June 10th Another Hot Day in Suli

Classes are going well with the exception of the 5 year olds at 1:00 in the afternoon. They arrive earlier, at 10:00 in the morning and by the last session they (we) have had it. So today we sang a song about riding our new bike and I handed out markers for them to draw pictures of animals. We named a few animals just to make sure we were on the right track. The results were mixed yet entertaining. The school has plenty of chips and candy to sell to the kids during break time and that really helps with the activity levels. 

I am writing this at 8:30 PM and the call to prayer has just started. Praises to God rise up in the night sky. One mosque follows another with varying male voices reciting verse. The traffic on Salman Street, a main road a block away, continues to swish past. The sounds of the city are comforting. 

About shoes: I have three pair for distinct functions, much more complex than Hawaiian culture. A pair for the streets, a pair for the house, and a pair for the toilet which is a very good idea. This task was beyond me the first week here but I am now consistently managing to kick off/slip on the right shoes at the proper locations. All in a day's life here in Kurdistan.

I have adopted a parrot and finch from the school where they were not adequately cared for; both their mates died from lack of water and/or exposure to ant poison. My morning routine is now balanced with chores; taking care of the birds.

I have also attended the local Chaldean Catholic Church for the past two Sundays. The first Mass ended with the priest inviting the congregation to speak and an argument (or discussion) ensued and people walked out, the priest disappeared in a hurry, and that was that. I thought I heard the word Quran several times, sure wish I could understand Arabic and Sorani. Many of the people come from Baghdad to flee the chaos and danger of a war zone. The liturgy is in Assyrian, the homily in Sorani. The church was built by Talibani, the current president of Iraq; he is a Christian from here. I have yet to begin to comprehend the layers of history here and the different peoples involved. Tribal, religious, and political affiliation dictates much.

I am quite tired and so must sign off for now. Tragic news from home about our pullets not surviving, poor Steven dealing with so much alone.