The refugees have a house now. They're about 15 minutes closer to us than they were in their apartment, which makes them a 30-minute drive now. :) But we still go. Tonight we didn't stay long because I'm still sick (battling a cold). Stephen helped Hussein and Salah out with geometry; I stayed on the couch and talked to Mohammad. After their math homework was done, Hussein joined his sister Soher on the couch and Salah went upstairs. The boys talked about school to us. Mohammad told us that he graduates this year, which is not what he said earlier. Back in September, they said he'd have to go to school for 3 more years to catch up with the other students, even though he's 18.

He told us tonight that he has a girlfriend. LOL! He just mentioned it while talking about something else and I just busted up laughing. Not because that's so improbable--more like so predictable! He's got the charm and the looks and is very social and picked up English like nothing else--I'm not surprised at ALL. :D

What was even more funny was that he told us in Iraq he had, like, 20 girlfriends! And he even changed three in one week. I couldn't stop laughing. Mohammad is just FUNNY that way.

Hussein was being quite hysterical tonight too, which was nice to see. Usually he's pretty serious around us. I think he just feels a bit intimidated by Americans--I think Salah feels the same way, and perhaps Samira as well. Mohammad, no, LOL. The whole world loves him. :)

Anyway, I turned away from the TV to see what Soher and Hussein were doing because they were talking a lot. Soher had this oh-so-innocent yet laughing look on her face (she's 21 or so) and her brother was rattling off to her in Arabic, pulling out his wallet. He handed her a few dollars, making a good-humored fuss. "You want more?" he asked. "You want more?" He dumped his wallet upside-down and shook out a few coins. By now the rest had taken notice and everybody was laughing at the show. "You want my ID too?" he said, pulling out his school ID card and his visa.

"Give her your wallet!" Mohammad egged them on, just as Hussein threw his whole wallet into Soher's hands. Soher was laughing just as hard as everybody--it was so fun. :D I have NO idea what that was all about, but it was great to see them like that.

I love those guys. They are so entirely hilarious and fun. I wish we could just hang out with them sometime--take them to the mall or a park or the zoo or something.

I think we took them by surprise again. Grr. I hate it when we do that. But it's only to be expected--we haven't been for 3 weeks! I was gone, and then my sister had a birthday party, then I was sick... I'm still sick, but I was well enough to go tonight, and there was no way I was missing 4 weeks in a row. I miss them!

Anyway, when we came in I saw Salima (the mother) jump off the couch into the next room. From what I saw, she was wearing a T-shirt and capri-cut pants or something. When she returned into the room to greet us, though, she had put on a more traditional Muslim outfit. Long black covering--it was kind of cool-looking, actually, and I almost commented, but I knew she'd be embarrassed if I brought it up. I wondered why in the world she felt like she had to dress up to greet us though.

We called last week to tell them I was sick, so we weren't coming, and this week they double-checked that. I told them I was sick last week and sick this week too, but doing okay now.

And Salima. Put her hands out roundly in front of her and said, "Baby?"

AAAAAHHH!!!

Oh. My. Goodness. They are never going to let up on that.

It's so funny though. :D I'm just a little worried, though, that when we still don't have a baby in July or August if they are going to start asking why. I think having children is highly valued in their culture, and they probably can't understand why in the world people would wait here. How would we explain? It's not a conversation I'd be afraid of having with them, I just don't know how I could explain it adequately. Ugh.

Anyway, that sums up the visit for tonight. Much fun. :D Can't wait to see them again next week (Lord willing!).

-Stephanie

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