Journeys in Jordan

Rain Rain... PLEASE COME!

2006-02-08T04:05:00.000-08:00

So, today is the second (yes, you read that right... second) day of rain we have had all season in the south! The hills are dry, there is no greenery... and for a community that is based largely on agriculture... we are boardering on a crisis situation! So, our hope is that it rains solid for the rest of the month of february... but as that is unlikely... lets just hope we get enough to make some sorts of crops grow.
As for me, I have been back in jordan a week now and it feels like an eternity. Not in a bad way, I have just gotten back into my routine and, in some ways, it feels like i have never left.
I have been very busy writing a grant with another volunteer to put on a special education workshop for all the special education volunteers and their co-teachers on different teaching methodologies. In addition, just getting back into the classroom has been rewarding (as, at least for me, my kids are the reason I stay... I would rather be at work than just about anywhere else in jordan).
My center has had some major improvements done while i was away on vacation. a masonary stone wall was put around the front area and it was paved with walkways and has had soil brought in for a garden area in the middle. It really looks amazing! As I write this, I am uploading some videos I took for people to see.
Lets see, other news... I am starting to realize my time here is short (and getting shorter). For me especially (being in the south) this has made me realize that I have precious few more opportunities to hang out with other volunteers. So for valentines day weekend a bunch of us are getting together in Madaba to hang out and I can't wait to see everyone!
Anyway, that is the news here for now...

Amazing Music

2006-02-04T09:18:00.001-08:00

When I was home I had one of my best friends in the world introduce me to a new music artist and I was so moved by her song, I had to pass it along.
The artist is named Randi Driscoll and she wrote a song for the Matthew Shepard foundation following his murder called "What matters". Not only is her voice amazing, but this song is just so touching and so true! So, wanted to pass on the info on this talented artist and get everyone to check her out.

http://www.randidriscoll.com

Celebrations in the Village

2006-02-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

Well, today was a very big day! Tawjihi scores (which is the Jordanian equivilent of the High School exit exam... you MUST pass to go to college... very important) were announced today and my landlords two kids who took it (one was taking it for the first time, one had to retake it after not passing last year) both passed! YEAH!!!

BIG NEWS!!!

2006-02-03T10:36:00.002-08:00

SO, I'm back in jordan... flight was good. God bless international flights that aren't full! I had the two seats to myself and was able to kick back and relax.
Then, upon my return, I found out that my SISTER IS ENGAGED!!! Apparently, her fiancee Chris proposed right after I left (and the general question on this side of the world is... "Chris, couldn't have upped it by 48 hours, could you?"). But seriously, I am so happy for them... The word is that a December wedding is in the works! So, that is the big news to share with everyone.
Again, it was so great to see everyone and i will see you all in 6 months!

How time flies!!!

2006-01-30T23:11:00.000-08:00

Well, this is my last posting from home! The three week vacation has been amazing. Not only because it has been nice to return to the comforts of home (I have felt cleaner and prettier in the past three weeks at home than I have in the past 2 years in Jordan... amazing what daily bathing can do... smile) but it has been so nice to see so many family and friends.
Being away from home truly makes you appreciate the friendships and bonds you do have at home. While I have developed many good friends overseas, with the barriers in language and culture (I can never truly be myself in a small muslim village) I do not develop the bonds that I have with my friends at home.
To come home and be around those who know me, and who truly care about me, has been so wonderful. I was discussing friendships tonight with my mother and there have been friends here in the stateside that have been such a source of support and strength to me by keeping in contact while I have been overseas. Those friendships, I realized being back home again, are going to be stronger than ever when I do return for good.
In addition, there are those I have not been in much contact with since I left and, yet, it seemed some things (like old friendships) never change! I am so grateful for that.
I was able to meet new babies who had been born in the past year, meet new "signifigant others" in my friends and families lives, and catch up with everyone here.
So now, I head back for my last 6 months. In some ways I am happy to go back. I feel that there is much work to be done in my last 6 months of service. Many loose ends to tie up, new trainees to help train, and a few more trips to take. But I am going to miss all of you here in the states dearly and I can't wait to see you when I return!

Really, the world is too small!

2006-01-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

Visit at home is still going great! Today I went and watched my students from the school for the deaf in their bowling meet for special olympics. It was fun to hang out and watch them all.
Then, on the way home I went shopping. I was in this store with my mom and sister and I look over and see this woman and I turn to my sister and say "I swear, that looks just like Lindsay Crawford" (for those of you who went to westminister woods with me, you may know her... for those that don't, lindsay and I were in camp programs and counselors WAY back my freshman year of high school). So my sister looks over and says "yeah, a little bit i guess." So, I figure it is just one of those people who looks like her... considering the last time I even talked to Lindsay was back in college and I haven't seen her since high school. Well, as my sis and I are talking she heard my name and goes "Ryan?" YUP!!! Turns out it was her! She is getting married this July and is living out in brentwood! It was just so random to happen upon her in a store on my three week visit home!
Other than that, life is going well. Tomorrow i get to see some great old family friends for lunch, and then dinner with my old camp counselors (who are actually from the same camp that Iwent to with Lindsay) who have become dear friends.

No, I have not lost my mind... smile

2006-01-20T17:34:00.000-08:00

So, disclaimer post. I posted a bunch of my own baby pictures on my website. Why??? Well, my villagers have been asking to see pictures of when I was little... so I went to my baby book today, took a bunch of pics of the pics in my baby book, and this way I can access them when I get back to jordan.
So, on other news... my visit home continues to go EXTREMELY well! Last night went out to Todai for all you can eat sushi (and, believe me, I made the cost of the dinner worthwhile... and I did go there after telling Adam I would) and on Saturday my kids from CSDF have a special olympics bowling meet in Alameda so I am going to go down and cheer them on.
Tonight my sisters boyfriend and his family are coming over for dinner. I met them briefly in church the other day but didn't really get to know them. Since this is a pretty serious relationship I am excited to get to know them.
Other than that, all is well.

Great New Additions!

2006-01-15T11:30:00.000-08:00

Last night I went to SF for dinner with several friends! It was so great! First of all, I had not seen these friends in SOOOO long, and second, it was my first time back in San Francisco (the city of) since i had been home.
The vibrancy, energy, and just general fun of the city was so great to experience. In addition, my friends had all started dating new people since i had been gone that I got to meet and I just LOVE the people they are dating. It is hard when your friends date people you dont neessarily like, but all of these people are ones that I would choose for my friends (if it were my say at all) and I am so happy not only that my friends have found love but that the people they are love are so very wonderful!

Hugs and Home

2006-01-12T22:00:00.000-08:00

So, today I went down to CSDF to visit all my old co-workers, friends and students. I got the same feeling I had when I landed in San Francisco. I can make my way around Jordan now... speak arabic, and travel. No problem at all. I am perfectly comfortable. And yet, when I arrived in San Francisco, I didn't feel comfortable, I felt HOME!!!
That is the same feeling I had when I went to CSDF today. I arrived (people thought I was just coming tomorrow... but I surprised them! Hey, wanted to get at least one surprise in) and it was great to see the reactions of my friends.
These are the friends I have had for many years, whom I have worked closely with, and who know me. These are the people I would consider myself closest to. So I sat down and got to eat with, enjoy the company of, and just generally have fun with all!
And one thing that I never realized I missed (until I got here) were hugs. I got SOOOO many hugs today! My friends, co-workers, etc... hadn't seen me in so long... and they were looking forward to seeing me as much as I was to seeing them!
So I got my share in... in fact, I took advantage and hugged people three and four times.... sometimes not wanting to let go.
This is the part I will miss most when I head back for the last 6 months. I have come to realize being gone that people DO miss me and that I DO mean something to my friends (perhaps something I didn't always think of myself when I was here) .
Anyway, I want to thank my friends for making me feel more welcome than I ever thought I could ever possibly feel!

Writing from the comforts of home

2006-01-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

So, it has been a long 48 hours... but I am finally here stateside! Left Amman at 2:20am on Monday morning and arrived in Amsterdam at 6:30am! Then, caught a 11:25am flight to SFO and the flight, although 11 hours, with the time difference landed at SFO at 2:05pm California Time.
So, came home and undloaded a lot of stuff (gifts and so forth) and then went to dinner with my mom, sister, and sister's boyfriend Chris. It was great to meet chris for the first time and the sushi was wonderful too!
I am looking forward to talking to many of you tomorrow but, as for now, I am exhausted and heading off to bed!

Long time... no post... soon home!

2006-01-02T10:02:00.000-08:00

So, a week from tonight I will be dining on Sushi at home with my mom and my sister! I am so very excited to see everyone!
Lets see, whats been going on. Christmas here was great! Got to hang out with the new J9's (most of whom I had not met) and just be with friends! Then for new years me and my friends in the south (we are a small contingent of just three) got together for dinner down in Wadi Mousa and then headed home! Not much of a new year but since I usually am asleep before midnight in the states (not a big holiday for me, i'll admit) it was fun to be with friends. And I also got a call from a friend in London that I have reconnected with recently from high school so that was an extra new years treat!
Then, I had been really anxious about packing to go home. The thing is, is that my villagers equate "size" with "wealth"... not taking into account that jewelry or laptops... things very small... are much more expensive but small. Anyway, I am trying to take home some of the stuff I have accumulated over the past year and a half that are not worth much (except to me)... for example, my landlords son transformed an old chicken cage into a cat carrier when I got my cat vasi. My cat (who at that point was a kitten) has now outgrown it so I'm bringing it home cause it is one of those things that will always remind me of his family. So I have packed two very big bags... and I was afraid I was going to get a lot of grief from my landlord (who always delights in giving me a hard time) about the size of my bags... but I learned today that our school bus driver (who is much more mellow than my landlord) is going to drive me down into wadi mousa on the day I head up to Amman. Which just eased my fears so much. And my teachers are so sweet! One of them wants to ride along with me to see me off at the bus station in Wadi! Next year when I leave, its going to be a mess! My teachers are already saying they want to drive me to the airport and see me off at my flight! They are so sweet!
So, now I am on countdown mode. Today Josh (my village mate) came to my center and made pizza with my students! It was great fun!
ANyway, next post will probably be from home so can't wait to see you all soon!

Ry

Bubbles and Puzzles!

2005-12-21T09:51:00.001-08:00

I firmly believe there is something magical about bubbles! Blow them at a baby, and watch their eyes light up! As adults, there are some who will say "it is just soapy water... nothing special"... but not me! This past week I have discovered it is a stress relief for me. Now, bubbles (especially good ones... that actually produce a lot when you blow) are not found in the village. So I had some that were sent in a care package last year and I use them sparingly. But this week, I got really frusterated, my kids were acting up, and i put one in time out. I decided to break out the bubbles for a purely punitive effect (didn't want him participating... but seeing us having fun) and, as I blew, and I watched my students laughing and popping them... I relaxed. All seemed to be right in the world again. It was especially fun to watch my new 3 year old who didn't quite know what to make of them at first and then really got into them! So, that is my theory for the week... bubbles have magical property!
My other big success of the week was a puzzle I brought in. I have always been a huge fan of puzzles in classrooms. I like choosing one that is just hard enough for the students to really have to struggle with it but not so hard that they can't complete it. Another volunteer left a 500 piece puzzle (and no, I did give it to my developmentally delayed kids... I gave it to the deaf students at my center). The first day I showed them how to put together the outside of the puzzle first, and then left them to do it. The next day i checked back in and they had destroyed the work they had done, put it back in the box, and said it was "too hard". Well, not one to take that... I brought it out on my break and just started working on it (apparently, having me work on it and struggle with it made it more interesting). So all the kids wanted to help. They are now about halfway done. I explained that it isn't something to finish in a day but if they all worked on it a little bit at a time over a week or two, it would get done. To me, puzzles teach team work, perserverence, and patience... as well as good skills such as observation and matching!
So, those have been my successes this week... bubbles and puzzles! I think sometimes our world is too complicated and we bring that to our work... me, I enjoy the simple things! So, everyone stateside... go to the 99cent store, get a thing of bubbles... and go blow them at work... and see how many new friends you make and how much more enjoyable and stress free you work becomes!

Bubbles and Puzzles!

2005-12-21T09:51:00.000-08:00

Pilots in Training

2005-12-15T11:19:00.001-08:00

I just got back from having dinner at a families house in my village. At first, I was apprehensive about going. Mostly because the invitation, through extension, was given by my village mate. This is a family he knows, and they asked him to bring me along. Well, with gender relations here, we as peace corps volunteers have a saying “its Ok, Its Ok, its NOT ok”… which basically means… villagers, in true arab hospitality, will tell you it is FINE to wear short sleeves, it is FINE to talk to a member of the opposite sex, it is FINE to not fast during Ramadan… but really, none of it is fine. They want you to feel comfortable, and know that you are a foreigner, so are trying to accomidate the differences in lifestyle… but by acting in accordance with village standards, you are showing respect for them and thus earn respect in return. It is a tightwalk we walk daily here. So, I thought that by going, I would be seen as “fraternizing” with the male in our village (the american male) and that might bring a bad name to myself. Well, I was reassured and so glad that I went!This family is SOOO nice! They have three sons and a daughter. Their youngest son is the 4th grade, has excellent english and is motivated to learn… and (get this) wants to be a pilot! Actually, if he keeps studying his english, I don’t see why he couldn’t. I have been thinking (finances permitted) that before I go I would love to contact the royal jordanian air society that does small charter flights and charter an hour flight in a cessna or something above my village. If so, I am definitely taking this kid along. So, plea to all my friends back home! If you have any old pilot gear, magazines, etc, please save it till I come home… this kid would be thrilled by any old thing.And, the family is just so relaxed… everyone sat in a co-ed setting… the mother let me help her in the kitchen (which is a big rareity in formal families… you never let the guest help… but I actually felt more included by being able to help) and we all made pizza together! It was a great evening!

Cool Adoption Website

2005-12-15T11:19:00.000-08:00

Hey All,
Well, many of you know I am big on adoption. For most of my life I have planned on adopting a child with special needs. However, while surfing the web, I came across an amazing website of children in California who need homes. Of course, these aren't your "perfect infants" we all love so much... most of them are older children... but the more I have been thinking about it the more I have thought that I might provide a good home, stability, and a chance at a good future to a child who, by no fault of their own, was not born into the best circumstances.

Anyway, I just wanted to pass the website along. If anyone knows someone who is adopting, I think this is a great site to check out first!

Ryan

http://www.cakidsconnection.com/

My apologies to the blog world!

2005-12-10T01:17:00.000-08:00

So,
the other night a woman called me in conjunction with some information she needed for a magazine from a PC volunteer. So, I tell my mother at home about this phone interview I did and she goes "oh yeah, she posted something on your blog page". I had no idea people were even reading my blog page! I mean, ok, I knew my friends and family at home were reading it... and I was pretty much keeping it just as a rant and rave spot to vent frustrations and keep people apprised at home (if you all want to see ranting and raving... read weblogs from my first year when I didn't have any arabic and was not as accustomed to the culture... now there were some bitch fest blogs).
So today, while I was at the internet cafe, I decided to check it out and there are so many responses to so many of my postings that I was just in shock!
Anyway, there are many of you that have made some pretty insightful postings which I was grateful to read about. there are also several of you that I probably should have been in touch with via email had I known you had posted anything at all!
So, I ask for you apologies and thank all of you for your comments (which I am currently on the process of catching up on).

Ryan

PS. It was really a nice "warm fuzzy" moment when I saw postings from friends at home that, due to lack of email contact, I had assumed had forgotten about me! Thanks for keeping me in your thoughts guys! Loveyou

Why Ryan doesn't lie... aka how I got the "dumbest volunteer" award!

2005-12-09T07:55:00.001-08:00

So, here's a funny little story about a volunteer named Ryan. This volunteer got the great idea that she would plan a suprise trip home in the middle of her service. She planned and planned this (since last winter). She knew that her mother, seeing the credit card bill for the ticket, would know she was travleing... so she made up the story that she and several volunteers were going to Morrocco on vacation. She didn't tell a SOUL stateside! She even wrote on her vacation leave form that the Peace Corps requires that on the OFF chance someone from the states called, that they were not to be informed of this trip as it was a surprise! She had planned on calling her sisters boyfriend the week before she arrived in order to pick her up and plan a surprise dinner out with her mom and sister. She planned on showing up at the school for the deaf and surprising all her friends and students. This was in the works.
Then, one night, she was on the phone with her mother. She needed a power cord mailed to her but there was a problem with the packaging. So, she made up another story. She told her mother that a volunteer from Fresno was going to be home in January and if her mother just held onto the cord and mailed it to Fresno, the volunteer would bring it home (knowing full well that she would be home to pick it up in January herself). She was so excited when she got off the phone that her mother had no idea that she was coming that she text messaged her friend Adam, who has been the co-conspiritor of this little plot. She told Adam how she had decieved her mother once again with the "Fresno" story and how excited she was that her mother had no clue that she was coming home.
Then, in a truly Freudian moment (I guess... maybe there's another psychologist but can't think of who) when she had her mother on the brain, she proceeded to send the text message not to Adam, but to her MOTHER! It was one of those classic "oh shit" moments where right after the send button was pushed, she knew what she had done! So, after keeping the secret for over a year, Ryan blows it just a month before she is scheduled to come home.

There you have it folks! Most of the volunteers in the area spent the evening laughing at (and with) me so I thought I would share the joy! Really, I am the worse liar I know! But, I take solace in the fact that 1) no one else blew my secret... cause then I would have been really mad and 2) that I didn't blow someone else's big secret! Just did something stupid to blow my own cover.

So, here is the deal... I will be home for three weeks in January. From the 9th-31st! (I know Dan, I am bummed but I am just going to miss you by a few days... sigh! What fun it would have been to see you.... smile).

There are so many of you I am looking forward to seeing! Kathleen and Barb, I will be making a trip to school to see everyone but we must get together for dinner one night when you don't have work.

Miguel... I must meet david!

And John, if you have access to a plane... I think I have forgotten what a small plane feels like (much less, how to fly one)... smile

So, there is my news... for the whole world to know!! I can't wait to see all of you !

See you in a month,
Ry

Operation Smile Wrap Up and Pics

2005-12-06T03:58:00.000-08:00

So, I just got back down south after completing operation smile... which was such a great experience I can't begin to describe it.
This morning at breakfast, a father gave me an Iraqi bill (in Iraq there are no coins, so I got the equivilent of a penny... but it is on paper bills) cause he said he wanted me to remember them. Believe me when I say I could never forget this experience. The only thing I didn't get to do (just cause of scheduling) was to get over to the hospital to see kids in recovery (which, I hear from volunteers who did operation last summer, is a profound experience).
But, I have uploaded pictures and wanted to point out a few interesting things to you.
First, many of the kids don't look like their deformities are too severe. This is for a couple of reasons... some only had cleft palate surgery so there were no visible areas that needed surgery. In addition, many of the kids were coming back for follow up surgery of some kind... so they already looked pretty good. It was mostly the young babies that had more severe problems that needed repairs.
There are a few pics of one little boy I grew attached to. Pic numbers 892 and 893. Leave it to me to find him in our group of 80. He is blind, autistic and also needed surgery. Well, after the trip he was told he couldn't have the surgery cause he has seizures and, being that operation smile is non profit, they don't want to assume the risk of more complicated surgeries like that. Well, the day we took the pictures we were doing art... which he just was not into. So I went down to the room and got a tambourine I had purchased the previous day and brought it up to him to play. He just loved it.
The other little boy I fell in love with you see in pictures 916 and 917. He was a little spitfire. He was having his 7th surgery. His father showed me his infant pictures and he had a severe cleft lip and palate (as well as other cranio facial issues involving ears and so forth).
The interesting thing about him is that he is kurdish so he didn't speak any Arabic. His father spoke limited arabic (enough to communicate with us... which was a bit difficult with everyone anyway as the Iraqi accent varies from the jordanian one... imagine if English were a foreign language and you had only learned in Texas and knew a southern drawl and then were talking to someone from Boston! A bit difficult to say the least) and would translate for him but his son was just so cute. At the time I left this morning his son hadn't gone in for his surgery (they do 12-15 a day) so hopefully all will go well.
Anyway, just wanted you to know pics were there and I was back and enjoying life.

Miss you all,
Ry

Operation Smile.... Making me Smile

2005-12-04T23:09:00.000-08:00

I am having the most amazing, profound experience this week that I just had to share. I am currently in Amman working for three days as a volunteer for Operation Smile. For those of you who don't know the organization, it provides free Cleft Lip, Cleft Palate and other facial reconstruction surgery to children who need it.
This is a world wide organization but our assistance is needed here because families have come in from Iraq for the surgery. It is too dangerous for the international team of doctors to go into Baghdad to perform the surgery so, the day before yesterday, 70 children, accompanied by their parents, arrived by bus (36 hour journey) in Amman. They were required to come by bus after the bombings in Amman last month... security is just so tight. So, despite the very long journey, these very grateful families got off the bus excited and happy to be here!
I have spent the past day socializing with women, playing with children, all of whom may very see me as one of the few americans that doesn't carry a gun. In fact, many of the women, in true arab hospitality, have invited me to visit them in Iraq... of course, they added, after the situation calms down and is more safe.
As I stood in the dining room of the hotel yesterday and looked around, I realized I was holding a baby from Iraq who needed surgery, and I was experiencing something few other americans, at this time, are experiencing! I am getting to know Iraqi families and they are getting to know me at this time in which our two countries are so at odds! Amazing!
Anyway, I am taking LOTS and LOTS of pictures (the kids are just SOOOO cute) so it will probably take me a while to upload them all... but I will do it just as soon as I possibly can!
I wish you all could experience this with me but, since that is not possible, you can take my word that it is one of the things I will never, ever forget about this Peace Corps experience.

Interesting Cultural notes and a news story to be aware of

2005-12-01T10:19:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Well, I had my site visit yesterday and all went well. Our program manager got to see our new computer classes and as no one had been to our center since our paint job, she got to see that as well.
In addition, the supervisor for the TEFLer (teaching english as a foreign language) volunteers came. As she is Jordanian, it was a wonderful opportunity for me to get some information.
I had heard that my co-teacher would be out on leave after the death of her husband for 4 1/2 months. I didn't understand why it would be so long but it was explained to me. This is a very old tradition in arab culture. It is done because, a long time ago, if a woman was widowed at a young age, they had to give adequate time to ensure she was not pregnant before allowing her to resume normal activities where she may come into contact with me. This was especially important as the name of the children (and especially the son) comes from the name of the father so they had to ensure the bloodline.
In today's world, a simple blood test could be done at a hospital to confirm or rule out pregnancy, but this is one of the customs of the arab world that is no longer practical but still continues.
In addition, I wanted to make you all aware of a disturbing news story that is surffacing over here. Apparently, Bush plotted to bomb the headquarters of Al Jazeera television. Now, Al Jazeera television sucks (they have been said to raise hatred and spread propoganda... but let me tell you from watching it, it is just bad news reporting.... to educated individuals, it would not insight any emotions as it is so bad... I have even seen news reporters on it READ THE NEWSPAPER!!! While being filmed) but if Bush is in fact guilty of planning to bomb it, in my opinion, well... that is unjustified. Quite frankly, what news station in the world does not spin stories in some way or another to cast the best light on their own country and nationals.
Anyway, I will leave you to form your own opinions on this matter but I did want to pass along the news story web link..
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/1122-05.htm

Published on Tuesday, November 22, 2005 by the Daily Mirror / UK
Bush Plot to Bomb his Arab AllyMadness of war memo
by Kevin Maguire and Andy Lines

President Bush planned to bomb Arab TV station al-Jazeera in friendly Qatar, a "Top Secret" No 10 memo reveals.
But he was talked out of it at a White House summit by Tony Blair, who said it would provoke a worldwide backlash.
A source said: "There's no doubt what Bush wanted, and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it." Al-Jazeera is accused by the US of fuelling the Iraqi insurgency.
The attack would have led to a massacre of innocents on the territory of a key ally, enraged the Middle East and almost certainly have sparked bloody retaliation.
A source said last night: "The memo is explosive and hugely damaging to Bush.
"He made clear he wanted to bomb al-Jazeera in Qatar and elsewhere. Blair replied that would cause a big problem.
"There's no doubt what Bush wanted to do - and no doubt Blair didn't want him to do it."
A Government official suggested that the Bush threat had been "humorous, not serious".
But another source declared: "Bush was deadly serious, as was Blair. That much is absolutely clear from the language used by both men."
Yesterday former Labour Defence Minister Peter Kilfoyle challenged Downing Street to publish the five-page transcript of the two leaders' conversation. He said: "It's frightening to think that such a powerful man as Bush can propose such cavalier actions
"I hope the Prime Minister insists this memo be published. It gives an insight into the mindset of those who were the architects of war."
Bush disclosed his plan to target al-Jazeera, a civilian station with a huge Mid-East following, at a White House face-to-face with Mr Blair on April 16 last year
At the time, the US was launching an all-out assault on insurgents in the Iraqi town of Fallujah
Al-Jazeera infuriated Washington and London by reporting from behind rebel lines and broadcasting pictures of dead soldiers, private contractors and Iraqi victims.
The station, watched by millions, has also been used by bin Laden and al-Qaeda to broadcast atrocities and to threaten the West
Al-Jazeera's HQ is in the business district of Qatar's capital, Doha.
Its single-storey buildings would have made an easy target for bombers. As it is sited away from residential areas, and more than 10 miles from the US's desert base in Qatar, there would have been no danger of "collateral damage"
Dozens of al-Jazeera staff at the HQ are not, as many believe, Islamic fanatics. Instead, most are respected and highly trained technicians and journalists.
To have wiped them out would have been equivalent to bombing the BBC in London and the most spectacular foreign policy disaster since the Iraq War itself
The No 10 memo now raises fresh doubts over US claims that previous attacks against al-Jazeera staff were military errors.
In 2001 the station's Kabul office was knocked out by two "smart" bombs. In 2003, al-Jazeera reporter Tareq Ayyoub was killed in a US missile strike on the station's Baghdad centre.
The memo, which also included details of troop deployments, turned up in May last year at the Northampton constituency office of then Labour MP Tony Clarke
Cabinet Office civil servant David Keogh, 49, is accused under the Official Secrets Act of passing it to Leo O'Connor, 42, who used to work for Mr Clarke. Both are bailed to appear at Bow Street court next week
Mr Clarke, who lost at the election, returned the memo to No 10
He said Mr O'Connor had behaved "perfectly correctly"
Neither Mr O'Connor or Mr Keogh were available. No 10 did not comment.
AL-JAZEERA'S INSIDE STORY

Updated Pics

2005-11-27T05:52:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Just a short blog (cause I update this far more often than I update my pics) to let you know that I have some new pics in my new section. They are under "center kids", "co workers kids" and a new folder with beginnings of christmas pics (Like my faux tree... a table with a sign above it... ha ha). The girl in the christmas pic is the new girl in the next village, Andi, who is new here (and from the bay area).

Village Tragedy and a sad weekend!

2005-11-26T08:07:00.001-08:00

So, to follow my last post.... after a great evening with Josh's family I get up Thurs morning for work and I wait, and wait, and wait... and no bus shows up. So finally (since our principal is out of town) I call our acting principal's telephone number (my good friend Lutfiya whom I share a class with).
A male answers the phone and tells me that Lutfiya is at the hospital. Well, she does have a 6 month old daughter and Jordanian's got to the hospital for everything so I don't think much about it. I call my other co-worker to then see if there is going to be school that day and she tells me that, the night before, Lutfiya's husband was killed in a car accident.
Imagine my complete and total shock! This is a good friend whose husband was one of the few males in town I actually knew. So, I spent most of the weekend at a funeral (they last three days) with the one respite in between being going to Tayybeh (the next village over) to have thanksgiving dinner with Andi (the new volunteer there).
Kind of bittersweet. Lutfiya is absolutely devastated and rightly so. It would be devastating for anyone to be widowed at a young age (he was 28 and she is 26) but, in Jordanian culture, even more so. When a woman's whole life is centered around a husband, the sudden removal of that husband leaves the woman lost. Now, lutfiya of course has support... jordanian culture is so communal... but she will not be able to stay in her own home (women don't live alone here) so she and her daughter will have to move in either with her parents or his parents. Then, comes the fact, that there is a good chance (over 90%) that she will never remarry. She will essentially be left to live out her life with her family supporting her and her daughter but never really being as independant (having her own home, etc) as she would like. It is just a tragedy! So, I am not sure what will happen at my center as she is my co-teacher who I have been training and I know at least she will not be back for a while (there is a period of 40 days of mourning). Please keep her and her family in your prayers.

Great evening

2005-11-23T11:33:00.000-08:00

So,
sorry i haven't posted in some time. Been quite busy. Tonight had a great night though! Josh (my village mate) is getting engaged to one of our language instructors who is jordanian. So, his whole family flew out for the engagement and we all got to get together for dinner tonight in the village. It is always a treat when I get to hang out with josh (as it is so rare) but his family is just SOOOO nice! I mean, second to my family, they are probably one of the nicest I have ever met. So, for dinner tonight was josh, his parents, his grandparents, aunt and uncle, two cousins, one of his counsins fiancee's and his brother (who, by the way, does not build satellites... long story... smile). It was a great time to just hang with friends, take LOTS of pictures (which I hope to upload at some point) and relax.
So, what is up with me... in a few weeks will be volunteering in amman for operation smile which flies Iraqi kids and their families who need cleft lip/palate surgery to Amman for free treatment. Basically, PC volunteers work as liasons between the hospital, hotel staff, and families helping them while their children are in surgery.
Then, in Januaray, I am off to Morocco on vacation with some PC volunteers. Should be a wonderful experience. Anyway, time is flying and, though I miss you all, having a great time! I hope everyone has a happy turkey day!

Update

2005-11-12T05:00:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
Sorry I didn't post yesterday. Right after all the explosions, I awoke the next morning with a double whammy of a migraine and strept throat! FUN FUN FUN!!! So, I have done nothing but sleep and drink tea for two days now. Today is the first day I am feeling partially human. So, looks like we are going to get to stay as long as nothing else happens and this stays an isolated event. Today was the first day we were let out of our villages but of course the PC is keeping close tabs on our whereabouts (checking in and out with them, etc) and no one is traveling into Amman. Although, I am grateful for this lift on transportation as my village mate is in town picking me up antibiotics at this moment... so tomorrow should be much better.
Anyway, thanks for all your thoughts and concerns. Just pray things stay calm here and the last 10 months of my service are uneventful (well, at least in the case of matters like these).

I am OK

2005-11-09T14:44:00.000-08:00

Wow... funny to have this post follow the one below. Tonight I was sleeping beacuse I was scheduled to go to Amman tomorrow for work meetings. At 10:15 a friend called me and actually, I was annoyed he woke me up, but he told me that there were three major bombings in Amman at the Regency Hotel, the Hyatt, and the Days Inn. I called and talked to mom, threw on clothes, and went down to my landlords to watch the news. My heart just broke! Honestly, I know more people in Amman than I did in NYC on September 11th (of course, not the same scale, but my heart still breaks).
So, now I am up for the night (and, of couse, my trip to Amman tomorrow is cancelled). Actually, there is a holiday... a day of mourning here...with schools and offices closed down. It feels so violating right now. We are in the midst of a very tumultuous location between palesitine, israel, iraq, syria, and saudi arabia... but Jordan has always been the calm in the storm... the safe haven!
So, now is a waiting game. We are not sure what happens. A PC post does not stay at site if the safety of volunteers is jeopardized... however, if a post (and by that i mean country) has to be evacuated twice that pretty much closes the door to reopening service in that country again. Since Jordan was already evacuated, everyone wants to stay if we are able.... but only time will tell.
Pray for those in the hotels. Right now the count is 53 dead and over 200 injured. The sad part of watching the footage was that one hotel was having a huge wedding and the room just was destroyed. Weddings are such a big deal in jordan.... even more so than america, and I'm sure this was some girls dream day ruined tragically!
Anyway, I will keep you all posted. I wont know much more till morning and probably not any real decision until later this week but pray that we can stay and finish our work!

Great Night!!!

2005-11-06T11:55:00.000-08:00

So, tonight was so awesome! There is a woman who used to be a PC volunteer in Belize 20 years ago who now lives in Wadi Mousa (has been living in jordan for 10 years) doing land development and water conservation while working on her MA degree (her name is Erin by the way). Anway, I met her through Abu Aiman and she came for dinner the other week. Today she contacted me cause she wanted to talk. I was unable to meet for dinner because several volunteers were getting together so she and I met for a drink and ice cream at the Movenpick in Wadi Mousa. Then, she reccomended that we try an italian restaurant at the Mariott just up the hill. So we decided do that. Josh, myself, and Sarah were there and Erin came and joined us! It was so much fun hanging out... and nice to hang out with American's who weren't in my close PC circle. So anyway, Erin is awesome cause she has a car, drives, and lives in the area. I am very much looking forward to hanging out with her some more... plus dinner was DELICIOUS (had spinach stuffed ravioli in cream sauce) and not much more expensive than the pizza place we normally go to. So, if I can convince any of you to come visit... (hmmm, kathleen... fancy an international trip??? smile) I will treat for dinner at the Mariott!

Thoughts on Life

2005-11-03T02:42:00.000-08:00

Well, today is Eid day. It started with me waking up to have my cat missing cause the door had blown open in the night and he had gotten out (I found him, no worries). As I was cleaning I was thinking of all that is going to happen this upcoming week.
Another volunteer and I are currently in the starting stages of writing a grant to fund a 3 day workshop for special education volunteers and their co-teachers. A kind of "make and take" workshop on how to develop educational materials using what you have and thinking outside the box. So she is coming down for us to meet (and, we are going for Pizza on Sunday night... YEAH).
Then, on Thursday I am going to Amman to sit on a committee to look at some other volunteers grant proposals. Having been through the process myself, I am excited to help evaluate this one. Especially cause I know it is a good one. Two youth volunteers are trying to get money to build a ropes course for the council of youth to use for summer camp leadership and training activities! It is an awesome project! This gives me a night in Amman to get some stuff done. I generally don't like amman too much (very expensive, busy, etc) but it is nice to go up on official business cause then I don't have to pay (I get put up in a hotel for the night) and I can get to some of the stores I rarely get to (my craft store for cross-stitch material, the teacher supply store, etc).
So, I was cleaning my house and thinking of my upcoming busy week and a thought hit me. Several years ago (before I started teaching) I was riding in the car with my mother explaining this science project I saw. I cant remember exactly what it was now but it had to do with constructing a huge bubble out of plasic bags (like room size) to show the differences in heated air vs. cold air.... or something like that. Anyway, I was all excited describing this to my mom and she was just laughing say that my ambition was great but really, she doubted I would ever do it (to her credit, I never have).
When I start projects I always have this idealism. The same is true for the Peace Corps. I came here thinking I was going to change the world. Somehow my presence would make Jordan an entirely different country. I would become advisor to the king, etc etc etc.
Well, needless to say, that hasn't happened. And often it is far to easy to get bogged down and assume that because these grandious changes aren't happening, that you are a failure. But the fact is, I know that in 50 years, my friends in the village, who will then be old women, will sit around and remember the time the American came and worked with them. I know that when I leave, my teachers may view the students with a bit more compassion. They may enjoy their job more, and they may recognize that there is a world outside of this village and it is not "all good" or "all bad"... not just "black or white". And that is a change. Maybe it is not the change I expected when I started, but I will have made a positive difference in a few people's lives... and I will be remembered for it. And hey, isn't that what this journey of life is all about?

Eid Holiday is Here

2005-11-02T13:57:00.000-08:00

So, today was officially the last day of Ramadan! In Jordan, about half the country heads to Aqaba for vacation (including half of the peace corps volunteers, my landlords family, and a million other people). I think last year they estimated that there were 40,000 people in the town (and, you should know, this is not a big town... you can walk end to end in about 30 min). So, naturally (considering how much I LOOOVE big crowds... yeah right), I stayed home.
It was great! I took a day to be a complete and total sloth! I didn't get out of my pajama's. Had a movie marathon, worked on a cross-stitch, and just rested. Without my landlords family here (and actually, from the lights on in houses tonight, looks like many in our village headed out on holiday) I can just relax and not worry about the pressure of visiting, eating, etc.
So, my holiday is off to a beautiful start! And next week will be short. I am on the committee to look at spall project funding and another volunteer and I are looking to write a grant to do a teacher training workshop in the spring so I get a night in amman to go to meetings and so forth. People might think that a day of meetings wouldn't be fun (and normally it wouldn't) but by spending the night I can do a little shopping at stores I don't normally get to (teacher supply store, craft store for my needlework supplies, safeway for food) and even hit the mall in the evening. So, this week should be good.
There was an interesting article in yahoo news about the Eid holiday so here is the link for any who want to read up.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051102/ap_on_re_mi_ea/eid_al_fitr

Take care

Its a small world after all (and yes, I miss disneyland... smile)

2005-11-01T03:22:00.000-08:00

We have a group of older mormon missionaries in Jordan who do a lot of help with centers (sending supplies like blankets, clothes, etc from Salt Lake). Anyway, today they came down to meet with us on their way to Aquaba for vacation. Two of them I had met before but two I had not. Well, it came up that I was from california so the two new people asked where... turns out they were from Petaluma and have a cousin in Pinole. Wierd enough??? Gets better!! So I tell them I went to school in Albany and it turns out the guy (Leon Mukly) served his mission in El Cerrito in 1967!!! He knew one of my best friends (Stephanies) parents! Here I am in a little village in the south of Jordan and I run into missionaries who know Steve and Sandy Ferguson!!!! Go figure.

Avacado... an aquired taste!

2005-10-29T09:31:00.000-07:00

Well, all these people in the village have recently taken to asking me about avacados. I think this is because there is a new pantene shampoo comercial that has been on that talks about having avacado oils in it, but I have told people that it is just so delicious! So, this week I find out that there are avacado's in our soog (fruit and vegetable market) in wadi mousa. So, while it town today I buy a bunch for me (love me some guacamole... smile) and one for my landlords family and one for my center.
So tonight at dinner I take it down to my landlords family. Now, avacado's are not cheap (about a buck for each one) but I wanted to spring for it so that they could have a new experience. I made some really good guacamole and then used the other half to just let them taste avacado by itself.
All the kids pass the bowl around, look at it, and not ONE of them would even taste it! Not the mother, not the older kids... NO ONE!!! So, I was a bit frusterated. I am thinking what sad, small minded individuals that they wont even TRY something new. I was eating dinner (and I ate all the guacamole and avacado... hey, only get it two weeks out of the year so screw their stupid chicken-and-rice-same-old-same-old-never-changes-dinner) and thinking about how I definitely would have the policy in my house that you must taste something at least once... and if you didn't like it, then you could choose to pass. And I was thinking how sheltered these people were and so on and so forth. And then, all of a sudden, my mind jumped to a certain 4th of July lake tahoe wedding in which certain guests would not eat mexican food at the rehearsal dinner because they had never been exposed to it. And it made me realize... there are people all over this world who are not willing to expand beyond what they already know and what they feel is safe. Doesn't matter if they are from the middle east, or the middle of america... it is all the same. And I feel so sorry for them. This is probably the only time my landlords kids will ever have the opportunity to taste an avacado and they chose not to cause they didn't know what it was. How sad and what a loss for them. I can't want to get home and eat nothing but japanese, thai, chinese, mexican, etc! How lucky we are to live in a place where we can

Center Dinner

2005-10-27T10:27:00.000-07:00

So, we had our breaking of the fast today at my center. It was lots of fun despite the fact that almost everyone's "fathers" came because, lord knows, the mothers aren't capable of anything. The only thing that was annoying about it was the fact that we... as teachers, asked if since we were going to be there well into the evening working, if we could have the morning off. We were told that we had to make soup and divide up bags of donated food for the students. I tried to rationally explain that this could not possibly take 8 hours... but to no avail. So we arrived at 8am... had the bags separated and done by 9am.. and sat until 10. Well, I think my principal knew that i was not happy (I know that everyone in jordan enjoys sitting on their asses doing nothing but I do not) so she finally told me I could go and come back at 2 (which, when I returned, I found the teachers STILL sitting).
The dinner was nice but a funny thing happened before dinner. We have been having problems with one of the printers we got. I have tried reinstalling the driver, testing it with all three computers, testing the other printer with the computers, etc. Finally I told them that they needed to have someone from the computer store come up and take a look at it. Well, they finally took both the printer and the computer down into the store last week. Today, before dinner, one of our society members brought it back. Well, I went to go set it up and the society man, very patronizingly, told me HE would do it (after all, I am just a woman... what the hell do I know). In fact, I think ht had the impression that nothing was wrong and I just didn't know what I was doing before since clearly the computer place told him everything was fine. Has ha... did I have a good internal laugh watching him go through everything I did and to no avial. Hell, I would like a working printer as much as the next person... but I was glad to see him make an ass out of himself.
So, then we had dinner. As always, the men showed up, told the women what to do, made a mess, and then left. I would have much rather eaten with my students... but oh well. So now you can see the pics on my site (which I am uploading now) of the stuff we donated to my students at my students eating. Oh, and there is one self portrait I took with my student Aisha. I know we aren't supposed to have favorites... but oh well.

Surreal Day

2005-10-24T04:14:00.000-07:00

So, I woke up this morning and there were a million people out on the street and probably close to 15 cars all parked outside my house. Across the street there was a bait shahar (the trational bedoin tents) set up and people already visiting. It turns out, one of my neighbors died last night (not someone I knew... but I'm guessing he was important in the village) and, in keeping with tradition, visiting and gathering takes place almost immediatly. They set up the tent last night and people started visiting and continued first thing this morning. In addition, when I got back from work today, there are even more cars (I would venture about 30), some of my landlords family came all the way from Tafila to pay respects. It is like the whole village turned out! I really wanted to take a picture (as it is so surreal) but I figured that would be a bit disrespectful so I had to subtlely take pictures through my screened window (which aren't great, but which I'll post as soon as I can).
In other notes, it is interesting how people come to learn lessons... and how things all seem to make sense when one little bit of information is added. In addition to this neighbor dying, our village also had a little boy (I think they said he was 9) die of cancer last night. I had never met him, as he was pretty much living in Amman being treated at the cancer center. But, as I'm walking home today with a co-worker I ran into a little girl who had been to my summer camp. She and her brother were two of our most difficult kids... and I really struggled to like them. Well, as we pass by and I say hello to her my co-worker leans over and whispers that it was her brother who died of cancer. Well, looking back, I have to wonder how a child's behavior may tend to go towards misbehaving and attention seeking when (I would imagine) the majority of the attention at home is going towards a child with a terminal illness. It really hit me today that you never know where someone is coming from and it is even harder with the language barriers. Maybe next time I'll practice a little more patience and compassion when I don't know the situation.

Busy days (and special request so read to the end... smile)

2005-10-23T13:19:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
Well, it is starting to get colder here and there are 10 days left of Ramadan! Life continues to go well and is surprisingly busy. Last year I remember things really dragging during Ramadan (the pace does slow down) but now I am thinking it had more to do with me not yet being adjusted and the language factor. Now, I have my own class and projects going and so things seem a lot busier now.
This past weekend I posted a bunch of pics on my website that I thought I would explain. The first is a folder of all my teachers kids. We had three new babies born between last feb and july. Since, in my village, no one really owns cameras, they asked if they could bring their kids to work one day so I could take pictures for them (which will be printed and sent to me to give them... perfect christmas present I say... smile). So I was more than willing but as parents who don't have any pictures of their kids.... things got WAY out of control so pardon the 8 MILLION pis that, to me, all look the same... smile.
Then, there is a folder about our society. The society in Rajef funds our center but also has a water project (I am one of the few volunteers in this country that has NEVER run out of water at my site... turn on a knob and my water tank fills... every day if the need be. Many in cities get water delivered once a week... if they run out, they wait till the next time it is delivered) and a farming project. A while back I got pulled from school by our director (who is also my landlord... who you also hear me complaining about on a regular basis... who is the man sitting at the desk in the folder of these pictures) and asked to quickly take a bunch of pictures of the farm, water system, pipes, etc because the ministry of social development... or of agriculture... not sure, wanted them emailed that day because they were going to help fund something. So I ran all over taking pictures and then emailed them to Amman. So, those are what is in that folder.
The last folder is the setting up of our new computer center. Today I sent an email to our project manager about these pictures because USAID (who funds our major projects) is coming in to the amman office tomorrow and our project manager wanted info to give them. So pardon my laziness... but I am about to cut and paste from that email...

"Let me know if you need more pics and I can take some tomorrow and upload them after school. As to the ones on the site (I know I didn't take nearly enough... but it was hard being involved in implementing and remembering to take pics...smile). They chronicle the setting up.
Basically, we had a junk room, moved everything to the downstairs of our center, which is not yet finished, so for safety reasons we boarded up the window (thats the bricks in the wall you see). In addition, while cleaning out the junk room to move it we found a good basketball hoop (which was installed on the front of our center), and several plaques from agencies that have supported us (which were put up on the wall in our entrance).
The empty room was then painted and the carpet was taken out to be washed.
We got three new computer tables, three new computers, and two printers (a laser for everyday black and white use and a color printer for special occasions).
As to the project so far (just for US AID's info), each of the classes has an hour class three times a week (the teachers decided on the schedule). The FORMAL computer instruction is just beginning as we have been giving the students time to explore and become acclimated to the computers. The younger students (my class) are doing really well with simple things as mouse countrol (they are fascinated that by moving something they can effect something on the screen) and starting and shutting down the computer. In addition, I got a program in Arabic of letters and words (what words start with what letters, etc) that is very animated and has music... my kids are learning the alphabet song now.
The teachers are also beginning to use the computer for educational purposes. It is a bit harder and slower with them as I am working with adults who have never turned on a computer before... but today on of my coworkers successfully finished developing the spreadsheet she was working on to take attendance!
Anyway, thats about it. My center is so grateful for the computers and we will be starting our first montly newsletter after Eid vacation to (in sha allah) be published the first week in December with one every month thereafter."

SO, that explains those pictures.

And one last request (to anyone who has read this far). I got a documentary from my mom this past summer called "My flesh and Blood". It is about a woman (susan Tom) who lives in Fairfield, CA who has adopted 11 children with various disabilities (mostly physical or medical but one child with fetal alcohol syndrome). Anyway, you all know me... the documentary has fast become one of my favorites! Anyway, Susan Tom and her family were selected by Extreme Makeover Home Edition to have their house redone! I contacted her and found out it is going to air Sunday, November 6th at 7pm (it is a two hour special edition). If there is anyone who remembers and wouldn't mind... if you could please tape it for me. I would love to be able to watch it next year when I get home.

Men are ASSHOLES (but i got good news tonight anyway)

2005-10-17T09:52:00.000-07:00

SO, I just got back from a Mansef feast at my landlords house. He had some "very important" guests over (to him, everyone is very important). Let me set up what happens. The women work all afternoon while the men come in and "check"... which basically just means they stand around doing nothing except criticizing the women and telling them to hurry up or do this or that. I actually had an old man tonight (who i know, but who is not someone I am very close with in the village) order me to do something and when I turned to one of the women because I didn't understand he said "Imshee".. which basically means "walk" or, for american translations "get moving".... I was floored! I didn't speak to him the rest of the evening. Then, later, I am washing dishes (oh, because, by the way... after fasting all day the women SERVE the men, clean up, and then eat the gross left overs that the men have all eaten with their hands) and my landlords son comes in, calls me over, and asks me to hand him something that he could have easily reached. I just looked at him and said "I guess my arms are longer than yours".... what an asshole! So the women knew i was pissed. I just said "it is NOT like this in america". When we were done and I went to leave they wanted me to stay and I just said to the women "I'm really tired of being around men"... and came home!
But, when I got home I got some great news. Last summer there was a project in Amman called "Operation Smile". It is an international organization where doctors donate their time to repair kids who have cleft palates and cleft lips free of charge. Well, currently it is too dangerous to go into Iraq so last summer 60 Iraqi families were brought to Amman for the surgery. I wasn't able to help because it was when my mom was here but another group is coming this December and I am definitely going to participate! I am so excited!
So, I may have had to suffer through a horrible meal, but the news made up for it!

Wonderful World of International Donations

2005-10-17T04:08:00.000-07:00

So, today my center was all excited because right before we were ready to go our bus driver shows up with 21 huges boxes from the Wadi Mousa Department of Education as "gifts" for each of our students. Often these bags contain items such as dried milk powder, figs, rice, etc. Well, we look in these and it is tons of baby clothes. Each box has a pair of little girls flip flop shoes, a dress (for a 4 year old), a warm sleeper (for a baby under the age of 2), a pair of pants (that would fit an adult)... and, the best part... about 10 one piece baby outfits (onsies) stamped (in italian) with the name of the hospital they are donated from! Right across the chest! They kind of reminded me of baby prison suits with the stamping on it! Anyway, I thought this gift was especially funny considering there is no one at my center under the age of 5 (so no one fits in any of this stuff). I guess that it is why it is good that everyone has about 10 siblings... so they can just take it home and pass it on.
I shouldn't begrudge donations... but it just seems to me that if you took what was donated and donated it to families that could USE IT... it would be better. Then, when donations for older kids came alone... donate those to the appropriate kids. Ahhh, maybe i'm just trying to employ too much common sense!

The Termia is Coming, the Termia is coming!!!

2005-10-16T03:45:00.000-07:00

So, these were the cries heard all through my school today (by the way, the Termia is the director of Education in Jordan... picture the director of Education from Sacramento or something coming to your school). Well, my teachers were FLIPPING out cause the terbia wanted to see our report cards (which, of course, are never done... hey, my center is not much accountable to anyone). So, my co teacher is nearly in tears and I am just like "where are the ones from last year" (which, I had done in English)... so I get those, blank ones, change the dates, do a quick glance to change any information (isn't it nice special ed kids progress so slowly... and the report cards over here are really hard and stupid... like one of the goals is "can recite the quaran from memory"... hell, my kids can barely recite their full names from memory! So I changed a bit and the director was impressed (and, for some reason, was impressed that I had done them in English... can you say NECESSITY!
Anyway, I was then dubbed the "hero" for the day (easiest thing I have ever done to be the hero) and all is well in the world of education here... smile

Its been an exciting week!!!

2005-10-12T07:15:00.000-07:00

Well,
this week we got our computers! To be exact, our new computer room got a new paint job and cleaning (by our center staff and students), all of the stuff in the old junk room (new computer room) got moved to the downstairs part of our center (still being built)... then we got three new computer tables, three new computers (two for the students, one for the principals office) with windows XP and all sorts of English and Arabic games on it, a laser printer and a color printer... and my center could not be more excited. Today my kids got to use the computer for the first time. I showed them how to turn it off and on... although, to be honest, I think they are just a bit more excited about the fact that when they move the mouse in circles a little arrow on the screen goes in circles. Must be nice for them to be able to have a tangible control and effect over something!
I'm hoping to start soon with the deaf students on putting out a montly newsletter for our center to help them with their Arabic and typing skills. But seeing as they just went in yesterday, we are just letting everyone get familiar with them and play around a bit.
It is also nice because we had an old printer at my center (no computer, just old printer) and the principal said that I could take it to my house to go with my laptop as long as I got the ink (which I'll do this weekend). Will be nice to be able to develop and print materials at home.
Then, I had another big surprise today. A while back (when I ran the dead sea marathon... so I think April) I had 5 girls from Togo stay with me. They were peace corps volunteers there and friends of my village mates from college so they stayed with me. Today Josh came by and said they had mailed thank you gifts. It was so very sweet of them! I got a carved out gourd which is dried and used as a drinking bowl! I forget the name at the moment, but it is cool. I also got a bag of (and mom and Erin you should be so jealous) pure SHEA BUTTER!!! As in real shea butter cream from Africa! It is so cool (for those of you who don't know why I'm excited, clearly you don't know my fettish for handcreams and all things like that). They also gave us these beaded strings which (believe it or not) are used to tie around your waist to hold up your menstrul pad! Ok, sorry for those who I've now grossed out... and no, I'm not going to use them that way... for me, they will just be more like belly beads to wear round the waist! But that is the traditional use in Togo. And then, the piece de resistance! I got a PAGNE!!! A real african PAGNE! So, for those of you who don't know... a Pagne is nothing more than a large piece of colorful wax died cloth but it is what you see traditional african woman wearing. It is like a wrap around dress! It is so cool! Mine is a pink/maroon/ purple pattern!
Anyway, it was great fun to get such suprises since I love things from different parts of the world.
So, now my center is getting in place... my co-teacher I am actually having take over more of the class (kind of like towards the end of student teaching). She has been watching me for a year (and was out for some of last with her baby) that now I want her to start to take over primary teaching again with me being a support system. Kind of phase myself out! It is also fun cause my oldest student decided, being a male, that he was too old for our center (at the ripe age of 16... but its true... men can go to work and he was, by far, the oldest at our center... male that is) so he is now at home which means I am probably going to get a new student next week.
She is young, 4, and has downs syndrome (such a cutie!). She was in our physical therapy program till she learned to walk but has been home since she graduated last April. The principal didn't want her coming till she was toiled trained but I explained the longer she stayed home (where I am sure she is spoiled) the harder it would be for us to adjust her behavior to classroom expectations when she started. So I've been pushing and with Ahmed gone, I think she willstart next week on half day (8-10:30) to see how she does.
I'll keep you all posted!

Never again will I experience this

2005-10-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

I just got back from breaking the fast at a co-workers house. When I first got here this co-worker was the one who rubbed me the wrong way. I thought she was pushy, overbearing, and too blunt (and for mom and Erin who have visited , I'm talking about Staya). Well, she has come to be one of the people that, because of her strong personality, is always out to defend me and look out for me. She has my back when people push too hard, and re-explains things or answers questions (that I have answered a million times before) that may make me uncomfortable) and I just love her family.
So, families here in Jordan consist of these mini tribes with most siblings having houses right near their parents and everyone getting together for dinner. So tonight I show up, and am immediatly surrounded by about 10 children 8 and younger! They all want to climb on me, hold my hand, sit next to me, etc. I am sure it is because I am willing to play with them and let them be kids... but whatever the reason, I just loved it!
Her family is so good to me and I can go there and be myself and her family just loves having me over!
So, as I was being driven home (as her family's house is on the top of a winding road up the mountain out of the way of our village) I looked out and the moon was something I had never seen before. A huge yellow cresent that just seemed to glow over the Wadi Araba valley. And all of a sudden, the lyrics to a song popped into my head. The song is "These are the Days" by JoDee Messina and the chorus goes:

"These are the days you will remember, for the rest of your life,
These are the memories you'll pack in a box, and you'll pull out sometimes.
So pick your flowers, count the seconds, roll the dice
But baby don't wait, till it's too late
Put a smile on your face
Cause these are the days"

Explanation of Ramadan and Islam

2005-10-05T03:40:00.000-07:00

My good friend Steph was asking about Ramadan and my partaking in it even though I am not Muslim and so I thought I would expand a bit on that.
Ramadan is one of the 5 pillars of Islam.

So, the 5 basic pillars of Islam (which all must do) are

1) Profession of faith in Allah and in Mohammed as his messenger.

2) Prayer 5 times a day

3) Giving of Alms. THis equates to 2.5% of a rich mans savings and/or earnings or 10-20% of an agricultral mans crops or food supply. The money and food are then distributed among the poor.

4) Fasting... this includes refraining from all food, drink, cigarettes (basically, ingesting anything) and sex during the daylight hours of the month of Ramandan.

5) Making the Haaj (or journey) to the holy city of Mecca once in your lifetime if you are able.

Now, while I don't partake in most of these, nor am I converting, I really do respect especially the fasting. As it has been explained to me, during the month of Ramandan, when you fast, you experience first hand what those with little or no food or who are poor go through. It gives you time to reflect and give thanks for all you do have. For example, for the month we fast I am hungry most of the day (ok, pretty much from 10am on) but I do know that at 5:30 pm when the sun sets here... I am going to be able to gorge on a feast and eat as much as I want until sun rise again. Therefore, I can hardly begin to imagine what those who are hungry on a daily basis and don't know where or when their next meal will come from are experiencing.
So, there is the basic expalnation of Islam... do I HAVE to participate?? No. Many volunteers choose simply to refrain from eating in public. And if I didn't like the theology behind the practice, I probably wouldn't either... but since it seems important to me, I chooose to.

On the first day of Ramadan my habibi said to me...

2005-10-04T10:31:00.000-07:00

Ok, so we get bored over here in the PC sometimes. One thing that we have done is some of the more creative volunteers make up versus (sung to the 12 days of christmas) of the 12 days of Ramadan. By the way, the word "habibi" in the title is equivilent to sweetheart or love but not always with the romantic conotations. For example, your habibi can be your boyfriend/girlfriend... but it is also just as common to hear one male say to the other "ya habibi" as in "my good friend". So, some volunteers do "on the first day of Ramadan my habibi..." and others do "on the first day of Ramadan the true god..." cause in Islam, they always say that there is only ONE true God (you will never guess how many times a day you hear that during Ramadan)

So, thanks to my village mate... here is the vs for the day.

On the first day of Ramadan the True God gave to me; an atmosphere that's cigarette free

In addition to no eating or drinking during daylight hours the real scripture says that nothing may pass through your lips (which includes smoking)... in a country where everyone and anyone smoke whenever and whereever they want, it is a real fine month for us volunteers that don't smoke to have a smoke free environment... smile

So, day one of fasting down (which is always the hardest)... only 29 to go...smile!

Total eclipse of the...

2005-10-03T08:42:00.000-07:00

Well, not the heart (though I'll bet you were all singing along to the title... smile). Actually, we had a PARTIAL eclipse of the sun today in Jordan (for the total eclipse you would have had to be in Morroco or Tunis and the likes). But, lucky for me, my village mate is a boy scout... so shows up at my center with sunglasses and an exposed roll of film (which, I guess by combining you can look at the sun safely) and all my kids came out and looked at the eclipse. I don't think many of them fully understood it... but thats ok. Besides, it was a break in the excitement! We learned today that our SPA grant money for our computers arrived in Jordan (FINALLY)... so my counterpart will go to Amman and get the check while the teachers and I clean out the junk room (which will be turned into the computer room) and hopefully within a week or two we should have a working computer room.
Of course, it is coming in the middle of Ramadan (which, by the way, is looking to start on Thursday) so things are very slow and not sure how the start up will go... but still exciting.
Other than that, life is good. Winter is slowly creeping upon us. Not too cold yet... but with the fall back in time (we actually do it a week or two earlier than the states so that the clock can fall back before Ramadan therefore making sunset earlier to break the fast) and it getting dark so early, I am totally tired by like 8 or 9pm... what a lazy sloth I am.
Well, tomorrow my landlords son is going to come to the center to help put up some shelves (that have just been sitting in the junk room... so we can clear them out) and I am looking to arrange a field trip to the school for the deaf in Salt (which is like our school for the deaf in the states... only a bit smaller). One of the other volunteers near there took the deaf kids in her school and said it was awesome and is putitng me in contact with their audiologist who is british. So we'll see...
Well, that is all from this side of the world... take care and talk to you soon;

Ry

Ryan's Flick Picks

2005-09-30T12:04:00.000-07:00

So, thanks to the total uninforcement of any copyright laws... combined with my new DVD players... and I get to see movies just debuting in America right around the same time you all do.
So, I have some movie reviews for you:

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind-

Granted, this is not a "new" movie, it did deserve mentioning. When this was out as a preview in the states, I thought it sounded like one of the strangest (and stupidest) movies I had ever heard of. Well, my villagemate lent me his copy and, with nothing else to do one night, I threw it in. Well, it is a strange movie (mom, I don't reccomend this one for you) but it is one of the coolest movies I have ever seen. Great storyline, good cinemotography.... I really do reccomend it for all of you out there.

40 Year Old Virgin-

Ok, so the title alone got me, but I don't think I have laughed so hard from a movie in a long time... at least not since "Best in Show" (and yes mom, I DO reccomend you watch this one too). The cast of 4 guys who play the virgin and his 3 male co-workers trying to help him get laid are so funny and the writing so good, I pity anyone who doesn't get to see it. And, after you see it you'll know what I mean when I say... "We are gonna need more wax... and clear my afternoon schedule"

These are the days...

2005-09-29T06:36:00.000-07:00

Today my memory book from my high school 10 year reunion arrived. It was kind of pathetic, but interesting to see what some people were up to. It also really got me thinking...

Ten years ago high school was SOOO important to me! My friends, my social life, my world revolved around it. I guess that is how most teenagers are... but I was looking back over the past 10 years...

I have...

-Gotten two degrees from college
-Lived 4 years in the dorms (with people I no longer keep in touch with)
-Got engaged to the wrong guy
-Thankfully realized that before I got married.
-Worked several years at camp and met some of the greatest friends of my life
-Fell in love
-Had my heart broken
-Have had a very fulfilling career
-Became fluent in two languages (arabic and sign language)
-Got my pilots liscence (and I can't believe my mom had to write me that I had forgotten to include it... smile)

And at every stage in my life, I was truly IN it! It all seemed so important... so life consuming! And yet, where am I now? Life just goes on... relationships start and end... your heart aches, and then gets better. Friends come and go... some stay, some friendships grow, but some end.
You work in a field you love (if you are lucky) and hope to contribute a bit to the world... but in the end, jobs come and go.

The part that is scary to me is that here I am, 10 years later, and while I know I have changed it just seems that those parts of my life that were SOOO crucial at the time are very meaningless now... and it made me wonder about my experience here. I have grown so much here in such a short time (heck, if I have noticed I must have) but I worry that 10 years from now, the time I spent here will seem insignifigant, a distant memory that was only a brief thing in my life. I really hope not
-

Catching Up

2005-09-26T07:57:00.000-07:00

So, I haven't posted much lately cause I have been really busy! Just got back from our mid-service conference. It was nice even though my dentist appointment got cancelled so I have to go next weekend for a day trip...sometimes I wonder if the Peace Corps REALLY understands how hard it is to do a round trip in a day that is 4.5 hours one way with 3 bus changes so you can get a one hour appointment in!!! So, I leave at 6 in the morning and get back at like 7pm! The one concession that I made with our medical officer is that if I have to have any fillings (which I am pretty sure is a given since I've had a toothache for like 2 weeks) that I can have it done then and just stay in amman that night. Considering the nightmare of a roundtrip in a day, I am actually hoping for a cavity! The other two volunteers in the south both had relationships with individuals in Amman so they enjoy going whenever they can, which has set a bad precidence for me... cause they went on day trips before. But, for someone who has no reason to go to amman other than the doctor or dentist, it is just a huge pain in the ass!
Anyway, other than that it was good... got a lot of work done and got to see some people I hadn't seen in a while.
Then came back to the village and now just gearing up for Ramadan.

I do have two stories for you...

While I was gone there was a big event at our center. Some doctors from a local university came to our center to do free health check ups and distribute medical supplies to villagers. Apparently, over 500 people showed up. However, I had done a great bulliten board in the entrance to our center with all the students pictures on it. Someone (and no one knows who) decided it would be really nice to take a key or scissors to some of the kids pics and write on others. Not all were destroyed but that, coupled with the fact that several young men decided to take some of the free infant similac formula being distributed under their coats to the outside and try to SELL it to mothers (luckily they were caught) just makes me sad that our center tried to put on anything to help. It is so sad that just a few ruin it for everyone.

Then I went to my tutoring session today. My tutee asked that we put on hold studying for her exam cause she needed help with homework. So, these were the riddles that she was supposed to solve (with the answers in parethesis). Would someone please tell me how a student with VERY limited English is supposed to solve these and what it is really going to benefit them to figure out word games when they are struggling to just figure out the words?... Ok, so i'm frustrated! But things will get better.

1) What has 21 spots but isn't ill? (a dice)
2) What has 6 wheels and flies? (a garbage truck)
3) What is always coming but never arrives? (tomorrow)
4) What can you break simply by speaking? (silence)
5) What word do English people always pronounce wrongly? (wrongly)

.The Day the Plane Buzzed the Village

2005-09-18T09:42:00.000-07:00

Ok, to fully appreciate this story... you are going to have to delve into your imaginations.
First, my village... it is on the side of a mountain and takes the shape of a little cul-de-sac. Picture a bay or inlet on some island... but without the water. Anyway, on the top of the village there is a road that runs around the edge of the cul-de-sac and you can see that road from almost anywhere in the village (including my porch).
So, the day begins and, mid way through the afternoon, my power starts coming and going. I am finding this especially trying as I keep trying to type up part of an application for grad school only to have my computer go out with the power every 5 minutes. So, in frustration, I grab a book and go and sit on the porch.
As I'm sitting I notice (along the cul-de-sac shaped road) a parade of old fashioned cars. Picture Chitty Chitty Bang Bang type cars. All beautiful, all going along the road. Well, this road runs from Wadi Rum (where they filmed Lawrence of Arabia) to Wadi Mousa (where they filmed Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade). So, I am figuring some ground of ejnabiiat (foreigners) got together to do some kind of reinactment (living overseas you come to realize how foolish some foreigners look to natives while on vacation).
So, I am watching this with amusement when all of a sudden I hear a loud whine... far louder than the cars could make at a distance... and as I turn to find the source of the noise.

A PLANE FLIES OVERHEAD AT 50 to 100 FEET!!!

While I am known for exagerating at times, remember that this is coming from a pilot... and I could see the pilot quite clearly from my porch as he circled. At first I am thinking this is just foolish flying (again, we are on the side of a mountain and he was SOOO low) but then I stepped back and joined the village fun.

The noise was so loud everyone came out and started cheering. For my pilot friends, it was a single engine ultralight. Now, now having seen too many ultralights in my time, I also found this fascinating.

So, I run in and get my camera and take some video (I love the video feature on my camera) and then, as murphey's law would have it, my battery dies and I have no way of recharging it with no power.

But... HA HA to all those people who thought I packed too much! I had two disposible camera's stuffed in a desk drawer that I had thrown in last minute which were left over from a hawaii vacation a few years ago.

So, while the pictures may not be as good... I do have proof that there was a day when...

The plane buzzed the village!!!

Hi All

2005-09-13T11:52:00.000-07:00

Hey there,
So, not much to report... just a busy day as usual... but I wanted to give you all a link to check out. The Al Hussein Society for Rehabilitation is one of the leaders in the area of Special Education in Jordan. They have a website

http://www.alhusseinrehab.org.jo

I would suggest you all check it out. There is an online newsletter (which is great cause the only copy we get at our center is in Arabic) and this month (the cover with the rainbow) has an article about the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt. I am still hoping to go there and visit.

Well, ta ta for now

Internet at home (barely)

2005-09-11T06:18:00.000-07:00

SO, I have good days and bad days with my internet.... sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't... today it does.... and do I have a funny story to share!!

So, in the two hours that I was able to access the internet, I got an email and a picture from my friend Dan who is currently in training in the airforce in Florida. It is a picture of Dan in his flight suit standing in front of the Jet he is training in. So I put it on the background of my computer as I like to have pictures of people from home to look at. Until recently it was my cousin Alicia's son. I may have to go back to that after what happened… smile
So my landlords two sons (Ali and Ayman… Ali is 18 and Ayman is 24) come up to my house (accompanied by my landlords daughters for supervisions… smile) to install a shelf that they got for my new phone. Well having this picture of Dan on my computer would be rather bad for them to see (or at least give the wrong impression) so I quickly change it to the default microsoft background before answering the door. Everything thing is good and, as we are working the laptop gets unplugged and shuts down. As Ali and I are working, Ayman asks if he can see the computer. So we plug it in and start it up and I got back to working. Well, apparently I had forgotten to save the new default background so when Ayman starts it back up here comes this picture of a guy standing in a flight suit in front of a jet. So Ayman calls me over and I explain this was a friend from college etc, etc, etc… but I am sure it was discussed that night when they got home. Especially since here there is not the concept of male/female friendship. So I am not sure what is going through their minds but oh well… part of my job here is to open their minds a bit. That is just not the way I had planned to do it… ha ha ha.
Other than that bummer of no internet at home (which, by the way, means that for the month of october I may be more out of touch than usual because Ramadan starts October 4th/5th and runs for that month. Not quite giving up yet… but we'll see.
Anyway, take care and enjoy your friends of the opposite sexes for me since I can’t here… ha ha ha (smile)

On fire and killing time!!!

2005-09-01T01:51:00.000-07:00

So, I wrote this long post... and it didn't seem to work. Lets try a take two.
Life is going really well for me right now. Ever since school started back up I have been kept very busy and projects are working well.
As to the killing time. Right now my laptop that Erin lent me (thanks Erin) is becomming bilingual. It is at the computer store next door to (hopefully) have microsoft office that is Arabic enabled installed. That way I can work in both Arabic and English (the arabic is a necessity for developing my kids workbooks). In addition, I am hoping to translate the Arabic curriculum that the PC uses in its training to tutor local villagers.
It is nice to be back at school where I now have the language, know the kids, and they know me. We have jumped back into work where we have started really working on the alphabet. We are making a television that displays all the arabic letters and words that start with that letter. It has been a fun project and, as Alice knows, I like things that are ongoing to work on. I am going to start paper quilting with them this fall too. Hey, If my CSD kids can do it...smile.
I have also been doing a lot of tutoring. Last year, no one knew me... but this year, people do. There is a test called the Tawjihi which is like the high school exit exam in the states. Kids must pass to go to college and often they have difficulty with the english portion. So, right now, i have been going house to house doing 1:1 tutoring in the evenings but it is getting to be a bit much soI am going to set up a tawjihi girls study group in the evenings so we can all get together in one place.
Also, our summer camp was such a hit that the parents have requested that Josh (my village mate) and I start an after school english camp for the 2nd-4th graders so that is in the works. It is a bit hard because we have to limit the numbers (just cause of man power and to keep it managable) but it seems so unfair to let some and not others (in jordan, that is the famous wasta... we would have all the children of the school workers but not others... its all about who you know here) so we have a few details to hammer out but then it will start up.
Ramadan starts either the 4th or 5th of October and then things will slow down and cool off a bit (well, cool off a LOT...god bless the freezing winter) and then we'll see what happens.
This month I have my mid service training. I can't believe I have been here a year already! I am amazed I am over half way done (if you count my two months of training in the beginning). Time is just flying.
Well, enough time killing... I am off to see if Erin's computer is now as bilingual as myself.... smile.
Miss you all and hope you are all well.

Ry

Early (and belated) birthday wishes

2005-08-22T04:55:00.000-07:00

Hey,
I don't get to the internet all that often... so I wanted to wish a happy belated birthday to Nuno! I hope it was a great one. I haven't talked to you in a long while... how did your CI test go? You an official interpreter now?

Also, an early birthday to Miguel! I hope that this year brings you many great things.

Lots of love to you both,
Ry

Thanks for all the concern... yes, I am safe

2005-08-22T04:32:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
So I understand there has been some concern from you who had heard about the attacks that happened in Aquaba. So, here is what is going on over here. First, for those of you geographically impaired (smile), I am about 45 min north of Aquaba. I am the closest volunteer to the city, but still not that near.
Basically, there were two reported attacks… neither of which were successful. One missile was apparently directed at the Israeli port of Eliat. However, the missile missed the target, came down in the desert north of both Aquaba and Eliat and simply made a whole in the ground.
The second missile was apparently targeted at an american ship in the Port of Aquaba. However, the missile went up and came back down landing on a warehouse in Aquaba killing one jordanian soldier and injuring another.
The peace corps contacted us and put us on alert status. Which basically means we are free to go about our daily business but just to be more aware of what is going on around us. However, other than some minor village talk consisting of “did you hear about…” or “can you believe…” or “it is so sad…”, nothing much has changed in my day to day life. I start school tomorrow, went to Ma’an to get some packages today, and still feel very safe here in Jordan. The sad fact, is that I am safer here that I would be in most inner cities in America. But I understand that the news is reporting this attack as a major Al Queida attempt. Well it may be (although I doubt it… I have a lot of confidence in the Jordanian police over here), everything is absolutely fine in my world.
I called my mother with the information and would like to thank those of you who called her to check in and those who were just concerned. It means a lot to be in your thoughts. In fact, one volunteer who is from San Francisco said his parents called because they knew I lived near Aquaba and were concerned about me.
So I wanted to post this. If anyone has any questions or wants more information please don’t hesitate to email me but I am happy, healthy, and hot (it has gotten REALLY warm this august… smile).

Love and miss you all,
Ry

Hi Kathleen and Barb

2005-08-22T04:25:00.000-07:00

HI BARB AND KATHLEEN!!!

So barb, Kathleen tells me that you read my web log!!!! Tsk tsk tsk… Dr. K might catch you not working (smile… just kidding). Anyway, just wanted to put out a special blog for the two of you to wish you a good start for the school year. Oh, and Barb, you would be so proud. One of the other volunteers taught me basic knitting (she’s going to teach me something called Pearl Stitching over chirstmas) but right now I’m halfway through a baby blanket for my co-teacher over here who had a baby in June. I’ll have to make a scarf for you when I get home (since I still wear yours).
Well, take care you do and write soon!

Welcome Party

2005-08-13T22:46:00.000-07:00

So, we finished the J9 welcome party yesterday. It is still another month before they swear in but we got to meet all of them. It was set up nicely with tables for each region/area. For the south, we are getting three new people near Shobak.... which is actually a bit of a way from us via bus but still somewhat doable (if everyone comes into Wadi Mousa). And, of course, since the girl in the next village is getting married, there is going to be someone new to replace her. It was really nice to meet them but it is so funny that they more than doubled our jordan group just by their arrival! There are now 18 from my original group, 10 from the j7's (28 total) and 31 of them!!! Yikes!!! The reason we are down to 18 is that another girl announced that she was going home yesterday. She has loved her experience here, is grateful for it, but just felt that as a woman what was expected of her and her personal values (not being subservient, being independant, etc) were being too compromised. She is leaving on good terms with everyone and telling her village that she needs to go home to care for ailing grandparents so there are no hard feelings on anyone's end.
So, that is the news from here. I am currently in the process of uploading pictures from my mom's visit. The computers here are so slow but hopefully there will be some more today.

Ry

The new volunteers have arrived

2005-08-13T00:21:00.000-07:00

So, we met the new volunteers today. There are SOOOOO many of them!!! There are more of them then of all the j7's and j8's combined. Then we are going over to a party at Darcy's. They are so nice all of them. The girl that is coming down south (Andi) near my village is also from Oakland. How cool is that?
This week has been really good. Last night Gilbert, Adam and I went for a nice dinner. There is a restaurant we found at the top of a hotel that had views of all of Amman. We had sushi appetizer and teriyaki for dinner. It was just great to hang with friends.
Speaking of friends, I have had the fortune of talking to some friends from the states this week and wanted to give a great big hello and smile to miguel. It was so nice to talk to you and work through everything... just made my week.
Well, not we are off to the party but I miss everyone and hope all are well.

Ry

Updated Photos

2005-08-07T04:11:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
I am sorry it has been so long since i have updated photos. Really, with everything that has been going on I should have taken more pictures... but what can i say.
Anyway, I know my picture folders are a bit much to look through, so I wanted to let you know I put two more in (so you can just find the new ones). One is of London and the other is entitled "Mom's visit (and dead sea mud)". So anyway, i hope you enjoy.

Ry

Back in Jordan

2005-08-03T04:12:00.000-07:00

Well, London is over :-(!!! I had such a good time! I was sad I was not able to meet up with Miriam or Sammy... but I still had a good pint of Guiness (and all of you bloody Kremmies, you know who you are, were in my thoughts).
I got right back into work starting up my summer camp with Josh this week. We have 30 2nd and3rd graders that we are doing an English camp for. I again realize why I am supposed to teach special education. Regular children, especially in mass quantity, behaving foolishly with no developmental reason to, bother me! Sigh, oh well, only one more week to go.
There are only 3 volunteers down here in the south near me. You have to realize, 75% of the country is populated north of Madaba. Therefore, that is where most of the volunteers are placed. Well, the other female volunteer down here is getting married in Sept to a volunteer in Amman and is relocating to a center in the north. This means that i will be getting a new volunteer (a J9) to replace her at her site. I am hoping it is someone i click with considering that next March Josh (my village mate) is done with his service and will be leaving. Could be awfully lonely down here alone for the last 6 months... but i am hoping it will all work out well. Besides, for the first 6 months, Josh was down here alone... and he didn't even have the language or know the people then...so no worries for me.

Well, that is all the news from here... sorry i have been so bad about posting pictures but it is harder to get them burned and uploaded. But you should have london ones soon.

Take care,
Ry

Brooke Sheilds threw a rose at my chest!!!

2005-07-27T14:11:00.000-07:00

Yes, you did read that right! Last night we went and saw "Chicago" in which Brooke Sheilds was starring as Roxy Hart. We were in the 4th row and in the final scene (as roxy hart) she gets a bouquet of fake roses and throws several into the audience. Well, one hit me in the boob and landed in my lap!!! Quite the souveneir if I do say so myself.
London is fabulous still... went to the London Castle today and saw the Royal Jewels. Also, tried to meet up with my friend Sammy who lives here but he is a big star now. Well, he stars in the Irish version of ER (called the clinic) and he was back in Ireland shooting the third series (it is broadcast there as a miniseries). But, did have a nice Guiness tonight and thought of all of you (Rick, Hunter, Sammy, Ger, etc... wish you were here).
So, one more full day of vacation then it is back to the heat! Ahhh, two more months to go then it cools off... so no worries.

CHEERS!!!

More from this great vacation!

2005-07-24T12:29:00.000-07:00

Well, I am still loving London! Seriously... expensive as anything and totally worth it.
Erin missed her connection in New York yesterday so didn't get in until this morning (Sunday) missing one bag (which was later delivered to our hotel), but we still managed to make a day of it.
I (amazingly to all who know me) have managed to fairly quickly figure out the bus systems and navigate my way around the city. Today we went to Harrod's Department store. Kind of like a cross between FAO Schwartz and the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland! It is the biggest thing I have ever seen! I went to their pet department and held these cute little kittens that cost 600 pounds each (I still don't know what is wrong with the Humane Society for adoptions but...). They also had the most AMAZING food court. I know, I know... I'm in london and its pathetic to be talking about food. However, after not having seen real cheese for a year (in jordan, what I can get is the equivilent to Laughing Cow cheese that doesn't melt) or such delicacies as chinese food, a sushi bar, etc... i was in heaven.
Then, Erin and I did some shopping and we came back to our hotel (with the 12 hour delay in NY Erin had been traveling over 24 hours straight and was exhausted).
Tomorrow we are going to get on the On Again-Off Again tour bus that goes all around London and see the sights! Should be fun!
Oh well, cheers and will post more soon (So nice to have internet access at the hotel... smile).

Ry

London

2005-07-22T23:53:00.000-07:00

Well all, I am safe here in London! It is an amazing city! I have only been here one night (got in yesterday at 4pm) and am already in love with it. I could seriously see living here.
Getting here was a bit worrisome as the latest bombings happened the night before I left. I was not worried about my safety but we are not allowed to travel anywhere the PC does not approve as safe and I was afraid they would cancel my trip. They said to go ahead but just be safe. Then, we get here and find out a suspect was shot while we were in flight. I hate to say it, but i am glad I was already in the air (Would have been REALLY bummed if that had been the event that tipped the PC into saying I had to stay).
So, this morning got up. We are going to Portobello Road for a market today (hey, remember the Mary Poppins song... smile). I was watching the news this morning and there were bombings in Egypt at a resort town. That is scary cause that is even closer to Jordan but we'll see.
Then, Erin is coming in tonight (well, we hope. Just got a text on my phone she is grounded in Vegas with mechanical plane problems.... lets hope she makes her NY connection).
Other than that, all is well. Hoping to meet up with a friend (Sammy from Camp) while i'm here but not sure. Off to have some fish and chips and a Guiness!!!

Will post later

Visit With Mom... Living Large

2005-07-16T06:00:00.000-07:00

So, mom got here and so far it has been a wonderful whirlwind! Starting in Madaba (where the hotel we stayed at during training last year had put in a new pool) we visited Mt. Nebo and the mosaic church. We then met up with my friend Adam where we headed to the 5 star Mariott at the Dead Sea! This was our day of luxury. Adam and I swam in all 5 pools (yes, count them... 5) and floated in the dead sea (so did mom by the way) and got mud wraps with dead sea mud (i know you are anxiously awaiting pictures). Mom and I then traveled south stopping at the famous castles in Karak as well as the Dana Nature Reserve in Tafilah. We got to my village and have been visiting with folks everyday. Yesterday we went to the aunt of one of my students and she had invited her WHOLE family over to meet the foreigners, and eat mansaf (mom got the traditional plate of honor with the goat head in the middle... YUMMY)!!!
Today we went into Petra and I had a residency card and one of the other volunteers that i was gonna use for my mom and I lost them just before we went in. We spent an hour searching and couldn't find them so i was able to talk my way in but mom had to pay full price (residents pay signifigantly less). Well, turns out they had fallen out of my pocket at the hotel (go figure... we looked EVERYWHERE) but i was happy to get them back.
It was very hot so we didn't hit Petra too hard but it was nice. Now we will do dinner, visit my center tomorrow and one more day in the village then up north and LONDON BABY!!!

Oh, and Dan... I am studying for my instrument rating out of the book... hard shit! Also, mom brought me a portable DVD player... i got to watch the aviator the other night... good stuff.

And lastly, also bought a DVD called "My flesh and blood"which was done by film maker Jonathan Karsh (used to be on Evening Magazine for you bay area folks) and won sundance film awards. Great film if you are able to check it out

MOM IS HERE!!!

2005-07-11T02:45:00.000-07:00

So, mom arrived last night! It was so great to see her. I got to madaba to get our hotel room settled before she got here and it ended up (within the past year) having a pool built with a bar (Madaba is a christian town) so I did some swimming, did some shopping, and headed to the airport. Mom got in and we went back to the hotel to get some rest!
Today we got up and went to Mt. Nebo and the Mosaic Map Church and did a little shopping. Now we are just putzing around. It is fun to be back in Madaba (it really is my favorite city in Amman) and to go over my old stomping grounds. It is especially fun because the new group of J9's just arrived the day before yesterday so they are just starting their journey.
We will relax today and have dinner at a great restaurant (Haret Djoudna) in Madaba and then head onto the PC office and the dead sea tomorrow before heading down south. It is looking to be a great vacation so far!!! Then onto (as Joey from Friends would say)... LONDON BABY!!!!

A Perfect Day in Jordan!

2005-07-05T05:59:00.000-07:00

So, I have to run through my July 3rd in great detail for you in order for you to appreciate just how wonderful it was!
I went into Amman and met up with my good friend Adam, a volunteer that I had not seen in a while. He and I have been doing a long distance Bible study over the phone so it was great to see him and meet in person. Well, when his dad was here visiting (and they are from Foster City) he said at our year mark we should go out and celebrate on him. So Adam took me to lunch at an asian noodle house in the ritzy area of Amman and we had such a good lunch. From the inside you would have thought we were in San Francisco again! We had sushi (and how I have missed good sushi), Pad Thai, and Prawns in Coconut sauce. That wasn't all... but it would be gluttonous for me to type all we ate! It was absolutely wonderful!
Then, we went on to the 4th of July party at the American Embassy. While there is not much that was wonderful about the party itself, the fact that it was on "american soil" I got to sit with the other volunteers in my bathing suit and got to have three Corona's by the pool (which yes, I did swim in). It was so much fun!
I can't say I have had a better day here yet. But then again, my mom will be here in just a week (well, less then at this point) and I am sure that day will be even better. Pics will be posted soon of the center painting (as we are finishing up my center this week) but not the one of me and the Corona in my bathing suit (all I need is a villager stumbling across this website). I can email that one out for any who want it though.
Take care all and happy 4th.

RY

PS. We had to do this "haiku" thing for the next center newsletter about our life (introducing ourselves to the new volunteers) in 100 words or less. Here is mine

Are you married? Do you have kids?
The jordan interrogation!
I'm over the hill at 28!
The shared American/Jordanian dream of the perfect wedding, perfect life... what is perfection anyway?
For me it is the house I'll hold someday and the children that wont look like me but who will be mine in my heart.
All the "imperfect" children. Those with special needs, unadoptable older teenagers, and the siblings who need a home together. That makes a life of perfection for me.
And I will look back on my life and say "what a good ride"

Dropping Like Flies

2005-07-03T00:01:00.000-07:00

So, another one bites the dust! Turns out another guy got caught away from site and since he had been involved in the incident at christmas which was a catalyst for all rules... there is no slack for him! I am a bit bummed cause he was from my PST training village and while I understand the PC's decision, it is still sad to see him go. So now, we have lost 6! It just seems like everyone is going home all at once... so sad, and yet for me, it resolves my reasons for staying here. I know that seems strange, but when someone goes home, especially a friend, it seems like it would be so easy for one to throw in the towel and go home with them. Am I jealous that several are back in the states driving their cars, eating taco bell, etc. Sure, and yet... it also confirms that I didn't come to only make friends, hang out, etc. I am here to work in my community, help my village, and make relationships with my kids. So, for everyone that goes, I still have my purpose here....

Busy Busy Bees!

2005-07-01T23:59:00.000-07:00

So, haven't posted in quite some time. Everything has been so busy busy busy! I spent a week in a small village outside of Mufraq (which is in the eastern badia region) painting my friends center. Pictures will soon come... when we finish my center! I actually walked across the "Road to Baghdad" (didn't want to take a picture of that... no need to draw attention to myself in a conservative area)... now how many people can say that.
I am now up in Amman for the Embassy 4th of July party! The best part of that??? SWIMMING IN AN ACTUAL BATHING SUIT!!!! Yup, since we are on american soil (technically) cultural rules don't really apply! Then my friend Sarah is coming down to paint my center. We have spent the whole week gridding pictures on the walls (my teachers have taken this project and run with it... again, pictures when we are done). After that, MOM comes!!! YEAH!!! And then off to England. Well, I will probably blog when I get back... since I will continue to be busy until then

Busy Week

2005-06-13T00:39:00.000-07:00

So, I finished my three day Project Design and Management Workshop... which went really well and allowed me to almost completely finish writing my grant! However, it was amist the time when the three volunteers who are going home were leaving... which was rough!
We had a big going away get together and that was nice, and when the workshop was finished, i spent two days in Amman helping Kelly pack all her stuff up (heading back down to my village today).
One thing that was a big event this weekend... we were 5 minutes from completing the workshop when we decided to do this "copy me" follow the leader game. Well Josh, my village mate, being the ham of the group decides he is going to run and "slide" into home base in order to make another volunteer, ben, follow him. What happens, Josh hits the floor and dislocates his shoulder ending up going to the hospital and having it reset. He will be in a sling for the next 6 weeks! God love josh... but leave it to him!
Anyway, now heading back home to get back to village life (been gone for almost a week now... not sure what to do with myself when I get back... smile)

Life is looking up

2005-06-10T13:42:00.000-07:00

So, I realize my past few posts have been downers... but i am doing much better. What I came to the realization of is it is just as damaging for me to hold onto grudge and resentment of a situation I can't change. Therefore, while I still have chosen to discontinue my friendship with those who have hurt me, I am wasting no more time thinking much about it or being bitter. In fact, I went to a large PC gathering tonight and they were there and we just chose not to acknowledge each other. Immature i know, but much better for me.
Now, the gathering is because three of our group have chosen to go home. It has come as quite a blow for such a tight group to loose three all in one week, but that is the way of life.
Otherwise things are going well... I have made some new connections with volunteers I haven't been necessarily close to and they have been a huge support to me recently. So, with that said... goodbye to those friends I will miss, and upwards and onwards to new friendships and relationships.

My mom is famous

2005-06-04T01:28:00.000-07:00

So, my mom wrote an article for the SF Peace Vine Newsletter (which is published by the San Francisco PC recruiting office) and it was published this month. Hopefully this link will work.

Ry

http://www.mymailout.net/MyMailout/LandingPage.aspx?id=20470&lm=1926240&q=4862251&qz=12f5d74c15d5c2ec24443d4e09f2735f

If not, let me know and i can email the article to anyone who is interested.

adoption

2005-05-26T03:54:00.000-07:00

I have a student that I have been joking with since I got here about taking home. Her name is Aisha and she is 12 years old and has down syndrome. In addition to her family being very poor, her mother is developmentally disabled, her father is deceased, and several of her siblings have developmental disabilities. Her whole family is basically being raised and cared for by her 21 year old sister.
If adoption laws in Jordan were different, I would seriously look into bringing her home with me. However, in Jordan, you can only adopt a child (whether they are wanted or not) if all relatives are deceased and if you, yourself are Muslim and can guarantee that the child will be raised muslim.
Well, I am not, but I keep wondering, if there were any way I could become her legal guardian and see if I could take her home. Part of me thinks "ryan, are you crazy... a 12 year old girl with downs syndrome. You don't have a house, you wont have a permanent job when you get home. You could never do it" And the other part says "take a leap of faith, you have always wanted to adopt, and here you could offer her so much more than she has". Hmmmm, something to think about! Who knows what the next year holds

Jordanians and their Screwed Up Sense of Scehduling

2005-05-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

Ok, So I really wanted to use stronger words for the title but figured it would be censored.
Lets see... how has this week been? We have been preparing for a party to be held on Monday (today) for 3 weeks at our center. It involved setting up a bazzar making the classes unusable since last week and having all the kids bring in clothes, etc.
I was very excited about this until yesterday when Abu Aiman announced it would be postponed by a week because he had a meeting in Amman. Forget the fact that we can't really teach this week...Forget the fact that Abu Aiman is only at our center when he wants to show it off (so we CAN"T have the party without him),and forget the fact that he could have told the people in Amman "I'm sorry, I have a big festival at my center that day, I need to schedule the meeting another time"... NOPE!!! It is just "screw all the work you have done, you can sit on your asses another week till I am ready".
So, then I am supposed to get new clothes for this. Well, my staff does not like me shopping by myself so one of my friends in Wadi agrees to take me (so I don't get ripped off).
I get to her workplace, sit around for an HOUR while she does what she needs to do, runs around, visits with her cousin, etc etc etc. Then, she finally looks at the clock and goes "oh, the bus is coming in 15 min... hurry". Forget the fact that I just sat on my ass for over an hour waiting on her... she tries throwing all these ugly dresses in my face and telling me to get one cause the bus is coming. I tell her I'm sorry but I am not going and I will come back on my own.
Sigh... maybe jordan could become a competitive force in the world if people would do what they say they are going to do and keep to commitments. As it is now, if I were a business person I would avoid it like the plague!

Only in Jordan...

2005-05-14T03:58:00.000-07:00

So, last week at work a very delicate subject was discussed by my staff. Apparently, one of them had seen on TV a talk show where a man from Bahrain (GASP... Prepare yourself). DRESSED LIKE A WOMAN!!! I think they were more confused that I wasn't surprised (although, I was surprised it would be broadcast here).
I explained that yes, in America, there are cross-dressers, gay individuals and even transvestites! They went on and on about how Haram (bad) this was and so on. I countered with the fact that if an American came here, they would automatically think that half of the population was gay (which is true... men on the bus have no issues cuddling with each other, rubbing each others backs, or holding hands). They asked why and I explained that in America, you only would do that with someone you were in a relationship with. And that if two men were doing that, it would be assumed they were dating.
Then they discussed how no, that could not happen here and you don't even kiss your husband if other people are around. They were shocked to learn that at the end of a wedding in America when the minister says "you may now kiss the bride" that you kiss your spouse right in front of everyone in the church. It was quite funny! I told them if I ever get married I am going to invite them all and sit them in the front row to watch!!! Ha ha ha.... well, at least I am at the point where I can discuss things with them now... albeit we dont see eye to eye on it.

Words to Live By

2005-05-05T04:49:00.000-07:00

So, this is my post and I can do whatever I want... smile! First, I want to thank Stephanie for including me in her new blog!!! It was so touching to read all those memories.

Then, I want to introduce you to my new favorite song (with words to live by)....

A volunteer introduced me to the artist Angie Apparo and I fell in love with a song of his... so if you are so inclined, please read below!

Hey, wouldn't you want to know
everywhere that river flows to right now
I can show you how...

Someday you might wanna go, someday
You got nothing to show for all your pain, for all your chance

I aint saying its the only way
But wouldn't you like to know....

How it feels to live like a free man
To give when there's nothing in your hand
To run like only the river can
Like a free man

You've only so many roads to choose
Sooner or later the ones you use
They all look the same
Yeah someday you might feel the need, someday
When you're tired of bleeding by someone else
You're gonna want it for yourself

I aint saying its the only way
But wouldn't you like to know...

How it feels to live like a free man
To give when theres nothing in your hand
To run like only the river can
Like a free man

I aint saying, I aint saying its the only way
But wouldn't you like to know...

How it feels to live like a free man
To give when theres nothing in your hand
To run like only the river can
Like a free man

Exciting News

2005-05-04T05:22:00.000-07:00

So, lets see.... new news! Just found out yesterday that my cousin Jenna had her first baby. Welcome to the world Colin William Philkill!!! Also, my close friend from high school had his baby two weeks ago (welcome Noah Emil Bliss). All these babies and I don't get to see any of them:-(
But no worries... big news going on here.

My site mate (josh) who is kind of like my brother over here... just got engaged. He has been seeing one of our language instructors for over a year (he got here last february with the first group) and it is a perfect match! All are happy for them. The official engagement party will be in November (cause thats when his parents are coming again, though they have already met her) and the wedding will be next summer! Congratulations all around for all new babies and new engagements!

Interesting Special Education Views in Jordan

2005-04-28T04:29:00.000-07:00

Well, the past few weeks I have done several trips with my center which have been real eye openers. The first trip I took was to take 4 students to Ma'an (which is our central governate) to have their hearing tested. The doctor noticed us using sign language with our 5 year old (who has some hearing and speech... but not much) and became very upset saying that if we wanted him to speak well, he had to THINK like a hearing person which meant no signing. He went in to do the test and I promptly explained to the other teacher that he was wrong and why! I should say, he did get his doctorate at George Washington University in the 1970's so prominant oralism view back then... but still... what a throwback. I guess I have just been spoiled working at CSDF for so long.
Then yesterday we took a trip up to north of Irbid. Now, to give you a sense... i am at the site the furthest south in the country and we went to the center of the volunteer the furthest north in the country (5 km from Syria). We left at 3:30 in the morning, the bus broke down for two hours (welcome to jordan) so we got to Hartha (the village north of Irbid) at 11:00am. They drove us to this one beautiful place where you looked down this gorge (which you stood at the top of) and there is a river... the other side of the river was syria! Talk about trippy.... of course, can't walk there or you are likely to get shot by boarder crossing! Then came back, spent a bit in amman, and got home last night at midnight... talk about being tired today! Thank goodness there is a three day weekend.
Then, next weekend I am going to Zarqa to see some friends and it just happens to fall over my birthday so that will be fun!
Now, being as exhausted as I am, gonna catch the bus back up the hill to take a nap...smile

Officially finished a half marathon!

2005-04-16T07:53:00.000-07:00

So, I have been telling my village that I was going to do the half marathon this year and the full marathon next year... yeah, that is SOOOOO not going to happen! The half marathon is quite enough thank you very much!!! However, I did finish it! We got up at 5:15 in the morning and registered at 6:00am. Then we took busses to the half way mark and started at 8:00am. Many of the volunteers chose to run.... yeah, no one was chasing me with a knife.... so i ran about 30 seconds across the starting line (hey, gotta have some gusto) and then walked it. I was hoping to finish in 3 hours and didn't quite make it (finished in about 3 and a half hours) but I did meet the one goal I set... I did not stop walking once.... not to stretch, not to drink water, not to use the bathroom... nothing! I kept up my pace and walked the whole way. The only time I got somewhat depressed was at just past the 15km point (with 6 more to go) I was getting really sore and tired. Then, some PC volunteers who were visiting from Togo and who had decided to do the WHOLE marathon (not the half) passed me up! Sheesh, talk about feeling pathetic! But I remembered it wasn't a race and I just wanted to finish so that is what I did! It was great! Kept my race number to go in my scrapbook and my medallion (everyone got one). One of the volunteers had her mother here visiting and she was staying just up the road at the 5 star Dead Sea Marriott Hotel Resort and Spa! She let all the volunteers come in and take showers (you can't get onto hotel property if you are not a registered guest) and use their 5 swimming pools! Let me tell you, after walking 13 miles, it was the best thing in the world (Thank you Mrs. Abrams). Then went back and had a mellow night with some friends watching movies (watched "The Forgotten"... pretty good). Got up this morning and headed back down south. It is kind of strange to be back because I took two days off last week to travel to the PC office and observe another volunteer and have meetings. The other volunteer is at a really modern site just outside of Amman that serves a lot of very wealthy families. I have always thought about how nice it must be to be at a center where you have supplies. Then I visited her and as cute as her kids was, it was like teaching in the states. After visiting with her I went in to meet with our PC Program Manager to see about writing grants to get my center some computers and playground equipment. It is really fulfilling to be at a center where in my two years I will be able to implement real change because the center has so little to begin with.
Well, now you can all say you know someone who has run a marathon (well, lets be precise... WALKED a HALF marathon) but hey, its a huge personal accomplishment. The two volunteers from the bay area and I are already planning on doing bay to breakers when we get back.... anyone want to join!

Thoughts on Life and the Future

2005-04-09T01:24:00.000-07:00

So, I've been over here almost 10 months now... and while I still have plenty of time to go (another 17 months to be exact) I have started thinking about what I want to do when I get back. Heck, the first birthday I will celebrate on my arrival home will be my 30th (YIKES)! So, what does the future hold for me...

My number one priority when I get back is to buy a house and settle down. One of the places I have spent a lot of time and have absolutely loved is Northern California... Redding in particular. Close enough to the mountains that I could get a season pass and ski Mt. Shasta every weekend and big enough to have ammenities I like (restaurants, Micheals Craft Store, and an Airport... smile). Lets just say nothing is set in stone... but if I could relocate anywhere when I get home, I think I would like that area (hey aunt beth and uncle gil... expect me for dinner.... smile).

However, something I have realized is that while my deaf education credential is wonderful, it does limit where job openings are available. So, I have been seriously considering going back to school to get more credentials. The ones I have in my mind at the moment are my moderate/severe teaching credential (since that is really where my heart lies) or also my administrative credential (Yes Ann and Alice... I am actually considering it).

Up until then life is going well out here. Just got email pics from Stephanie from our high school 10 year reunion (which I was sad to miss) and am basically just taking life day to day.

Miss you all and hope to hear from you soon,

Its Wedding Season

2005-04-02T00:31:00.000-08:00

Well, i live in a village of 2500 people... and this past weekend alone there were three engagement parties and two weddings! They are a HUGE deal here.
During an engagement the whole grooms family drives to the village of the brides family where a huge party is thrown, rings are exchanged, and the marraige liscence is signed.
Then, the wedding is three days long. The first day is just family... the second day, the bride dresses in a long fancy dress (picture a dress for a quinzanera...15th birthday in mexico) and the groom comes and gives her the "dowry" of jewelry (LOTS of gold).
Then, the third day the bride dresses in a traditional wedding dress, the husband comes and pics her up (after a large lunch) drives her to his house, and then they drive to their new house.
A co-worker of mine got married this weekend so i got to go to the festivities. It was kind of insane. One thing is that prior to the wedding, the woman has never even held hands with a male... so the idea of loosing ones virginity in the same night as she touches him for the first time is terrifying. Brides typically do not look happy.... they are so anxious.
Then, the other thing is that they put on so much makeup and have their hair so sprayed they look like clowns (of course you just tell the bride she looks beautiful). One thing i realized is this is the ONLY day a woman will ever show her hair or wear makeup outside of the home. Therefore, it is kind of like when pre-teens put on makeup for the first time... they end up overdoing it and putting on as much as they can... same deal.
Other than that, life is going well. I am looking at taking two potential trips... one to Kenya (if i can get the money) to stay with a deaf education peace corps volunteer there and see what it is like, and a trip to Israel to visit lilach (that is a definite, just not sure of the time).
So, that is life for now from this side of the world... take care

Ry

The Soog, BBQ, and Erins visit (with pics)

2005-03-22T07:38:00.000-08:00

So, alot has happened since the last time i posted on the web log.
Last week I went to Amman to pick up Erin, but before she arrived I went to the Soog with some friends, which is like a large flea market only on Fridays. I was able to get so many cute clothes. Since most of them were "haram" (I can only wear them in Amman and on vacation elsewhere) many jordanians don't buy them but I was able to get several tops (gap, Old Navy, and New York and Co) for a half a dinar to a dinar each (70 cents to $1.40)... it was great!
Then I picked up Erin and it was great! My village was surprised and have been kind of pains (well, only my landlord... who is certifiably crazy at this point). We did go for a really cool BBQ down towards the Wadi Arba region. When he became crazy was when he said this summer he was going to go with my mom and sister and I to Egypt!!! Not sure who invited him but since we will already have tickets, he is out of luck!
Then today we went to Aquaba and did a lot of shopping.

Pictures of everything have been uploaded.

There are new pictures in the following folders:

Scott's 80's Party
Erin Arrives in Jordan
Erin at the Center
BBQ in Wadi Arba
Pictures from my Center
Erin Takes a Shower
Erin in Aquaba
Nature Pictures of Jordan

Take care and enjoy

Ryan

I have managed to surprise myself!

2005-03-09T05:15:00.000-08:00

Well, I just spent 4 days in Amman for our 6 month training. It was nice to see everyone and get some new ideas (especially from the other experienced special education teachers) but I was also equally happy to get back to my village. In some ways I feel like I am missing out that I have not developed stronger friendships with other volunteers. Don't get me wrong, like them all, but don't have that NEED to see or talk to them all the time. But at the same time, it makes life easier being in the south where I am more isolated.
I also got some good planning ideas for the upcoming time at my center as this is the last real time that we have with staff support to plan things. We can go to staff whenever we want but with the new group arriving this july, this is our last major get together all of us.
So, I came back and have been walking 7-10 kilometers everday (about an hour and a half). And yesterday I signed up for a marathon (yeah, little miss athletic... go figure... smile). To be really honest, I am doing a half marathon (which is actually only 9 miles... new jordanian math I suppose) and I will be walking it... but next year want to do the full marathon.
It is the dead sea marathon and the race is from the Amman area to the dead sea.
If you guys want to check it out it is www.deadseamarathon.com

Hope all is well

Ry

BEST NEWS EVER!!!

2005-03-01T22:52:00.000-08:00

So, my sister lost her job (I know, you are thinking... whats with the sadistic title ryan?) BUT.... since she has some free time... SHE IS COMING TO VISIT!!! IN JUST TWO WEEKS!!! I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited! She is going to fly in on the 17th and stay for a week. We are going to see Petra and Aquaba. Because I have to work, taking vacation is not really a viable option (besides, she and my mom are both coming this summer) so we are just going to hang in the south... guess that is the benefit of living so close to both aquaba and petra!

Anyway, I am in amman for 5 days for our 6 month mid service training. Can you believe next month (March 19th to be exact) I will have been at my site working for 6 months now? Time is flying.
Anyway, I caught a 4:45am bus up from Wadi Mousa and didn't get much sleep last night (cause I was excited about my sister coming) so I have some work to do then off to the hotel.

Take care,
Ry

Parcel Post and Womens issues

2005-02-26T01:01:00.000-08:00

So, wanted to give you all a heads up informative bit of information. This week I got two great packages from Stephanie (you are amazing, steph, thanks so much!). They were christmas packages which were mailed on October 29th and JUST GOT HERE! I know that some friends from CSD have told me they sent a package... just wanted to let you all know. Air mail takes about 2 weeks, parcel post apparently takes 4 months! But the resses peanut butter cups and the audio letter were wonderful! In fact, hearing stephanie and shelbie's voices made me cry (as shelbie said many times... UH OH... smile)
Also, I got a letter from my mom about womens issues and womens oppression in the middle east and Jordan in particular. This was stemmed because she had finished reading the books "Not without my daughter" which takes place in Iran and "honor lost" which takes place in modern day jordan (2001 I think). First, I want to highly reccomend "Honor Lost" by Norma Khouri. There is some debate as to whether it is a TRUE story or whether she made it up... but i can tell you from having read it and having lived here, that even if it is made up... it is very real. It is about a young woman in Amman who is killed in an honor killing by her family when it is found that she has been dating a man behind her families back. People may think that honor killings dont happen, but one volunteer had one happen in her village the first week we got here. It is a dirty little secret here that no one wants to discuss, but it does still happen.
As for womens rights, Jordan is more progressive than say Saudi Arabia or Iran where women are REQUIRED to cover and not covering is punishable criminally. However, the opression of women here is much more subtle and engrained. For example, men are always served first in meals and women are expected to serve them and eat later. Men do no housework here and if men are gathered, women are expected to be quiet or out of site only presenting themselves to bring them coffee and tea.
A very real example hit home last week. My landlords daughter has been having marital trouble and so she and her daughter moved back home last week. After a week, there was a big meeting at my landlords house... marital counseling so to speak. However, the husband was there with all his male relatives (brothers, fathers, uncles) and my landlord was there with all his sons... but his daughter (the wife in the whole matter) was not present in the meeting. Apparently all expectations were discussed, what was going to happen next was decided, and she moved back in with her husband, having never taken part in the meeting with all.
Many co-workers of mine have wanted me to marry a village man (and let me preface by saying... OVER MY DEAD BODY). At first, i could escape by saying i needed to marry a christian. but that didn't last because religion is passed through the father... so muslim men can marry christian women but not the other way around. So now i just say I don't want to marry any man that wont help cook, clean, etc. The women at first were confused by this, but since that time have come to joke with me. When they talk about how they have to go home and clean and cook and serve their husbands... i ask "why would I want one of those?" But it is true... it is just that it is so societally engrained in the women that they MUST get married that they don't question their situation, even if they are unhappy.
So, that is the sad fact over here... luckily, the serving thing doesn't apply to me as a foreigner and a guest in most homes.
Well, must get some work done but I hope all is well over there.

Important Mail

2005-02-17T04:55:00.000-08:00

So, the other day I was SOOOO happy when I got to the post office. My wonderful friend at CSDF sent me several weekly issues of our school newspaper (Thanks Barb, you are the best!!!) It was so nice to read what all was going on and to see my kids again. The funny part was that it was sent in NOVEMBER and just got here! Turns out, someone at the post office thought Jordan was Japan and sent it there first (have come to hear this happens more often than you would think). But it was such a delight. In addition, my mom has been spoiling me. She has been sending me issues of People Magazine (my own personal brainless fun read) and I just got the "Year of 2004 in Pictures" special edition! My mother would gasp if she saw me buy it in the states but here, well, i guess she realizes I need some indulgences! It will be great to leave with my staff when I head back to the states (for all the pictures in it).
I have another week and a half until our 6 month training for a week in Amman. It will be nice to hang out with friends and feel "civilized" in a hotel for a bit. I still feel so blessed for the site I am at (even if I don't like my landlord or his kids much). Today my co worker was asking me for all my ideas (I am developing a lot of worksheets/workbooks in arabic if you can believe that) and she was upset cause she feels that in two years she wont be able to teach without my ideas. How sweet is that.... i told her in two years I will impart all my knowledge and she'll be doing it on her own... after all, that is the point of the peace corps... self empowerment for communities.
I actually have to get running to type up some more stuff but before I go, here is a funny story which would only happen in jordan for you all---

I typed my last blog after getting back from Amman last week. I was waiting for my village mate (josh) who caught a later bus so we could cab to our village together to save money.
I get a text on my phone from him telling me that he is going to be about 30 minutes late because his bus ran over a DONKEY!!! Not only that, but it got stuck under the axel of their bus and the driver and passengers were out in the snow trying to get it out. Unfortunately, i am pretty sure the donkey died (the sad part of the story) but only here would you get a message from someone saying they were delayed because of a donkey in their bus axel...smile

Weather, Cats, and 80's Party

2005-02-12T07:55:00.000-08:00

So, I just got back from Amman (again). This weekend I went up because one of the volunteers had his 30th birthday and threw an 80's party at a hotel. It was great fun! Lots of fun music, dancing, and I went with my hair ratted and teased 80's style (those of you who saw my New Kids on the Block halloween costume last year will know) and it was great fun! (pictures will come when I can get them burned)
Then, this morning I got up and took vasi to the Humane Society to get Neutered. The poor baby... had THREE doses of anithesia and still wouldn't go out. Finally the vet said he couldn't give him anymore cause he had given him the dose for a dog so he would do it with vasi half out. Luckily, just then vasi finally went out! I thought for sure the cat would be drugged from now till the end of eternity... nope, up and at it already (surgery was 5 hours ago).

So, also, a little information about work.... I have been on vacation for three weeks cause of the eid holiday (see great pictures of me with a goat on the picture folder entitled Eid).
Then we start back this week...

Sunday (remember, that is monday here)=kids came to school
Monday=kids came to school
Tuesday= kids came to school but our water froze and the heater system we have at school requires water so there was no heat. Therefore, students went home at 10:00am
Wednesday=No school cause it snowed a LOT and also cause the water was frozen again
Thursday=Islamic New Year... national holiday!

Sheesh, feel like i haven't done any work at all. Then, big storm came in (stuck in wadi mousa right now cause the road to my village is closed) so maybe will have a snow day tomorrow!

Luckily, this has allowed me to develop a lot of new ideas... I am seriously looking at a special olympics team this summer and my teachers seem enthusiastic about it. Also, will possibly do a writing camp/workshop for English students in my village... who knows.

Well, that is all from here.... keep posted and happy valentines day to all!

Work Information (as requested...smile)

2005-01-31T02:26:00.000-08:00

Hi All,
I got an email from a friend who wanted some more information about work, kids, etc. Sometimes (more often than not) I never know what to write so I just write daily events, etc.... it is good to hear what people are interested in.
I was actually placed at my center because a large number (about half) of the center is the deaf class. I don't have enough Jordanian sign language (heck, Jordan doesn't have a standardized system yet) to teach in that class so I work with the lower functioning DD kids (which I love anyway) but I am hoping to visit the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt (quite a ways from me) at some point (they have 500 kids there... kind of like CSD but for the whole country).
You might ask why we have so many deaf kids... INTERMARRAIGE!!! The village next to us has whole families that are deaf and it doesn't help when cousins are marrying each other. One teacher at my school couldn't understand how I had taught deaf kids in the states. As she said "but in the states, you don't marry cousins". So, they know the problem... and yet... sigh! Actually, look at the percentages... between the two villages that our center serves, there are 3500 people total. There are 35 kids that have disabilities SEVERE enough to go to our school. My landlord has 11 kids, one daughter at our school and one son, who, although he attends the local school, I am pretty sure has a mild case of down syndrome (physical features, speech, walk, etc VERY obvious). But, the nice thing is that if a child is not labeled here and can function in the community (school, home,etc.... they just do so)
As to what the parents expect.... it is kind of sad. In jordan, the unemployment rate is 25-30%. There are many "normal" adults who don't work. So parents don't really have that expectation. It is interestesting in Jordan though that children live at home until they are married, and even when they get married, often live in adjacent or neighboring houses to other family members. In this sense, a child with a disability in Jordan is not looked upon as a "burdon" just another family member to care for. The biggest challenge I face is parents NOT babying their child and letting them be independant. However, children with disabilities are still viewed as a source of "shame" and are often hidden away. This is another thing I am trying to work on.
This week I have an appointment with the Special Olympics in Jordan and I am hoping to start a team this summer in my village... that would be a big deal down there.
Anyway, that is about it from here... life is good... can't believe I have been here 7 months already! Time is flying.

Eid and Vacation

2005-01-22T01:33:00.000-08:00

Well, the day before yesterday we celebrated the Eid Adha (which follows the Haaj to Mecca).
The day was incredible in the village. The night before Eid it snowed in the village so we thought there would be bad weather. However, woke up the morning of Eid and it was GORGEOUS!!! The best day we had had in weeks. So in the morning, everyone sacrifices a goat and has a BBQ over an open fire. You looked out over the village and all you saw were fires burning. So, had a BBQ for breakfast. Different, but this is Jordan, right?
Then you go and visit all the people in the village. I went and visited all of my co workers and you sit, have chai (tea) and wish people "Kul am tu bul khair" which means may all the days be good for you.
I walked my whole village and visited people from 11-6pm. Then I came home and in the evening some peace corps volunteers arrived.
Yesterday we went to Petra, hiked, walked around... it was great fun! Then we went to dinner and had pizza and ice cream (which I only do with visitors cause it is expensive but which is SOOOO yummy).
Then we went back to my place and it snowed last night and this morning. My landlord was quite upset that we were not spending the day in the village but we will go and have breakfast with him tomorrow morning at 8:00am before everyone leaves.
All in all, a great Eid day and a great vacation!

New Years, Snow, and Bad Phone Connections

2005-01-08T03:43:00.000-08:00

Well Happy New Year to all... I got to ring in new years ahead of most of you (ha ha ha) but I was so fortunate to get to talk to some of you new years eve. Time away was fun but short. When I got back to my site it SNOWED!!! It was really cold but beautiful!
Now it is sunny with a little snow on the ground still.
And I want to apologize to Rick and John for getting cut off. So rarely do I talk on the phone with people from the states and the cell phone service here is not great!
So, Miss you both (well, miss everyone but you two it was nice to talk to) and HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUNTER!!!

Christmas Festivities

2004-12-26T02:09:00.000-08:00

Well, this weekend has been really nice. It started with me getting strep throat (not so nice) but at least I timed it to coincide with a time I was already going north, thus saving a long bus ride.
So, after a day on antibiotics, and feeling better, I got to see several friends I had not seen since I had sworn in back in September. It was so good to see everyone. It also started to feel like christmas.
I went to the mall (where it is always christmas, even in Jordan) and saw the movie "Ocean's 12" (good movie). Then my friend Lauren and I went to christmas eve service. Talk about a small world, she went to a small christian college in the midwest and one of her classmates teaches at a baptist school here in Amman. The church is mostly for missionaries and other diplomats that are living in Amman so the service was all in English. After the service, we were given a ride home and stopped off to do christmas caroling at one families house! It was great fun!
Then when we got up one of the volunteers had laid out "stocking" (socks) with little goodies in them. It was great! Mine even had a tangerine... same as back home!
So we all got dressed and headed over to the Peace Corps directors house where we had a turkey lunch/dinner and had a gift exchange. The best part was just seeing everyone again.
I am trying to upload pictures now from both thanksgiving as well as christmas so, hopefully, you can check those out.
Then, this next weekend I will be going to Zarqa to spend New Years with several volunteers. It is funny, I don't leave my village for 2 months, and then two weekends in a row. Hopefully after this things will stabalize out a bit... but all is good.

I hope everyone in the states had a happy holiday. I was able to talk to Rick, my mom and sister on christmas and I was able to text Scott. But I hope it was equally as blessed for the rest of you.

Stressful week

2004-12-17T23:10:00.001-08:00

Well, this week has been my most stressful to date. Three days ago I got a text on my phone from friends in the states. Turns out my good friend Scott was in Emergency Spinal Cord Surgery at that moment (being the middle of the night there, and daytime here).
Well, I was stressed and just wanted to be left alone. And my staff just wanted me to eat (that is all they ever want you to do here) so I finally lost it and got up crying.
They were all concerned and asked why I didn't say anything. Well, my arabic is better but not good enough, under stress, to explain emergency surgery.
Luckily, I was able to talk to scott the next day on the phone. Turns out he had a bacterial abscess that lodged on his spinal cord causing numbness and the inability to walk. He will make a full recovery but it will take some time.
Then, that night, while I was waiting to call scott (Calls after 11pm are much cheaper) I got a call from my friend Rick in southern ca. We chatted for a while and turns out his brother is in the hospital with kidney failure (his brother is young too). So, this week has been a bit of medical problems over in the states.
For all of you over there, please keep them in your prayers.
I am off for now to head back up the mountain and wait for my new heater!!!

Weather Reports

2004-12-17T23:10:00.000-08:00

SO,
Update on the weather. Two days ago, it snowed. Now, not enough snow to ski mind you (and we all know that is the only good ammount) but enough snow for me to have a day off of work (YEAH) and for it to be VERY VERY VERY cold!
How cold, well, the morning after it snowed, I had no water until 2:00pm because the water in the tank all froze! So, that would not have been so bad, except that my heater broke and, this being the peace corps, there is no insulation on the houses. So, a broken heater is considered an "emergency" in this weather so they are driving me down a new one today (thank god).
And other than that, just huddled in my sleeping bag enjoying some good books. But that is the weather report for now

Reading Material to Date

2004-12-11T02:05:00.000-08:00

So, I thought you would all find it funny to know how much I have read! Not having a TV has definitely been a big improvement in my life. My village doesn't understand it much cause ALL they do is watch TV, but I have enjoyed my reading (plus, all TV is in Arabic anyway).
So, here is a list of what I have read so far... smile

The Watchers- Dean Koontz
Tick Tock - Dean Koontz
The Face - Dean Koontz
Hideaway - Dean Koontz
Shadowfires - Dean Koontz
A Case of Need- Michael Crichton
Riding the bus with my sister
Series of Unfortunate events- Lemony Snicket
Serious of Unfortunate Events #2- Lemony Snicket
The Five People you Meet In Heaven- Mitch Albom
Digital Fortress- Dan Brown
Angels and Demons- Dan Brown
Kiss the Girls- James Patterson
Along Came a Spider- James Patterson
Rising Son- Michael Crichton
Poisonwood Bible- Barbara Kingslover
M is for Malice- Sue Grafton
Lightning- Dean Koontz
Outbreak- Robin Cook
Veronika Decides to Die- Paul Coelho
Atlas Shrugged- Ayn Rand
The Cider House Rules- John Irving
Good Wives- Louisa May Alcott
My Life (abridged)- Bill Clinton (audiobook)
Airframe (unabridged) - Michael Crichton (audiobook)
Its not about the bike- Lance Armstrong
Deception Point- Dan Brown (audiobook)
Insomnia- Stephen King
Round Ireland with a Fridge- Tony Hawks
Dancing on my Grave- Gelsey Kirkland
Not without My Daughter- Betty Mahmoody
Rule of Four- Ian Caldwell (audiobook)
House of Sand and Fog- Andre Dubois III
Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nightime- Mark Haddon (audiobook)
Understanding Arabs- Margaret K. Nydell
Angels Flight- Michael Connoly
Pop Goes the Weasel- James Patterson
Time Travelers Wife- Audry Nefenneger (audiobook)

Middle East Information

2004-12-08T01:58:00.000-08:00

Well,
This morning was pretty eventful. I had to take the bus to Ma'an to pick up a package of christmas gifts from mom. Ma'an is a fairly conservative town and they do not post volunteers because of it. So I was a bit nervous, dressed as conservatively as possible, and trekked out.
I arrived at the post office where everyone not only welcomed me, but knew the volunteer in Shobak by name, the other volunteer Josh in Rajef, and the volunteer who had lived in my village 3 years ago and asked how all of them were.
Then we went to customs where, although I didn't have to pay duties, they wanted me to unwrap all my christmas gifts. I told them they were for christmas and they settled with just having me describe everything on the customs list (so much for a surprise... smile... but I still wont open them till christmas).
Then I sat down and, while waiting for the return taxi, had chai (tea) will all the men who work in customs. Very nice individuals.
So, now this brings me to the point of this message. I have heard from several friends that, flamed by all the news reports in the states, have a very negative image of Muslims. So, I am going to attempt to clarify a bit.
First, not all people that live in the middle east are Muslim. True, a majority are, but not all. The nationality is Arab, the religion is Muslim. So just as there are American Christians, American Jews, American Buddhists, etc.
Muslims, by definition of faith, are a very passive people. There are two types of Muslims, Shiite's and Sunni's and, while not totally clear on the differences, it has to do with following leaders who are direct descendants of Mohammed or leaders who are not.
Now, the violence stems (in my opinion only) from several reasons. First, just like there are extremists in the United States (KKK members who kill are Christian after all... but they do not represent a majority) there are extremists in every group. Many in the middle east do not support their actions.
Secondly you have to remember that, compared to the united states, the middle east is a relatively poor country. Yes, they have oil but considering there is not democracy like we know it, the money is controlled by the very few sometimes legally, sometimes not. So there is an extreme frustration in things like lack of jobs, funds, education, etc. Desparate times sometimes produce desparate actions.
To give you an example of finances. I get the equivilent of $200 per month. That is actually more than many people in my village have. And I am just supporting myself while often $150-$200 month goes to support a family of 5! I think any of us would feel a bit frusterated of that after years and years.
I hope that this comes across as a bit of education. While I am here in Jordan, I do a lot of explaining. Recently the discussion has been why soldiers are killing people in Iraq. I have mentioned that just as the army here is controlled by the King, if the king told the Jordanian soldiers to do somthing, they could not say no even if they disagreed. I explained this to the people in my village who had, until then, been blaming the soldiers for many deaths. I explained that the soldiers were, in essence, children and that they often joined the army for many different reasons. My village is taking time processing this but I hope to have succeeded in changing them from being against the "soldiers" that they see on television, to being against the policies of the war (if they disagree).
Likewise, I hope that this will help educate people back home about the differences between militants, Muslim's, and Arabs.... feel free to email me any questions.

A Posting Just for Stephanie! (but all can read obviously)

2004-12-04T01:05:00.000-08:00

Hey there,
I just went to the post office and Steph sent me a pic of Shelbie sitting on the chair I got her for her birthday! Steph, getting pictures from you means so much! I put all pictures up on my wall in my bedroom here and have the ones of Shelbie you sent before and I will add this one just as soon as I get back up the mountain.
She is really getting big! So cute!
Anyway, in your letter you asked about my class... so, here goes.
During winter class is sporadic at best. Two weeks ago there were two days all the students were at home cause it was too cold, and one day where we held classes outside (with no internal heat it is actually warmer out in the sun). Then last week we had staff training so the students didn't come. However, my class is going well and I enjoy being at school with my kids probably more than I enjoy being anywhere else.
My 4 kids are working on colors, numbers, counting, days of the week, stuff like that. I developed a picture chart for them to follow (since routine is not something they are used to... obviously (read above)) and when they finish two tasks for the day, they get 10 minutes of free time.
I also got an advent calendar from my mom and sister that they are having fun opening everyday (I let them take turns). They don't celebrate christmas (obviously) and they don't know english numbers... so it is more like a "where's waldo" activity but they do enjoy eating the chocolate. So, let me do a small run down on each student below to give you more of an idea.

Yosef: He is my lowest functioning... still in diapers, non verbal, etc. But he LOVES LOVES LOVES attention. In fact, his favorite game is to hit people when they walk by to get them mad so they'll pay attention. Sounds like this kid has got something on the ball, doesn't it. Well, he loves me mostly (I think) cause I give him positive attention. There is not a lot to do in the class for him (since most everything is paperwork or talking) but I am working on positive behavior with him.

Mohammed: He is a little tiny spitfire with a mouth that never stops. And I mean he is ALWAYS talking and moving. You would think with his language he would be higher but he still is working on things. It is funny, he is actually "higher" than one of the boys in the "high group" but since he can't write and his behavior gets in the way, he is in my group. Sometimes frusterating but a cute kid.

Aisha: She is the little one with downs syndrome in the picture. She is so cute cause she has a lot of trouble talking cause of her tongue protrusion... so when we count, in arabic the numbers 1-5 are "wahad, ethnain, thelathe, arba, khamsa" so she will just skip 3 (thelathe) cause she can't say it... it is so funny. So when you prompt her and say "thelathe" she just moves on and says 4 (arba). Really cute! She and Zeinab get into it alot as they are the only two young girls and Aisha tends to follow Zeinab's lead... sigh. We're working on that.

Zeinab: She is a spitfire like mohammed. She is ALWAYS moving... can't sit still for an instant. She has a lot of language, and a lot of good cultural behavior (greetings, appropriate responses to adults, etc) but her academics are very low. Cannot remember colors, still working on counting. For her, I really think it is a matter of attention. For example, can count fine until something distracts her, she forgets where she is, and has to start over. She is still testing me alot but I like her.

So, that is my basic class... under my photo section I put up pics of all the kids are the center but hopefully you can pick out my kids. My fav pic is of Aisha (the little downs girl with her hands on her face squatting down and smiling)

Well, I hope everyone is doing well. Thanks again steph for the picture. Give shelbie a big hug and kiss for me and tell Scott and your family I said hi. Hey, has Erika had the baby yet? Boy or girl? Name? Keep me posted.

Ry

Ups, Downs, and the Post Office

2004-11-29T05:32:00.000-08:00

Well, the past two or three days have been interesting. We are having staff development which is done ENTIRELY in arabic. Just when you think you are getting a language down, you sit through a 4 hour lecture by a man with a doctorate entirely in Arabic.... you will be happy to know I understood about every 10th word! Oh well, at least I got something.
I also had a small breakdown the other day. We are allowed one weekend away from site a month. This is generally fine except during holidays. The peace corps is really not very understanding about this and if we want to be with other volunteers during holidays, that has to be our time away from site. Unfortunately, that means balancing arabic holidays with american ones. The crisis the other day came when I found out that if we go up to be with other volunteers during New Years Eve, we forfeit our right to the 5 day jordanian vacation later in the month.
For volunteers who live within easy access of the capital or who have many other volunteers around them, this is no big deal... but for me, it is quite stifling. Sometimes I feel some of the staff at the PC office is so rigid and unwilling to have some flexibility, however one of the staff members (sawson) really listened the other day so I felt better. Even if nothing can change, sometimes you just need to feel someone cares and is listening.
Then today I went to the Post Office to Mail a christmas package for mom and Erin. So, here is how the Jordanian system works. The guy there was new and said he couldn't do anything and to come back tomorrow morning. I told him I had work tomorrow morning and, also, I didn't want to haul this box back and forth on the bus. So he acts as if there is nothing he can do but then proceeds to make several phone calls. One is to the "owner" of the post office who, promptly gets on the phone with me (she knows me by name now) and answers several questions, and tells this guy what to do.
So, he weighs it but it is too heavy for their scale (2 pounds) so we close the post office up, walk across the street to the store where they weigh fruits and vegetables, weigh it on their scale, then come back and mail it. The people here really do go out of their way for you.
Anyway, it is quite a relief to have all that mailed and done so I hope all of you are doing well and I will post more soon.

Ryan

I see Aunt Beth's Perspective on Winter

2004-11-25T05:20:00.000-08:00

Well, the title should say it all. It has been absolutely cold here. And, for those of you who are from the bay area and thought like I did before the last week, let me break it down for you. There is no insolation in our houses or central heating... just a small "soba" which is a gas heater (that, by the way, if you sit too close to you burn holes in your clothes... you can just imagine how I figured that out... smile). We are also so high on the mountain that when the clouds roll in, we are IN them... so you can't see two feet in front of you (not even close to kidding).
So, one day last week the kids showed up for school which consisted of all of us sitting in front of the heater doing nothing in one room. Then, the second day it was so cold the staff had to go to work (god forbid we have a holiday) but the kids stayed home. So we sat infront of the heater at work for 3 hours then went home.
Today I am wearing three pairs of pants (yes, you read that right) and 4 shirts (and I am quite comfortable minus looking like the stake puff marshmallow man).
Other than that, life has been good. Josh (the volunteer in my village) had his family come from the states (right as the weather hit) so it was nice to meet them and today is thanksgiving so I am getting together with volunteers for dinner.... should be fun!
Well, I thought you would all appreciate the weather. I have posted more pictures today and I will post ones of how the weather looked from my house the other day.

Happy thanksgiving to all and stay warm in memory of me... smile

Ry

Back to Normal

2004-11-20T01:29:00.000-08:00

Well, got back to my site and my landlord is at it again with the visiting 24/7. I was really frusterated yesterday cause his 14 year old daughter was rolling her eyes at me when I didn't understand something. She has been studying English for years and wants to give me attitude (and her english sucks... I know, I helped her with homework).
So I just got tired of being in a place where I get eyes rolled at me by teenagers and where everything I have done/do is Haram (bad). All they want to talk about is my cat, the fact that I have drunk alcohol in the states (I'm not going to lie about it), the fact that I have eaten pork (this is their newest kick) etc. So, I have decided that when I get the inevitable question (why have you not visited?) I am just going to turn the tables and tell them they can visit me anytime (I have lived there for two months and they only send one daughter up to bring me food).
Also, the next time I get shit about my lack of arabic, I am going to start speaking in English... see how they like not understanding (and really, they have been studying a lot longer than I have).
But one funny story, during the discussion of how bad I was that I have drunk alcohol, they told me the chuch was bad for serving (get this).... bread and WHISKEY for communion!!! I almost fell over laughing. Guess that is a new idea for the Presbytery to consider.
Well, I have to type up some reports (I was given the equivelint of IEP's all in Arabic) so they are useful but I hope everyone has a happy turkey day.

Ry

Vacation Time and Excercise

2004-11-16T01:06:00.000-08:00

Well, I forgot to tell all of one accomplishment last week. Now, you must understand, women in Jordan do not excercize. Why walk a half block when you can drive?
Well, last friday before going to Petra, I wanted to get into Wadi Mousa (well, needed to to go to Petra). Since there is no bus from my village on Fridays, I decided to walk the 10-12 Kilometers or so to the next village down the mountain. It was the most beautiful walk I have ever taken since no one is on the windy Kings Highway and you could see forever!
Needless to say, having had my muscles atrophy the past four months, I was sore the next day. But it was great.

Then, after Eid (and I realized Eid is like christmas for the kids, all get new clothes, gifts, sweets, etc) I took the bus with some friends up to Amman, went shopping and out to lunch, and then came on to Madaba to see my host family from this summer.

First I should say that what I bought in Amman was three bags of kitty litter (you cant really get it in the south, except for Aquaba) so I traveled the day with 30 pounds of kitty litter on my back... interesting experience!

Also, before I left, I met my friends in Ain Mousa (which is just up the road from Wadi Mousa) Right next to their hotel is the place where it is claimed Moses struck his staff and drew water (Mousa is the Arabic for Moses and Ain is the Arabic word for Springs... hence, moses' spring. Just a big rock with Water flowing but still kind of cool.

Being in Madaba is like being at home. I arrived at my host family and my host mom and dad were out... so I hung with the kids and they hid me in the room when their parents got home and told them I wasn't coming... it was a funny surprise. Then, I got on the bus this morning into Madaba and the bus driver remembered me (I guess I do stick out here). Then I got to my old internet cafe (where I am now) and the owner knew me.... such fun. Kind of like Cheers "wanna be where everyone knows your name" ha ha ha.

Well, I go back to work next Sunday and travel back to my village tomorrow but it has been a wonderful break!

Please continue to pray for a smooth transition with the death of Arafat, and Bush's re-election.

IID and Arafat

2004-11-12T01:41:00.000-08:00

Well, yesterday morning I got up to go to work and as I am waiting i hear a scream and all the school kids pile out of they yard yelling "otla, otla, otla" (holiday, holiday) because Arafat had died. So I had a peaceful day at home. My counterparts family left for aquaba so it was quiet but i enjoyed it. Either tonight or tomorrow is the end of Ramadan. Then we have 4 days off for IID. I was going to go to Madaba but since there is no bus the first day of IID, and Since Iid looks like it is moved up a day (originally, it was going to be on Sunday and then the 4 days off would mean we had the week off... but with it moved up a day, we have to go back to work for one day...which makes traveling harder) may make travel plans difficult. Oh well, today several friends came down from the north so we are going to Petra and then there is a party tonight in my village to celebrate the end of Ramadan... should be fun.
take care all.

Ry

PS. Got my kitten, VASI, and he is so cute. 5 months old or so and just into everything... what fun!

Allergies, Allergies!

2004-11-04T02:06:00.000-08:00

Well all,
I am in amman! I took the bus at 6:00am to see the Peace Corps Doctor for a cold that has lingered for about two weeks (it is BITTERLY cold in my village) and it looks like it might be allergies of some kind. I have never had allergies in the states and now I have suddenly become allergic to everything here! Sigh... oh well, gave me some stuff for it.
I also get to see some friends this weekend and I am excited about that! I just wanted to drop a quick post... hopefully more to come. We will see the Bourne Identity this weekend and I will get my cat (whom I named VASI... visual approach slope indicator... since ATIS was already taken by our flight school cat).
Anyway, Off to the humane society but I will post pictures as soon as I get them.

Lots of love,
Ry

Shortage of Postings

2004-10-27T05:48:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
Sorry for the lack of postings recently. With it being Ramadan, busses run even more sparsely than normal and with the sun setting at 5:00pm, it is almost impossible to come after work.
Last saturday all of the power was off in Wadi Mousa so no internet (I was bummed).
Last Friday I went to Aquaba for the day... it is quite beautiful! Put my feet in the sea... relaxed, and saw the town. It has great bookstores!
Ramadan is on day 13 here. So far fasting going well... my center is great... love the kids!
Next weekend I get to go to Amman for the day. It should be enjoyable to see everyone!
Other than that, not much news! Settling in better... things are going ok. Hopefully after Ramadan and after winter when the days get longer, I will be able to do more postings and pictures.

Until then know that I think of you. THanks to all who have sent me text messages on my phone, letters, etc... it means the world to me.

Love you and miss you all.
Ry

Ramadan

2004-10-16T02:04:00.000-07:00

Well, Ramadan officially started yesterday. I actually enjoyed it because one of the favorite sayings in Jordan is "coolie coolie coolie" which basically means "eat, eat, eat". Doesn't really matter if you ate 5 minutes ago or if you are even in the PROCESS of eating (you could have something in your mouth and they would say it to you... totally gets on my nerves). They would like you to eat until you are sick and more often then not meal times become a battle. Well, for the next month I wont hear it and when I do hear it (at dinner, after sundown) I am actually so hungry I do eat.
Yesterday I helped in the kitchen make "Magluba" which translates into "upsidedown". Literally, you cook the chicken, fry potatoes and cauliflower, and then put the rice on top with water and cook it in a big pot. When it is done, you turn it "upside down" and everything comes out.
Then I helped make gotiyaf which is a fried pastry (see, there is a reason you don't eat all day) filled with coconuts, nuts, suger, and then after being fried, dipped in sugar water. Very good... not healthy at all.
Funny thing is, they look like potstickers (cause what they are fried in is this small pancake thing folded over half way).
This morning, I decided to "rebel" and came into wadi mousa without telling my counterpart (ohhhh, the horror). I will probably get some lecture when I get back but I am just going to tell them that I am 27 and while I don't mind telling them when I am going to be somewhere overnight or even into the night, morning trips I am not going to seek them out to tell them.
My counterpart told me the other night that during Iid (the vacation week after ramadan) we were going to Aquaba (his family and I). Imagine his surprise when I told him I had other plans.
I have learned one thing about the men here... they think they are in control but you have to stand up to them (politely of course). So I told him I was going to be going to Madaba to see my host family and to Amman to visit friends. That ended that rather abruptly.
I have learned one other thing about jordanian men that drives me up the wall (I really like the women though). The men ALWAYS talk. And I mean, if there is a moment of silence, they are saying something stupid just to fill up time... it is ridiculous. The other day one of the guys asked me if I knew the name of his sister (who I see everyday for a month now) just cause no one was talking and he thought it was funny.... kind of moronic if you ask me.
Oh well, what are you gonna do. Life is life...
I was able to post some pictures of my trip to petra that I took two weeks ago so check them out if you get the chance... they are pretty cool
Take care,
Ry

PETRA!!!

2004-10-10T05:10:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got to Petra on Friday with a few volunteers. It is absolutely amazing. After walking through the Siq (which is the most famous part of Petra and the one most photographed (check out Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade if you want to see Petra), we walked down through the center and climbed (and I mean, straight up stairs carved in a mountain) to the Monastery (or Derr) from which you could see the whole Wadi Arba valley! It was amazing. All in all, we walked about 7 miles and spent the day. Then we came back down and had ice cream at the Movenpick hotel (5 star hotel that makes their own ice cream). It was wierd to feel like I was in civilization again!
It was a well needed rest and a good time with other volunteers.
My whole village is "watching the moon" this week because, depending on its behavior, Ramadan will either start on Friday or Saturday. This should be an interesting experience (to fast from sun up to sun down for a month). Since Ramadan changes every year I am just feeling blessed it is not in the middle of summer when the days are long!
It is starting to get quite cold in my village. No rain yet, but I did break out my wool sweatshirt the other day.
My counterparts wife also got me a beautiful dish dash dress. She got one for all her daughters and one for me too, but I think mine has more to do with the fact that they still don't quite approve of my pants and shirts... hahaha.
I also got some bummer news! I didn't realize it but while I get vacation days, I have to take them around my school's vacation. My mom and sis were planning on coming in the spring but it looks like that will have to be put off till summer when I am not working. The only good thing is that I will have more vacation time then and it will be more at the half way point...but I still can't wait to see them!
Well, that is about it from here... I hope all is well. Pardon the lack of posting and pictures for the next month but with ramadan, don't know how often I'll get into town.

Ry

Life is going better

2004-10-02T01:59:00.000-07:00

Well,
This week is picking up for me. I am starting to understand that some of the questioning and "probing" as I see it are simply forms of culture. Today I was waiting for the bus and the husband of one of my counterparts daughters did the same song and dance "where are you going? Why? When are you coming back?" etc etc etc.
I have actually come to enjoy my village more that I am meeting more people. And I think I am no longer constantly expected to be visiting. Yesterday I got up, washed my clothes (by hand in buckets thank you very much... smile), and sat on my porch and read for a few hours. It was so nice. Then, in the evening I went and visited.
I have always tried to visit when my host family is outdoors, but last night after dinner, his daughters invited me into their room (which was quite an honor for me... like the next step in being welcomed into their family) and gave me all sorts of gifts of their own bracelets, hair trinkets, etc... it was such a sweet gesture. Like I said, I really like his family, and with the male/female relationship, I am coming to terms with how my other interactions go.
Next week I am going to start visiting my students homes after work. I am excited about this as family structure is such a huge thing in Jordan.
I am working with 4 very low students who have lots of concentration and behavior issues. Normally, this wouldn't be an issue, but I am sharing a small classroom with another teacher and two higher students so the distractability issue is HUGE. Hopefully, I will be able to do some change in behavior. I am starting a behavior chart this week with students earning sweets (yeah, in the states I would never stoop to a food reward... but here, need something totally tangeble) and see how that goes. Gotta start with an extrinsic reward before you can move to intrinsic. Especially when they have never had any expectations laid consistantly before them.
Well, I have also managed to post quite a few pictures today which I am happy about. Unfortunately, from October fifteenth through Nov. fifteenth, it is the month of Ramadan... where no busses run and nothing much happens... so I doubt I will get into town to do much of anything (internet included) during that time... but we'll see. Maybe i'll get lucky.

Love to all of you