29th October, 2022

The parents of one of Misa’s school friends hosted a fabulous evening that through the mix of invited guests and us all being seated around one huge table in the dining room of what was previously the US embassy, perfectly judged the transition from childhood to adulthood; three classmates and their families and the children’s history teacher, Miss Judith who is universally worshipped as mentioned previously on these pages. 

Conversation included everyone naming the living person they would most like to take dinner with, and why; Miss Judith eloquently explaining why the stone age is her favourite era and how we have much to learn from it; Israeli and Palestinian politics; local politics; US politics; Brexit; much laughter on so many topics; and a game of Swedish Mafia (a whoddunit played whilst we were still at the dinner table). 

Each guest joined in everything as equals and it was a joy to see the bond between everyone and the way the children navigated adoring Miss Judith and enjoying her company as adults, yet knowing that on Monday she would be their history teacher again; their hugs hello and goodbye were affectionate, yet appropriate.   In short, the evening was one of international life’s privileges and an opportunity for intelligent social interaction that none of us will ever forget and that through the opportunity and the safe platform will be instrumental for young adults in their lives ahead.

The evening rounded off at midnight with all five children piling in to the back of a tiny Maruti Suzuki Estilo and heading off out of sight down the driveway as if going clubbing in to the wee hours!  Yes, all five of them are on the back seat in the photo above!

Steve