Dinner with my brother's future in-laws

[spedbug]

Last night we went to my brother's house to meet his future in-laws. Arij, my brother's fiancee, is the only one of her immediate family living outside Morocco. Her mother, Sarif (?), and her youngest brother, Yasin, were the only one's visiting (her elder brother and father weren't able to come).

We had a lovely time. Yasin, who is only nineteen and about to start University, is 6'2" and very slim with eye-glasses that suit his sensitive, poet's face. He's shy but there's mischief behind his smile. Arij's mother is very sweet, beautiful in an older woman's "faded" way and very poised. I sat next to her at dinner.

Both Sarif (I know that's not correct but, damn it, I've already forgotten. Grr!) and Yasin speak English but struggle a bit to make themselves understood. French they speak fluently which would be helpful if I'd taken French instead of Spanish in high school! ;oP

At some point over dinner the word "bottle", in Arabic, came up. Arij had tried to teach my brother's children how to say it and they (my niece and nephew) were encouraging me to try it. So I did but I'd obviously pronounced it poorly. Arij's mother turned to me and pronounced it slowly. I mimicked.

Before I go on, I want to set up this visual for you. We'd wedged ten chairs in around the dining room table so we could all sit together. MrBug is to my left and Sarif is to my right, tight. Our knees are, literally, touching because we're so close together. To Sarif's right is Yasin. To Mr. Bug's left is Arij.

Okay, back to the Arabic lesson. Sarif says "bottle" in Arabic which, with my limited recollection was some vowel sound followed by a rolling "r" and then a guttural "ah-ish" sound at finish. My American palate, throat and ear were foiled by this finish sound. I say "guttural 'ah-ish' sound but, in truth, it was far more subtle and complicated. Anyway, I'm diligently trying to echo the sounds Sarif is making but it's obvious by her continued insistence that I mimick her that I'm just not getting it. The word becomes more and more protracted as she says it until it nearly sounds like two separate words. After about fifteen tries, I notice my latest attempt has silenced her. She's looking at me with amusement dancing in her eyes. Yasin has covered his mouth with both hands and is laughing hysterically and Arij, also laughing, is making cutting motions with her hand.

I've just said one of the foulest words for a woman's genitalia there is.

So much for the Arabic lesson. :oP

Comments

[fsr44.livejournal.com]

Way to go, Sped!
Mrfsr once went 15 rounds with me trying to get me to pronounce "bulgur" (cracked wheat for tabbouleh) properly. The closest I can figure is if you've nearly hocked a loogie across the room on the second syllable, you're doing it right.
And remind me to tell you of my failed attempt to impress my mother-in-law with my grasp of Arabic.

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

Yes, there is much "clearing of throat" sounds to the Arabic language. The Hebrew language, too, sounds very guttural and 'phlegmy'. I'll practice "hocking a loogie" and see if I can't pass the second round of "Arabic 101". What's lovely is how patient they all were despite my mangling of their language.

During dinner, I found myself listening with pleasure as
Arij's family spoke between themselves (during translations, etc) in a mixture of Arabic and French. It was beautiful and I was awed (and humbled) that they could communicate in three languages whereas I can barely communicate in my own.

[zugenia.livejournal.com]

So. Funny.

That's what cross-cultural encounters are all about! ;-)

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

I can just hear them recounting this, back home. "And then the American woman starts saying 'pussy' at the table in front of all the children. Oh, how we laughed!".

:oP

[buffra.livejournal.com]

Ladies and gentleman, we now present to you...Spedbug, the star of Morocco's own Arabic version of the "Vagina Monologues!"

Oh yes...

[absbookcrosser.livejournal.com]

Reclaiming the word "cunt", or is it "coochie-snorcher"?

[antof9.livejournal.com]

Nothing like jumping in feet first, is there Bug?

You know they liked you though -- fortunately, they all laughed. And I bet Yasin is in love with you.

Next time try an interpretive dance. They'll enjoy that too :)

Ant, remembering the visit to Holland when her brother told a joke (in English) and her father turned to translate it for her mom. "He said. . ."

[spedbug.livejournal.com]

My 11-year-old nephew is a real cut-up with no compunction about being in the lime-light. Last night, while telling us about a computer game he plays that deals with Egyptian gods, he started doing a swivelling "Egyptian" head-movement as he was talking about it. Seeing that he was getting smiles from it, the swivelling became dramatically pronounced and he quickly was doing a full out Egyptian dance (arms and all) in his chair.

Yasin was cracking up.

He probably thinks we're all nuts.

[madame-urushiol.livejournal.com]

Nicely done! I think you broke the ice very well! Nothing like a little embarrassment and a lot of laughter to get the party going. Arabic is slippery, much like Hebrew. I think I'll stick to Spanish.

(BTW, Ant, my command of the Dutch language is limited to the vulgar term for "scrotum", which I can pronounce very well, but can't spell.)

[buffra.livejournal.com]

I love Hebrew -- I'm not good at it, but it's one of my favorites of the languages I've learned. I just think it's beautiful. And, thanks to my "little Jewish family" I did get to hear it done well. I never got to Arabic, though one of my seminary profs was studying it during his sabbatical.

Next on my list is Amharic, I think. I imagine I'll slaughter that.