I am healthy!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello all:

ahhhh i feel better and like me again - but another US Colleague is similarly ill.

HOW? we both wonder if it is the coffee - and if you know me you are screaming out loud - KEVIN & COFFEE in the same breath?????????????



Well, i did not want to miss anything - or almost - and when she had a cup of coffee when we were locked out of a host's flat, well i had to take 2 sips. Then it is VERY common to offer Arabic coffee - when we are on official visits or stop long enough to say hello. Today i bought a shirt (WOW - bee-you-tee-full and an incredible price - retail therapy!) and as I was still deciding the young man offered me a small cup with a small amount (typical presentation.) But I now just graciously decline.



Today was great - a visit to Rubicon - educational publishers in the Arab world - meeting and a brief tour of their graphics department - low lighting and rows of creative people working on cool visuals. In looking over their shoulder I could see one just working on a character's legs walking, another was creating texture on a masonry building, another adding details to a face - way cool.



Then a slow drive through mid-day traffic to the University of Jordan - for several HIGH level meetings with university and college of education staff & professors who really wanted to talk /listen regarding educational policy and experiences.



Followed by a museum visit to the on-site Heritage museum. (really wanted a sweatshirt University of Jordan - but does not exist - so very not-U.S.A. branding - there were no folders, mugs, t-shirts, shorts, etc. Just think of the ubiquitous branding of colleges / universities in the USA - hmmmmm)



Gorgeous spread of a dee-lish-ous lunch in a private dining hall of 3 full courses and what was for dessert?????? my new favorite (ooopps gotta get the name right)



A quick shopping spree - my suggestion - and ironically only the men ended up buying stuff (all clothing!) and some beautiful middle eastern items.



Back to academy - to let our sick colleague crash and then great discussion regarding professional development US / Jordanian styles.



Quick drive to nearby Madaba to get food for the women and we 3 men had an hour of culture soaking. Will have to post the photo of me, the 3 butchered goat carcasses and the entertaining butcher.

Why, as a vegetarian, am I COMPELLED to stare at these things when I encounter them??????



til next time



FOR THE KIDS:

Hey there!

well I hope you still get to hear the grown-up news because I think there are some interesting things to ask about with your parents.



Food: this was big on everyone's minds today because we had eggs for the 1st time at our residence for breakfast.

Lunch was big and delicious and filling and served with great care and beauty at the university.

We were generously served water and coffee / tea at each of our meetings.



And then we had ice cream - it wasn't great but to do it together was the fun and important part.



OK so who has guesses about the man walking the animal beside the road. I actually heard from a recent K student who emailed me her guess. Do send a note about my blog entries or you can even post them on the blog site for my other friends to read.



Well Allison (Hi Allison!) wrote to me and guessed camel, did you guess that?

She is correct!!!



There have been rare sightings of ANY animals here so far so seeing a camel was extra special for all the U.S. grown-ups in the van.



OK ready for a new question?

Since I mentioned food. The Jordanian teachers noticed something when they were in the U.S. about serving / eating food - especially at home. And today I was reminded of it when we had our fancy lunch.

Take some thinking time, talk with your family. If you want to post or email me your thoughts I would LOVE to read them.

I'll tell you next time

hugs!