2004-07-25 - 9:56 p.m.

I got home from the garden today, and a series of events changed the way I look at the world…not really, but stuff did happen. No one was home so I took some time to care for the rash developing on the inside of my legs (hot weather and running don’t mix, but I’m making it work). When I camr out of my room the third oldest, Dar, was just arriving. He is 9 and reminds me of my cousin Jacob when he was younger. I pick him up and throw him in the air. He thinks it’s funny, but it scares the hell out of him. I feel weird dong it because half of the time he acts much like an adult, and the other like a kid. That is the way things work around here. They push you push you top grow up as quickly as possible. Cher, who is 13 is expected to be an adult, but I can see in his eyes he still wants to run off and play. Dar and I got the mat out to lay under the sun shade. Soon after Char showed up with some friends. I tried to teach Dar how to play tic tac toe.

Lying around is a true art from over here. The hours between 12 and 4 are reserved for eating, drinking tea and napping. If you were to walk through town at that time you would find 95% of the town engaging in one of those activities. In this climate it is necessary. Those hours are the hottest of the day and any type of strenuous activity would probably result in heat stroke. Except for the heat it is my favorite part of the day. I get a 20 minute nap in. I practice Hassanyan with my family, and I can read and write. All of this require very low amounts of body movement.

So in this particular story the lying around occurred just after 6. Not really peak lying around time, but nice. I had gotten Dar to understand tic tac toe and how incredibly dull it is.

I had gotten Dar to understand Tic tac toe and how incredibly dull it is. We were just moving on to lambs in the pen when I noticed a troop of local women approaching the house. I have spoken to them as a group before, but always with my host mom around. Normally they harass me and ask 1000 questions I can’t understand. Without motherly protection I knew I was in for a treat. They started to sing as they drew closer. I greeted them (I try to always be he first so I can at least give the appearance of being in charge of a situation). The women surrounded the shade and began to pound me with questions. I count my blessings that Dar was there. He tried to whisper me answers when he could. What was the gist of their inquisition? 1. Was I Married. 2. Would I marry one of the. Both questions I avoided.

Eventually the group took off . I started to play with Dar again and he had jus started to understand lambs in the pen, when I heard singing again. Dar saw the fear in my eyes and motioned for me to run in the house. They were too close so he motioned for me to feign sleeping. I tried with all my might, but couldn’t stop laughing. Once again they attacked me with questions, but I remained silent. They wanted me to come dance, but I was afraid I would give the wrong impression. After 5 minutes more of female barrage I was left in peace.

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