Little joys and unexpected opportunities

Well, it's a cold, rainy Sunday morning. I was rather surprised (and now am mostly annoyed) at how not hot Jordan has been since I arrived. I brought a light jacket, and that was it by way of warm clothing.  Other than a couple of days of sun and 80 degree weather, it has been rather wet and cold - and I have developed a love-hate relationship with my one jacket (which jacket I have had for more than 10 years now, so I'm certain it is at the height of unfashion). I have been told that Jordan is the second-driest country in the world (I don't know which is the first). But I have to say, I am rather certain that this year Utah would certainly take some of this weather that is considered so terribly dry! Well, hopefully it's a great blessing to the country. The grasses and wildflowers are quite lovely, so I'll enjoy it while I can. (The thunder that just cracked outside must be sign from the heavens that I have no choice but to take it and like it!)

Normally I would be in class right now. But this weekend is Orthodox Easter, so we got this Sunday off. I find it rather humorous. First off, Qasid is rather conservatively Muslim (not extremist, mind you: simply most of the teachers are quite religious, and the female teachers are required (I think) to wear hijab; we as female students to wear clothing that reaches our neck, elbows, and ankles), but they take this Christian holiday off - presumably for the large number of western students that attend classes here. But the reason this is odd is that, those western students who are Christian (like myself) are almost exclusively of the western bent, meaning, we celebrated Easter last weekend. Ah well. I'll take the day off and love it!

All week I had been planning to go with a few friends out to a nature reserve to see some of the natural beauty Jordan has to offer. But the day before I found out they changed their minds and decided to go to Petra. I wasn't super excited about this - I've been to Petra, and I was really excited to hike and see things I hadn't seen. Anyway, to make a long story short, after I decided not to go (it was going to cost $100 round trip, to boot!) the rest of the group ended up not going either, so I went with one of them to downtown Amman. It has lots of fun things to see. See pics below.

Other than that, I really have very little of interest to report. I was blessed to listen to a few of the sessions of General Conference a week ago. What a joy to share in the community of the Church, even from the other side of the world! Likewise, I am enjoying my little LDS branch here, and I have already been extended a calling: Young Women's Camp Director. That was unexpected! Camp will be next month, so I will be spending some time figuring out how things work here in Jordan, how best to incorporate the Young Women from other branches, who speak only Arabic, and how to accomplish a meaningful camp in the 2.5 days allotted. It should be a rousing adventure!

Below are a few photos of fun moments.

This is a video capturing the gas truck with its haunting tune. It really has come to frame my life like an eerie horror movie soundtrack. It's everywhere, every half hour or so!

And this one is a tidbit of my daily walk to school.

More of the walk to school.

Niki Bradford has invited me to her house each Friday (after church) for dinner. Her kids are adorable, and I always have a great time - lots of playing, great talking, and warm hugs. This is her youngest son, Hyrum, showing me his pirate peg leg.

I found a Betty Crocker brownie mix. You better believe I made them! Had to use olive oil, and guestimate on the measuring of ingredients (we don't have any cup/spoon measures here), but they turned out quite delicious!

Yesterday's trip to downtown began with a visit to the national Mosque. These are all taken from the women's section, upstairs. 

Notice the way that the carpet (very nice and soft on bare feet - you must remove your shoes before entering) is divided into little prayer squares. They are very close together, with the intent that, as people line up and pray together, they will be shoulder-to-shoulder, thus allowing no room for the devil to enter. It is custom to walk along the edges, not just any old place, of these little prayer squares, and along the larger division lines between each row. This is out of respect and reverence for these prayer mats.

My friend Hope who went with me.

This is the ancient Roman amphitheater. It was built in the second century, into the natural hillside. It could seat 6,000, and had a great view and acoustics from anywhere. It's quite steep, and high, but we climbed to the tip top. Got my legs burning and my lungs pumping!

A smaller theater to the side of the larger one.

In a small, rather ramshackle museum off to the side, one can see various examples of local tribal clothing, jewelry and other items through the centuries since the Roman period. I find out how to say my name in Arabic!

Looking down from the top of the amphitheater.

Across the street, we replaced the calories we burned with some delicious kanafa!

Atop the opposite hill from the amphitheater stand ruins from the Roman citadel from the same period. Looking to the east, one can see an enormous Jordanian flag billowing. 

Unlike various ancient sites I've visited, apparently no one has a problem with everyone climbing all over the antiquities. And everyone does!

Although the Roman ruins dominate the view, this is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world, and artifacts have been discovered from as far back as 2,000 years BC. Many of those can also be viewed at a small museum off to the side.

Right next to the citadel, a group of kids were playing soccer. I couldn't pass up a chance...

They also let my fly their kite for a few minutes.

But of course, after all the fun, they ran back up to us, asking for some money for their services. So, I gave them a dinar - about $1.50. That should have been enough to go buy some candy. 

A fun day.