6th May 2018

Today I began my first day of teaching Alex to play the piano.

He's a great student. He is truly passionate about learning the piano, actually practices pieces he really loves, begs me to teach him certain songs, and pretty much squeals like a rabid fangirl when I play the piano while Snapchatting my whole performance.

He's just great.

Now that he is permanently living with Habreen and her roommates, he has some control over the food in their kitchen. "Do you want any food?" he would enthusiastically offer,  as if he owes me all his life could offer. "We have some leftover rice, some spaghetti and meatballs, a bunch of Maggi instant noodles- oh! The brand is from your country right? You must be dying to eat some of that food."

"Are these even yours?" I asked. There was no way all of that food could be his.

"Don't worry just take ANYTHING. All the food here is ours, just choose! Oh! Do you want an egg? Sunny-side up? Omelette? Hard boiled?" Before I could respond, he grabbed an egg from the fridge (which I am sure was also bought with their roommate funds). "Do you want TWO eggs?"

"No no no, one is enough." I told him.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes I am VERY sure."

He cooked me fried rice with garlic and black pepper, as well as some soup instant noodles. Nothing says love and warmth like someone cooking a meal for you.

As far as I know, there were now six people living in that tiny two bedroom apartment. One from Africa, two from Singapore, one from India, one Korean-American, and one Hispanic American who is too damn eager to give me the best damn hospitality an unkempt, crowded apartment decorated with anime posters (courtesy of Alex and the Korean-American) can offer. Everyone greets each other firstly by "Bitch," and then their normal conversation as if it was more of a term of endearment and proof of unwavering friendships.

It would be both heaven and hell to be living in that place, a place I would't mind dropping by every Friday for the next few weeks.