Good News

So, quick blog! Just wanted to let all know that I got accepted to grad school for fall 2006. I will be attending CSU Hayward in the fall cohort for their administrative credential program.

everything happens for a reason

The past few days, life has been going extremely well! And everything has been falling into place suprisingly well to allow for things that wouldn't have been possible otherwise.
For example, yesterday I was at the peace corps office. I was rushing around trying to get stuff done and get back to the operation smile hotel but one of the staff asked me if i could stay for lunch. I couldn't, but since she was running around for meetings, i decided i would run next door and get her lunch. While i am in the small sandwich shop, I see a very foreign looking man with hearing aids. Well, after watching for a minute i realize that he is definitely deaf and so I figure, looking foreign i would try my ASL with him. Well, turns out that he is actually Dutch but he understood american sign language. It was great to chat with him and it turns out that the deaf cultural center is right down the road from the peace corps office.
He invited me to the ribbon cutting ceremony with Prince Ra'ad next month. It would be great. Needless to say, if i had not be there at that time, i would not have had the chance to meet him.
Then, I go to the optometrist to get new frames for my glasses and it takes longer than I thought it would take... so I end up getting to stay an extra night in Amman and because of that, there is an Operation Smile banquet dinner tonight that i get to go to. I am very excited about this.
So, as I always believe... things do work out for a reason in life!

How many people have gotten to seen...

Well, I am writing this from the hotel where i am staying while helping out with the Operation Smile Iraqi mission. The kids here are great and it is great to see some of the kids from last time.
Today I had a rare opportunity to go to the hospital. I really wanted to see how the hospital side of the mission worked. We stay at the hotel and coordinate from here so we really don't get to see what goes on over there. Well, since this will be my last mission, I wanted to go over and I traveled with the kids over there. Once I got there, I asked if i could see some of the surgery. Well, they let me put on scrubs and go in and watch surgery. When I get into the operating room, they tell me they are just finishing up with one child and I should wait because they will be starting a new surgery in a few minutes and I can watch that. Well, imagine my surprise (and delight) when the child they bring in is the one I had connected with in my first operation smile experience back in november. This is the child who is blind and autistic and, if you look at the pictures from my first operation smile experience, is the one I am playing the tambourine with. He was not able to have surgery the first time he came in november, so I was delighted he could have his surgery this time and also that, of all the 100 kids who were having surgery over the span of 4 days... the one hour i happened to be there was the hour he was having surgery!
I will be going into the peace corps office on thursday morning and will try to upload most of the pictures then as I will have a fast internet connection then.

Wow... life is good!

So, lots to post about. This past weekend was truly awesome! After going to the baptism site, I also had the opportunity to go to easter sunrise service on Mt. Nebo. I have been to Mt Nebo several times... but somehow, sitting in the church listening to the scripture about Moses looking out over the land of Moab... and knowing that I was sitting in the spot where he overlooked that region was just inspiring.
After church several of us had a nice brunch at a volunteers house.

One thing that I am really grateful this weekend is I made an amazing new friend. I have made several good friends since I have been here but, just like any other experience, there are some you connect with more than others. Well, I met a J9 (someone who came in the group after me) and he is one of the most amazing people I have ever met in my life. In the short time I have hung out with him, I have been truly amazed at his character, talent, grace, and general trust and faith in life. I am truly glad that this experience has allowed me to meet him and I have a great feeling that we will develop a really deep friendship as time goes on.

Then I headed into Amman to work at operation smile with the Iraqi students. It is an amazing experience. Different this time as I have already done it. It is kind of like the second time you return to summer camp... nothing is ever the same as the first time you experience it. But still very amazing! In fact, during my first experience, I was able to work with a student who was blind and autistic. It was wonderful to make that connection. Well, he was back this time so it was fun to see kids that were returning either due to the fact that they had not had the operation the first time or who were having second operations.

So, the past few days have involved going to the baptism site, easter services at mt nebo, working with iraqi kids, and most importantly, making an amazing new friend!

The Baptism Site

Today was such a fun day! I got up, and decided to live on the wild side (well, ok, wild for me... but hey, isn't everything relative). I walked down and I decided I would get whatever bus (well, one of 5 I knew would take me to the right area) came first. So I got on a bus from Madaba to Naur and then caught another bus into Amman. It was so nice to see a different route and just enjoy the scenary. There, I met up with two volunteers. One of them, a J9, I hadn't really met before. Turns out, he is just the nicest guy! And also a christian so it is great to get to know him.
Anyway, the three of us made our way down to the Baptism site by the dead sea.
You go in, and then they take you by bus down to two places. First stop, Elijah's hill. Which isn't much but was fun to see. From that spot you can also look over the town of Jericho. Then we went down to the river. You get off the bus and walk through a path that has been put in to guide you down to several areas (kind of like a nature trail). The interesting thing, is at the top (before you start the walk) there is a pool (i mean, it has stairs at looks like a swimming pool) which has been put in with filtered water from the Jordan river for those who are elderly or disabled but who want to be baptized. It is really one of the first (and only) times I have seen something in the country which takes into account the needs of the disabled. So, while a pool made of river water was kind of funny to me, I did appreciate its signifigance. Then we walked down to the place where Jesus was baptized. The sad thing is, now it is nothing more than a dry creek bed. I mean, you can see where the river used to be, and there is a monument put up, but the fact is that the dead sea and jordan river are drying up so quickly that they are predicting in 50 to 100 years, they wont even be there anymore.
So after we looked at that, we walked down to the actual river (which, at this point, is quite narrow). The truly wierd thing was that half way in the middle of the river (which is no wider than a standard bedroom) is the boarder between israel and jordan. So, on one side of the river (where we were) there is a jordanian officer, a jordanian flag, etc etc. And on the other side, is an israeli tank, an israeli flag, and tourists visiting the baptism site from israel. In fact, you could talk to them in a normal voice. Kind of surreal considering the politics of the middle east.
Some of the people from our group actually had on swimsuits and went in the water and submerged themselves. I am not sure, even if I had my swimsuit, that I would have felt comfortable with that. But I did roll up my pants and wade in the water. Wierd to think I have waded in the Jordan river.
Anyway, then we made our way back up to Madaba and tomorrow is sunrise service on Mt. Nebo at 6:00am. I am SOOOOO looking forward to it.
I will post pictures just as soon as I am able.

Until then, Happy Easter!

The longest BBQ ever

So, i had a pretty surreal day here in Jordan. Last week my center had planned to do a BBQ with the staff after work. Well, today we get up and it is kind of cloud and overcast, but we decide to go ahead with it.
So, as we are driving down to where we had planned to BBQ (a place called "little petra" which are in the mountains next to petra and much prettier... cause there are no tourists) it starts to rain. Well, the driver decides to just keep driving and see what happens. We drive for almost an hour all the way into the Wadi Arba (the valley below the mountains where i live that separate Jordan from Israel). Down below the clouds it was sunny so we set up and start our BBQ. It was truly beautiful! We were about 30KM south of wadi mousa and about 15KM from the Israeli boarder in the middle of nowhere! Well, just as we finish the chicken and sit down to eat... it starts to rain. Luckily, it is light so we just move the blanket under a nearby tree and go ahead and eat. Well, just as we are finishing eating the sky opens up and a DOWNPOUR starts! We all rush back and get into the van and start home. Well, because i live on a mountain, and because of the laws of gravity, when it rains here it floods.... so we couldn't go back up the road we had come down cause of mudslides. We end up driving through the valley (at times, really close to Israel... at one point I could see the boarder checkpoint... probably less that 5KM away) all the way down to half way to Aquaba (about 40 minutes) before we finally found a turn off to a road that was not flooded.
It was quite a long trip for what turned out to be a short BBQ but it was an adventure to say the least.
Now I'm back home and warming up but wanted to share with everyone.
I also wanted to wish everyone a very Happy Easter. We celebrate on the eastern orthodox calendar here so I will have easter services next sunday but for all of you in the states, happy easter!

Worthwhile Organization

Hi All,
I wanted to let you know of something exciting that has happened in Jordan. There is an organization that has been set up by returned volunteers from Jordan called "Friends of Jordan". They have sponsored and supported several small projects within the country and also put out a newsletter.
I suggest everyone check it out as a way to continue to support volunteer efforts over here in Jordan.

http://www.friendsofjordan.org

Ever have those moments???

Ever have those moments where it just hits you smack in the face that you aren't the same person you once were? I had one of those moments today!
I received some news that an old flame is engaged to be married! Let me tell you, probably less than a year ago I would not have taken this news well. And, for those of you counting, this is the fourth recent engagement/wedding I have gotten news of (my sister, just found out my dad is proposing, my villagemate over here is getting married in a month, and now this). So, for someone who is pushing 30 (yes all, my 29th birthday is in less than a month) and who is very single, this could have been a huge blow.
And instead, I actually found myself happy for him. Don't get me wrong, don't particularily want all the details or anything, but was also not resentful, upset, or anything of the sort.
The timing is actually kind of funny as I was just out with another volunteer for dinner the other night and we were discussing the fact that some men we know over here (volunteers) have "checklists" and are looking for someone to settle down with (which we find funny considering this guys age).
This guy is GORGEOUS, intelligent (some would even say "wicked smart"), compassionate, worldly, etc... basically a perfect package. And yet he has not found his mrs. right. So for me I realized, again, that you just flow with life. Some may have have the luck of finding a perfect partner in life, and others dont (and I keep saying, I would rather be single forever than end up with the wrong person).
Shortly after I recieved the news of my friends engagement (oh, and I know he reads this blog so, again, congratulations!) I had my first English tutoring session with a young girl from the village. It kind of caught me off guard as I thought i was going to her house and she showed up just as I was getting ready to leave (which works out better cause she has like 14 younger siblings and studying at her house would be a pain). It took me out of myself and the news and threw me right into work and life back here. And as i was sitting there tutoring her, I realized that, as much as I would like to get married, settle down, have a family, I am also doing exactly what I am sure I was meant to be doing at this time in my life. And that thought alone was great.
It was at that moment that I realized just how far I have come being over here. Oh, I suppose I am still the same person. I really wish I could ask some of my friends over here but since they have only really known me over here, I suppose they couldn't really say. I still like to go out and have a good time, although i am just as comfortable and happy with my own company at this point. How I judge a friendship now has much less to do with how often I see a person and much more to do with how much we "connect" and can communicate and support each other...
So, I'm sitting here now... done with my tutoring, having processed the news about the engagement, and I am at total peace with myself and my life. I think in these days where we often move so fast and things happen all around us, it is a rare and precious time that we can just "be"... and be content in that.
I wish you all the same peace and contentedness in life!

Sometimes the end comes too fast

Well, tonight the end finally hit me. You see, my village mate is done with his service in just 4 days! He will be staying in the country until June (cause he is marrying an awesome girl from here) but he will be leaving the village. So, tonight, the "southern posse" (which, there are only 3 of us) went out to dinner.
We were having a great time, laughing and so forth, and we got ready to catch the cab (we were waiting in the hotel lobby) and he gave each of us a big hug in the hotel before we walked out (cause we can't hug in public)... and right then and there it hit me. As of this time next week, he wont be in the village with me.
He arrived 5 months prior to me so the whole time I have been here, so has he. Now, funny thing is, we aren't allowed to talk in the village, and I have wanted to kill him on more than one occasion in the past two years... but for all the ups and downs, he is my brother! I have other volunteers that I am more "connected" with, people I keep in better contact with, but there is no one I can go to to vent my frustrations about my landlord who will understand but him! There is no one who I can talk to about my co-workers who will understand just how cool they are. There is no one I can say to "hey, can you let me know what time the village bus is coming" or who I can talk to about different families except him. And, while it is part of life and service, having him leave feels like loosing a brother.
It then made me realize that while I am excited to get home and move onto the next phase in my life... in a few months, there is a good possibility that I might not see some of my friends ever again! Believe me, this wont happen with my village mate (I love him and his fiancee too much... if it means vacationing in the mid-west to see them, i'll do it) but it did bring home the fact that I have had this amazing experience... and have made some amazing friends... and soon it will come to and end.
So, in the cab ride home, I did cry a bit... although i tried not to let it show. I figure, if I am going through all these emotions right now, imagine what he is going through. No need for him to deal with my emotional crap as well! But I can say, should he read this... brother, I'll miss you! And I will never forget what a FoHawk is! Love ya!

A new hobby

Ok, Ok... I know I don't have enough of them. I mean, what? Between the cross-stitching, the guitar playing, the knitting, the flying... well, I just wanted something new!
So, my sister brought me over a model airplane kit. Now, not one of those plastic ones where you just snap parts together... oh no! This is a balsa wood one where you actually build the frame and everything and then, should your aerodynamics be right, it SHOULD fly! Well, i started it today and 3 hours later, realized i had spent three hours on it (its not as easy as you might think). But, the funny part was...you have to sand down the balsa wood so that you can snap out the pieces without breaking them. So I did that and then my carpet at my place had all this sawdust on it. Now, I love sawdust! I am sure several friends will remember my attempt at "building" my own desk when I couldn't find exactly what I wanted. For those of you who did not experience this... my one bedroom apartment looked like the main base of Home Depot! And I know, for a fact, Miguel at least remembers this (probably still has nightmares about helping me assemble, and then disassemble it at midnight).
Well, the difference here is that I don't have a vacuum cleaner... so I guess I will just enjoy the sawdust for a while! But I am definitely addicted to the model plane building.
My fuselodge is now done... on to the wings later. This one I will leave in the village with a kid here who is an aviation enthusiast... but when I get home, i plan on building a motor powered one like my Uncle did and then taking it up for a flight! Hopefully, my maiden flight will last longer than one takeoff (which is what his did before it crashed into the ground).
Well, there is my rambling for now... Hope everyone is well

A Day of Personal Thoughts

Ok, I want to preface this blog by saying I have had a lot of thoughts today (due to surrounding events... which are expanded on below) and it may be a bit of a harsh blog... but they are my thoughts.
I found out yesterday that one of my students parents delivered a baby this weekend (6 weeks early) who either died shortly after birth or was still born. Now, I realize this is devastating... but I also know this is the 5th (YES... FIFTH) child this woman has lost either shortly after birth or late in her pregnancy. You must also realize, she is married to a first cousin and both her children have special needs (her daughter in my class more than her son but still). As much as I greived for her, a part of me felt like saying "you have two children... and clearly having more children is not a very realistic or safe possibility for you... so STOP". I also have to wonder if it is a blessing... I mean, looking at her daughter, and knowing that at least two of the children who have died shortly after childbirth have been children who died because of medical complications and problems, I have to wonder if it isn't for the best. I mean, I would imagine if the child had survived, it would have had a SEVERE amount of problems.
So, I felt harsh for thinking that but I did. Then, her sister (who is a co worker) got extremely distraught over it and this was intensified this morning when she came across a bus accident in which a child was killed. Again, while tragic, it suddenly hit me. This is a culture that is STEEPED in religion. I mean, everyone here has such an ingrained faith, and everything is "in sha allah" (translating to "if god wills it") that part of me was surprised. This woman is fearful of everything... she is fearful of death, of getting sick, of EVERYTHING (if she were in the states and I could understand everything she said... I would probably call her a hypochondriac). So I had a long discussion with my two co workers that i am friends with (she was not present) about this wondering why she was so scared of everything if everything is in God's will. They didn't understand either, they just said that was her personality. But it was a great springboard for a discussion on religion, death rituals (creamation vs. burial, etc) and faith. Really, an over all good day considering it sprang from such greif.