Rooftop Rendezvous

View from Our Roof

Over the past month I have occasionally been sitting on my balcony when girls on a neighboring rooftop have waved at me. We exchange waves and smiles – and long stares as we wonder about each other. Last week as Jared and I sat out, a number of girls began to wave to me. This time, they shouted, “come!” Sure enough, as we deciphered from their animated gestures, they intended me to come and visit them. Jared escorted me “around the block” since the high walls around all the houses prevented a direct route of a couple hundred feet. As I approached their gate, I heard giggles and it opened. I was shown into the house, up the first flight of stairs, and into the guest salon. I sat on low sofas with women in their 40s, 20s, teens and early years; mothers and daughters. This group morphed over the hour I spent there, as women from the house next-door heard of my visit and came to meet me.

Our language was very limited between their small amounts of English and my very small amount of Arabic. But, we taught each other some new words and they treated me to a couple cups of sweet tea, several biscuits (cookies) and a thorough spraying of perfume.

I texted Jared to come and retrieve me, and excused myself as it was getting to be time to prepare dinner (I had to guess about my cues to leave!). They were quite curious to hear what I would make, and when I said, “couscous” (as I hoped to impress them), they laughed, saying that that is only for lunch (their main meal). Supper should consist of lighter foods, like sandwiches and salads. Oh well.

I was very glad for my first opportunity to visit inside a local home and to meet some neighbors. Here, I can’t just make friends by bumping into women at the local shops or market. Men are the shopkeepers and many men do all the shopping for their families. The women’s world is quite private and protected, so to be invited in was a wonderful event. Most of my friends at school are women who are younger than I am, and unmarried. My new neighbor friends show me a different side to life.

They heartily asked me to come back and visit again. They're curious about my life and seem glad for the entertainment I provide - the novelty of a "strange-r" living next-door! One girl took my phone number, and she affectionately gives me “missed calls” all day (and night!) long.

[“Missed calls” are very common – friends call your cell phone and let it ring once, and then hang up. No one pays for the call and it’s a way to say hello. I get such calls from 7am to 11pm, sometimes 10 times a day!]