Categories: uncategorized
Date: 04 February 2006 11:02:53
I didn't get off to the best start for the first lesson of Level 2 Arabic: I slept in and therefore got to class half-an-hour late! Then I confused "w" and "y". But, all good fun.
A smaller class this time. 10 people have continued from the Level 1 class I was in, and there are 4 students, 3 of whom did Level 1 earlier and 1 who had been to Arabic school when she was younger. We have the same teacher as we had for Level 1 which is wonderful: she is a great teacher with a wonderful sense of humour -- every class is enjoyable. It was great to be back, great to see old classmates and great to meet new people.
We revised a bit, and then moved on to Level 2. The textbook is rather daunting as there is far more Arabic than English, but we seemed to do okay. Homework will need to feature prominently, though: at least for me. We learnt a few new words and phrases, and focussed on the difference between feminine and masculine nouns and making possessives. To make a possessive, the letter yaa, in its vowel form [as it can be a vowel or consonant] is added to the end of the word. So, for example, ﻭﺍﻟﺪ (father) becomes ﻭﺍﻟﺪﻲ (my father). To distinguish between, say, a female doctor and a male one, a taa marbutta (ﺓ) is added to the end for the feminine. I imagine there will be exceptions, one cannot have a language without exceptions!, but for now that is the rule I'm holding on to.
On the way back from class, I stopped by the café Jan mentioned in the comments on this and post. I was having lunch elsewhere, so I ducked in for a coffee to keep my energy levels up. Top stuff: as was the almond-pistachio biscuit that caught my eye. Very friendly staff, very busy (always a good sign), and it looked like a great place to eat. I'll have to head back for a meal.
Late afternoon I headed over to two parishioners' place to learn about my new role as assistant secretary for our parish. I found I had arrived just in time for a wonderful dinner of salad and lasagne -- which had bits of vegetables in it as well: extra yum. A friend of the wife's was there and she was very entertaining: she has taken up bell-ringing and rings at a few churches in the city. Very interesting. The wife and husband are two of the most wonderful and giving people you could meet: I thank God for people like them who have such great love for God and people. They have a baby boy who is oh so cute and who has the most wonderful smile and laugh.
The husband and I talked about secretarial duties for a while and I have a few jobs to do. But I'm looking forward to helping where I can. I had planned to go to Vespers and Bible Study, but the discussion continued and both passed by during our talk. After that, we had some cake and coffee with his wife, before I left them in peace. His wife began her Masters programme at The Catholic Institute of Sydney a year or two back and will start again soon: I was thinking of going there several years back to do some theological study for my own interest. Based on her comments, I think I'll sign up for the second semester this year: she had only good things to say.
A very pleasant day.