While I listened to the poetry reciters at the podium, I did not understand what they were saying (they did provide an English translation after though!), but here is what really intrigued me: how much work each performer has put into their studies of Arabic language. I never really questioned how I sound to others when I speak Spanish, especially to those who have no shred of Spanish in them. When I was listening to the students speak in a language I am completely foreign to, I heard these beautiful sounds coming out of their mouths. I hope they feel how magical and powerful it feels to be able to communicate in a different way and therefore enhance their abilities to understand the world differently. In sum, though I could not understand what was being performed this night, I did get a reminder of the excitement that is to learn a language.