This little piggy went wee-wee-wee...

....All the way home...


I can't believe it's been a month since I left Jordan. Actually it really just hit me that it's literally been a month since I flew out of Amman.

The Europe and Middle East SALTers

I spent the first week in the States with other SALTers at MCC headquarters. It was a great time to relax and reflect with people who had just gone through similar experiences. And it definitely helped with culture shock, since I was able to slowly adjust to the US life. My parents brought me home at the end of the week, and I promptly was dragged wedding dress shopping with my sister. We didn't find a dress that day, but she has since picked one! And I have also found my maid-of-honor dress as well.

Visited Friends in DC

Things have been pretty hectic, between trying to see my friends, figuring out what I have and don't have anymore, doctors appointments... and generally preparing for my next MCC term.

Oh, did I forget to mention that I got a job? I'm starting a new international term of service with MCC. If you want to hear more about it, and follow my adventures, check out my new blog Peace, Pabulums, and Phnom Pehn.

Back to the USA

Well today's the day! On Thursday I moved out of my room at the YWCA in Husn (I've been staying in a hostel in a Amman since). Last night, the MCC Jordan team (with the 2 new members of the MCC Iraq team) got together at the Rep flat for my farewell dinner. I just checked out of my hotel and now I'm hanging out at the office until I leave for the airport at 1:30pm (less than 30 minutes).

My flight leaves Amman at 4:35, heading to Doha, Qatar. I arrive in Qatar at 7:15, where I will meet 11 other SALTers (serving in Laos, Indonesia, Cambodia, and Nepal). From there the 12 of us have an overnight flight (leaving at 1:05AM) to Philadelphia. ETA in Philadelphia: 7:55AM, Monday the 21st. From there my father is picking me up (YAY DAD!), and then I am heading straight to SALT Re-Entry Retreat, in Akron, PA. Early Saturday morning my parents (YAY MOM AND DAD!) will come to Akron and take me home.

It's hard to believe that my SALT journey is nearly at an end. I want to thank everyone who supported me throughout this year. I was blessed and touch by each and everyone person who made this experience possible. I will miss everyone I got to know here in Jordan.


A year in pictures, some of which have probably been shared before:

First week in Jordan, at the Roman Ampitheater in Amman with Caleb

Visit to Ajloun Castle in November

Visit to Ajloun Castle in November

AES Student Art Exhibition in Amman, with teachers in November

AES Student Art Exhibition in Amman in November

Ina and me at our favorite restaurant in Amman in November

Lunch at Hashem's in November

At the Security wall in Bethlehem, just after Christmas in December

Decorating an olive tree in Beit Jala, Palestine in December

Petra with Jackie in January

Picnicking in February

Church at the Jordan River in March, with Judith

Visit to Jerash in March (here at the Temple of Artemis)

Visit to Umm Qais in March

Trip to Wadi Rum for Easter in April

Standing in the Red Sea, on the beach in Aqaba in April

Desert Castles trip with Ina and Judith in May

Fighting  Ina for my food at a BBQ in June

On Rainbow Street, in Amman with Judith in July

In King Abdullah Mosque in Amman in July

Getting muded up at the Dead Sea in July

Leaving school on my last day of work in July

Five Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Six Hundred Minutes*

On our last day all together in the office.  From left to right: Headmistess Sabah, Jana, Judith, me, Ina, Rev. Samir, and Abu Munther

Today, was my last day at the Arab Epsicopal School. It's hard to fathom that I'm not going back tomorrow morning. Or the day after. Or any day in the foreseeable future. I have been blessed to work with all the teachers, admistrators, and staff at AES this past year. The chance to be part of this ground breaking community has been more amazing than I can express. Working with students has been the highlight of my year. They made every day a blessing and an adventure.

Getting the chance to live in Jordan this year has been more amazing than I can express. For all it's fustrations, and ups-and-downs, it has been a joy to serve these people and to learn from and with them.

As Jonathan Larson wrote, in the song "Seasons of Love" in his Tony award winning musical Rent: "How do you measure, measure a year?... Measure in Love."

*Well, not exactly. More like four hundred eighty two thousand four hundred minutes, since it's only been 11 months not a full year. But the song still relates.

Pictures from May, June, and July

These past few months have been filled with adventures that I haven't posted about indepth, so here are some pictures so you can see some of what I've been up to. In May, I took a trip to visit some Desert Castles out east with Ina and Judith. Then at the end of the month, I flew to Barcelona,Spain for the MCC Europe Middle East Retreat, where I got to meet the rest of the team and reunite with some of the other SALTers. This past week, Judith, Ina, and I went to Amman, hiking in Wadi Mujib (the bottom of a canyon that opens up to the Dead Sea) and the Dead Sea.

Trip out east to see the Desert Castles.

Qasr Azraq

Qasr Amra

Arabic dancing lessons.

Mediterranean Sea in Barcelona.

Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.

Dead Sea

Dead Sea

Floating in the Dead Sea

Wadi Mujib

Amman

King Abdullah Mosque in Amman

Dead Sea Mud

King Abdullah Mosque in Amman

Ramadan Kareem!

My last few weeks here coincide with Ramadan, the month in which Muslims around the world fast. This means that Muslims do not eat or drink (as well as other things like sexual relations and smoking) during the day, between sunrise and sunset. Ramadan is a time of reflection.

 In majority Muslim countries, as a courtesy to those who are fasting, those who are not fasting (including but not limited to Christians and other non-Muslims, pregnant women, the sick, young children, and women who are menstruating) do not eat or drink in public during the day. This keeps us from tempting those who are fasting to break it. Muslims who are fasting, break their fast in the evening after sunset and eat pre-fasting before sunrise (and can eat anytime between as well). Many businesses chose to open late or have shorter hours during Ramadan, since the majority of the population of Jordan is fasting. The vast majority of restaurants open only in the evening and stay open late into the night during this month as well.

I pray for blessing on those who are fasting, especially because it's extremely hot during this time of year in Jordan and not getting to drink water during the day difficult on the body.

Ramadan Kareeem, my friends!




Fun fact: Many people put up decorative lights for Ramadan, like how Christians put up Christmas lights!

Cultural Differences

I was sitting on the floor of the hallway, chatting with one of my dormmates, Randa, the other night while she cleaned a pair of shoes. We chatted about her classes, about Ramadan, and other things. Every once in a while she would start apologizing profusely. "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry!" she said.

For the life of me, I couldn't figure out what in the world she was apologizing for. So I replied to her, "What are you apologizing for? I don't understand."

"My shoe. I keep accidentally pointing the bottom of my shoe at you."

Right, in the Middle East it is an insult point the sole of your shoes or your feet at people, because they are dirty and are in contact with the ground. There are probably other reasons too, but I don't know them. That's the reason I tend to be careful about how I cross my legs.

I giggled, "Oh right. I didn't even notice. That's not a thing in my culture, I didn't think about it. Don't worry. I won't take it as an insult. Do what you need to do!" And we continued chatting.


 I can't believe I have less than 3 weeks left in this country. I have been blessed to experience this culture and to start to understand some of the nuances involved.

One Month... WHAT?

Can I just say something crazy? I have less than a month left here is Jordan. It's pretty insane. Things are coming to a close at school. The students have finished final examinations and are no longer attending school. New teachers are being interviewed for next years staff. The final newsletter for the school year is out. It's hard to imagine that in a few short weeks I'm going to be back in the States. I'm excited to see my family and friends again, though I am sad to leave all the relationships I've made here.