My uncle the priest blessed the table and the chatter of Arabic began as cousins dipped their bread scooped up the tabouleh salad and daintily bit the sweet baklava pastry.

• 担任牧师的伯父主持餐前祈祷。然后，餐桌上阿拉伯语不绝于耳。我的表兄弟们开始蘸着调料吃面包，舀一勺黎巴嫩风味的"tabouleh"色拉，再一小口一小口细细品尝蜜糖果仁酥饼。