It's difficult to get used to a shifted week. The work week goes from Sunday to Thursday, so Thursday and Friday nights are the nights to go out. On Friday night, a couple of the younger teachers and I went to Rainbow Street, a hip, Westernized section of Amman, but of course, with plenty of Jordanian flavor. We found a restaurant in a nook of the street and had a great night sitting, drinking fruit juices and listening to live music. They kept bringing us yummy treats and also brought us some shisha, which we thought must be complimentary because it just showed up. Apparently it was supposed to go to the table next to us...The music was wonderful; there was a piano player/DJ and a singer performing pop/traditional Arabic tunes. Everyone--whole families of all ages--were moving in their seats and singing along, all the while smoking their shisha. It was beautiful. And once again, the Jordanians proved their hospitality and their desire to please and entertain guests: the singer himself came over to our table (we were so obviously American, I guess) and offered us all a free round of drinks, anything we wanted, on him. At one point, he also came over and had Katie and I stand up and dance with him in front of the whole crowd and introduced us as his "Friends from America." That was slightly intimidating, but fun, too. I had been dying to dance so I guess I got my wish.
I haven't fully done my research on this, so it is hearsay, but I continue to be surprised by the difference in the accounts from Jordanians and the American media. I was told that the "2011 Jordanian protest" reports coming out of Jordan were almost entirely fabricated by CNN here in Jordan, who were apparently in desperate need of some news from this fairly stable and well-functioning country. The CNN reports said the protests were for "political, economic reforms." The people here, in response to the initial reports, had a protest in order to demonstrate support for their King. During one protest, a man died of a heart attack and it was apparently reported as a "death during protest." I really don't know what is true, but I will say, from all my observations, the people here LOVE their King, truly and genuinely. And from what I have heard about King Abdullah II and his father, King Hussein, they have earned this respect and admiration through consistent, fair, generous, peacemaking and loving leadership. The people hang pictures of the entire royal family in their houses and offices and on the streets and when you compliment the pictures (they ARE an incredibly beautiful family), the Jordanians act as if they've been personally complimented. I personally am becoming more wary of American media reports, and perhaps before I was simply naively trusting.
Also, I feel super safe here at King's specifically. This is a great piece of information: whenever the King's Academy fire alarms go off, the call doesn't go to the fire department. It goes straight to CIVIL DEFENSE. So...that's awesome.
I also don't think I mentioned that the pictures I posted of my living quarters were of a temporary living situation. Now, I live in a castle. Seriously. The castle is on campus and it is called "Al-nilam," the blue supergiant star in the constellation of Orion, discovered by the Arabs and also related to the Arab word meaning "string of pearls."
I haven't fully done my research on this, so it is hearsay, but I continue to be surprised by the difference in the accounts from Jordanians and the American media. I was told that the "2011 Jordanian protest" reports coming out of Jordan were almost entirely fabricated by CNN here in Jordan, who were apparently in desperate need of some news from this fairly stable and well-functioning country. The CNN reports said the protests were for "political, economic reforms." The people here, in response to the initial reports, had a protest in order to demonstrate support for their King. During one protest, a man died of a heart attack and it was apparently reported as a "death during protest." I really don't know what is true, but I will say, from all my observations, the people here LOVE their King, truly and genuinely. And from what I have heard about King Abdullah II and his father, King Hussein, they have earned this respect and admiration through consistent, fair, generous, peacemaking and loving leadership. The people hang pictures of the entire royal family in their houses and offices and on the streets and when you compliment the pictures (they ARE an incredibly beautiful family), the Jordanians act as if they've been personally complimented. I personally am becoming more wary of American media reports, and perhaps before I was simply naively trusting.
Also, I feel super safe here at King's specifically. This is a great piece of information: whenever the King's Academy fire alarms go off, the call doesn't go to the fire department. It goes straight to CIVIL DEFENSE. So...that's awesome.
I also don't think I mentioned that the pictures I posted of my living quarters were of a temporary living situation. Now, I live in a castle. Seriously. The castle is on campus and it is called "Al-nilam," the blue supergiant star in the constellation of Orion, discovered by the Arabs and also related to the Arab word meaning "string of pearls."
I live in here...my apartment is the right-hand Tower.
There's my room up there. Top right window.
Courtyard in the middle of the castle. Beautiful space.
Oh, just walking out my front door...
My living room/dining room (I share with Katie and then we each have our own room).
My bedroom.
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