Currently Listening It's Hard to Find a Friend By Pedro the Lion see related

I took a little break from all things online a few months ago.  I purposefully stopped blogging, emailing, and reading the news (and by "news" I mean celebrity gossip).  The time apart from my computer was necessary and refreshing, though a little stressful once I attempted to sort through my inbox. 

I may not update regularly on this site anymore, but I'm fine.  Life is messy, confusing, and lovely, as always.  I now only have a few more months in Jordan, a sad reality, but I'm looking forward to a new season in Sacramento.  God is faithful.  I'm glad I know Him.

Currently Reading Blue Like Jazz: Nonreligious Thoughts on Christian Spirituality By Donald Miller see related

I woke up at 1:30 PM.  Argh.  I went to bed at 10 PM.  Double Argh.  I took two impromptu naps - living room floor and plush, purple Starbucks chair.  Triple Argh.

Tired and tired of being tired.  Jet lag.  The ever- nagging culture shock.  The physical drain of teaching again after two-and-a-half weeks of being carefree and childfree.  I just want to wake up without pumping caffeine into my veins.

I'm beginning to wonder if culture shock will never go away.  Sure, I can tune out almost anything after awhile, but country-hopping effectively screams for my attention.  The first few days of my California Christmas bliss were lovely, but overwhelming.  Driving my car, country radio, mega bookstores, half-dressed girls in the mall, green grass, Mexican restaurants, English...It was once normal, but it screams now.

Hmmm, there's more I want to write, but Anne, my crazy roommate, who is quite normal but got stuck with the nickname "Crazy," is waiting for me to swap my pajamas for clothes so we can go to the British Council for educational movies.  Okay.  More later.

Currently Reading Almost French: Love And A New Life In Paris By Sarah Turnbull see related

Back in Jordan

I am not slacking, lagging behind, or lazy in Xangaland.  Au contraire.  The last entry was clearly intended as a cliffhanger...Did she finish her list?  Did she make it home for Christmas?  Did she get kidnapped along the way to the airport?  Did her plane crash on a deserted island?  (Is it the same island where Lost is filmed?!)  Were you suspended in suspense?

Truth be told, I did do a bit of slacking.  Shhh.

I ate too much Christmas candy, indulged in multiple naps, sang carols at church, drank gingerbread soy lattes, joined the after-Christmas return-riots at the mall, kissed babies, almost went ice skating until it rained...It was the active, fun-filled variety of slacking.

Here's my family.  We were all together for Christmas.  My dad is running for San Joaquin County Supervisor in the June election, so his campaign manager took lots of pictures of us for his brochure.  (I managed to get him to take a few with my camera.)  After reading the brochure's description of us, I told my dad, "Wow, we sound so normal and well-adjusted."  LOL.  So, if you live in the 4th Disctrict of San Joaquin County, here's my plug: Vote for Ken Vogel.

I spent my last night in California with a group of about 15 friends.  I was amazed by a couple of things.  First, they're all still my friends, despite us living in different places and my sad lack of staying in touch.  Second, we all seem to have morphed into adults.  Careers, engagements, marriages, families, houses...bizarre.  When will this start to feel normal?

After five days in Stockton and Sacramento I flew to Kentucky and saw even more good friends.

I am now back in Jordan, jet-lagging like there's no tomorrow.  I woke up at 2 PM today, took a two hour nap, and it's now after 10 PM, but I doubt my head will hit my pillow anytime soon.

At any rate, I need to process the last few weeks before I write more.  There is a lot to think about.

I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Happy New Year!

Currently Reading Jesus I Never Knew, The By Philip Yancey see related

Making a List, Checking it Twice

Lists, more lists, and lists of lists have been spouting forth from the inky fingers that are now typing.  I recently made a list of "Things I Need to Do to Be an Adult."  Included on it is send Christmas cards, garden, and get along with siblings.  I told a friend about said list, and she laughed, saying, "You?  You seem like the most together and adultish of all of us."  I've heard this before and it ALWAYS baffles me because I'm disturbingly messy, dangerously scatterbrained, and often verging on losing it.  Somehow my hemorrhaging mass of brain cells keeps it all on the down low.

Anyway, here's my attempt to organize myself and systematically count down to a time of rest for my sanity:

The Pre-Christmas/Must-Do-Before-I-Get-On-The-Plane Checklist:

Have the Children's Church volunteers over for a visit.

Nearly every Thursday after Children's Church we visit a nominal family that allows its children to ride the bus for a weekly children's service.  I usually sit back, drink tea, smile, and soak in the Arabic, but last Thursday I hosted the other teachers at my apartment.  Honestly, I dreaded performing the expected hostess duties.  American hospitality seems almost rude next to Arab hospitality.  So with shaking hands, I prepared the tea and treats, pulling Luna into the kitchen with me to talk me through each step.  She showed me how to get the tea just the right color, how to present the cups and saucers, how to move from guest to guest presenting the offerings.  I tried my best, but there sure was a lot of tea left to pour down the drain after everyone went home.

Perform a Christmas Show for parents.

My fourth-graders performed a quick rendition of the birth of Christ.  Oddly the amount of hours it took to practice added up to less than five minutes of performance time.  Hmmm.  The kids were great though.  During the first show (we performed three times as elementary parents rotated through classrooms), "Mary" yanked "baby Jesus" by the head and practically threw him into the manger, but other than that they knew their parts and cues.

Buy Gifts for Christmas.

Spent this month's wages, but I'm done (almost).

Write Christmas Cards to the Kids.

Yep, while listening to the Garden State Soundtrack, which is EXCELLENT, btw.

Here's what's left for tomorrow:

Write Lesson Plans.

I have a total of four substitutes for the first week of next semester because I'm missing the first week of school.  Eek.

Download music onto my iPod for the long trip home.

Pack!

I'm almost there.  One more day.  I can do it.

Currently Listening Garden State By Various Artists see related

MY DAY IN ANCIENT ROME

One of the great things about teaching in the Middle East is the field trips.  Today we went to Jerash, a city in the north of Jordan, filled with ruins from its past life as a city of the Roman Empire.  We've been studying Ancient Rome for the past few months, and in celebration, we watched a live performance of gladiator fights, battle formations, and a chariot race.  The clanks of swords and grunts of soldiers caused me to hide my eyes a few times.  The boys, of course, were thrilled to give a thumbs down to every gladiator about to be "killed."  The show was way cool and the information about the army's strategy was fascinating.  I found out afterwards that all the men who played Roman soldiers are retired soldiers from the Jordanian army.  No wonder they intimidated me so much.  Here are some pictures from our trip:

We're studying the Middle Ages next quarter.  We're going to visit the old Crusader castle in Karak.  It has secret passageways and everything!  Jordan is cool.