10 June 2009

Visitors for Dinner

Last Saturday's dinner was a mix of languages, cultures and
religions. At our dinner table sat people who consider their day of
worship Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Classical Arabic, Juba Arabic,
Moru, and English were all employed in our attempts to communicate
with one another. Larissa had invited 3 friends she had met on our
language walk to our home. It was a splendid mix of laughter,
awkwardness, miscommunication, silence, and pleasure. As our guests
tried to excuse themselves we delayed them. It seems that at the end
they didn't make it home in time for Muslim prayers, so on their way
out they washed their hands and legs and then had to hide themselves
behind Kim's house to kneel in prayer. We learned later that women
should not be present during the prayers. I'm sure Chai shouldn't have
been trying to nibble on their shoes during prayers either.

Despite the mayhem, we had a great time with our visitors and they
seemed to enjoy it, too.