Wedding

I cannot find the blog I wrote this am. We went to a wedding last night. It was
very much in the style of a J. Orthodox wedding, with the men and women being seperate. The women had on beautiful long dress and some of the men were dressed
in robes and kuffia.. lots of music singing and sweets. No booze!
We spent the day,thursday, in political discussions. Besides the war in Iraq
which is considered a really evil thing, Palestine is a big issue. The Law of
return being a key sticking point in any kind of peace agreement. J's are allowed
to return/live in Israel with relative ease. Not so for Palestinians. I am listening
to these arguments and seeing how the mere presense of Israel is a constant irriation
here. I'm not sure that two states will ever work and that our current course of
negotiations is even on the right track. At the school we visited, yesterday, there
was a poster on the wall, MAPS of the world. The flag for Israel was BLANK. I think
that says it all.

Friday

I tried to post this am but stuff got lost! I am now at the 5 Star Kempenski
hotel in the business center. Forget an internet cafe this place rocks.. its a huge
hidden hotel with a bowling alley, billards and a bar. Its our new "hang out".. I don't know why or how they let us in but they do! They even call me madam!!
Today was our first free day.. I went for a morning swim then we (MIMI, Marylin
Kathy and I) went to the Turkish Bath! Oh was that wonderful. We had showers,
steam, jacuzzi, scrub down and massage. It cost about 20 JD (Jordan Dollars) or
30 dollars us.. yes the JD is worth that much more than a dollar..After that
we went to a local crafts market where I bought a cute embroidered dress (yes I have
a million of these) and a bracelet for Sarah. I hooked up with a jeweler who
makes the neclaces with your name in Arabic or hello, English.. silver is about
13 JD and gold about 95 JD..
The Turkish bath was staffed with filipinas, who gave the messages and scrubs.
Filipinas work alot in the AEU as maids and service employees. All the ones I talked
to have families and children back in the PI!
We had lunch at a schwarma place and I picked up corn on the cob, fava beans
and chick peas at the market place. Tonight we plan to go bowling, here at our
new hang, the Kepanski!!Oh and did I mention we went to the duty free shop to buy
booze.. After paying almost 37 JD for 3 drinks (a corona was $7JD) we decided to
stock our own mini bars. Yes it is a muslim country and drinking and smoking anything
more than tobacco is not a happening.. we suspect that the drinks are watered down.
I am going to try and load fotos and find what I wrote this am!
Suzi

UNIVERSITY OF \JORDAN

We are at the university today, sorry \i can't seem to figure out how to make\a \capital letter. we had a meeting with the head of the literature dept to discuss the\state of education. in jordan students learn english from the first grade. at the\end of 9th grade they decide if they are going on a math/science track or a\humanities track. that decides which way they will go when they reach the university level. seems everyone is concered with the state of education today.\this\afternoon we will be meeting with teachers from public and private schools. we are also invite to a wedding tonight. it is very warm today but we\are\not having a heat wave like europe nor or we having any monsoon rains. sat\
we are going to the dead sea. tomorrow is a free day, yeah as \i have \not gone shopping yet for anything. \prices are high here. \oh and this is so a \muslim country.. there are only a few places that serve alcohol and there are no street drugs to be found anywhere, which is also kind of nice as there are no drunks or\addicts hanging out on street corners or begging. \\\\\\\\\\\\
mimi just found my hiding place and is now in the library with me. this is the first\high speed decent connection \i have found. \interesting discussions and people\we are meeting.\
after the visits to the refugee camps \i felt that \i really needed to change my life and be more realistic and maybe work for the \un.. as soon as we hit town and\
\i came upon the first jewerly store \i realized what \i was really missing was\
something gold and turqouise, whew, for a minute there \i thought i'd changed..\
loving the hotel laundry service \i have no idea what it costs, i've heard 2.5 jd\\
per item which i think is about $3.00 but oh well, i'm not about to wash stuff out\
in a sink, good grief..i still have not run out of adorable outfits and i have talked\with one of our guides and they are going to give my old long skirts and t's
to \iraqi refugee's when \i leave..
well, maybe \i'll go back for the last 10 minutes of class.. mmm \no\
suzi

Wadi Seer/Baaqa

Today we went to Wadi Seer, a Palestine Refugee Camp. This camp was is run by the
UNRAW ..United Nations Relief and Work Center. They have a wonderful school and
vocational center. Refugee status is given to those people from Palestine that
have been displaced and their children (4th generation) The UN provides relief,
social programs, health care and EDUCATION. This is paid for from the UN funds and
donor nations, except the educational part is funded by donations. UN schools meet
the standards of the host country. In this case Jordan. There are over 700,000
refugees, from Palestine. Refugee status is inherited. The 700,000 came in 1950,
after Israeli statehood. Another 190,000 from the 1967 War and 16,000 from Goland Heights. Unraw runs 170 schools in Jordan for 130,000 students. That is 6x PUSD!
They have a 6 day week and run school in two shifts, from 6:30-12:30 and 12:30-4:30.
They have excellent Voc ed training!!!
After the schools we went to Baqaa Medical Center and Baqaa refugee camp. That
was really mind boggling. We meet a patient that told us there are NO emergency
services or secondary services, ie PHYSICAL Therapy, rehab etc.. very sad and
I now see why Celebs are invited. If I had a few million laying around I would
donate it too.
Jordan is more than generous to allow all these displaced people to live in
their country. It places a very big burden on a country with limited resources.
I have to say that Jordan is very peaceful and that the people are always friendly
and polite to us. Jordan has BILINGUAL education and all the children learn
English starting in the first grade!
Oh, and the price of gas has gone up 80% since the fall of Iraq because Jordan
used to get gas at a very good price from Iraq.. it is now about $2.20 per gallon!!!
Tomorrow, we are going back to the University for a political discussion and to
meet teachers from public and private schools in Jordan. I am having a pretty
good time and making friends. Miss you all!
xoxo
suzi

Waiting for the Kings

This is Marylin and I inside a "tent" that was set up along the street. We were
waiting for the two kings, Abdullah and the Saudi King! There were police, bands
helicopters etc.. it was great fun..the high point of a very busy day. Flags and
people lining the streets. It was very festive and peaceful. There seems to be very
little crime in Jordan.

Favorite Student

This is me at Jordan University!

Jordan University

Okay, I got one image loaded. I have 3 more to go, but guess what, the computers
are freezing. Today we went to Jordan University. We meet with Dr. Mahjoob Zweri,
a specialist in Middle East Politics, located in the Center for Strategic Studies
at the University. (www.jcss.org)We discussed many topics, including Iran. Jordan
and the other Arab nations are worried about Iran but NOT because of their
NUCLEAR stuff, because they are Shia...the NUCLEAR threat is hardly a worry here..
(funny how that seems to be the BIG deal for Bush and his crew)....
Thhings are going more smoothly today and roll is being taken! We had lunch
at the student union where all the tables have cloths and they use real silverware.
Lunch was hummus, pita, babagonash, chicken with rice and some kind of heavenly
pistascho dessert.. (no I didn't eat the chicken or the rice)..it was 3 dinars each
or about $4.00...by the way the DOLLAR is NOT strong.. for $100 dollars I got 64
euros and for $100 I got $70 dinar..
We are going to dinner later and we are going to try and go out for beer and
hooka, I'm doubtful as its such a man's world I don't think we'll be allowed..
suzi