BOY

True as this may be, my boy is full of love and affection.

Today, as we were having breakfast in the camper, the kids were offering each other their cereal. I didn’t have any to share so I offered my hand and said I’ve no cereal to give you but I have lots of love.

Pops thought for a few seconds and replied with this;

Hmmm…I won’t have cereal forever but I will have love forever.

My heart fluttered.

Has anyone else tried to comment on my posts? I thought I'd got the settings sorted...

Unless I really am boring you.

Either way, can someone try and comment please so I know. ;-D

Ta!

I’ve just spoken for the first time to a muslimah in a burka. It seems a rather naïve and expat thing to write about but there is a reason…I hope you will indulge me.

It’s something I’ve not known before moving to the Middle East and therefore felt a little nervous. I did not know its role, its place. Was it a defence for her? Would she speak to a western woman? Was it a sign that I should not speak to her? Can you see how little I knew? So I’m glad for this spontaneous opportunity to change my thoughts.

We had a common interest, the children. We spoke about us not wanting the son to go in the boys toilets on their own. I found out she was heading to Frankfurt and Detroit, where she lived. She had bought her young family back (her eldest son is 12) to Bahrain to see family. Apparently the children found it quite difficult as things are so different back in the States. I briefly spoke about where we lived and where we were heading.

A short conversation admittedly. I found it really quite nice to talk to her, all I could see were her eyes. I couldn’t help but see how much expression was in them when no other physical distractions were there…there is something so true in saying that the eyes are the windows to the soul.

I just wanted a beautiful image of a lady in a burqa and I found this one on No Caption Needed. 

 

(If you're interested, the author discusses in more anthropological/philosophical detail what I'm pretty much trying to get across. (Photograph was taken by Hatem Moussa for the Associated Press (Washington Post, Day in Photos, August 13, 2007)).