CP8

After our Valentine's Day beer and billiards date this Thursday, Hayley and I picked up Mubarak and Mohammed from Grand Marc and went to Mahdi's apartment off Pensacola St. When we arrived, we met their friend Jarrah, and Mahdi was just finishing his prayers in the traditional white kuwaiti dishdasha. After the introductions we just hung out in the apartment, snacking on dates and chips and watching clips on youTube. At first we just watched a clip of George W. Bush dancing with a sword in one hand and the other arm around the president of Bahrain, an island nation in the Arab Gulf between Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Then Mahdi showed us videos of the largest fountain show in the world, at the tallest tower in the world - the Dubai Fountain in UAE.

We talked a bit about their experiences with the IELTS, both recent and fast approaching. Mahdi told us he was traveling to Tampa over the weekend to take the test, and Mohammed said he had just taken it and his score was a 4.6 (or 4.9?) and their government grant program requires them to pass with at least a 5.5 before they can return to Kuwait to continue in university. After more conversation and youTube videos, I had to use the bathroom; when I returned I asked Mahdi if the strange attachment on his toilet that looked and functioned exactly like a sink hose for washing dishes was a bidet. Everyone in the living room heard him exclaim all-too-enthusiastically from the bathroom, "Yes, you can use it!" and uproarious laughter ensued. It was getting late, so Hayley and I offered to take Mubarak and Mohammed back to Grand Marc but they declined, saying they would stay and hang at Mahdi's some more. I can't wait to see these guys again, their fast friendship and sincere, generous hospitality is very welcome and refreshing. Best of luck to Mahdi with the IELTS!