It’s finally happened!  After months of attending the Thursday afternoon tea parties, stuffing my face, practicing Arabic and embarrassing myself while dancing, I have been asked to host the Thursday event in my home! 

This is a huge honour that demonstrates a level of trust and comfort with me because they will be in my home during the most important of prayer times.  All of the prayer times are important, but the prayer time at sunset is unique because there is only one hour between that prayer call and the next.  The other prayers can be delayed to a convenient time as long as you are able to complete the prayers before the next prayer call is chanted.  The magrib prayers have a limited time and so people will plan where they are going to be at that time, to make certain that they are somewhere close to a suitable place of prayer.  Knowing that they will be in my house during this prayer time means that they trust me enough to pray in my home.  A huge honour in my eyes and a demonstration of how close we’ve become over these past months.  I’ve said it before, but it really feels great to know that I have real girlfriends in my life again, not just people that are being polite, but true friends.  These friendships help me feel rooted here. 

Of course, I’m already stressing about the preparations. My closest girlfriend from the bunch will be coming over tomorrow afternoon to help me strategize the eating situation since we don’t have a formal eating area.  I also have to buy some of those special little dishes for the candy coated fennel seeds and a few ice buckets.  I don’t know how to make the ginger juice, but my girlfriend said that they will bring that with them.  Instead, I will be responsible for the tea, and I will also make a 3 layered chocolate orange mousse cake for the sweet side of the table and a chicken cake for the savoury side.  I hope that it all goes smoothly and I make a great impression. 

Wish me luck!