Conversations

Me: The grad student said I looked like a seasoned volunteer! She said she could tell I've been here for a long time.
Whitney: That just means you're dirty.

Student: So on the outing, there are going to be six boys and six girls, including you, Annie, so we can fill two grand taxis.
Me: That sounds great. Soo, Fatima and Hawla are going to want to go of course, and Amina and Iman.
Student: Ah, well, no, not the girls who play les boules. They have their own club now, a different club.
Me: No, they come to the library every day.
Student: No, no, they're a different group. The girls who are coming are the other Amina, Jamila, Saida, and we need two more.
Me: I don't agree with this! You're excluding* people. You chose a certain group that you don't want to come, and that's hashuma**.
Student: Yes, you're right. Okay, they can come. 12 girls, 6 boys.
Me: You boys aren't organizing this just because you want to go off with your girlfriends, right?
Student: No, I want nothing to do with girlfriends!

*this student speaks very good English, luckily for me
**"shameful"


Shopkeep: How are you doing with the heat?
Me: Hoo. It is HOT, isn't it.
Shopkeep: It is hot. And the sun!
Me: The sun is wild.


Me: How are you doing with the heat?
Woman: It is hot!
Me: It's REALLY hot***.
Woman: And the sun.
Me: The sun is wild.

***it's not actually that hot yet, to my dismay..

Fish man outside my house right now: Fish! Fish! Fish! Fish! Fish! Fish! Fish! Fish!