Saturday 20 September 2014 View for church,and lunch with Nimati, Mohannad, Eman, Mohammad

This is our view during church.  It will be hard to go back to looking at the speaker.

 

After church on Sat. Sept. 20, our friend Namati invited us to dinner at her daughter and son-in-laws new apartment.  Mohannad and Eman are the couple in the wedding photos from an earlier blog.  Before a Muslim couple marry, the groom gives the bride money to buy pretty dresses and personal items for herself.  Some brides change into the dresses during the wedding reception.  Eman wanted to wear her wedding dress all evening so she wore the dresses at a women's party for her (shower) after she got married.  Mohannad is showing some of the dresses.  There were about 10 dresses.
 

Namati is the happy mother of the bride.

 

Here are some pictures of their apartment.  They rented it about 6 months before they got married to guarantee they would have a place to live.  Mohannad's brother has had to postpone his marriage because they have not been able to find an apartment.  Housing is hard to come by and is very expensive.  Mohannad said that half of his salary goes for rent.

kitchen

Eman and Linda are in the living room.  The couple completely furnished their apartment when they first got married.  When Blaine and I told them about our first couch- a $5 special that was left in our house at Dartmouth, they laughed.



This is the second bedroom they have turned into a sitting room.  Eman designed the couch and had it made.   They love bright colors.  Mohammad likes the comfort.



Namati  made the dinner, Ma'loubeh, which is an upside-down meal made by putting a platter on top of the pan and flipping it so that the meat is over the rice when serving.  It is delicious.  Namati came to their house to make the dinner.  Eman said she doesn't know how to cook yet.  She and Mohanned are learning together.  Sounds familiar.



Namati is a wonderful cook and hostess.



Mohammad (Namati's son), Namati, Eman, Mohannad, and Linda



and Blaine.



Mohammed is a cute, likable, eighteen year old who is helpful to his mother and sister.