Firstly I would like to appologize for the absence of pictures...just use your imagination. Haha. I have struggled recently with the internet and the blog website recently(which is why this is late) and I also wanted to wait until after the weekend because Stella and I had the privilege of helping with a donation of shoes for a refugee camp. ABS had a shoe donation and collected over 2000 pairs of shoes!!! Then we left early in the morning(several staff members and about 10 students) to head about an hour away to a refugee camp of over 35,000 people. We were set up on a roof of a two story buidling. We set up stations of measuring the children's feet and then finding shoes that fit and then also gave them socks that were donated as well. The kids were adorable. One had to show off his "fo hawk" which he was very proud of because it is an Americanish hair style. haha After going through about half the shoes some ladies came in asking for multiple pairs of shoes and were saying they were for there kids...I sure hope so and that they weren't just taking them to sell them. After a little while longer we were starting to hear crying outside the door of the roof. I walked over climbed on a water container and looked over. There were so many kids standing on the stairs waiting to get shoes and they were being pushed around by other kids and some woman also trying to get in. It was very sad and upsetting to see the struggle for something as simple as shoes. Its sad to see what they were wearing before they got there. We finally had to leave the last bit of shoes there and then leave and let them have at it because it got so crazy. Luckily we had several strong men and a police officer to keep it reletively under control. It was a really nice experience being able to learning about where they come from and to see the children happy.
I was invited this week twice to go to a hip hop class! I learned two ruetines and I would deffinitly say that I don't learn fast enough. Haha. I had to come home and practice to get it at my pace. :-P It was fun though. I went with the drama teacher from the school and she is a blast to be around. I don't know if I will go that often because its a little expensive. They had a special teacher in from turkey who was awesome...but she talked a lot. I wanted more time dancing. :-P It was still a cool experience though!
I just joined a choir! There are about 50 people and I am a youngin compaired to the others. We practice on Mondays and its FREE!!!! :-) We are learning Mozart's Requiem and we will be singing it in Syria and in Amman. We also should have the chance to learn other songs to sing for community service projects. I had to audition for it which was the first time I have ever had to do that. :-P For the audition they asked me to sing a song...so I sung "You Raise Me Up" by Josh Groban. Then they had me do some scales and then sing row row row your boat with a guy taking notes...yup they did. No joke. lol For my big finale they handed me a Christmas ornament and a toy doctor kit and told me to tell a story using the props...it was odd but I did it. Haha. Good thing they accepted me. I also had a confidence boost when during our first practice the guy who was taking notes for the audition came up to me and said that he couldn't tell me this during the audition but he said I have a phenominal voice. :-) Yea! hehe! Go me! It is an odd experience singing in this choir because the director has strange techniques but I am determined to ignore that and learn the music and enjoy the experience.
I am currently still invloved in music and the student yearbook. I have just begun coaching baketball and I am very excited about the girls I am working with. Their first game is tomorrow!
I miss everyone very much and hope that everyone understands that I am very safe and our area is not being effected by the issues in Egypt other than just discussing it a lot.
We are officially half way done with our stay here in Jordan!!!!! I know that the rest of the time will fly by and even though I will miss being here...I miss home and everyone more! I hope to see everyone again soon!
Love ya'll bunches,
Amanda
