28 August - So much more to tell...

Hello friends:
Well the final days in Jordan were so full of stuff - packing and streamlining, official duties, goodbye dinners, and the 'bless & release' of the amazing experience.
Well maybe not!

I decided to continue blogging for a few more weeks so I can record the many stories I want to keep in detail in my heart - my time in these last 3 weeks in Jordan included a myriad of 'moments' that i was unable to record. So although I returned home 24.08 I will still write - you are welcome along the journey to check in also if you wish or 'bless and release.'

I also have time now to add photos to old postings.
In addition, I am preparing various PowerPoint presentations for varied settings with varied audiences. Photos to tell stories, bring some of my purchases and hopefully expand people's knowledge of the area via a personal account. I already have a request from a community group after a friend heard this next story.

Thanks for your company along the way - knowing you were 'Somewhere out there
Beneath the pale moonlight
Someone's thinking of me' was comforting to me.

Here is a LONG story of a school visit...


22.08.07 - Today was totally UNBELIEVABLE – words can barely paint the picture of my experience but I am soitenly gonna try!
We awoke at 6:oo a.m. and (men) did have hot water although I was still a mosquito buffet all night and no key for the room – ugh??
No matter, life’s memorable moments awaited me.
We drove about 100 minutes to Irbid to visit the directorate offices (Jordan has 17 directorates which are regional educational divisions.) We met with the directorate leader in his air-conditioned office (1st one, I think.) Very graciously received and welcomed – again the ceremony of reception is one I hope to implement in some scale – It generally consists of a man with a tray (often silver)- today it was a Pokémon tray – charming - with pre-poured glasses of water. This is followed by a sweet treat and then Arabic coffee is served (most of the time by a young man in a crisp white shirt, no tie.) The coffee is served from an insulated pitcher / urn and the same 2-3 small cups are used by everyone in attendance. The coffee is poured and the guest swirls it around 2-5 times and then sips it. The hand is extended and held if you are finished or tipped sideways several times if you want more. After the circle has been served then the server asks if you want tea. Tea is Lipton black, very sweetened (which tastes OK to me now) and has fresh mint leaves often in it. YUMMMMY.
Tea is served so hot (the last 3 days I could barely hold it to get it to the table in front of me) and it is casually sipped. During this time there are welcome comments, greetings and introductions. This has typically lasted about 1 hour.

Then we are escorted out of the office (lots of smiles , “Welcome to Jordan,” warm faces)
Today we were driven to a small ALL GIRLS school that had a warm feeling, truly, from the moment the van arrived.
We exited the bus and the students were in varying stages of school-ness: in class, walking to class, playing outside, watching our arrival.
OK, I figured it out – in this setting. I am exotic. So I did wear my killer suit (which now had Bitter lemon spilled on it from last night – not by me!)

The folks on the delegation are mostly dark-haired (except for one woman) and then ME!!!!
There were suddenly lots of faces out of the windows.
We were warmly greeted in the principal’s office with the formal welcome / reception ceremony.

We were given a tour and then my camera died (our lack of wall outlet power in the dorm meant the laptop, video camera, digital camera had zero power – ugh)
So we went to hallways that had student art projects on display, past some classrooms and then I ran back to plug in my equipment in an outlet in the principal’s office.

These details all add up to set the story…
I was late and missed the class that sang to us in English - wahh - but then I arrived at the next (cooking) class (as the group began to exit.) Ouch, but I was able to score a piece of warm cake made for us and I was invited back into the room and thanked the students. I was gentle and used gestures to express my appreciation.
When I was in the walkway I was offered a second slice – yum - so I took it and then went back to say thanks again – much smiles and giggling.
THEN THE BIG MAGIC BEGAN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

We all crowded into an English class with about 20 students and they were (4th day of school) talking very simply – “ I see yellow and blue”, “ Hello”…) Two poor girls bravely were selected (yikes) to demonstrate their skills for us and were the center of attention.
I worked the room by quietly leaving the pack and tried to talk to two girls; they did not have enough secure English or too shy to really answer my simple questions so re-tried and exited but bowed using the 'nameste' gesture and said 'Shukran' (thanks) with my right hand at my heart . (the gesture to indicate a woman will not shake hands with a man or the man indicates he understands.) They sweetly said 'you are welcome.'
OK so I was hooked…

We were told then we each had 10 minutes to go to any class and see the students work.
So I don’t know where anyone went but I walked right back into the same English class. I thought I was observing instruction. So I humbly entered and walked quietly walked across the room (trying to be inconspicuous!) and then realized there was no adult in the room!
I said, “Where is the teacher?” and then smiled. ALRIGHT they’re mine!
'May I stay?'
'OH, YES PLEASE'…
'Shall I ask a question or shall you?'
'YOU YOU YOU'
'OK, what do you know about USA?' (they didn’t respond so I used 'America')
Ah
Then they began.
(The old way students respond (which is VERY exuberantly) is to half sit and half stand and say “Miss, Miss, Miss” to their teacher.
Hands are raised by palms facing inwardly toward the student.)

“House White”
“New York”
“Statue of Liberty”
“Florida – My aunt is in Florida”

(p.s. YOU GOTTA hear this story live – this written account does NOT do it justice…)

Quickly the tables turned
They wanted to ask questions.
(right now some people came to the room – which had a plus and minus)
'What is your name?' (although I still have my Kevin name tag (I brought it with me from Seattle – GREAT idea - which is written in English and in Arabic.) So immediately people know my name and pronounce it Kevin Keevun or Kayvin
“Kevin”
“Where you live?”
“Do you have you children?”
“Who is you family?”
I showed pictures of Joe (15) and Sam (13) and then it was “ahhhh,” “beautiful,” “nice”

(OMIGOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
“How old are they”
I write 15, 13
“How old you?”
Hmmmm
I erased the 1 in 15 and wrote it after the 5 - they literally screamed and squealed.
I was laughin out loud when the delegation school host came and said “People have said that you are 51 but I did not believe them till now."
The flood gates were open.
We all laughed and were throwing words around quickly – they had become more willing and comfortable.
I was told to leave for lunch. I said 'you know my stomach does not not need feeding but my heart and soul do. Can I stay?'
'Yes'
So I stayed and chatted a bit
“What do you think about Jordan?”
“Why are you here?”

I was told to come to lunch (hosted by the staff in the small library)
Now I forgot I borrowed Tina’s camera and this was all in my brain with no photos – OUCH!
So I said / gestured them into my head , into my heart, hold my heart.
They smiled and I said 'I must hold your faces in my heart - may I look at you in the eyes to help hold you - May I do that?'
'YES YES YES'
So I walked up to each set of two seated beside each other and said ‘Shukran’ and looked each one directly into the eyes and they said varying things
“Afwan” (you’re welcome)
'Welcome'
“Yes”
“You are welcome”
I said good bye and then walked right outside the door and checked in my bag – ahhh, yes I do have enough pencils - So I walked back in – by now they were running to the door to watch me and I said I had a very small gift. “May I?”
“Yes, please.”
I walked to each one and held out the collection and each selected one (and said ‘Thank you,’ ‘Thank’ ‘Shukran’)
They were soul mates.
I went to rock star status. I was escorted to lunch by an adult to get me out of there
Now the word was out & school was a bit buzzy. Girls started hanging out by doors and windows, some casually waited, walked past, smiled.
I was brought to lunch - ‘Kevin now where were you?’
“I was making friends”
Then I had similarly warm time with our hosts. I did not sit with anyone from the delegation which left me open to be surrounded by staff who engaged with me verbally and non-verbally and spoke, touched, shook my hand and said kind things – ‘You ARE a teacher’ , ‘students like you,' ’students love you’
'May I make a picture with you?'
'Can I get you a drink'
'This is manganeesh (our lunch)' (now there is a 5-page story!!!! Ahmed – wow)

Great small food and because I remain engaged and separate I get instant access to lots of magical mini-moments with all of these people.

Then we were brought to the art project table and then encouraged to 'enjoy them.' Brought to the computer lab and saw some PowerPoint projects from our colleague and her former students.
I was invited to leave the room by Ahmed (more story – WOW.)
After the demo the principal said we could each take one project from the art table. WOW
Except we each deliberated so much over which ONE that we were told – ‘oh, take 2’
(WHAT?????)


MORE LATER!!!!!!!

21 AUGUST - 2ND DAY IN SCHOOLS...BOY OH BOY

OMIGOSH
Something I have been waiting for - schools, principals, teachers and KIDS!!!
What joy to stand with colleagues despite 10 time zones, logistical frustrations (yeah to a refrigerator and hot water!), language and access. As Jonathan Kozol (internationally recognized educator whose books I read and spent time with - now THERE is a story) says : "I always feel safest in a room full of teachers."

Three very different schools all with memorable moments and heart and visual snapshots. Today's host said 'Keevin (how they say my name), you are the star."

Why:
Among my teaching, communication skills there's the look. OK, so think of past notes & observations from here. Then picture this: a delegation arrives at school (12 people) umm, (immodestly) who might stand out - um - how 'bout the tall redhead with fair skin, blue eyes and a KILLER Hugo Boss blue suit and tie?????

In a girls' school with an all female scarved staff????

At the teacher presentation (at which I arrived late) and was conducted in Arabic by the locals, the buzz from the staff was 'where is Keevin?', 'Get Keevin', 'When is Keevin coming?'
Hahahaha

I learned later that here was one of their visuals - The delegation visited several classes (ANOTHER story!) and I ran out of my gift pencils (I had 144 pencils engraved with 'Peace Wishes from Seattle, U.S.A.) and gave them out to deserving students, teachers, retail clerks making connections. (So, can I work a room (or country) or WHAT?)

So before I went further in the school I raced back to my backpack at the principal's office to get more...well the last 7 feet were abbreviated when I ran and glided along the hallway and stopped right in front of her office (it was kinda cool). I was so focused on the task I didn't notice the staff and students around. The buzz I later heard was "Who IS that man?", "How old IS he?". "Did you see that guy?"

The response to them in Arabic was "He's the kindergarten teacher from America...and he's 51."

Lots of disbelief and laughing..so by the time the meeting came and I didn't attend the meeting - there were some expectant folks.

Just makes me grin

SO MUCH MORE TO TELL but I promised myself in bed by midnight for a 6 a.m wake up 7-9:30 bus ride and a full day - when are they not?

it's now 12:15 a.m.

Cultural Observation:

BIG Families here, so the restaurants more commonly have tables from 6-10 people instead of the 2-4 seats we typically see. And, of course, we arrive in a group of 8-12 people all the time so we fit right in - we do call ourselves a family and that is sweet
Oh that reminds me the presentation today...
oh boy

FOR THE KIDS:
Hey. WOWEE today I was so excited because I was in schools! It is early for us but here school has been open for 3 days - since Sunday actually - here the school week is Sunday thru Thursday - different, huh?

It was great to see kids and be in a school
Makes me VERY excited to begin school soon.
Are you excited to begin?
Lemme know
Hugs to all
Kevin

20 August - Finally saw a school!

Hi:
Well, hooray we visited our colleague Mawiha's secondary vocational school on their 2nd day of classes. Eye-opening moments in the company of students, faculty and administration. Again, so much to say but so little time to do so. It is now 1:a.m., just finished 3+ hours of work to prepare for tomorrow's seminar and awaking early soon to finish the work. Exhaustion is setting in - real, not just the made up kind.

Details and picures ASAP

Cultural Observation:
Smoking is permitted in school buildings - nuff said!

FOR THE KIDS
OMIGOSH!!! - On our way back to our residence we stopped at Ma'ha's former school (it was evening) to look and I took many photos. I do not think you can imagine what it looked like. I shall post photos ASAP and see if they match your thinking...

Kevin

19 August - The days are just soooo full

Hello!
I am trying not to distress over the rush of time as so much happens here and I am missing the chance to keep my entries consistent.

We had several full days and now are in the final crush days / hours of preparing for 3 full days (2-hour drives each direction) to some of our colleagues schools (looks like more 12-15 hour days ahead.) We also are presenting at a seminar for invited Jordanian teachers on Tuesday so we are also a-buzz with that preparation and collaboration.

...and then prep Thursday for our early Friday a.m. departure - but I WON'T think of that now.

Cultural Observation:
Eye colour:
WOW there are some stunning eye colours here. Truly.
I love eyes and paying attention to them (the eye contact here is another story)
So...1st, I remember walking down a street in Dublin on my 1st trip there and becoming very emotional when i realized essentially EVERYONE looked like me (or my relatives - cuz they were /are!!!) I had to stop and stand near a wall and just soak it all in - fair skinned, blue eyes in 95% of the faces I saw. And I clearly recall this unexpected wave of emotions wash over me.

Fast forward - Kevin in Jordan
NO ONE looks like me - no one! (another story)

But the range of dark eye colours here are extraordinary. The shades of brown (chocolate, sienna, earth, etc.), grey (slate, light, charcoal, etc.), green (light, dark, grass. apple, etc.) Captivating.
Our 1st night - we five were scouring C-town for our replacement supplies while waiting for lost luggage (see an earlier entry.) I'm tired, trying to get adapters, zero Arabic, blah blah. and walk up to a young man clerk and as I begin to speak slow English he looks up at me with the most amazing yellow-green-grey eyes.

He was the 1st and since then I am so conscious of looking now and I have been generously rewarded with a visual splendor of hues. My photos could never capture them....so so so beautiful.

FOR THE KIDS:
OMIGOSH!!!!! - I forgot to tell you (or did I - i forget because it's 12:45 in the morning!) But i have been collecting two sets of images...ready -
1) food - I think (and I hope!) I have taken a photo of almost every plate of food I have been served and I think I will fondly look back and remember every delicious moment. Or, I am afraid, I will look at them in six months and not remember what any of them are! - yikes - what do you think I will do - remember or forget?

2)I have been collecting photos of signs - some are in Arabic entirely (of course because that is the primary language here) and some are translated to English - and not always accurately. Now, please do NOT think I am feeling like a 'smarty' because often there are errors. Everyone makes mistakes especially when using two languages and I know because I am still learning other languages.

But still they are funny.

Sooooo I have included some here - look carefully and see if you can discover why i took the photo. Lemme know if you can.

And for everyone:
The best I can do is give another set of images and try to update text in the next few days loooonnngggg bus rides.

Thanks for caring to read.

14 August - Photos Photos Photos!!! part 2

here are more!
Our luncheon at the University of Jordan
oops gotta run
van go!

14 August - Photos Photos Photos!!!

Hiya!
Here are some images of days past
Ouch we are past the halfway point in our trip
:(
:0

these are all from my 1st photo folder
I am taking dozens every day trying to capture as many visuals as possible
Dunno if the souk (market) video can be seen or not but i posted it anyway
hugs to all!
kgg

14 August - Catchin Up...

Hey there
woweee I slept for almost 7 hours!!! - that's almost 2 nights of sleep over here.
And I am hoping that this might be the 1st day (since 10 days ago) when all U.S. teachers were last all healthy. We have since heard that it coulda been hummous, salads, fresh vegetables or water (washed utensils, etc.) all of which are hard to avoid and really yummy....
so suddenly no hummous or salads or veggies are showing up on our plates anymore
:(

Here is our next 3 days agenda:
Drive to Wadi Rum (4+ hours) where we will spend the evening and hopefully I shall be sitting on a camel by tonight!!!!!
Said to be a stunning area and the site of the filming of Lawrence of Arabia
Hotel in Aqaba - Jordan's only real water port and on the Red Sea
Touring Aqaba and a hosted lunch by Hanan's family (one of our Jordanian colleagues)
Petra (and hotel) and more Petra (recently voted one of the 7 wonders of the world - my 1st visit to a Wonder of the World)
Home late Friday night
Saturday - open

Here are some websites to get more info if you wish
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_Rum
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aqaba
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Petra

Next up a bunch of pictures
We are preparing to leave for our journey shortly and I fear my blog entry might not be able to be completed.
so instead how 'bout a bunch of visuals?
thanks for caring!