May 28, 2011
In Jordan it is not Memorial Day Weekend. We did celebrate (at least the country of Jordan) did celebrate Jordanian Independence Day on May 25. They didn’t seem to celebrate their Independence Day in Jordan like we celebrate back home in the USA. Jordan gained its independence in 1946 from Britain.
It’s a monarchy and is currently ruled by King Abdullah. It was ruled by his father King Hussein until he died from cancer in 1999. That’s it for the history of Jordan lesson..anyway we had an extra day off - Wednesday - in the middle of the week. Now you guys have the 3 day weekend to look forward to - I can’t believe it’s Memorial Day Weekend for you and I am missing being there at my beloved Assateague Island. Last year I went into town in Ocean City and my sister Tina was in Ocean City, we sat on the beach and then we went to eat some wonderful Maryland crabs. I miss my home. My family, my neighbors, my Maryland.
Life here in North Jordan…I am waiting for the end of the school year. It ends June 15th - looking forward to it just as much as I always did back in my real school life in America.
The weather is definitely warming up here. We have had a couple of borderline hot almost unbearable days. The volunteers who arrived the year before,,,those who have been here a year longer than us…they have been telling us that this 2011 spring and weather up to this point right now in May has been really pleasant. I have found it pleasant…they said last year - 2010 this time was unbearable…too hot. Even though it has gotten hot here, it is still cooling down at night and a little breeze has been blowing in my windows. So far so good. It will get to the unbearable hot stage definitely in June and July. There is actually a ceiling fan in my living room so I may be sleeping out in the living room when that time comes.
My typical day consists of getting up at about 6:30 or so and shower…coffee, or tea, grabbing a light breakfast, getting ready and saying my morning prayers. Then I am off to my special education center… I usually head out the door no later than say 8:05 or 8:10...arrive and go to my wonderful sped. Center. The work day is 8:30 to about 1 to 1:30. Then we are finished for the day. Sounds like a short work day, but there is not a lot that goes on in a structured way in my center so that sometimes makes for a long day.
My daily life here in the desert of North Jordan: Mafraq: I live in a moderately small apt. which is cozy w/ a bedroom and a kitchen and a bigger living room which I don’t have any furniture in except for some plastic chairs. The kitchen isn’t much there is a gas burner stove…no oven. I have learned to bake potatoes using a frying pan and a big pot inverted that creates an oven effect. Basically when I got here I had put on a few pounds because of indulging before I left and then when living with my host family during training I gained a few more lbs. because they were one big eating family - but since I have been living here on my own…I have dropped the extra lbs. and am at a low…like I was before I began the celebratory eating before leaving in October. I don’t eat much meat…don’t buy it except for a roasted chicken occasionally that fortunately is available in many restaurants here in my city…so it comes with bread, and some veggies and it is delicious.
I can tell you that the best best best tomatoes you have ever had,,,well that I have had are grown here in Jordan and cucumbers…they are so so delicious. The grocery stores have canned goods and normal shelf items,,,dairy products, paper products, but you don’t get your produce in the regular grocery stores. There are produce stands and stalls everywhere. You buy your fruits and veggies in one of these. There is one a block from my apartment that I like. The guy is always pointing out the better tomatoes to me. For some reason I have developed and real penchant for eating apples…they are probably the biggest part of my diet…I mean I eat one every day…so I buy a lot. They have Gala apples and for me this is good since I don’t like red delicious. You don’t buy your bread in the regular grocery store. There are bread stores like the produce stands, there are different kinds of breads. There is one big bread store on the main street in my city and there are other bread stores where the bread comes warm out of brick ovens. The bread is not the sliced kind but bread that is flatbread, it sometimes cooked on a hot ceramic stone also. The bread here is the best also. I will put in a link here:
In Jordan it is not Memorial Day Weekend. We did celebrate (at least the country of Jordan) did celebrate Jordanian Independence Day on May 25. They didn’t seem to celebrate their Independence Day in Jordan like we celebrate back home in the USA. Jordan gained its independence in 1946 from Britain.
It’s a monarchy and is currently ruled by King Abdullah. It was ruled by his father King Hussein until he died from cancer in 1999. That’s it for the history of Jordan lesson..anyway we had an extra day off - Wednesday - in the middle of the week. Now you guys have the 3 day weekend to look forward to - I can’t believe it’s Memorial Day Weekend for you and I am missing being there at my beloved Assateague Island. Last year I went into town in Ocean City and my sister Tina was in Ocean City, we sat on the beach and then we went to eat some wonderful Maryland crabs. I miss my home. My family, my neighbors, my Maryland.
Life here in North Jordan…I am waiting for the end of the school year. It ends June 15th - looking forward to it just as much as I always did back in my real school life in America.
The weather is definitely warming up here. We have had a couple of borderline hot almost unbearable days. The volunteers who arrived the year before,,,those who have been here a year longer than us…they have been telling us that this 2011 spring and weather up to this point right now in May has been really pleasant. I have found it pleasant…they said last year - 2010 this time was unbearable…too hot. Even though it has gotten hot here, it is still cooling down at night and a little breeze has been blowing in my windows. So far so good. It will get to the unbearable hot stage definitely in June and July. There is actually a ceiling fan in my living room so I may be sleeping out in the living room when that time comes.
My typical day consists of getting up at about 6:30 or so and shower…coffee, or tea, grabbing a light breakfast, getting ready and saying my morning prayers. Then I am off to my special education center… I usually head out the door no later than say 8:05 or 8:10...arrive and go to my wonderful sped. Center. The work day is 8:30 to about 1 to 1:30. Then we are finished for the day. Sounds like a short work day, but there is not a lot that goes on in a structured way in my center so that sometimes makes for a long day.
My daily life here in the desert of North Jordan: Mafraq: I live in a moderately small apt. which is cozy w/ a bedroom and a kitchen and a bigger living room which I don’t have any furniture in except for some plastic chairs. The kitchen isn’t much there is a gas burner stove…no oven. I have learned to bake potatoes using a frying pan and a big pot inverted that creates an oven effect. Basically when I got here I had put on a few pounds because of indulging before I left and then when living with my host family during training I gained a few more lbs. because they were one big eating family - but since I have been living here on my own…I have dropped the extra lbs. and am at a low…like I was before I began the celebratory eating before leaving in October. I don’t eat much meat…don’t buy it except for a roasted chicken occasionally that fortunately is available in many restaurants here in my city…so it comes with bread, and some veggies and it is delicious.
I can tell you that the best best best tomatoes you have ever had,,,well that I have had are grown here in Jordan and cucumbers…they are so so delicious. The grocery stores have canned goods and normal shelf items,,,dairy products, paper products, but you don’t get your produce in the regular grocery stores. There are produce stands and stalls everywhere. You buy your fruits and veggies in one of these. There is one a block from my apartment that I like. The guy is always pointing out the better tomatoes to me. For some reason I have developed and real penchant for eating apples…they are probably the biggest part of my diet…I mean I eat one every day…so I buy a lot. They have Gala apples and for me this is good since I don’t like red delicious. You don’t buy your bread in the regular grocery store. There are bread stores like the produce stands, there are different kinds of breads. There is one big bread store on the main street in my city and there are other bread stores where the bread comes warm out of brick ovens. The bread is not the sliced kind but bread that is flatbread, it sometimes cooked on a hot ceramic stone also. The bread here is the best also. I will put in a link here:
You can see a picture of bread being baked on a ceramic stone.
I just recently discovered that one of the grocery stores where I shop actually carries some deli turkey…and I bought some for the first time last week to make some sandwiches out of. It was pretty good. Especially on that flat bread and grilled with some wonderful tomatoes. The other protein sources are canned tuna, and beans. It’s a good diet. I am afraid of gaining back the weight I lost here when I get back to the states. Will do my best to try to keep the diet healthy.
Life here…interesting the life of an older retired teacher Peace Corps Volunteer. Here in Jordan. Jordan is an oasis of calm in the middle east. No worries here as things are good. The culture is way different from anything I have experienced before. I am adapting but it is way different. But peaceful - no need to worry.
So, my family and friends. I miss all of you and am praying for all of you.
I miss you so much and thanks for praying for me.
I love you all from my heart…but where else does love come from?
LoveLoveLove&Blessings
