The initial discomfort of last nights placement into once again a new setting is finally starting to wear off. I woke up bright and early this morning, unsure of what to encounter. I had to wait awhile until everyone woke up. It is Friday and my family likes to sleep in. I listened to the maid get up and begin her chores for the day. Once my host mom was awake she came out and made me a tasty breakfast of fuul, scrambled eggs, olives, and tea. It wasn't long before I made my first big mistake. I had asked if I could take a shower after breakfast. She insisted I take a shower while she was making food but said "take only five minutes". After having everyone drill in me the water shortage issues here I assumed this meant "take a five minute shower". Well, I was wrong. I took a five minute shower and then went to my room to put my shower things back and semi-dry my hair. It felt like only 10-15 minutes to me. I returned and my host mom angrily said "I only said 5 minutes! That wasn't 5 minutes!". Sooooo----here I am feeling bad because not only was she making me breakfast but I made them wait to eat :( I guess I can't help it though. I know I'm going to make mistakes every now and again. I just have to learn not to do it next time.
My host mom is kind of a "tough" woman. She is a retired principal and has the "principal" sort of attitude. I find myself trying to make her smile or laugh just so I can have a break from the stern look. After complaining some more about how I don't speak any Arabic, I finished breakfast and went and got dressed. Amani, my host sister came home late the previous night and was still sleeping. At around 1pm my host mom asked me if I wanted to go to the store with her and her husband. He puzzles me. They've been married for at least thirty years (I'm guessing closer to forty) yet he seems more like the grandfather that doesn't say anything. He is roughly 10-15 years her senior yet she commands him like a child. He rarely talks and when he does its usually in response to my host mom. Alas, I went with the two of them to the grocery store and had a more or less pleasent time. My host mom seemed to open up a lot more to me and kept telling me different tid bits of information. Despite being a Friday, there were LOTS of people at the grocery store. A mosque service was being played on multiple televisions displayed around the store. Other than reading on my homestay sheet that my family is Muslim, you wouldn't know it. Neither my host mom or Amani wear hijab and there isn't anything in the house that indicates them is Muslim (that I've seen at least). No Koran laying out or on a shelf. Maybe I'm just assuming that they would display it. Also, like any religion just because you identity with a religion does not mean you practice the religion. It is an interesting stereotype that I've had that every Muslim is a practicing Muslim.