"Amman with Ahed"

WHOOOOOHOOOOOO! We just had the most amazing time going to a club and seeing the nightlife in Jordan! Don't worry...we were safe because we went with Ahed and her cousin. So she took us through the city. They give directions based on the circles in the city which are round abouts. We went to 1st circle which she said were some of the oldest streets. She pointed out several things that we should know...mostly hospitals and anything related to the royal family. Also good shopping and eating places. lol So we squished all four of us in the back seat of her car. I got to be the one that ducked when we passed a police car. So we got to the Blue Fig and ate some "sweets" and drinks. I had something similar to a Mojito(Lime and mint) without alcohol. They can't drink during Ramadan. The first time Ahed introduce Stella to someone she said "this is Liza...wait...who is Liza?...You're not Liza." lol It was so funny...then later that evening she introduced Darren as Andy then said again "Who is Andy?" LOL. Then we said "Andy and Liza!" She was so funny. We had beans at the club and you squish the insides out and eat them. Amber was the best at it and I think I was the worst. Haha. There was a sweet ball thing that we ate and I bit one in half to try it and realized that I should have ate the thing whole because it squirted EVERYWHERE...its the juice filled kind. lol After that we were walking outside and waiting for the valet(its about 1 dollar!!!!) and there was a FERRARI!!!!!! I walked closely to it! Hahaha. I wanted a pic but no one would take one of me and the car. We went to a place called Rainbow street. Don't worry...it was ok. lol We had REALLY good ice cream...almost as good as Gelato! One our way back she showed us the hotel we will be staying at for the feast...if we don't have to stay in our apartment. Something else funny happened but I don't remember right now. So when I remember I will make a comment. Lol. I hope ya'll are enjoying my blog!

"Getting to know Amman"

So we've been here almost a week now and we are enjoying the amazing food and scenery. We like walking around and exploring. I have spotted a few restaurants I would like to try and there is a produce stand around a few corners that have better veggies than the main grocery store. A taxi man already tried to charge us 7 times the amount that it took to get home and the lady across the hall told us to threaten them by telling them we'd call the police and report them because its against the law. lol They honk ALOT here and we have been honked at VERY frequently. They also like to wave at us...the Americans. lol

We had our first day today at the school. The people we will be working with are nice. They are putting me in the Marketing area and Stella with Finance although I REALLY wanted to work with the kids. :-( The principle did mention that I would get to work in the sport complex possibly with basketball...so I guess they did see my experience in that area. We don't know any details yet but we should within the next few weeks. School doesn't start until September so we will settle in then take off time for the feast.

All the people in our building are nice...there is the doorman who speaks no English but its fun asking him things through charades. Andrew is an older man from Australia who works with the IT department. Selma is from Turkey and will be teaching religion and philosophy. The couple that is on my floor across the hall is Sarah and Adam...she is British and he is a Jordanian so they are so fun to talk to. lol

Thats all for now because its dinner time!

"The Journey"

Amanda's Adventures in Amman

I am a stranger in a foreign land! So my journey started at the DFW airport...they wouldn't let me on the plane! The lady at the counter told me that I could not fly because I did not have a return ticket. I told her the reason that I was going to Jordan and that I didn't know when I would be returning. She was not budging...so I called several people thinking I could somehow get someone important in Jordan to vouch for me. I couldn't get a hold of anyone other than Mr. Register and I told him that I was going to use a different check in counter. He said that would be a good idea and to use my "charm"...I'm not sure what charm he was refereing to. lol Once we walked all the way to the other counter I realized I didn't have my tickets so I ran back to the other lady and she REFUSED to give them to me and kept quoting her rule book everytime I asked a question. I was so frustated. lol By the time I ran back to the other counter and tried to check in again my dad had called the airline(coughs**American Airlines**coughs) and they had said that all I needed was a manager approval. After we told the new lady that and she did a little typidy type...all was well!!!! So I went through security almost easily...they had to open my carry-on because there was a suspicious metal box. It was my dominos...what?!?!? They are heavy? Its not like I was gunna check them! lol So the security gaurd teased me for secretly being a card shark after he saw the 6 decks of cards that were also in my bag. Yes, those are necesities. So I get on the plane and the inform us that the maintenance crew just left and the plane won't start so that are getting a truck to "jump start" it. He explain it in a more expert teminology but I will spare you that. So I am finally on my way about 30 min late(good thing I had a 4 hour layover in Chicago). I land and realize that they gave everyone else their conecting gate except mine so I hunted a tv down and found out where I needed to go. I had to exit the airport completely and take a tram to the international terminal(good thing I had a 4 hour layover in Chicago). I had to check in again and double checked to make sure that my bags were checked all the way through to Amman.(good thing I had a 4 hour layover in Chicago) Once I was finished with that I found the next security check point and got in line...the long line...to the one, count it, one security check point for the WHOLE international terminal(good thing I had a 4 hour layover in Chicago). I found the gate and Darren and Amber (the married couple here with us)were already there. We waited a while to hear from Stella(the fourth one going and my roommate). Her plane was delayed 2 hrs and she got there with only an hour and a half before our flight. We stayed out of line to board for as long as possible to wait for her but eventually there was no one left and we had to get on the plane. NO sign of Stella. I am periodically getting texts telling me she is on her way but not until about 10 min before the flight was supposed to leave did she rush on(did I mention that it was good thing I had a 4 hour layover in Chicago? lol).

So we are all safely on our way to Amman.

The plane ride. I couldn't sleep the whole 12 hrs! I had a lady(who I am sure was really nice) next to me who didn't know that the arm rest is a dividing line...as in she should've stayed on her side!!! She had boney elbows. She spoke Arabic and no english...although she did say "chicken" when dinner came around. She kept praying and bowing and what seemed like spitting and mumbling to herself in Arabic...then she slept and snored. Yea me. lol I had to plug in her headphones, lean her seat back, and buckle and unbuckle her seatbelt for her. She kept saying what I thought was thank you and would continue to talk even though she should have know that a blonde American doesn't speak Arabic. It seems to me like they all think we can understand them. We had chicken and rice for dinner and then I was still hungry(since I hadn't eaten for over 24 hours) so I asked for more food! lol She gave me meatballs...BEEF meatballs! I love the food here! We had chicken sausage in our breakfast too! Yum. So when we landed it was pretty easy to go through the airport and exchange money to get our visa. We waited for our bags and Darren and Amber's came out quickly but mine were the last to arrive and Stella's didn't come at all. lol She had hers show up yesterday.

Our ride to the apartment was fun...it was hot and I was stuck with my feet on the hump. lol They drive was crazy here which was quite entertaining. I took pictures and they are on my facebook. I also took pictures of our apartment and the view from the windows and roof! The roof is amazing and I think I will spend a good deal of time up there. Check out the pics...you'll see what I mean.

We are all settled in and we already went to find a place to eat...IT WAS SOOOOOOOOOO GOOD! Chicken scewers with grilled whole onions and tomatos along with some amazing sauce. Something else also came with it that we like to call spicy pickled cucumbers...we are not sure what it is or how it is made.

It is really hard to sleep with 90 degree weather and no AC! Yes that is correct! We have nooooo AC! Tonight seems to be the coolest so far so hopefully I can catch up on much needed rest. We had our first Sabbath today and it went well...tried to watch a video but it loaded to slow so we just listen to it on mp3 instead. We try to do the basic church format...3 songs, prayer, sermon and then 1 song and closing prayer. Darren will be giving a lot of prayers. :-P

Stay tuned for the next edition of Amanda's Adventures in Amman. LOL

Love and miss ya'll!!!

Amanda