I think I’ve figured out that 9th graders are actually tiny little entertainers. When I get bored, I just find a little 9th grade dude to hang out with. Some of them here are around 70 pounds and absolutely hilarious. I was chatting with a couple one day (they were teaching me some Arabic), and one of them keep saying “You are rock” so I had to figure out what he was saying.

“You are rock, you are rock”.
“Uh thanks? But what does that mean? Int hajar?” (that’s “you are a rock” in Arabic)
“You’re American, you should know!!”
“Oh, you mean ‘You rock’?”
“Oh right… you rock!” (fist pound)

So hilarious. Now, okay, you might be thinking that I’m a jerk for making fun of his English skills (he actually has awesome English, everyone does), but I’m here making the same mistakes in Arabic too. Like when I was trying to say “I’m a genius” (= Ana 3abqari) but instead said “I’m a scorpion” (= Ana 3aqrab) – how ironic. At least my little 9th grade buddy wasn’t trying to say he was smart when he made his mistake…