One day walking down the street from our hostel me and Carla greeted our neighbor with the traditional “Marhabah!” as she called her cat out of her window. Five minutes later through her broken English and our broken Arabic we realized she was inviting us back for coffee! Luckily we learned the word for coffee the day before in our Arabic class.
Two days later me and Carla walk back to Beatrice’s house at what we are 90% sure is the correct time and hope for the best. I am not certain she was actually expecting us but she was excited to see us! We had one of the best cups of coffee I have had in this beautiful country while we watched the national parade on TV. After noticing a photo of a beautiful young woman on the table we asked if it was her. She cried as she told us it was actually her sister who has recently passed away. We did our best to comfort her. By the end of the morning I have made the text on my phone as large as possible and we have helped our new friend use Google Translate! Watching her learn to type and use the app was one of the funniest things I have ever seen. And watching her face light up us she realized we understood what she typed was precious. Imagine teaching your grandma to use your cellphone. Technology really is a crazy thing. We learned that she worked for years at a bank before she retired. She is a Christian. She makes a mean cup of coffee. She is lonely.
We have seen Beatrice countless times in the neighborhood over the last few weeks and we always stop to visit. She greets us with multiple kisses and a big hug and has now met the rest of the women living with us. She showed me where to get the hole in my jeans repaired. She is always very excited when we tell her where we’re going and what we’re doing! I hope she doesn’t feel quite so lonely. This is what I am doing here.
