Somehow it has been almost a month since I last posted, which means that I have been here for almost two months. Not quite sure I believe that...
In any case, this post is about Mother's Day. Today is in fact Mother's Day in this region of the world. Unlike the States, the date doesn't change from year to year but always remains 21 March. I find this a bit easier for me to remember than trying to recall the second Sunday in May. (I actually had to look that up. I knew it was a Sunday in May...) Movable holidays usually confuse me, like Easter, and now Easter is even more confusing because everyone celebrates the Orthodox date for Easter here which is also different from back in the States...
Anyway, perhaps this is just because I happen to be friends with kindergarten teachers, but I've also noticed that Mother's Day is emphasized a bit more here. When I was here the last time there was a short celebration put on by the children in honor of their mothers, and this year there will be one on Saturday as well. I think it's absolutely wonderful. As a result of that first celebration, I now know half of the chorus of an Arabic Mother's day song, which of course has been stuck in my head all day. (Ya rombi haliki ya omii...)
Although my attempt to wish a Happy Mother's Day to my adoptive mother here has been thwarted (being that she never answers her phone and wasn't there when I stopped by to visit), I realized that this blog is a good opportunity for me to send a message to my Mom. (Yep, my mom reads my blog... how cool is that?). I'm sure it can't be easy for her to have a daughter far-flung halfway across the world, (though Skype can certainly do wonders in reducing the felt distance), but she's been supportive and an amazing listener the few chances we do get to skype. She's been a wonderful example of that thoughtful generosity which does not call attention to itself but serves to make others feel loved (i.e. the extra cookie slipped into my school lunch bag all those years so I would have one to give to each of my friends.) She gives the kind of love that can't be diminished by distance.
Lucky for me, I get two Mother's Days this year to tell her all about it ;)
