Fresh figs!

Madaba, Jordan
Thursday, August 30, 2012

Just in case you don't know the joy of fresh figs, they are a completely different animal than dried figs (which I also love). In this late summer season, they are for sale on every street corner in Madaba.

Oh, the joys!

5 minute hair cut

Madaba, Jordan
Saturday, August 25, 2012

I made my first shopping foray into Madaba on public transportation this morning. In addition to loading up on a few staples (milk! bananas! fresh figs!), we had tea, visited a bakery, and wandered about a bit. After searching up and down for a "beauty shop," I gave up and rushed into a barbershop for a quick hair cut. Probably a crazy thing to do but, hey, it grows back, right?

Falafel king

Amman, Jordan
Thursday, August 23, 2012

This evening we enjoyed a very pleasant stroll around the center of Amman in a bazaar-like area near the "first circle". Our group ate at Hashim's which is famous for its falafel. Simple, delicious food which included two types of falafel, hummus, foule made from fava beans (bottom left), French fries, an eggplant dish, pita bread, and sweet tea with mint.

Street food at its best.

I'll be back!

13 little wonders

Madaba, Jordan
Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Today was a big day in the life of our family: they delivered our boxes! To my astonishment (and delight) all 13 of them arrived from Mongolia, albeit bulging, split open at the seams, wrapped in plastic, and with pieces of cardboard missing. But they arrived!

As far as I can tell, nothing escaped from the boxes through the various holes. In any case, however, a good amount of grit joined the contents on their trip west across Asia...

A few loads of laundry to clean the clothes and linens are we are home! 

Re-set your week

Madaba, Jordan
Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Fridays here are like Sundays in the States, i.e. a "day of rest". Saturdays are Saturdays--as in a day off but more shops are open. That means that Sundays are Mondays and Thursdays are Fridays. Confused? Well, all it really means is re-setting the repeat alarm function on my phone so that I manage to get up on the right days and NOT get up on the wrong days.

Mosaic city

From Madaba's Archaeological Park 

Madaba, Jordan
Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Mid-morning saw us piling into a school van for a quick tour of Madaba and some of its more famous mosaic sites. We definitely need to go back when we're a bit less tired, but it is exciting to have such an interesting city as our new "hometown."

Here's Wikipedia's entry on Madaba: click here

Oh, the food

Amman, Jordan
Monday, August 20, 2012

This evening we dined with our new colleagues at an excellent Lebanese restaurant in Amman. What we thought was the dinner turned out "only" to be the "starters" or meze. We were served meze of all kinds: olives, fried cheese, tabouleh, hummus, meat and rice flour balls (deep fried), egg plant dishes, stuffed grape leaves, and more. All of it heavenly stuff. When the kebabs arrived, we could only stare at them.

Here's Wikipedia's entry on meze: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meze

Fortunately I recovered my appetite a bit in time for dessert, which came in three lovely options, one of which is pictured below.

Best served with mint tea...

Starting over in the grocery store

Do I go with a familiar brand?

Madaba, Jordan
Sunday, August 19, 2012

Today I headed into Amman with colleagues for a lightening quick shopping raid at one of the few big food stores open during Eid. As I wandered (quickly) the aisles of the store, I felt a familiar sinking feeling. Which brands should I buy? Should I buy three different boxes of orange juice and taste-test them for future reference? Is there any way to figure out the sugar content of these products? Do I have time to even think about these questions? There are 5 different brands of generic salt labelled in English--does it matter AT ALL which I buy? Oh, for heaven's sake: just grab a box and keep moving...and, at all costs, do NOT forget the bananas!

Sun protection

Madaba, Jordan
Saturday, August 18, 2012

Early early on our first morning here we set out to explore the campus: gracious buildings and lots of green. Down at the main soccer field, we found this intriguing structure on the sidelines. No doubt it's designed to shade spectators from the fierce sun during soccer games.

The sunrise was gorgeous, and a lovely breeze blew even as the day grew hotter--

The taste of summer

Seattle, Washington
Sunday, August 12, 2012

The afternoon grew hotter and hotter, and at last we fled to Magnuson Park where found about half of Seattle. We waded in the lake, watched kite flyers, and, best of all, we ate handfuls of blackberries. We even managed to get a bowl full of berries home to Grandma and Grandpa.

Heaven.

At the fair

Olympia, Washington
Wednesday, August 1, 2012

This afternoon we visited the Thurston County Fair down in Lacey. The absolute highlight of the fair for the kids (in addition to the merry-go-round, the ice cream, and the bouncy house) was the mechanical bull-ride.

Very fun! Click to view...

Monster lunches

Olympia, Washington
Wednesday, August 1, 2012

Today is the third day of Dino Camp, and I was inspired to make "monster lunches" for the kids...