Friday, November 29, 2013

Thanksgiving bonfire

Madaba, Jordan
Friday, November 29, 2013

This afternoon we enjoyed a lovely Thanksgiving meal with friends and friends of friends. As it grew dark, the bonfire was lit and the dry olive branches leaped into flame against the night sky. We drove home with full bellies, smokey clothes, and happy hearts.

Saturday, November 9, 2013

The $3 hair cut

Madaba, Jordan
Saturday, November 9, 2013

Perhaps concerned that I was paying too much at my "regular" barber in Madaba, Frank decided to take me to "his" barber down at the bus station. (Actually, I would have gladly gone back to my barber but when we arrived at the shop today, it was totally torn apart as if for renovation.)

In a country where the line between barber shops and women's hair salons is very, very distinct, I was nervous at (once again) trying to find a barber shop to cut my hair. But, accompanied by Frank, I succeeded in finding a fine hair cut--and an even less expensive one at that.

Here's to adventures in hair-cutting--which are made all the more exciting by the fact that I cannot even begin to explain in Arabic how I'd like my hair done...

Thursday, November 7, 2013

"you made my day"

Madaba, Jordan
Thursday, November 7, 2013

Written in tiny letters at the top of the page were the words "you made my day"--something one doesn't often find written on a (probably) too-long test at the end of a too-long week. But this student LOVES dinosaurs and does the most wonderful art work in his math copybook. Inspired by his love of dinosaurs, I wrote this test problem for him--and was rewarded by the aforementioned comment--and sketches, too.

He made MY day.