Amman

First impressions of Amman:

I really am in the Middle East! The architecture looks as one would expect, and yet it is a delight to my eye to see buildings so different from those we're used to. Most houses are actually multiple family dwellings - usually one family per floor for middle to high income people. My sister's family lives in a house like that. (More on that another time.)

The stores are sometimes in a clusters like at home, but are often scattered among other businesses. It is strange to not be able to tell what kind of store a business is - sure wish I read Arabic!

It is as dry and dusty here as one would expect; however, the Jordanian government planted many trees in Amman and it certainly makes it beautiful. Families love to come have picnics along the side of the highway where all these trees are. The women, being inside most of the day, love to be out in the action in the cool evenings and enjoy the green of the trees. It is quite a site to see so many families setting up picnics along the side of the road. It seems loud and dusty to me, but it is just where they want to be - in the middle of things!

The traffic is certainly different from in the U.S. with lanes being optional, etc., but it is nothing like Jakarta or Manilla traffic. Much more civilized. My brother-in-law and sister are adept at maneuvering in the confusing melee and I'm very thankful to not have to take the wheel.

People are the same as everywhere in the world - some are friendly, and some just keep their heads down and are busy. Lisa's world is very welcoming of me and I'm delighted to meet them! The businesses she frequents know her and are very helpful and friendly. Lovely to see.

The boys are back in school today, so it is once again Hannah, my sister and I at home. (Friday here is like Saturday in the U.S.). The work schedule goes from Sat, Sun, Mo, Tue, We, Thur, then Fri off. The boys go to a school with a lot of Westerners, so they have Friday off to honor the local system, back to school on Saturday, Sunday off to honor the foreigners who attend school. Sounds strange to us, but it is their norm.

Let me know if you want more or less detail, and what kind of info and pictures you want. Have questions? Put them as comments - I'm checking every day! Love to you all!

Far away land...

I came into the house, opened the window to let in the cool air, and I heard the mosque's call. My heart stirred and I felt both right at home and so far away. The familiar sound of the mosque called up that sense in my heart that sometimes almost overwhelms me - where do I really belong? My childhood experience, growing up overseas (16 years in Indonesia), has made me so different from most of the people I spend time with, most of my friends. But, I've lived in America long enough that most of the time no one can tell just how different I am. Do I want to seem the same? And just how different am I still?

Sometimes I feel like I'm losing the Indonesian part of me. Sometimes I feel it's gone. I don't like that. I do have a choice, though. I can do more Indonesian things, try to replant those roots back in my garden. This trip is bringing that up for me once again. It feels good and bad.

So I'm far away from home, my hubby, my life in CO. I'm not that far, though. Today we went to the boys' t-ball game. Moms were there with younger siblings, there were coaches milling about, and all the kids were so excited about their 2nd t-ball game. It was tons of fun, as was the birthday party we attended this evening, complete with pizza, cake and ice cream.

An amazing day, to say the least. The best parts of me and my past colliding with many of my fears. To my journal I go, and another good night's rest.

P.S. Check out my little Matt Holliday!

Is it Thursday?

So here I am, happy and content! How much happier could an aunt be with these three beautiful kids looking at her first thing in the morning?

Hannah (3) is wondering why I slept so late (about 7:30) and if we'll have time to finish the book we started last night (Little Mermaid). Check out her curly, beautiful red hair! She stayed home with my sister and I today. We played, read, napped, talked, ate lunch, did a little shopping, and eventually picked up the boys from school.

Here's David (5) getting ready for kindergarten. Yesterday was pajama day, so they all wore their PJs, brought a snuggle buddy, and a blanket. David wore his favorite Superman PJs and looked very dashing!

Joshua (7) is finishing up some paperwork for a field trip next week - to the zoo! Joshua is a very physical kid - he runs, throws balls, etc. like a 10 year old. I think he might be quite an athlete, as was his mom.

I had a good time shopping with Hannah and my sister yesterday. We went to their neighborhood fruit/vegie market and bakery - both within walking distance. The bakery is run by 2 Iraqi brothers and is filled with delights - both sweet and savory! I will have to exercise some self-control and limit my pastry snacks. I would, however, like to try a bunch of the treats, so Lisa said they could put together a box of 1 of each for me. I might just do that!

It was a nice day of just hanging out. Tomorrow is the beginning of the weekend and we have t-ball, a pizza party, and gifts to give out. ;-) I think I'm going to get away with not much jet lag, but my cold might be coming back. We'll see. Lovely to just relax and be...

I'm here (long entry!)

Hi, all, from Jordan! It was an amazing journey - without trouble or toil!

I had a few things to do Tuesday morning before I left for the Denver airport, so I accomplished them (including buying a small package of fresh blueberries to hand carry), and then was picked up by my good friend, who, with my sister, drove me to Denver.

Checking in was a snap, except that I was a couple pounds overweight, so I had to remove a few of the gifts for my niece and nephews. That was disappointing, but I'll just send them with the next person. I was hoping to have my sister and her hubby hide those things until Christ mas or birthdays, so it wasn't too disappointing. They were going to be delayed gratification anyway. My flight from Denver to Chicago was uneventful, but delayed because of rain and thunderstorms over Chicago. No worries, though. I had 2 1/2 hours in Chicago.

I got off the plane and hustled over to the Royal Jordanian Airlines ticket counter. I had to leave security, go to another terminal, then check in with their ticket counter, and go back through security. I got to the Royal Jordanian ticket counter only to discover quite a mob of people standing in line to check-in. The poor RJA employees - all their computers were down - totally down. They were having to call the INS about every passport, hand-write all boarding passes, and check in all luggage by hand. People were impatient, angry, worried about missing their flight. Of course, RJA delayed the whole flight so we could all get on as the problem was theirs. I decided to just be patient and wait quietly. Getting irritable wasn't going to speed up anything!

I got on the plane and was happy to discover that I had no one sitting next to me. I was in a section of just 2 seats, next to the window (planned so I could lean against it and sleep). The empty seat next to me gave me just enough room to stretch out and relax a little more. I kept looking out the window as we left the midwest and was witness to an amazing lightening storm in the distance. It went on and on. The view from 30,000 feet was spectacular, lighting up the clouds and affording quite a show of nature's power and beauty. I was glad we were heading away from that lightening, but was very glad to have scene it!

I had a nice meal, read for a little while, took my OTC sleeping pill, unpacked my amazing compressible/expandable camping pillow (a gift from Tim), and actually got about 7 hours of sleep (interrupted and restless, but 7 hours nonetheless). I woke up to bright sunshine and read for an hour or so while waiting on breakfast. Despite the delayed flight out of Chicago, I arrived only about 1/2 hour late. There were my bags (unmolested), and there were my sister, her husband and their 3 beautiful kids waiting for me!! Wondrous! Oh, my heart leapt in my chest!

We drove to their home (quite expansive and lovely!), I took off my shoes, and we all just relaxed. It was soon time for the kids to go to bed, so we brushed their teeth, got them ready and tucked them in. Sister and I could not, of course, resist staying up just a little too late talking, but she wasn't up too long.

It was only about noon my time, so I unpacked, discovered I was VERY HUNGRY (it had been about 8 hours since "breakfast" on the airplane), had a snack (translate foraged in their refrigerator in the dark), read for a little while, took another OTC sleeping pill, and went to bed, hoping to get right on track and beat jet lag. I unpacked not only my clothes (of which I brought very few), but the many gifts I brought from myself and other family. I must say I felt just like Santa Claus! I couldn't wait until this morning to give some of the gifts away. :-)

I'll sign off for now! I'm here, happy and content to just BE with these lovelies.

The morning of

Well, all bags are packed, I'm ready to go...what's that song in my head?  It's about 7:00 a.m. and I'm all set for my big trip!  I slept great, my cold is much better, and everything here is ready.  What else can I say?  I'm acting like I'll be gone 3 months, but it's only 3 weeks.  I'll miss Tim for sure, and my friends, but some of them I might not see in 3 weeks anyway.  ;-)

My sister and a good friend are taking me to the airport with lunch on the way.  That should be fun.  I've weighed and measured my bags and they are all within limits.  I had room for almost everything family wanted me to take, as well an additional pair of shoes for me.  What else could I ask for?  Save travel, but that's the norm.

Next time I write I'll be in the Middle East!