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!

14 August Meeting Day

Hello friends:
Well, THE long-anticipated official day arrived. We took care of yet another sick colleague (1 in uncomfortable state, 1 in BAD shape) and then headed to downtown Amman. It was a 9 a.m. meeting with the Minister of Education (tall, brilliant - 3 Ph.D.'s and forward thinking) and he is kind, generous in time and made a decision that positively affected our group for the better. We left ecstatic. He presented Dr. Mimi (delegation lead) with a stunning delegation gift. I broke a plate.

Yes, re-read that- I broke a plate. After being given a lovely slot and topic to address - thanks Dr. Mimi(a colleague complimented me on my delivery) and after the Minister exited (THANK YOU) the next sound was my snack plate breaking as I knocked over a juice bottle. OOPPS - can you spell 'international incident?'

We drove to a snack shop and ate before our 12 noon meeting with the Jordan Education Initiative staff. WOW - treated so well while being very high end professional yet comfortably conversational. I didn't break anything.
I was sought out for a private conversation by a professor to discuss teacher training (I now teach undergrad and grad level classes in teacher education for Heritage University in Seattle.)

Then the group headed for coffee while Dr. Mimi invited me to accompany her to the American Embassy for a 2 p.m. meeting with representatives of USAID (U.S. Agency for International Development.) New experience! It is the only embassy with soldiers outside, no photos allowed for the entire block and 2 armed, manned tanks outside.

4, count 'em 4 security checks. And with each one i shoved my stuff into a different pocket, so when surprise - what ANOTHER security check asked for my ID - i was checking all my pockets again! NO cameras, flash drives, memory sticks, CD's, phones, tech and at the final check they collected our passports.

I kept grappling with the sensation that I SHOULD feel remarkably safe but instead I felt totally ill at ease...

The meeting was yet, again, productive, generous of time and potentially useful for further professional development and University partnerships.

I did not break or take anything.

we left there and headed for dinner. Folks kept commenting on my appearance and said with my sunglasses on I looked like either a movie star or some high level security guard. Sooooo I decided to leave on the suit and play the role! - took some photos ('guarding' Sana'a and Dr. Mimi and then went to a crowded VERY local restaurant. Food had to be good, no tourists, all locals and only Arabic menu.

I sat down and the waiter spilled a tray of olives down my jacket lapel (Hugo Boss - oh wait - we saw a cologne rip-off with a box labelled Hogo Booss HAHAHAHAHA) and onto the seat and thence my pants.

The day I do NOT wear my casual touring clothes. I was ticked off.
And he kept serving, didn't clean up the floor mess, let alone my jacket. When i called him over and pointed to the floor and my clothing (I mean duh where did you think that plate of olives disappeared to??) he picked up a dirty napkin from a nearby table and started to wipe my lapel!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

"A clean one please!!!" i said

He brought me one.

Dr. Mimi got more from 2 other tables.

The manager did come over, was annoyed at the waiter and offered to dry clean it while i ate - so i emptied all my pockets again!!!!

I hesitantly gave them the jacket.
It was returned later, clean. I wondered if i should remove my pants and hand them to him too.

And now my goal is bed before midnight and we have NO alarm clocks set for tomorrow.
Wait til you hear of our next 3 days....

Cultural observation:
OK, so I HATE lane changers who refuse to signal. Try no lanes!!! So many roads here have no painted lines so people just kinda follow traffic flow and patterns until they don't want to. Then they just drift over a bit and kinda saddle 2 'lanes' or make a 3rd lane when there were just 2 'lanes' a minute ago!!!!!!


FOR THE KIDS:
Hi - so sorry i missed writing to you. I became so busy and to prepare for some important meetings I was awake really late working. But i hope to write daily and even go backwards to old entries and add some info and pictures.
So here is some new news:
WHERE are the animals? Seattle is a very 'pet' city so is New York - which you KNOW I love - Go Yankees, heh heh heh ;)
But I have seen hardly ANY animals - except for that camel (remember?) and goats and sheep on the farms we pass back and forth in the van every day. No cats, no dogs, VERY few birds in the trees. We saw one lizard at Mt Nebo - see the picture. This makes me very curious to research on the internet to find out exactly what kind of animals really live here. I will probably still be busy for the next many days so if you have time and learn anything about animals in Jordan, please TEACH me, OK?
hugs


bye bye everyone and thanks to the kind folks who have sent me notes - I keep each one!

13 August 2007 - BUSY BUSY BUSY

Hello friends:
I cannot believe how much i must catch you up on...
Shopping, the Dead Sea, shopping, River Jordan, shopping, eating, meetings, shopping, van rides, shopping.
Did I mention shopping...? ;)

There have been so many memorable moments, each a 2-page tale to tell.

I will tease you with these thoughts to tickle your imagination:
--the BEAUTIFUL Moslem woman who flirted with me
--the clerk in Celio store
--the head of security at our school
--illness
--kneffe (spelling?)
--mosaics
--117 degree heat
--mud bath
--my swimsuit
--being a tall, blue-eyed, redhead, Sting-esque looking man in a sea of dark hair, dark eyed people
--eye contact
--traffic
--the movies
--young men's hair
--water service
--fatigue
and i will end on that one because my bedtime is between 12;20 and 3:30 with 3-5 hours sleep before the next day's schedule

In 4 hours I awake and prepare for meetings with: the Ministry of Education (the highest national figure), USAID - educational office, U.S. embassy

I REALLY HOPE TO GET TO A BIG BLOG UPDATE, add pictures and give details
Please post any thoughts - knowing you are there helps me thru some rough spots
peace
And do know I am having a great time on a thousand levels and YES i am very SAFE!!!!!

LOOK AT THE TIME!

Hi
We just returned from another very full day including:
--a press interview - not so good
--lunch - good but we learned something odd
--Jerash historical site visit and tour - ASTOUNDING!
--concert - top Arabic (Iraqi)male singing star in an ancient Roman ampitheatre surrounded by Iraqis - a trip high!
--Mimi, our delegation leader, arrived
--it's 4:00 a.m.!!!

Much more to say but me so tired...

NEW Feature:
Cultural Observations:
Tidbits of moments, interactions, observations that indicate our differences.
And read on 'cause it's this...

FOR THE KIDS:
A smiling Arabic boy spoke to me today when I entered a souvenir area. So kind and sweet. He walked right up to me and said in perfect English "Hello, do you speak Arabic?" ("No", I said) "Welcome, sir what is your name?" ("Kevin") "Hello Kevin, do you like Jordan" ("Yes, very much. What is your name?") "Mohammed"

What an unexpected moment! It is so different than in the U.S. where children are taught to avoid strangers. I think we miss something in human contact in the U.S.
What do you think?

I SOOOO boosted the Jordanian economy today!

Hello friends:
Another excellent day - truly. And i think I singlehandedly sent the local economy into 2008...easily.
Actually today was remarkable because it was a Men's day. Our 3 women US colleagues all became ill and took a very slow in-house morning. The driver, our education escort and Vivek and I chose to drive into Amman to wait for our 2 Jordanian colleagues to complete some paperwork at the Ministry of Education and wait for Hanan to arrive by bus from Aqaba (4-hour bus ride.)

Well, well, well! We returned to the souk or marketplace which actually is many many blocks of retail, cafes and bustling street life. It was so energizing (BIG city alert) to walk the streets and see so many people ( and realize how isolated and Western our accommodation is - big sigh.)

I had a short list which quickly expanded to a full backpack and a full shopping bag. Our collective and individual energies were puuuurrrrfectly in sync and mutually respectful. We shopped, walked, talked, had tea, saw a toilet of um, er, eh unique condition - photo ONLY upon request :0 ;)

I purchased music, DVDs, local cologne and a few other items that must be seen to be thoroughly enjoyed.

Retail is conducted decidedly differently and very easy - we were both grateful for Dr. Saleh's company to clarify and ask questions and offer advice
This was all before noon.

We returned to collect our female friends and drove to Madaba, the closest town about 15 minutes away and had a splendid and grand late lunch in a beautiful restaurant and ate Bedouin influenced food...yum
Cucumbers here beat ours by a kilometer - must find similar ones upon my return - small, crunchy, less watery and full of flavor.

The women had a women's only event hosted by the mayor's wife at the Hilton. we hurried to downtown Amman and left them for about 2.5 hours. Well, what do 3 happening guys do in a city of 2 million people on a Wednesday night?....Vivek needed to pick up his repaired glasses. OOOOooopps - where were they - in the largest and newest mall in Amman. Soooo what did we do????
SHOPPED and soaked up mall culture as we've never seen it. WOWOWOWOWOWOW

Um ,er, eh, I did buy some things - but ya gotta see 'em and the prices are unbelievable.

So much more to say and show...but fatigue is setting in again. I write these posts between 11:30 pm and 1:00 a.m.

And tomorrow several of us are skipping breakfast to sleep.
We have a GREAT day ahead of us.

These photos are from dinner tonight - any guesses?
And please enjoy the menu translation.
Thanks for reading and thanks to those who drop a note back. I relish and treasure them from so far away.

FOR THE KIDS
Hi Hi Hi or Marhaba:
So who has some thoughts on the food ideas I last left you thinking about?

Well, here it is.
Passing food around the table. Do you do that at your house? I grew up doing it, i do it with my family and friends. You know when you sit down to an empty plate at the table and there are bowls or plates full of food ready? You take some and put it on your plate and pass the bowl to the person beside you.
It's just not done that way here. When our Jordanian colleagues sat down (in Seattle) and suddenly saw people reaching and passing the bowls and plates they were so surprised! They had to stop and just watch. They liked it but had never seen anyone do that before.

Here the food is placed on the table and empty plates are stacked nearby. Everyone gets a plate and fills it as they wish and then sits down to eat (at the same table.)

Often when we do that in the U.S. it is called a buffet or buffet style eating and is usually done when there is a large group. Have you seen that or done that before?

Just reminds us how things can be done differently yet still 'work"

Ok, here's today's scoop. Did you hear or read my grown-up blog?
So, I had some great meals.
Can you guess what the food pictures are?
Write to me and tell me if you wish....i bet you can come close!
hugs

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!

He's aliiiiiiiiiive!

Hiya:
I awake full of promise and empty - really, really empty
wink wink
til later!!!!!!

WOW what a day!!!

Marhaba!
That's Arabic for hello or hi
Today was pure joy - it is so late, again, that i must save the details for the next day
in-shah-Allah- but a quick list:

--meeting a member of Parliament whose work record is one of the most astounding resumes I have ever heard who stimulated my brain remarkably
--a private meeting with the mayor of Amman and the wait in his office was memorable - i'll tell you about the orange juice pulp later!
--lunch from a 'happening' take-away place bustling with action and busy people
--trafficked roads but the roadside activities are fascinating
--an hour shoppng spree in a 'souk' or market - ring ring RETAIL calling!!!!
--a quick stop in a fast food (kinda) restaurant and discovering my NEW fave dessert - think warm sweetened cheese+++
--a demonstration Jordanian wedding
--sweet sweet sweet children who picked me outta the crowd and talked in Arabic and English - thier charm was unmeasurable!!!
--home here tired

AND A NEW Feature
THANKS Lilia for being so smart and teaching me
Lilia's a recent Kindergarten grad of mine (2007) whose mom requested to have this blog address. After hearing my 1st entry, Lilia said (in effect) "Well that was boring grown-up stuff; isn't he going to write anything for us kids?"

Gotta love 'em - thanks kiddo for the wisdom
so my new feature in the blog is
"FOR THE KIDS" ( i hope grown-ups might enjoy it too...)

Hey kiddos:
Well I am soooo far away from you right now that if you go find out what time it is and add 10 - I know you can do that because we worked on it ALOT!...
that is the time here right now - so as i write this at almost 1 a.m. Tuesday you are probably in the middle of your day!
That is far away....

Yesterday we were riding in the van and on a busy highway, but NOT going as fast as drivers do in the USA. I love looking at all the activity on the roadside. You are NEVER going to guess what I saw. A man was walking a.........
Guess? no really Guess?
HAHA have to wait til tomorrow before i tell you
hugs!

aye yi yi yi yiyiyiyiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii

Hello friends!
wow what a 40+ hours it has been
long flight, good food, just re-met 4/5 Jordanian colleagues. we rally around the shared lunacy, frustration and 'huh???' moments

For 4/5 U.S. teachers our luggage JUST arrived - ahh we can climb out of the clothes we wore since Friday morning.
ME - yay clothes, supplies, electronic chargers (laptop, camera, phone all on their last 'bars')
and the cord that allows the laptop to work on this wireless campus
(not so wireless, alas)
We / I am exhausted, NOT hungry and being VERY patient

must climb into bed - it's almost midnight Sunday - functioning on 4 hours sleep -maybe - which only keeps me thriving if it was preceded by 5 hours of DANCIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
best
kevin
PS I learned how to post photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I will work backwards and add them.

Hi folks: well, i am trying the blog thang and hope it is manageable for one and all - including me!Here is the link for Thursay’s coverage by Jessica Blanchard of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/325999_teachers02.html
This was on the 2nd page of the Local section

We met the lieutenant governor recently and he posted this on his official site:
https://edumail.seattleschools.org/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.ltgov.wa.gov/PressCoverage/newsreleases/jordan08032007.htm

The P.I. reporter featured me in an article on men in primary classrooms in 12/05
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/252612_maleteachers19.html
(this was on the front page of the main section! - with a larger photo of me than the president - hahahahahahahahahah)
Thanks for your interest in my journey.
peace out
Kevin
Posted by Kevin at 8:33 AM 0 comments