valentines day

I have a friend that i have been to see a few times. She has sent her sons over to invite me to come and when I go there is always a party; so I have never really talked to her. Well I went to her sons b-day party (this is very unusual most of them do not even know when their b-days are and they do not have parties for them) the other day. She sent me home with all kinds of snacks so this week I filled her bowl back up with cookies and went to visit her, thinking I would finally get to sit down and talk with her. I went on Valentines Day which is not really celebrated here. So I was thinking it was a normal day at her house, I was wrong!!! I got there and she was all dressed up with lots of make-up and still getting ready. She sat me in the "living" room and then went and finished getting ready. They already had the loud music going so I knew she was having some kind of party, but no idea what. She came back in the room about 10 min. later and served me a drink and told me she was having a party, i asked for what and she said "holiday of love." I could not believe it, i think i asked her like 3 times thinking something was just wrong with my arabic, but that is what she said. I think the only people to celebrate the holiday in the country and it was her. So another party i sat through being completely underdressed and with no make-up. Before I left I asked for her phone number so i could call before i came back so i would know how to dress and she gave me the number and said "yes, next time you should wear some make-up!" She really is nice and a fun personality, and she much really love parties, but she was very honest in telling me I really should be wearing make-up, thanks a lot!!!

but even though i was not invited and was not dressed appropriately, her and her friends were very kind to me and served me many snacks and treated me very special. The women here are always so kind to me and welcome me and they are very gracious with me and all my mistakes in the language and the culture.

Of course, I just thought it was so funny that on "holiday of love" you spend it with your friends eating snacks and smoking shesha
not with your husbands, she told me her husband would not be home until really late. (i'm sure he had gone to a qat chew)