Sylvia's Journal

Now that Obama and the State of Massachusetts have declared a state of emergency because of the H1N1 virus, I am anxious to get Axel out of that dangerous place and over here. I am counting these nine more days and hope that he will be able to dodge the virus-laden spray of Massachusetts’ infected sneezers and coughers.

Early this morning (not too early as it is our day off) Iain, who just arrived, Steve and I had breakfast at the Pelican, a real French bakery place (as opposed to the one with that is called the French Bakery) that employs the cutest Hazara boys and girls as waiters and waitresses. We each had fried eggs, bacon (yes, bacon indeed), fresh apple/watermelon juice, good coffee and a real croissant. We sat amidst enormous rose bushes, 6 foot tall cosmos and a thick patch of bright red geraniums, outside on the terrace in the cool morning sun. It was lovely. I can’t wait to show the place to Axel. After wards I bought a real baguette, an almond croissant and a bag of butter cookies for four dollars, a fortune here, but well worth it.

The rest of the day I studied my Dari so as not to disappoint my teacher who came at the end of the day. We studied body parts but not the unmentionables. He offered to teach these as well but I declined. I am not a doctor and don’t plan to date an Afghan, so I don’t need to know. I learned that the word for back or behind is the same word that is used to denote gay men by the people who live in the north of the country. The word for arm and hand is the same, which is also true for leg and foot. And fingers are described as digits of the hand and digits of the foot.

We also practiced the old verbs and then I learned some new ones. He is getting stricter with homework and I am to write the words I keep forgetting at least five times in my note book, in Dari. But my Dari writing is still very rudimentary and I requested a writing practice book for first graders. In the meantime I am allowed to type the words in Dari, which I have mastered through my computerized flash card program.

We ended the lesson with a walk around the living and dining room naming everything in sight; from carpet to bookcase, table, chairs, fruit platter, clock, etc. Since I will be furnishing my new home such words are important.

After my lesson our newest housemate, Inua, from Ghana emerged from the confines of his small room and we watched David Attenborough celebrate Darwin on a DVD that I had given Steve as a birthday present. And now the weekend is over, whereas back at home it is just beginning. I am proud that I didn’t fritter my entire weekend away behind the computer, although I did write a first draft of the chapter for the Third Culture Kids book, but that doesn’t count as it is extra-curricular.