Hot Springs

We had our final adventure today. We went to the hot springs that were about 40 minutes from King's Academy - very very hot and a very very hot day. Tomorrow we will present our project to other Jordanian teachers and officials. Then we leave on Sunday for Seattle and arrive home at 1 in the morning on Monday. Back to school on Tuesday.

The tomorrows after - I am very anxious to see what is in store for me.

Irbid

In the van again, this time we went north to Irbid. We were able to visit Wasfi Al Tal Industrial School where Mustafa teaches radio and television maintenance. It was a pleasure to meet some of Mustafa's students, see his classroom, and tour the school. It is obvious why he is the winner of the Queen Rania Award. We also visited a museum in Irbid and went to the souk where we purchased spices. Mustafa then hosted a dinner at his home. It was exciting to finally meet his wife, children, parents, and brothers. One picture shows Mustafa's mother and father.

I am anxious to see what the days ahead hold.

Ma'an

We were in the van at 6:30 a.m. for a four hour drive to Ma'an. Our day started with a visit to Ma'an Secondary School for the Girls. The headmistress, Salfa Abu Tayeh, is a Bedouin and comes from a family of thirteen siblings four of which have PhDs. She spoke about the Bedouin culture which treats men and women as equals. She has traveled to the United States and has a brother who lives in Seattle. Her name, Salfa means powerful woman. She is powerful and an inspiration to the students at her school. One photograph (left to right) shows Rabia, Andy, and Salfa Abu Tayeh.

We were also honored guests at Rabia's home for a traditional Jordanian dinner. We had mansaf made with goat, rice, shrak (a thin bread), and a yogurt sauce. Rabia's friends and extended family were invited to share the delicious meal.

I am very excited to see what tomorrow will bring.

Ein Jaloot School

We had the opportunity to visit Maysoun's school, a secondary school for girls, and one of the best public schools in Jordan. Every morning begins with saluting the flag, singing national songs, exercises, and prayers. Then students have three classes followed by a morning break. Then students have three or four more classes. We saw a biology class, computer lab, English lab, robot lab, and math class. The staff also made us a delicious lunch. It was obvious that these students were well taught and hard working.

Madaba

Madaba is a bustling market town and filled with beautiful mosaics dating from the 6th to the 8th century. The mosaic in the picture shows two fish, one swimming away from the Dead Sea. Tomorrow? I can't wait.

Maysoun and her mother

Manal's Family

Basil's Farm

The travel agent who arranged our trip to Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Red Sea invited us to his farm near Madaba. Basil has olive trees and produces extra virgin olive oil. His wife Viola, a former science teacher, showed us the farm, their home, and the guest house. We enjoyed fresh figs, cactus, desserts, Arabic coffee,and mint tea.

The Red Sea

From the Dead Sea to the Red Sea, the contrast is amazing. The shallow depth and lack of sea currents allow algae and coral to thrive in the Gulf of Aqaba. We snorkeled for a few hours. The water temperature was perfect for viewing all sorts of fish, some that I had never seen before. The guide book says there are over 1,100 species of fish and 10% are unique to the Red Sea. Lucky me.

Wadi Rum

This wadi (from the Arabic word "valley") is located in the southwestern part of Jordan. We rode through the desert in the back of a jeep and marveled at the vertical cliffs, valleys, and sandy dunes. From there we went to Jabal Rum where we enjoyed music and dinner with Egyptian and Lebanonese tourists. I wish you were here.

Petra

Amazing! Two days at Petra gave a tiny taste of the Nabataens, some of the most gifted people in history. They were clever and practical people who never believed in national exclusiveness, were open to outside cultural influences, absorbed them, and added to them so the final outcome was a treasure of the ancient world. Are you a historian? Are you an anthropologist? Are you a geologist? Are you an architect? Are you a naturalist? Join me...

Arabic Coffee Break

After visiting museums, we stopped for coffee.

The Children's Museum

As I experience all the sights and sounds of Jordan, I am thinking ahead to the beginning of school. This entry is for my third grade students.

Traces of the Arabic influence can been seen in Spanish words such as "arroz"(rice) from the Arabic "aruz" and "camisa" (shirt) from the Arabic "qamis." Can you think of words that have come from other languages?

Omar Maani, Mayor of Amman

We had the opportunity to meet with Oman Maani, the mayor of Amman.
This forward-thinking individual presented a summary of the growth plan for the city. This city has been growing over the past years and has felt a impact on transportation and other services. The vision is to blend the natural and cultural heritage with modern urban development. We each were presented with a book that shows Amman with photos through the eyes of Jordan's youth. A favorite photo is of a man with the caption: People are more the spirit of a place than the buildings built in it. This is true for Amman and for Jordan.
Tomorrow awaits.

Ajlun Castle: Home of Qalaat-al-Rabad

Ajlun's fabled fortress was built in 1184-85 and on clear days offers views of the Dead Sea, the Jordan Valley, the West Bank and Lake Tibberias. I am anxious to see what tomorrow will bring.

Ajlun Nature Reserve

We had the opportunity to visit the Ajlun Nature Reserve which is located north of Amman. The reserve is under the authority of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature and is an ideal place for students to learn about the environment.
We can only conserve what we love.
We can only love what we understand.
We can only understand what we are taught.

Jerash

Jerash is located north of Amman and is the finest example anywhere of a Roman provincial city. The forum, colonnades, streets, theaters, buildings and mosaics have been preserved for almost 2,000 years. I wandered about and thought about the the lifestyle of that time. What would an eight or nine year old be doing 2,000 years ago?

Jordan River and Mount Nebo

We traveled to the Jordan River to the site where Jesus was baptized and to Mount Nebo, the site where Moses traveled to see the promised land. As I looked at the Jordan River, I thought about the importance of water to this region. In rainy Seattle, sometimes it is hard for students to see that water usage is a global issue.

Jordan Education Initiative

We were able to visit the office of the Jordan Education Initiative. This initiative was launched in 2003 in order to improve the development and delivery of education through a public and private partnership. It was exciting to learn about the 100 Discovery Schools that are located in or near Amman. These schools set an example for all of Jordan. It would be exciting to develop an internet exchange with these teachers. Again, I was very impressed with all the individuals who working to give a world class education to all the public school students of Jordan.

Rug Shopping in Madaba

As I walked along the street in Madaba, I noticed a small shop with a man sitting behind a loom. I walked in and watched him weave. The rugs reminded me of one that I had purchased long ago. I looked at all the rugs and finally chose one to purchase that was a beautiful blue. It will make a special gift.

Jordan University

We had the opportunity to visit Jordan University. There are about the same number of students as there are at the University of Washington. I was struck by the similarities: students studying, walking to class, talking with friends, enjoying the campus. Three of our Jordanian colleagues had studied here so it was especially enjoyable to meet some of their friends who were teaching at the University.