August 3, 2001

It seems like we've actually spent a few days doing nothing of note - nerding out, being quiet, keeping to ourselves, getting some good rest. Part of the reason is that today is Friday, and this morning we had our oral midterm exams for Arabic. The University is closed on Fridays, so we planned to meet our professor at a restaurant in Ramallah ("Checkers" was one of the possibilities - yes, the same American chain) and converse in colloquial Arabic. But on Fridays, there's not a restaurant in Ramallah open at 9:00 AM, so we had a strolling exam.

Playing pool in Ramallah.

Later on we connected with friends for a couple of games of cards before heading off to the Ramallah pool hall (Elizabeth was the only woman there, and the bathroom near our pool table had no door) for a few games of pathos pool with fellow Birzeit students (foreigners and locals). Marthame preferred to hit the arcade games and the foosball table.