Hospitality: Jordanian Style

To be invited into someone else's home for their unbelievable hospitality is a blessing. To refuse too often would be an offense, but too often the time to spare can be difficult to find.  When I am invited, and there is nothing pressing to get in the way, then I really am in for an experience. Today I was invited into our neighbours home. I have been too busy on other occassions but today there was nothing standing in my way. Lilian and George enjoy playing with the twin seven year old boys, who's cousin was also there to join the fun.

This is a picture of Bedouin style seating.
My hosts seating arrangement was similar.

I'm not good at small talk at the best of times, so I sit there with the Mum, who speaks only a little English, which is still more than my few words of Arabic. The children translate a little and we get by. She goes to offer me coffee, but then remembers that I don't like it. We sit in her home, in an open space with two small sofas and a larger open space of Bedouin style seating, with a partly awkward silence but mainly just enjoying the children play. The Bedouin seating is an ideal place for the children to explore their gymnastic talents as they run/ roley poley/ play fight/ attempt cartwheels/ generally play excitedly.

Our host brings us juice, without asking if we want any, and we receive gratefully and politely, and enjoy of course. I am not allowed to do anything, even to help pick up a few toys the children have left. I am just to sit and be waited on.

Her husband arrives home and I suggest it is time we left as George is very tired and needs to sleep (he was falling asleep before the visit). At this point I am invited to eat some locally made pizza. I try to explain I have already eaten, but then realise it would offend to refuse. I sit at their kitchen table and realise, from other experiences, that it is not custom to be polite and wait, so I help myself. I take one of the individual pizzas, at which point my host adds another to my plate. Now there's one dilemma I have here, I am from a culture in which it is rude to not finish what is on your plate, it shows you are ungrateful or that you did not like the food. In this culture I find the opposite is true, if you finish what is on your plate it communicates that you are not satisfied and would like more. Aware of this I planned to leave a small amount of the second pizza on my plate, but before I get to this point a third pizza is added. Such amazing hospitality, generosity, and delicious food.  However, I know that if I eat this also, which it is in my instinct to do so, I will only be given another. To avoid getting into this cycle, I finish my second pizza but leave the third, showing that I am full. This way I know that the pizza doesn't need to be wasted by me only eating part of it.

I then stand and explain that we need to go so that the children can go to bed, which they find difficult to understand as children here tend not to be put to bed/ have a bed time, especially when it isn't even a school night. I know that my children need it after a busy day and week in school and, therefore, insist that we must go now. It's difficult to leave and ensure they know I am grateful for their hospitality, but I am. I guess the best way to show it is to say yes again, when I'm invited in.

Author: A.E.

A Blog From Our Visitor (Richard's sister)

My experience in Jordan

I have now learnt that just from being in Jordan for a week I have discovered many things. For one, they are crazy drivers, especially the taxi drivers. Their tendency is not wearing seat belts, beeping all the time is a way of saying “I am here, get out of my way!” so constantly you hear beeping. The call for prayer at 4 in the morning at first was tedious but after hearing it a few times it got interesting.

Being in Jordan for less than a week has changed my perspective. The way I used to come across the Arabs. Due to the people in the UK and their perspective and stereotype of them, especially when you hear on the news about them and what is happening in the Middle East. I was nervous flying out on my own due to those issues in my head and also I have not flown on my own before so I must admit I was scared.

After meeting my brother at the airport, meeting some of his friends, seeing the family, instantly I felt protected and welcomed. I got my encouragement from God to get involved with the school, helping the children with their work, gaining their respect and just getting to know them. I could just see that within a full day of being with the children in the Montessori school, it shocked me to see how driven and inspired the children are to learn. Some children are disciplined, they know they have to listen to the teachers, obey and respect them. But some children have a tendency not to listen, they misbehave and do their own thing but mostly that is due to their upbringing. I do think that the Montessori education is the future for educating children.

Spending time with the family has brought me closer to them and brought me closer to God. I cherish the time I have had with my family and will always cherish the memories with them and I cannot wait to come to Jordan and spend more time with them.

By Stephanie Eynon, September 2012

Lilian's 6th Birthday

Someone's happy!!

Here are some snap shots from Lilian's birthday. We, with the help of others, made this a special day despite being so far from (Wales) home...

Giant cookie cake (in honour of Abigail Curtis who doesn't like cake)

Lilian's friends ready to celebrate her birthday with her

Special new dolly from Grandma and Grandad

Catch up...

We haven't written a blog in a while, life has been super busy. We have completed the renovations of the new classrooms for Grades 1 and 2 and have had four weeks of school, which I think would have always been a hectic time without a new classroom to organise, furnish, kit out with Montessori materials, and training new children who haven't been used to our system of doing things before. There have been many challenges, but God gives us the strength and solutions to get through them.

 

The Kindergarten is running well, without Puanana in there, heading it up, for the first time. Miss Abi and two others are working hard. One teacher, Miss Mariam has been working for Legacy with Fraser and Puanana for one and a half years, and we have a newly trained Montessori teacher, Miss Enas, who is finding her feet in our very different way of doing things. After this short time in the first semester the children are really beginning to settle down and are learning how to use our special materials and, we hope and pray, are developing a love of learning that will last a lifetime.

Author: A.E.

Leave A Legacy

Take a look at our fundraising Campaign to assist the development of the school we are working with here in Zarqa, Jordan.

http://www.indiegogo.com/Leavealegacy?a=938161#share

This image is a snap shot of the renovations which are currently underway to create two new classrooms for Grades (Years) 1 and 2.

The school also has a new Facebook page:

http://www.facebook.com/LegacyLearningCentersInternational

Power cuts and water shortage!

Last night, around 11pm, the temperature of our apartment was around 35*C, with the air outside a little warmer.  We were lay on our bed, enjoying the a/c, watching a DVD before crashing out for the night.  Then it happened... the electricity cut out! 

I felt my way to the children's room to where I could just about see the faint glow of their wind up torches.  I took the torches and checked the fuse box to find all was okay there, we looked out of the window to see that the whole of Zarqa was in darkness.  Oh dear, no electric means no fans, and NO A/C!! I flash the torch into the bathroom just before going in for pre-sleep wee and an ugly black cockroach froze to the spot in the middle of the floor.  Okay so its pitch black and if I move my torch the little thing will scarper and I won't be able to use the bathroom for the night out of fear, "Riiichaaaard."  Just as Richard manages, after several attempts, to splat the poor thing I catch sight of another in the open hinge of the door-frame.  The shoe isn't going to work for this one, but if I move my torch he will disappear... Richard takes over with the torch as I go to find the bug spray (remember, all of this is in complete darkness apart from the small torches we keep needing to wind up to keep them lit).  I find the spray but a soon as I spray the cockroach he runs out of sight behind the door.  I stood outside the bathroom, torch pointed at the floor to watch he didn't escape.  Richard lost the cockroach a number of times, it was like find him, spray, loose him, find him again, spray, loose him again, until eventually we (I mean he) got him!! By this point the whole apartment was intoxicated by the fumes. 

Okay, so now we can use the bathroom and get to bed.  We lay in bed creating puddles of sweat, even with the window open the air had no movement to it.  A few moments later George wanders in, wanted to cwtch up, 3 in the bed... as much as I love my son, I really did not want any skin contact in the heat of last night.  A short while later a few more footsteps and we also have a Lilian in our bed. Four in the bed, not sure how to survive this heat...help! Most of us have finally dropped off to sleep and *CLUNK* the a/c kicks back in, the lights come on, it didn't last long though. We were back to cooking in our bed in no time.  The electric was on/off several times throughout the night, but thankfully on when we got up in the morning. 

We went to school for the final day of the summer programme, all was going well until mid morning... another power cut!! No fans, no lights, no internet!! Everything carried on as normal-ish, we were just dripping with sweat constantly.  Then, to add into the mix, we turn on the tap at the school, to wash the dishes and nothing came out! Fraser went upstairs to check the 3 tanks on the roof to find that they were completely empty.  The first time this has happened in the 3 years they've been there.  The tanks are filled on a weekly basis, but it seems the pressure must have been too low and the water didn't make it up to the tanks!  To end on a positive note, the electric did come back on!  And we've got our torches ready in case it cuts out again tonight.  It's all character building apparently. 

Thanks for reading.

Visa Extension...

We have been in Jordan for 3 months!! Time has flown and dragged at the same time, as we have been super busy with school and making new friends, but missing our friends and family so far away.

Today we were due to go to Amman and extend our visas for another 3 months, after which we will need to exit the country and then reenter in order to begin the whole process again!  We were half expecting it to be an ordeal, as it was last time. But it seems that Amman is much more organised than Zarqa. So we spent half an hour filling out some simple forms and a brief chat with a member of staff, and now we have to return in 2 weeks to confirm our visa and stamp our passports (which we have been guaranteed will be fine).  We were also told that if we take a letter confirming that we're volunteering at the School we can get a visa for a year, which would take away all this back and fore visa hassle. So lets just pray they keep their word and it can be that simple!!

We're grateful that today was so straight forward and want to say a big thank you to Auntie Bekah for Lilian and George's magazines, we saved them for today and they were a welcome surprise!!

The Falafel Sandwich

The first Saturday after the end of the school year, Puanana had a call from a company she has contact with in Amman called SkyLark http://www.skylark-jo.com/ who were looking for a last minute Native English speaker to teach English on their summer programme for 4-6 year olds, as their teacher had just pulled out. I (Abi) spoke to the company director on the phone and went into Amman with Richard on Sunday to meet her, and then began the 2 hour English class on that Monday! It really was last minute. I took Richard with me as I wasn't used to travelling on my own and took advantage of my parents visiting for someone to take care of the children.

Half way through that busy first day we arrived back in Zarqa bus station and were due to go straight to the school to attend an end of the year staff debrief. We were very hungry and unsure if there would be anything to eat at the school, so we bought falafel sandwiches from one of the many street vendors there. We took our food to the school where Mum (Ann) was preparing some food, so we very kindly cut up or sandwiches so they could be shared with the rest of the food. I think that only four of us were unlucky enough to have some Falafal sandwich, because the week to follow was far more than we'd bargained for...

It hit me first early Tuesday morning, glued to the toilet seat, then in the evening came down with a fever. When you're feeling cold and shivering in 35 degree heat you definitely know that something's wrong. The next morning, with a bout of vomiting thrown in the mix, Richard ventured into Amman to take my English class. But then he also began to get the rumblings, along with Mum and Dad (Ann and Tim). Then the penny dropped, as we took turns racing back and fore the bathroom - The Falafel Sandwich!

Mum and Dad began they're journey home to Wales Thursday evening, still with gripes in their bowels, reminding them to never be too far from a toilet. And for us, despite being I'll, life goes on! Saturday morning I was anxiously going back into Amman to teach another English class. Back and fore the bathroom 4-5 times before I left, I feared I wouldn't last the journey. But I survived as I discovered I could hold it in. Woohoo!! What a revelation! I just felt physically very weak and still needed a bathroom whenever I could find one.

So on Monday, seven days after the first of my dreaded symptoms, after losing 10lb in weight, both Richard and I feeling at all time lows, I went to a pharmacy and bought an antibiotic a good Doctor friend (you know who you are) recommended.  Within a day we finally felt hungry again, began to see reason, and stopped being quite so cranky with each other and the children.  Richard went from one day being filled with self pity and home-sickness to the next day devising plans and visions for the future.  So now we know what to avoid, we hope to stay away from this kind of trauma and anguish in the future!

Author: A.E.

Cockroaches

Cockroaches, cockroaches, All around the house. 

They hide in little secret places, They're quieter than a mouse.

 Cockroaches, cockroaches, We find them in the bath. 

You find them when you least expect, I think they're having a laugh. 

 Cockroaches, cockroaches, They're running across my feet. 

Up the wall above my head, And going around the toilet seat.

 Cockroaches, cockroaches, We're not putting up with you. 

If you keep appearing, He'll splat you with my favourite shoe! 

 Author: Abigail Eynon (June 2012)

An interesting take on Education at present

We think we may have shared this before, but we thought we would share it again.  A very interesting take on education and how change needs to happen in order for the children and young people of today to have a fighting chance for success (depending on the definition of success??!).

Enjoy...

Meeting the locals and the Mansaf experience

From our experience so far, the local Jordanians' are very friendly and wonderfully hospitable.  Most people we have met have either tried to invite us around for coffee or for dinner.  The offer of food, particularly the middle eastern food is hard to resist, however after a long day/week, it hasn't always been possible to accept the invitations.

However this week we had the delight in going to a friends house for food.  Ibrahim, a gentleman that Richard and Fraser met randomly has been a wonderful example of the Jordanian people.  For a couple of weeks, Richard has been playing football with Ibrahim and his team, whilst also sorting a problem out with the school dishwasher.  Every week Ibrahim has invited us to eat at his house and finally this week we were able to go.

For those of you who have had the pleasure to eat with Arabs, you will know that an invitation for food is not just for food, but Arabic coffee, food, more arabic coffee, Sweet Tea and then cold drinks.  This was our experience with Ibrahim and his family.  Very honored to have us at his house, his family and himself, served our every need whilst getting to know us even more.  After talking for a while, we were invited to go into the dining room for food, there on the table was a massive platter of a traditional Jordanian dish 'Mansaf' (We have attached the recipe below) Ibrahim then gave us a demonstration of how to eat the food, using the bread available, your grab the rice using only your right hand and 'pop' it in your mouth. Your fingers should not go into your mouth for whatever reason. Ibrahim had shown us how to eat this meal the 'proper' way, he and his family left us in the dining room to eat alone. We had tried insisting on them eating with us, but we are not sure why they wouldn't.  The food was delightful, as you can see from the picture.

Mansaf is cooked in jameed (the Arabic word for dried yogurt), which is then mixed with water in a tray to produce a creamy sauce. This is poured into a large stewing pot with chunks of lamb meat. The pot is put over an open fire. As the stew begins to warm, it is stirred to prevent the yoghurt from separating.

Large trays are covered with the doughy flat Arabic bread and dampened with yogurt. On top of this, a layer of rice is heaped. The meat is then piled on top. Almonds, pine-kernels and other nuts may be sprinkled over the dish, which is then ready for serving.

Ingredients:

• 6 pieces jameed (about 1/2 pound)
• 3 quarts plus 2 cups water
• 10 tablespoons clarified unsalted butter
• 4 1/2 pounds lamb shoulder on the bone, cut into approximately 3/4 pound pieces and trimmed of excess fat
• 2 tablespoons all spices
• 3 cups long-grain rice, soaked in water to cover for 30 minutes and drained or rinsed well under running water until the water runs clear
• 3 to 4 cups boiling water
• 1 tablespoon salt
• 1/2 cup blanched whole almonds
• 1/2 cup pine nuts
• 2 pieces shrak (Arabic flat thin bread/Saj bread)

We cant wait for the next culnary experience....

Author: R.J.E.

Happy Birthday Jordan

Jordan is 66 Today......

History of Jordan's Independence

On May 25, 1946 the United Nations approved the end of the British Mandate and recognised Jordan as an independent sovereign kingdom. The Parliament of Jordan proclaimed King Abdullah as the first King.

On April 24, 1950, Jordan formally annexed the West Bank and East Jerusalem, an act that was regarded as illegal and void by the Arab League. The move formed part of Jordan’s "Greater Syria Plan" expansionist policy, and in response, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Syria joined Egypt in demanding Jordan’s expulsion from the Arab League. A motion to expel Jordan from the League was prevented by the dissenting votes of Yemen and Iraq. On June 12, 1950, the Arab League declared the annexation was a temporary, practical measure and that Jordan was holding the territory as a “trustee” pending a future settlement. On July 27, 1953, King Hussein of Jordan announced that East Jerusalem was "the alternative capital of the Hashemite Kingdom" and would form an "integral and inseparable part" of Jordan.

Abdullah I was assassinated in 1951 as he was leaving the al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem.

Jordan became a founding member of the Arab League in 1945 and, as an independent country, it joined the United Nations in 1955. In 1957 it terminated the Anglo-Jordan treaty, one year after the king sacked the British personnel serving in the Jordanian Army. This act of Arabization ensured the complete sovereignty of Jordan as a fully independent nation.

(taken from Wikipedia)

Visa, visa visa....

Well, we've heard of when people come into the UK struggling to understand the system of getting a visa and/or securing asylum, after yesterday they have my complete sympathy. We needed to go to the Police Station to extend our 'tourist' visa, and so on a very hot day we went with our wonderful Jordanian taxi driver friend, to get our visas renewed. We thought, or maybe hoped, it would be a quick and easy sign a piece of paper process.  Boy were we wrong!!

So we roll up at the main police station in Zarqa, as we entered the grounds we were met by armed police officers who point Abi and the children to one entrance and myself and our taxi driver to another. The children were cooed over  - blonde hair, blue eyes is a rare in Jordan, especially Zarqa.  After a very relaxed vetting, we were all taken to the main building where we searched for the right office.  But in the mean time the children were both "desperate" for the toilet.  Our taxi driver found a male toilet, so Rich was on duty and Lilian experienced her first hole in the ground style lavatory.

Now we're walking down a long corridor of offices with officers sitting around, looking at us and smiling about the children, no office has real signs and those that do are only in Arabic, which we couldn't read if we tried.  Our levels of anxiety were not helping as we couldn't understand what was going on as our taxi driver acted as our advocate. The police officer we met said we needed to go to our local police station first to get our fingerprints and I.D processed and then to go back with a confirmed letter that this was complete..... so our driver took us to the nearest possible station hoping they would help us.  This police station looked just like a house from the outside, inside we could see one room that had a cell which looked like it was from a western cowboy film (4 men in handcuffs were taken in while we were there, which was of great fascination to the children).  The Police were somewhat reluctant to help us but one was told he had to by his boss. This officer then told us that we needed passport photos so that he could attach them to our records (despite having pictures taken as we arrived in the airport).  Not aware that we needed these, we went a shop that did these sorts of photos and had our passports photocopied (because our first copy we took with us wasn't enough).  We then went back to the police station, where the children were cooed over by 2 ladies and we had our finger prints taken.  With the appropriate piece of paper signed we got back, once again, into the hot taxi and went back to the main police station.  Vetted as we entered again and back in to find the office we went to originally.  After a bit of jabbering between the officers and our driver we finally have the extension we went for!!  Phew!!

Author: A.E.

School Open Day

Every year, the school, hosts the families of the pupils that attend the school to join in the building of the school community and enjoy a few cups of coffee together.  Many activities are provided by staff and volunteers, children enjoy the day whilst parents meet others and get a better feel of the value and atmosphere set by the school.

This year we were privileged to be part of the family day. Abi had the wonderful task of face painting, whilst Richard used the minimal artistic talents to help the children create an outside mural, based on the theme that the children had been working on over the last month, ‘The Ocean’.  Though the day was very busy, with the majority of the pupils and their families attending, it was a great experience to get introduced to the parents and share our heart for the work at the school.  It was also great for Lilian and George to spend more time with the other children, cementing friendships.

Here’s a picture of the wall mural that was completed by the children.

Sunrise in Zarqa

As we woke up yesterday morning, we were blessed by watching the most beautiful sunrise. We thought we would show people how beautiful Jordan is.

The Sukh...

Yesterday, we went to explore the delights of Zarqa.  After trying out our very limited Arabic, we spoke to a shopkeeper to get directions to a place that we had been to previously.  Trusting his every word, we flagged down a taxi driver to take us to the place, we thought we were going to.  After 5 minutes of being in the taxi, with not a word said between the taxi driver and us, we were unable to recognise the surrounding area.  Now I am a bit of a optimist and when looking over my shoulder to see if Abi was OK, the look of fear of being lost rippled over her face.  Oops, my "It'll be fine" attitude may have got us into some bother.... Well we arrived at the Main street in Zarqa, right in the middle of the 'Sukh' (not where we thought we'd asked to go).  This is a tradition Arab-style market, with streets and streets of people selling an array of different things.

We arrived at a shop, which looked pokey from the outside,  as the owner took us in, we took some steps downstairs and entered into an Aladdin's cave, with all sorts to buy - from a range of cheap tacky products to ornate things, including a Grandfather clock.  We were looking for some storage to organise our things.  Everything was priced using Arabic numerals, which we haven't learnt yet, so we attempted to ask for prices with the little Arabic we've picked up, and the shopkeeper responded appropriately so we must have been on the right lines :)  After a little bartering we left the shop with 3 sets of plastic drawers, a "Quality Wardrobe" and some hangers.  We called over a taxi driver who spent the next 15 minutes, along with the shopkeeper, attempting to fit our shopping in.  It was eventually achieved with 2 sets of drawers sticking out the boot, one on the back seat, with the flat pack wardrobe fitted in on top.  George and Abi then squeezed in what was left of the back seat (the door only just closed), Richard and Lilian in the front next to the driver.

Back at home Abi cleans the plastic drawers and they go into the children's room ready to be filled.  Then onto this "Quality Wardrobe"....  In the UK they could be done under the trade description act as the "Large full hanging space" would only apply if it was designed for children, and the "firm and exquisite steel piping frame" is not much to be desired.  However, it fitted together well and serves it's purpose, it even acts as a leaning post (see pic) LOL.

Authors: R.J.E. and A.E.

Written in a Sandstorm

8.15pm, Jordan Time.  As I write this the children have finally settled (despite finding it difficult to wake in the morning, Lilian's mind is too active to allow her to fall asleep easily in the night.  And George needed a nap after school today to avoid him falling asleep in his dinner again).  Spoke too soon - George just walked through the lounge door!!  Maybe we need to try a shorter nap tomorrow.

Heard a sandstorm hit the house a few moments ago.  Glad I'm not outside in it. In a matter of an hour we went from seeing the very scenic view of the hills beyond Zarqa, to watching a thick wall of sand blowing towards us. It's a new experience to add to the list, we've never seen a sandstorm before, praying for rain to dampen it down before we have to walk in the dust in the morning.  Imagine - we pray for rain and are grateful when it's cloudy, the opposite to our prayers in Wales when we prayed for it to stop raining and begged for the sun to break through the dark grey clouds.  It's not even summer yet, only a spring day with a high of 32 degrees Celsius today!  Thankfully the buildings are build well to keep the heat out, so it's not unbearable yet... I think we might melt in a few weeks/months as it gets hotter.

First Day of School

After a restful 4 days, with us just adjusting to life in Jordan, we have found ourselves waking up at 5.50am to start the day and prepare to go to the school. The day is greeted with a beautiful sunrise that quiet frankly blinds us. First order of the day 2 cups of tea for Abi and a strong black coffee for Richard!

We have known that the transition from the UK to Jordan was not going to be easy and particularly as Lilian has felt quite anxious about being away from family and friends. However the walk into the school this morning was with minimal moan and groan, and both children ran into school as they came through the school gates.

For the rest of the day, here is a summary from both of us:-

Abi

I have experienced an anxious anticipation in the few days leading up to today and a deeper feeling of inadequacy for this role I have been placed in, however this morning as we prayed these feelings were overridden by excitement and a more joyful anticipation for the role I have been given and the people I have now met.  Both staff and children have been very welcoming, and for the most today I just observed the classroom and assisted Lilian and George in their process of settling in (read their bits to find out more...)

Richard

Not having a job is something that I have not experienced in my life and the idea of "just" looking after the children has seemed quite a fun prospect, though after a few days, I have concluded that my wife is a super hero!!!!

The main part of my day has been spent shopping for both the school and home. Fraser's trusted taxi driver, Osama has been great, showing me where to go and where to definitely not go.  Visiting some of the stores brought an element of reality, as they had no electronic signs, no real sense of commercialism and not many home comfort foods. All the people we met were really friendly and appreciated the custom.

George

George got stuck straight in, choosing to mostly participate in activities he was familiar with. (In the Montessori environment the children have a wide range of activities to choose from, each activity builds skills of one variety or another, but the point is the child is the one who decides what they would like to work on today).  George went from completing one activity to another with a beaming smile on his face, demonstrating his eagerness to get stuck in and his readiness to learn.  He did puzzles, practices using a magnet, carried out pouring exercises, helped himself to snack, transferred small balls from one container to another, and much more...  He really enjoyed playing and working in the classroom, and fell asleep eating his dinner at 5:30pm showing how hard he's worked today!

Lilian

Lilian woke last night with a deep unrest and anxiety about today.  She didn't want to attend this morning as she anticipated the new experience today would bring but couldn't process what this would be like.  She took some time to settle in to the class room, clinging to Mum much of the time initially, that was until two sweet little girls went out of their way to ensure she felt welcome and drew her pictures which began to put her at ease.  As Lilian worked in the English centre of the classroom she enjoyed her work, discovering new ways of practicing to read with Mrs Puanana.  She is now excited about another day at school tomorrow!