Bit Fourteen

It has been a month since I met my friends Haddad, Zahrah & Kedar. Several hours a week is hardly enough time to spend developing a relationship, but the openness we have had with each other has sparked such a wonderful friendship between us.

Most of my time has been spent conversing with Zahrah because Haddad works and Kedar only knows the words "Sorry" & "Bye bye" in English. Zahrah and I have found many things to talk about: the weather, traveling, parenting, food, family traditions, American vs. Iraqi culture, and much more. Her English is quite good, so at times she will teach me a word or two in Arabic.

One Arabic phrase I have learned from using it over and over is "Inaha taib." This is a term in the Iraqi Arabic dialect that means "This is good." And the reason I have used it quite often is that every afternoon I have been over there to visit, Zahrah has made me lunch! Knowing that I have a fondness for trying new dishes, she has made me a different Iraqi dish each week!

The lunch always consists of white rice, Iraqi flatbread, some sort of red broth & vegetable and a carbonated beverage. On one occassion, we even had "Shai" - Iraqi tea. And it's always delicious! The broth & vegetables is poured over the rice like a curry. It's not spicey, but there is a lot of flavor. Each week it's a new vegetable - spinach, okra, eggplant, potato...

What better way to develop a friendship than over good food!
All I have to say is "Inaha taib!"