February 1, 2002

Friday picnic in the fields of Zababdeh.

Today was Friday (or, as we call it, "Weekend: Part One"), and the weather is absolutely beautiful. We are coming to the best time of year here, where it is warmer (but not too warm), and the rain has done its work of making the land greener than green. And so today was warm, sunny, and verdant.

Singing and relaxing with the Latin School’s Islam teacher and family.

We joined the school's Islam teacher and her family for a picnic. We lugged a couple of blankets, the requisite tea and coffee, and a big bucket of tabboule (Arabic salad) out to feast in the fields. The bucket also doubled wonderfully as a drum, and they sang songs - Arab folk songs, Arabic children's songs, Arab popular songs, and just general ululating. We lent our own with "This Old Man" and the like - somehow the Arabic drumming didn't quite work.