Saba7 alkheer!
I woke up early today and my host mom invited me to sit out on the balcony while I look over my al kitab notes from years ago (like a last minute skim of 300 pages will really do anything to help me take my placement test :-p )
But I can't study. These birds! There are hundreds of swallows in every direction you look. And I think that flying is really just for fun for them. They're not going anywhere, just doing their acrobatics, hugging the walls of the inside of this block, flying as fast as they can. Diving and swooping. They're not going anywhere, they're just having fun.
It appears to be pigeon mating season. Several young strapping males not making too much progress with the lady birds. One poofy pigeon landed on the wall in front of me. I think he thought about doing his little dance, but took a better look at me and decided I wasn't really his type.
It's so quiet here. There's no horn honking, no people calling out (although this part of town is mostly just residential and small cafes). Very few donkeys - especially in this part of town. Just the birds.
I did here the call to prayer around 4:30 this morning. It was barely audible and only lasted a minute if that. I actually haven't heard the call to prayer except this morning. I'm a little disappointed in that. Where are all the mosques competing with each other for the best voice?? From what little I could make out, the man's voice was lovely this morning, but still, only one mosque?! And why didn't I hear it at the center yesterday? We're in the old medina, and I know we did pass a mosque on our walking tour..
We walked home from the center yesterday. It looked like a long way by taxi, but it really didn't take more than 40 minutes. I think Monica and I will try to walk back this morning if we get breakfast in time.
I was so mentally fatigued last night. I had no problem falling asleep at 11ish, but I woke up around 4:30 and realized that my phone was across the room. Then I realized that I had to pee but the toilet doesn't really flush and the button on the top has come loose so now there's no chance. And then I realized that the real reason I had woken up was because I had a headache. I get these headaches in the mornings. It seems like it could be a sinus thing, but then it is a bit light sensitive as well. Ibuprofin, caffeine, and an hour of sitting up usually do the trick, but it's been 3 hours and it's still not gone. I'm not sure if this family does coffee or tea.. I guess I should take some allergy stuff..
I feel rested, I think. I can't tell through the headache. It's too bad to read anything so I'm hoping breakfast will calm it down so I can take this exam..
I'm feeling very comfortable in my host family's house. Their 13 year old son greeted us with a kiss on the cheek which really made me feel welcome. Haha, he listened to our conversation over dinner and corrected his mom every time she began using french again. We were in the kitchen cleaning up, and he was on the balcony, and his mom said "merci" and he calls out from the balcony "SHUKRAN!" lol I think he will be an asset.
I've gotten a lot of love from you guys and the texting is really keeping me feeling connected which is good emotionally. I don't feel alone at all.
Hopefully the 5 hours sleep was just because of the nap I took earlier in the day and the headache..
I'm gonna go see if breakfast is ready.
Love,
Holly
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