Oh, the weather outside is frightful...

Madaba, Jordan
Thursday, December 12, 2013

School was dismissed a day early for inclement weather and today, indeed, the snow arrived. Wet, heavy stuff that was just perfect for snowmen and snowball fights. Now, it's time for something warmer than this corner of the Middle East: we are off to Thailand!

But, oh, campus was beautiful for a while--before the rain/slush thing began. And it was good to find a home for that last, lonely carrot in the fridge--

Ho ho...uh oh

Madaba, Jordan
Wednesday, December 11, 2013

School was dismissed one day early based on the promise/threat of snow. So I set to work this evening with a happy heart to make some Christmas cookies. I thoroughly enjoyed the process but was a bit dismayed to realize that the finished product looked a lot more like Easter cookies than Christmas cookies. Maybe next year I'll have some proper colored sprinkles to work with!

The smell of home

Virginia's Greek Bread

Madaba, Jordan
Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Amidst the rush of the last few school days, I have had just enough extra energy to bake a few loaves of Mom's Christmas bread to share with friends. Makes the apartment smell like home no matter how far away we are.

Gingerbread season

The finished product

Madaba, Jordan
Friday, December 6, 2013

After last year's initial success at making our own gingerbread house, A and I decided we'd try again this year. I managed to make a structural error in planning the basic pieces of the house, but it wasn't anything that some foil covered cardboard, a rabbit cookie, and lots of frosting (with cream of tartar for thickener) couldn't solve. Particularly popular this year, were the animal-shaped windows--which were then added to the yard for further decoration.

Step 1: Get the walls right...

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.

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...

"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.