"We are kinda like an Italian family." -aunt in my mentor's family

Yesterday I went to Friday lunch at my mentor's house. If you can imagine what it would be like to go to a Sunday lunch in the south, you could probably understand this lunch. There was so much fabulous food and so many family members. We all sat around the table speaking in Arabic, English, and French, mixing them all so everyone could understand. We had Egyptian, Lebanese, and Indian cuisine. It was really a lot of fun. I haven't eaten that much in a long time. Then they gave me dessert...lol.

Afterward, my mentor's son who is 20 took the intern, the other mentee, and me to a coffee shop. They smoked sheesha and we drank coffee. It was nice to finally talk to some Egyptians, even though they are part American and they speak better English than Arabic really. We found out that in the formal Arabic, I was in a higher level than one of the Egyptians. Of course, I couldn't speak to the common person fluently if my life depended on it. Well at least I wouldn't understand what they said back. I have found it best to use my formal Arabic with taxi drivers and let them respond in English. That way we both get to practice.

So today I have tons of homework, and I am going to go work out in our newly opened state of the art facilities today. I hope you have enjoyable days as well. Happy Saturday!