Mark and Will's home, which they rent for $250 a month, is 5 stories plus a rooftop deck/patio, and contains a kitchen, bathroom, living room and somewhere between 4-6 bedrooms--Nate described it, with its hundreds of winding, cement stairs, as very "Dr. Seuss". On a side note, we hear that buildings in our quarter of the Old City can be purchased for less than $10,000. (And yes, thoughts of buying one of these mud-brick towers and moving here to retire early, very early, have definitely crossed our minds). The students at SIAL are incredible, and it is fantastic to be making friends from such diverse backgrounds, ranging from Canada, all over Europe (England, Belgium, Germany, and Slovenia), Japan, Singapore, and even Somalia.
Following the afternoon ladies' gathering, Nate and I explored the neighborhood across the silah (sunken highway/riverbed) from our apartment. We found a cafe on the roof of a 6-story hotel and treated ourselves to Becks (non-alcoholic) beers and an absolutely breathtaking view of the City. Later that evening, following our sunset "cocktails", we were invited to our first western party in Sana'a, held in the apartment of two SIAL students. Mark and Will's home, which they rent for $250 a month, is 5 stories plus a rooftop deck/patio, and contains a kitchen, bathroom, living room and somewhere between 4-6 bedrooms--Nate described it, with its hundreds of winding, cement stairs, as very "Dr. Seuss". On a side note, we hear that buildings in our quarter of the Old City can be purchased for less than $10,000. (And yes, thoughts of buying one of these mud-brick towers and moving here to retire early, very early, have definitely crossed our minds). The students at SIAL are incredible, and it is fantastic to be making friends from such diverse backgrounds, ranging from Canada, all over Europe (England, Belgium, Germany, and Slovenia), Japan, Singapore, and even Somalia.
1 comment:
maybe we could all go in on a pad in yemen and start a commune for people who like to drink the pabst?
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