Abdullah, the son of the oldest girl in the family, is the loudest, most hyper 6-year-old I have EVER met. Ever since we started coming to the refugees a year ago in August, our experience with him has been him bouncing and rolling and screaming and laughing around the living room where we meet with the refugees every time we go over. There was one time he was sick and sleeping. The silence was amazing.
The whole family is rather noisy; they're a huge family and I imagine they've just learned to talk over each other to get heard. It's overwhelming for me just about every time, but for Stephen, who also comes from a big family, it's never been too big a deal. Yesterday even he was getting overwhelmed, so that tells you a lot about the level of craziness in the home yesterday! Abdullah was being the worst, and Stephen, when he was finished helping the three teens out with one e-mail account, finally said to Abdullah, "Abdullah. I have game for you. It's called who can sit down and be quiet the longest." And Stephen proceeded to kneel on the rug as an example, and Mohammad, the social one who speaks really good English, jumped right in as well. I was amazed as Abdullah actually conceded to this "game," sitting down cross-legged on the carpet as well and grinning his eyes out, but managing to not talk, laugh, scream, or make noise in any other way.
The quiet that descended on the house was incredible.
Not only was the little nosiemaker being quiet, but everyone else who was in the room was caught up in disbelief that my husband's trick had actually worked! And just loving it!
Abdullah lost, of course, after about a minute, when a much-suppressed laugh finally erupted from him. And the rest of us also laughed in amazement and wonder and delight. I was very, very, very impressed with my husband and I hope the refugees were too. And then Abdullah, of all things, goes, "One more time!" Which got another round of laughter from everyone watching. So Stephen and Mohammad agreed to another round and the three boys sat again as the rest of us looked on. Abdullah didn't last much longer this time and again an irrepressible laugh was his loss. We all laughed and clapped for him for being quiet for so long, and for Stephen's ingenious trick. And then Abdullah said AGAIN, "One more time!" We were starting to wonder how many rounds they would have to play (What have you gotten yourself into, dear? was my amused thought), when Abdullah said, "Just one more time."
So for the third time, Mohammad, Abdullah and Stephen sat on the carpet keeping quiet. A minute passed, and a second minute; the rest of us had quelled our laughter and we could see Abdullah was really trying this time. We all watched his comical face in great curiosity to see how long he could really go, when all of a sudden he put his hand up and announced in the silence with a grin, "I lose!"
At that we all just fell apart laughing! We laughed and clapped so hard at him. He must have loved it. :) I think we all (including his family) had a brand-new understanding of Abdullah. He really can be quiet! Who knew?? LOL.
That was definitely the best story of us as a community. The best personal story (for me) came at the end of the night. Mohammad went into the kitchen and brought out a plastic bag and two pomegranates, one in each hand. Looking at us, he said, "You like this?" Steve and I are both fond of pomegranates, even though they turn my teeth black. Stephen wasn't paying attention, though, he was absorbed in more computer stuff with the refugees, I think, so I answered for us, "Yeah, we like those."
"Here, you take them." He put them in the bag for us. "I don't know what they are called in English. In Arabic, rumon," he said, rolling the 'r'.
"Rumon," I imitated him, and his head snapped up at me.
"WOW, she say rumon!" he said to his family.
I was a little taken aback by his response, and I explained, "So easy! In English, pomegranate." Which they had an amusing time trying to figure out. They called it "pomegranny," LOL! I emphasized the 't' sound at the end for them, but I think they'll still call it a "pomegranny" because they think it's funny. :D Mohammad told us that the Kurdish (they're half-Kurdish) word for it was "hadad," which I also imitated, but then I wrinkled up my nose. "I like rumon better," I said, and again that same head-snapping response from Mohammad.
"WOW, she say it again! She say rumon! She say it I think I hear Iraq!" he explained excitedly, and finally I understood why he gave such an energetic response. I said it like an Iraqi! Cool! And even better--"I think you say it better than me!" he went on. I blushed and laughed with delight. Wow, that's high praise! I say an Arabic word better than a bonafide Iraqi! :D
It made me extra happy, because when we were first teaching them English and learning a teeny bit of Arabic from them, Stephen and I both tried to say one thing, and he did a better job than I did, and Mohammad joked, "Stephen, Arabic good! Stephanie, not good!" I felt pretty bad, even though he meant it in a totally lighthearted way. It was just a slight injury to my pride, because I like to think I'm really good at languages. So after that I didn't try to speak Arabic. But now a year later Mohammad is telling me I sound like a true Iraqi, so that's pretty cool! :)
Truly, though... How easy is it to say "rumon"?? So easy.
Anyway. :) I ought to learn more Arabic and impress their socks off... Haha!! I'd love that. :D
Sorry about all the smileys... I just like it when I get stuff right! I'm from "Perfect Country" all right.
Oh, that's a reference to a marriage seminar that Stephen and I went to at our church. We watched a DVD series by a guy named Mark Gungor. It's called "Laugh Your Way to a Better Marriage." It was really, really good! I would love to show it to my family, and Stephen and I might check it out from the church library before we go to my grandparents' for Thanksgiving to do just that.
Goodness, I'm writing and realizing there's so much I haven't updated everybody on in here! Yes, Stephen and I are going to my grandparents' house for Thanksgiving. My sister is there, living with them and going to school, and while we were thinking about the idea of going there for Thanksgiving, my aunt was thinking the same thing, and when we talked about it, we more or less decided yep, that's where we're going. Naturally, when we mentioned how we were all going over there, Mom decided to follow. So we'll have a nice Thanksgiving with all of us (except my other aunt and her family) together at my grandparents' house. :) That'll be fun.
Christmas plans haven't officially solidified yet. Our plan is to go to Stephen's parents' for Christmas, since his brother and sister-in-law are coming, but we just aren't sure what day we'll get up there. Stephen may not get Christmas off. We're still waiting on that end of it.
I think that's all I've got. I've got to dash off to the Real Life Exhibit to volunteer.
