More normal playdates now

So after the post on the crazy play date, I just wanted to assure everyone that yes, we do have normal play dates that don't include biting and restraining the children at the house we are visiting. And yes, Layla continues to ask to visit people. Almost EVERY day she wants to go and "be a guest". She doesn't want to be "the hostess" because then she has to share her toys and there is no fun food to eat (= Ah...we are selfish to the core.

So she really wants to visit "Salaam alaikum people" and mostly because they have the best food. At least most of the time...and also because they are constantly giving things to kids if they show the slightest interest in something. "Here! Take it! keep it...no look! She really wants i!" They are referring to this awful plastic noisy thing that is already half broken. Layla is merely fascinated with it since it is a new thing. But as we leave it is firmly tucked in Layla's little hands. sigh.

The one exception to the "abundance of food" thing is at the house we visit the most which is Betty's house, Layla's school friend. I've taken to bringing food for the kids since of course they are always starving between nap time and bedtime (= And there is NOTHING that is offered until about 7pm when they start to cook (read: Fry) something. This is how it goes every time:

we saunter in say hello to everyone sitting around in the covered outside area. it is 90 degrees these days which feels so cool and that time of day has wonderful breezes. Eventually there is maybe water brought out after Layla walks up and says "I want water!" Ugh. Bad manners here. Then I start to bring out my stack of snacks for Ryan who is crawling all over me and wanting my attention etc. He will grab my cheeks and pull my face to his face these days. Lovely feeling.

We'll get some tea at some point after Layla asks for tea (!) in a cup for herself. Again, bad bad manners.

Then about 7pm, my friend steps into the kitchen door which is propped open right next to where we are sitting on the linoleum "mat" outside. She has a big heavy iron gas burner that is connected with a thick orange pipe to a gas cylinder. She puts the burner on a brick. She lights it up and it has a HUGE flame. This is right next to the kitchen door where the kids go in and out all the time. She squats on the floor and slowly produces three batches of fried food. Most stuff is eaten as soon as it is cooked by some kid passing by the doorway. Ryan and Layla are fascinated by the whole "stove on the floor" thing and are freaking me out by creeping closer and closer to watch.

This scenario happens each time I visit. There is no maid who does anything. These gals cook for this big family with more members than I can keep track of. They are Belushi and not actually from here though they've lived here a long long time. The differences from an Arab house are pretty remarkable. I'm curious about why they don't do the standard fruit, coffee and dates that I've had in EVERY home here for the last 5 years.

Either way, I'm grateful that Layla is so interested in visiting. I know her desire to speak Arabic is directly connected to her watching me relate to friends in Arabic. She is such a sponge at this age. It is SO frightening to see her mimic me. Iyiyiy.