Knotty problems

Madaba, Jordan
Friday, October 5, 2012

Last week I assigned my geometry class a "knotty" project involving Mobïus strips. They turned in their projects this week, and at least several students did some really interesting work.

I have come to realize that my morning jogs, though not long in time or distance, give me the best chance I have during the week to think through my own knotty problems--usually ones which involve teaching concepts my students find either difficult or "boring."

Just like Escher's ants on the Mobïus strip, I'm out there on the infinite loop, trying to make sense of it all--

The last of the Russian yeast

...from Russia to Mongolia to Jordan...

Madaba, Jordan
Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Three years in Mongolia turned me into a food hoarder. When we left Mongolia in June I found myself packing up the six packets of Russian yeast that I still had left in the fridge. Here in Jordan, we have at last worked through the Russian yeast, and I am ready to start looking for a local product. (Though I'll confess to still having a jar of American stuff in the fridge to buy me some time.)

Between worlds

Madaba, Jordan
Friday, September 28, 2012

We spent the afternoon today at Mecca Mall picking up a few household items amidst the glitz and glamour of the huge mall. Then we got on the Cheetah bus to return to the "countryside". It feels like such different worlds so close together: the glass and polish of the mall give way to the bus' tired curtains flapping violently in the wind, sheep wander in flocks by the roadside, Bedouin tents line parts of the highway...

At times, so much of my life feels lived between worlds.

An evening in the orchard

Madaba, Jordan
Friday, September 14, 2012

Late this afternoon we drove with a friend of friends to his father's orchard where we picked fruit, drank mint tree under a grape arbor, and watched the sun set.

A was particularly excited to be picking apples and declared that we needed to be "busy beavers."

Our friend explained that the grapes were raised from seedlings brought from Hebron, where his family lived before the 1967 war.

It was a lovely evening.

Grapes from Hebron

Apples, grapes and nectarines...

A mid-week feast

Madaba, Jordan
Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Last night we were invited by friends of my family to dinner at their home. The food on the table took more than a day to prepare--and was absolutely fantastic. There were dolma, maqluba, tabouleh and more. Amazing.

More treats

A selection of baklava from a bakery in Madaba

Madaba, Jordan
Thursday, September 6, 2012

Frank arrived home from today's trip into Madaba laden with nine 1-liter boxes of milk and a nice selection of baklava. He is doing an excellent job of figuring out what to buy and where to buy it!

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!