Today, we met with Jordanian Senator Aquil Bitalji, chairman of Jordan's Tourism and Heritage Committee, and enjoyed a separate visit with the mayor of Amman. I'm realizing again and again the power of education, and it's invigorating to realize that people clear across the world are committed on a daily basis to effecting positive change for young people. I feel so honored to be a part of this, and so honored to be a teacher. Here, I've had a chance to feel valued, respected, and admired for my passion for teaching.
I realized a dream yesterday and today, standing atop Amman's Citadel as the Muslim call to prayer echoed around the white-clad city. Behind me stood the Corinthian pillars of the Temple of Hercules, and below that, the remains of a Roman amphitheater. All of this cast in hues of pink as the sunk below the horizon.
I boogied with a sword-waving Bedouin performer at King Abdullah Hussein Park during a re-enactment of a traditional Jordanian wedding, complete with bagpipes, drums, and six whirling men in Bedouin attire. After the show, we were invited to their goat-skin tent, where a visiting camp of 8- to 12-year-old Jordanian students peppered me with questions (in Arabic) about where I live, what I teach, how old I am, etc. It started when I pointed to a boy's flip-flops, and said the word in ARabic. He and his friends thought I knew the language! A chatty girl translated for me, and later offered me her schwarma and strawberry juice box.And the last piece of my missing luggage was waiting for me at King's Academy when we returned for the night. Life is good.
In the Trenches
Photos would help, but until I can post them, my words will have to suffice. Our day began with breakfast at King's Academy with Saleh, our host from the Ministry of Education. Saleh just returned from a 20-day conference in China where officials from developing nations strategized on how to use education as a means to improve the economies of those countries. In plain English, education for these countries isn't merely for the joy of learning. It's for an improved way of life.Heading to our first official visit of the day, we watched as a Honda in front of us suddenly spun off the highway onto a lower embankment! Our driver pulled over, as did another car, and Saleh, Kevin, and Vivek joined a roadside crew of Jordanian men to help the frazzled woman. She was so nervous, she started to put the car in reverse when Vivek and Kevin jumped behind it to push her. Luckily, she switched gears and the group managed to push her out of the ditch. Teachers are always saying we're "in the trenches." This gave new meaning to the phrase.
I realized a dream yesterday and today, standing atop Amman's Citadel as the Muslim call to prayer echoed around the white-clad city. Behind me stood the Corinthian pillars of the Temple of Hercules, and below that, the remains of a Roman amphitheater. All of this cast in hues of pink as the sunk below the horizon.
I boogied with a sword-waving Bedouin performer at King Abdullah Hussein Park during a re-enactment of a traditional Jordanian wedding, complete with bagpipes, drums, and six whirling men in Bedouin attire. After the show, we were invited to their goat-skin tent, where a visiting camp of 8- to 12-year-old Jordanian students peppered me with questions (in Arabic) about where I live, what I teach, how old I am, etc. It started when I pointed to a boy's flip-flops, and said the word in ARabic. He and his friends thought I knew the language! A chatty girl translated for me, and later offered me her schwarma and strawberry juice box.And the last piece of my missing luggage was waiting for me at King's Academy when we returned for the night. Life is good.
In the Trenches
Photos would help, but until I can post them, my words will have to suffice. Our day began with breakfast at King's Academy with Saleh, our host from the Ministry of Education. Saleh just returned from a 20-day conference in China where officials from developing nations strategized on how to use education as a means to improve the economies of those countries. In plain English, education for these countries isn't merely for the joy of learning. It's for an improved way of life.Heading to our first official visit of the day, we watched as a Honda in front of us suddenly spun off the highway onto a lower embankment! Our driver pulled over, as did another car, and Saleh, Kevin, and Vivek joined a roadside crew of Jordanian men to help the frazzled woman. She was so nervous, she started to put the car in reverse when Vivek and Kevin jumped behind it to push her. Luckily, she switched gears and the group managed to push her out of the ditch. Teachers are always saying we're "in the trenches." This gave new meaning to the phrase.
2 comments:
It sounds beautiful, Tina. I'm so glad that you are all having such an amazing experience. I'm just holding down the fort here in Seattle, working on the report for this end and enjoying your everyone's blogging!
much love,
heather
You'll have to teach us all the bagpipe boogie when you get back. Glad your experience is everything it should be -- enriching, exciting and a reminder of why you chose this profession in the first place!
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