17 June 2019

Hello. Long time, no writing from me. Here is what is happening in my world. I have 3 Arabic professors/teachers/tutors (whatever you want to call them). I have Arabic lessons every day of the week but lately I have had to cut out Monday because I need one day to use as a catch up with homework etc. All of my professors are from Syria. Abdulwahed is from Aleppo and lives in Istanbul, Hussein is from Latakia and lives in Minsk, Belarus and Sayib is from Damascus and lives in Istanbul. Sayib is my newest teacher. He is an old man who smokes like a chimney and plays the oud. He is one of these little old Arab men that I have always had such a soft spot for. You could just see him sitting on the side of the road, smoking his argela or shishah pipe (though I think he prefers ordinary cigarettes) with his discoloured teeth in his long flowing galabeya. Boy am I glad I don't sit in the same room as him. I lose count of how many cigarettes he smokes during our hour and half together on Skype or WhatsApp. He also plays the oud for me which I absolutely love. I just laugh and laugh during our sessions and he always text me roses after every message he sends me. Cracks me up.

I am still working for the Hertfordshire Welcomes Syrian Families charity. I helped put on a huge meal at the chapel for all the Syrians in our area back in March. It was a big event and was quite successful. I am the "translator" for the Syrian Women's group that meets fortnightly about a half an hour north of my house. I take the women from my Syrian families there in my car for lunch and the afternoon. There is usually a theme each meeting and it is always enjoyable.

I have two Syrian families that I am assigned to. One is Hussein and Sanaa who have 4 girls and a baby boy. I have gotten to know them quite well now. I take Sanaa to the women's group. I have also take her shopping for abayas (a Syrian type overcoat worn by women when they go out of the house). I have also been their translator at the Job Centre and one time at the dentist. I mostly go each week and help them with English. This family was in a refugee camp in Jordan before them came. They have never told me how long they were there, but I get the feeling, it was a long period of time. They have now been here almost a year and a half. Hussein studies English at college in St. Albans. He desperately wants to work but cannot do so without knowing English first. I have been to their house when I have seen real stress on their faces, both Sanaa and Hussein. They worry so much about how they will pay for all the expenses of life. They feel the real burden of being car-less. They find most public transportation costs here so expensive and life in general very expensive and difficult for them especially not knowing English. Sanaa has burst into tears in front of me before from the stress she feels. She desperately misses her family spread all over the world in Turkey and Germany but has no chance of seeing them with airline tickets so expensive. She told me once that if there were peace in Syria she would go back in a heart beat, her only regret would be the fantastic schools here and how much her children are learning but other than that, she felt like life here was so difficult. She commented about how she used to think that living in the West would be so amazing and easy and luxurious. She does not think that anymore. She is understanding a lot more English but is still very hesitant to speak it.

Rima and Yasser have 3 children, one boy and two girls. They are the second family I am assigned to. I have taken Rima to the women's group and was also a translator for her at an eye appointment she had. Their children had a really rough start when they arrived. They were not used to the school setting, let alone not being able to speak the language. They also had a difficult time with the food. Their youngest daughter who is 4 (turning 5 this month) stopped eating and ended up in hospital. I think the son nearly did as well. They also had a burglar break into their house after they had only been here nearly two months. It frightened the children so much that they were afraid to sleep alone in separate rooms. Rima has struggled with severe headaches since they arrived (probably due to extreme amounts of stress) and still has not been able to get rid of them even though she has seen numerous doctors. Rima is so bright though and seems to be catching on to English quickly. Her husband is the gentlest man you will ever meet. He always gently reminds Rima she is talking too fast when she speaks Arabic to me. I help them both mostly with English when I go visit them.

I love what I am doing with Arabic and that I have been able to use it so much lately. I hope there are plenty more opportunities in the future.