PART THREE: Friday Night and Lake Dunmore

July 5, 2008

Today, the Arabic school went to Lake Dunmore which is about 15 minutes (by car) from Middlebury. The weather has been really unpredictable this entire time I’ve been here, so it was such a relief to wake up this morning to SUNSHINE!

After a leisurely breakfast and trip to the gym, Clare and I drove to the lake. It was a really beautiful drive, and it was nice to finally see the surrounding areas in the light of day. It actually looked like people might, in fact, inhabit Vermont.

There were a lot of people from the Arabic school as well as other language schools at Dunmore. Vermontians kept walking through our encampment whispering (not so quietly) about the number of “tour” groups at the lake today. A middle-aged woman stopped to ask Tova about our “tour.” When she explained that we were learning Arabic and that she was standing in the middle of a swarm of Arabic-speakers, she looked kind of taken aback and unsure of how to proceed. The lady finally settled on a short “oh” immediately followed by a mildly discomfited titter.

The water was beautiful. Cool, but not cold. No visible fish. *Gradually* deeper – as in, I wasn’t concerned about plummeting to my doom at any moment and being swept away by the “under toad.” For the most part.

Seth, a 28-year old former Marine, has decided that he must play the part of the “under toad.” In other words, I am standing peacefully enjoying the company of my fellow lake-goers until I become the subject of an underwater attack. I think I spy a trend. I fell victim to a similar crime in Bristol on Wednesday. Same M.O. However, in his defense, he did not pull me all the way underwater either time because he knows that water is not my fav.

About 20 people ended up congregating in the water. The main entertainment, provided by two of the teacher’s kids: chicken fighting. These two boys are about 10 or 11 years old and absolutely love to show off. It was really fun just to stand in the water and watch them play.

[Mom later asked the following question: “So was it like freaking?” – oh, yes. She did go there. “Did everyone make a circle around a few people so that the teachers couldn’t see them speaking English?”

The “freaking/speaking English” comparison is something that only *my* mother is capable of thinking up and then putting into verbal expression, dotted – of course – with her very specific “I-am-so-only-asking-you-this-question-because-I-think-it-is-totally-hiliariouos-that-I-am-asking-you-this-question” voice.]

After a brief sun nap, Clare and I tried to rent a kayak. Unfortunately, everyone wanted to rent a kayak. Instead, we decided to throw a football around with Helen and Maddie. I’ve discovered that as long as the person on the receiving end of my throw is less than, like, 10 feet away, I have a career in the NFL. Despite this pathetic reality, it was still really fun.

Afterwards, we went to dinner at American Flatbread, a special (organic?) Vermont pizza chain. Definitely felt like I was in California. ;) YES!

Last night (Friday), was the 4th of July. No fireworks, but 2 Arabic parties! Clare and I went to the school-sponsored party (read: teachers, no alcohol). At first it was incredibly awkward because there were like 15 teachers and 5 students. But, then more students arrived and everyone started dancing to crazy Arabic music. One of the teachers, Yunus, loves (and I mean LOVES) to dance. He was salsa-ing, rumba-ing, tango-ing all over the dance floor with anyone who was brave enough to join him or happened to be within a 10 foot radius. It was really fun because he would just make his way over to you and then start twirling you around. Kind of awesome!

Around 11:30PM, Clare and I went to Palmer (another Arabic house) where Seth was hosting a party celebrating the 4th and his (at least temporary) retirement from the marines. I got to talk to Zoe for a long time (90% Arabic, 10% English) which was great because I rarely get to spend time with her since we’re not in the same class. She goes to St. Andrews and knows Eneida from Castilleja. Small world.

1AM. I am tired. The teachers are not. I arrive back at Hepburn where the teacher party rages on. Hearing Nancy Ajram reinvigorates me, so it’s time for more dancing.

Julia, one of my suitemates, is going crazy with Yunus. They seem to be engaged in some sort of Arabic-ballroom dance off. There are a bunch of other girls that are on staff or in the highest level (level 4) just being silly and having fun. And there is 1 guy. Ben.

Oh, Ben. I have seen concentration taken to new heights. Background to why this is so endearing:

Ben is 21 (his birthday was at the beginning of the program). He went to college for a year, dropped out, joined the army, went to through basic training, got a contract to go fight in Iraq, traded contracts with a friend and became a translator. Now, he works for the U.S. Army in a windowless office in Augusta, Georgia, listening the Iraqi “communications” (his word). He may also happen to be incredibly attractive.

His preferred method of dancing is to stare, really really really intently, at someone’s feet and try to copy them. CUUUUUUUUUTE. I’m not totally sure he realized that there weren’t really any steps…