Categories: uncategorized
Date: 13 November 2005 06:12:45
The penultimate Arabic class, for now at least, was held on Saturday. I can't believe nine weeks has flown by so fast! Bring on February, when Level 2 begins! We looked at how to make the indefinite article, as well as some crazy language rules whereby certain letters, particularly the Alif [ﺍ], seem to do crazy things. We also learnt to write Amen, آمين, which is pronounced "Aa-min". The Greeks tend to pronounce it like that also, at least at the Greek churches and monastery I've been to.
I then popped off to Ikea to buy a shelf for my 'Prayer Corner'. I do love Ikea, and the new store at Rhodes is a rather big one -- plenty of stuff to catch my attention. The tape I listened to last week mentioned Orthodox Christians often have a place in their house where they keep icons, candles, prayer books, and where they pray, and experiences with Orthodox friends have also shown this. I thought it would be nice to get one and to have an area in my room set aside for prayer. It is only one shelf at present [I have three icons, though they're prints and photocopies]...one needs to start somewhere! I also saw a bedside table I quite liked, so I bought that as well.
Vespers and Bible Study were wonderful, as always. We are blessed with a great and wise sub-deacon who always provides encouragement and challenges us during Bible study and when he gives sermons. After Bible Study, eight or so of us went over for dinner, coffee and dessert. We planned it to be a reasonably early night, so that we'd be ready for church tomorrow: we left at around 23.40 -- I got home around 00.40. I woke up this morning rather tired.