Sightseeing And Maqmoura

Sightseeing And Maqmoura

This is my last full day in Jordan and I spent it travelling up north to Umm Qais. I visited Hedayah's family and was treated to full Arab hospitality. I was honored to be served Maqmoura, a local traditional food that is not served everywhere in Jordan. I must admit, I was a bit apprehensive when I heard it described (a big chicken and onion pie), but it was really good. It takes six hours to bake, and the chicken and onion are wrapped in l lots of layers of pastry dough. The outer layer is very crunchy and the middle is chewy. The onions pretty much disintegrate and leave a nice flavor. We had homemade yogurt and lots of other wonderful food. I met her sister, Jelly Bean, who has excellent English skills like her sister. I had a very good visit with their grandfather and father, two gentlemen who really treated me well. After lunch and a tour of the garden (all sorts of fruit and olive trees, as well as herbs), we drove up to the ancient ruins of Umm Qais where we could look out over the Jordan river valley up to the Golan Heights in Syria. It was a great day with great tour guides :)

Hedeyah, her grandfather, and her father

Maqmoura!!!!!

We did our best

Tea with sage from the garden

Trees, trees, and trees

Nice wildflowers

Syria in the distance

The Jordan River

Ancient ruins

A cool little amphitheater 

Agriculture in the valley

Slow Day

Slow Day

I slept in today. I realized I have been running pretty hard for quite awhile now. Anyway, I am recharged and ready to wrap things up here and get back to Chicago. We are working out some details so we can plan things for June quickly. Motasem, Alaa's uncle who is the school benefactor, got into country the other day and I met him for tea. He is a good man with a good vision and a good team here at Arar. It is fun talking to him in a jumbled mix of English, Arabic, and German. We met up with Alaa and his family later in the evening and ended up at the mall for a bite to eat. One more full day tomorrow..........

 

Doing a bit of late night editing for Alaa

You want to share my Texas Chicken spicy meal? Mush Mumkin

Motasem, Khaled, and Alaa 

Never A Dull Moment

Never A Dull Moment

When I woke up this morning, I thought it was going to be a very slow day. I knew it was to be the last day at the school for me this trip, but I didn't count on the activity level that awaited me. Lama picked me up and surprised me with fresh coffee and homemade peanut butter cookies. The cookies were great, and evidently, I introduced them to a whole new admiring audience here in Jordan. Early in the morning, all the students assembled and presented me with flowers, cards, and chants goodbye. I was very touched at their genuine tribute. I got fist bumps from nearly all of them and a few hugs and "I love you"s to boot. A little later, I got to be a guest judge in the KG for a competition. The kids came in with their mothers and it was very nice. Kindergarten activities always seem to be a just a half a step away from chaos to me, but always fun and engaging for the kids. I love watching some of the teachers, particularly those in full niqab, while they teach. You can learn so much by just watching their body language. They are wonderful teachers. I drifted out later to play badminton and then to say goodbye to all the kids and teachers for a few months. I also got a chance to talk to Zeina and Jana for a bit before they went home. Their teachers say that they have really been working hard and really appreciate the help our B260 family has given them. I had my last meeting with Rawan, Heydyah, an Wafa to plan out more English Club activities. Lama took me back to her parents house for my first dinner of the evening. Her parents were wonderful hosts and I had the best maglouba I have had in a long time. Rawan joined us and we had a good time. Dessert was rushed but awesome, and I was then hurried back to my hotel to meet Lana and her brother and sister, Ahmed and Rana. We drove to a nice restaurant and had a great time laughing and practicing pop psychology. Sometimes, an awkward moment can be hilarious, even if you would never plan it. When Lana invited me to dinner, I swore she said she was bringing her sister and brother-in-law with her. I don't know if anyone has ever asked siblings how long they have been married to each other before, but I do know that it doesn't go over well. They were good sports though, and I was impressed by their honesty and intelligence. There is still a great premium on respect for ones elders here, and it is nice to interact openly with young people. After fourteen hours, I am back at my hotel feeling good, yet glad I get to sleep in tomorrow. This great trip keeps getting better :)

Approaching The End Of This Trip

Approaching The End Of This Trip

I have hit the point where I realize how little time I have left here in Jordan on this trip. It makes me smile to realize that Arab hospitality intensifies, not wanes, towards the end of a visit. I am double booked most of this week :)  Today was a relatively quite day. Suad made the staff two gorgeous cheescakes and Zaina and Jana's mother sent along some beautiful flowers and a lot of treats!  Lana thought I am not getting enough food (she found out that I am leaving too early to catch breakfast at my hotel) so she made me a couple of delicious breakfast sandwiches. I met with the English teachers, accompanied Lama and Suad to a cake store, then returned to McDonalds to meet Rawan and her two children, Lilas and Hatim. On my way back to the hotel, I picked up two 50 cent falafel sandwiches. I have settled in for the night and am choosing not to think about the short amount of time left here. Instead, I am just enjoying the experience and building some excitement for the summer programs we have planned. Things are good.

Rawan, Lilas, and Hatim hanging out at McDonalds

Cake Mudeera!

Krema - a really cool cake store in Irbid

Avocado and egg sandwich - hit the spot!

How I began my day :)

Another Productive Day

Another Productive Day

I am starting to get my second wind on this trip, right on time. I had a very busy day today, yet I am growing more enthused and motivated. This morning, I got to visit with several kindergarten classes and I was reminded me how gifted, talented, and patient those teachers are. The kids were energetic and excited, and I did my best to engage them. I met with the English teachers, as we usually do, and we got a lot accomplished. After school, I left with Lama's father who graciously took me tool shopping. I bought a tape measure (pink) and a level (mostly so I can make "half a bubble off jokes) for Lama who appears to be the schools handywoman. After we left the tool store, we went to their house for coffee, cake, and good conversation. Eventually, Lama and Lana showed up (collectively Lamana) and we met Alaa at a Yemeni restaurant for dinner. This was a new experience for Lamana, but they were troopers. We had a good team building dinner then journeyed off to McDonalds for a bit more conversation and treats. I am constantly amazed at the graciousness, generosity, and tolerance of my hosts here. I love this school and its mission, and the people involved are some of the finest folks I have ever met.

Hanging with the KG kids

My feeble attempt at instruction

Arar swagger

"Lamana" dove right in, albeit daintily 

We did our job

A little ice cream and coffee loosens things up

Life is good

English Club

English Club

Today, we had our first meeting of the English Club. We had fifteen or so interested students. Hydayah, Wafa, and Rawan are serving as the faculty advisors. We set out a plan to elect officers, agreed on a format, and did a few activities including the Hot Seat. It was a great start. I got a lot of other work done as well - finished a classroom observation report, submitted a Fulbright recommendation for Lama, held court with a few teachers after school, played badminton for a bit, and finished the day with a bowl of foule and a flat bread about 24 inches in diameter. It will be an early night tonight :)

Setting things up

They are up to the task

The first brave soul on the Hot Seat

Lana, a brave administrator, serving her time on the HS

A good crew!

What's good for the goose.....

Sunday Is The New Monday

Sunday Is The New Monday

Sunday is the first day of the work week here, so we were back at it today. I had a productive day. I met with the 1-3 grade parliament, got my picture taken with Natalie (took me a week to win her over), played soccer with the kids during recess, observed Hedaya who did a good job in class, helped Lama (one half of Lamana) with her Fulbright Scholarship application, finalized the proposal for the English Club with Rawan and Hedaya, and had Yemeni food at a new place. The food was good, messy, and hot - bringing new meaning to "comfort food." It was a very good day, and I am looking forward to the rest of the week. Hard to believe I will be home next week at this time (pretty close anyway)