Ramadan 1433 - Tahani 1 & 2

This is a tale of two Tahani's. Two very quiet and thoughtful women from the academy who I respect a great deal. I like quiet, dignified people (probably because I am not), and these two women are that. I think they are quiet in different ways though. Tahani 1 is older and more lighthearted, while Tahani 2 is  younger and more serious. They both smile quietly too, which I find very charming.

Tahani 1 is a wife and mother, and it amazes me that she has time to take care of her family, teach, and participate in this academy (like many other amazing mothers in the group). She always wears a patient and kind smile, and is very bright. She did her research on culture in language training and it was very insightful. I didn't get to know her very well during the academy, but I am quite sure she is an active, loving teacher. I can imagine her in front of her classes, gently guiding her students into this crazy language of ours.

Tahani 2 is younger and shorter, but very serious and determined. I got to know her a year before the academy as she participated in a workshop I gave in Irbid. She was very diligent, and was a good sport when I called her to the board to spell the word diarrhea (an example of the technique of invented spelling). I was very thrilled when I learned she was attending the academy as I had learned how passionate she was intellectually, and I looked forward to having her drive and motivation in the group. She did an excellent thesis for her Master's degree in Translation, and I was honored to be able to read it before she finished it. She is an amazing young woman that I am proud to know.

These two Tahani's are wonderful examples of teachers who have the ability to teach a group of students for a year - kind, patient, and intelligent, they have all the right tools. I am so glad I got to know them both.