"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