Culture Experience #44 and counting...

If you've ever lived overseas, you always have awkward "culture experiences". And for those of you who know me well, know I thrive off of awkwardness. But hey, it keeps me as well as others laughing!!

So here's my most recent "culture experience":

I was invited to a sports banquet hosted by former King Hussein's brother, Prince Hasan (or King Abdullah's bro). In any event, Princess Rahma, Prince Hasan's daughter, was there and as always, gracious as ever to those involved with the gymnastics federation. 

In any event, this occasion had a high amount of security due to the four members of the royal family present which obviously makes sense. So it was required everyone bring their invitation as proof that they were actually legit invites. 

So I get to the King Hussein's Club where the banquet was and was greeted by soldiers. Showed them my invite and they let me through. Check.

I thought that was it.

So I keep walking... 

But I hear the other gymnastics coaches all of a sudden yell, "Katie, Ta3ely! (come here)". So I figured it was some important person I had to meet. So I walked up to people dressed in normal attire and greeted them and introduced myself and shook hands. Then I noticed everyone was laughing. Finally I realized what I had done. I had shaken hands with the guards who were assigned to the next role of security to frisk people. So basically I was like, "Hi, I'm Katie" to the people who frisk you.

AWKWARD.

but I did get to laugh about it for a good long while and occasionally I'd remember it during the Prince's speech and would start laughing. Whoops.........

Out East

It's another beautiful day here in Amman. It rarely is cloudy. I have seen one cloudy day since July. The temp is in the low 80's today and tomorrow marks the Night of Power for Ramadan. I'm sitting here about to get ready to go to language where I'll spend two hours with a girl going over verbs and vocabulary. Fun Fun. To bad one can't be fluent over night...

My fridge broke down again. Going on week 3. The repairman said 4 days ago he would come. nothing. He said "tomorrow, insha2allah". And nothing. and yesterday...nothing... and now today. He was suppose to be here this morning. Still no word. Starting to get a bit frustrated at this point...

I have an iftar at the Sheraton hotel tonight with the gymnastics federation. Iftar is the breaking of the fast at sunset as soon as the 4th call of prayer is heard. It will be fun. My girls are excited that I am coming. 

So all in all, all is well here! I still love it here! Even without a fridge....

Sunday in ArabLand

Well, we're half way through Ramadan here in the lovely city and it's been a very productive day! Woke up early, reported to Arabic class. Spent two hours learning vocab there. Progressing slowly. Oh well; here's hoping I'll be able to communicate affectively ONE day!

Came home. Spent some quality time catching up with the roomie who just returned from Amrika [America if you aren't quick to figure that out ;) ), watched 2 episodes of Arrested Development, went to the grocery store. Made dessert for a dinner tonight I can't go to, Abed (my guard) came and brought a man to fix my fridge (yay), went to a "meet the parents" night for my athletes hosted by the Princess. 

And Most importantly, will shortly proceed to cheer on my Ole Miss Rebels as they leave the Memphis Tigers back in the dust... (insha2allah). Go Rebs! 

Shout out to Brian for allowing me to use his slingbox! woo hoo! 

Item #1 for today: Meet Princess

Not everyday you can say you met a Princess. But I can today. Never would of thought this would be the case just a few months ago; but I now work for and under Princess Rahma for the gymnastics federation. I'm told she's in her 40s. But believe me she looks like she's 20 something. How do Asians do that?! 

Today my sweet athletes put on a surprise show for the Princess for her birthday as well as the Jordanian Olympic Committee, Federation Members, the President of all things Sports in Jordan, Olympic Judges and a few lucky Jordanian reporters.

Over all it was a successful show. Granted, it could of been more "n'sync". But I'm still proud of my little rascals. :) And the Princess loved it which was the desired outcome of the exibition. 

Yay for living in a Kingdom! 

That's right

Today I ran my life off a soundtrack. You should try it. Music just makes life better.

recent (and some old) addictions:

Coffee: Psalm 23/To You be the glory, GLORY REVEALED II

Workout: Are you gonna be my girl, JET

Travel: Associated, BEN RECTOR/Sunshine go away today, JONATHAN EDWARDS (preferably in a 4runner or jeep... or in my case, by feet!)

Chill: Two coins, DISPATCH/ Do you remember, JACK JOHNSON

Night: Mississippi, TRAIN/ Hallelujah or Caroline, SANDERS BOHLKE

One Week...

I can't believe language is over. After 9 months of Arabic study I was finally getting the hang of it. By the "hang of it" I mean I could finally understand most of what I hear on the street...and actually enjoying studying and learning new vocabulary. 

By no means does it mean I'm finished with Arabic. On the contrary, I have just tapped into it. But in a week I'll have to leave this wonderful city that I've begun to call home and move again to a new adventure. Where Arabic will start all over-new dialect-new vocab. goody. 

It will be hard to leave my friends here-those people I've come to love and who have become so much a part of my life this past year. It will be very hard. But I know who holds the future and in that I lay my confidence.

              the great sphinx    

So now that vacation time with dad is over :(, it's time 

to get ready to move. For those of you who know me well, you'll know I'll probably procrastinate packing until the day before or the day of the big move. But let's hope not...I think this packing is going to be a little more demanding....

                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Before Climbing Sinai with Dad

Dad is coming!!!

I can't wait! In a little over 24 hours my dad will be here! I'm still so thankful I was able to see my mom and my friend, Cierra back in March, but am excited to again have a visitor! Although I haven't been as homesick as I thought I'd be living in Africa these past 8 months, I have missed my wonderful family! 

Many of you know my dad. And you know, he doesn't like to sit still. We thought about going to Luxor but we knew we'd just be looking at temples all day in the 100++ heat and to both of us=not that fun. So we're opting for the Red Sea: ranked the 2nd in the world for best snorkeling (1st being Great Barrier Reef), we'll invest in a day and a half of being on the water. I hope I don't see any sharks...I HATE sharks....

After that, we'll take off to Mt. Sinai and begin hiking it around 2am to reach the Summit as the Sunrise rises over the desert terrain. Who knows, maybe we'll see a burning bush or something and God will tell us to deliver some people. Doubtful. But here's hoping. 

And of course, I plan to take my dad to see the great Giza Pyramids among other things here in my current homecity of Cairo. 

Then Friday, we'll head off to one of our favorite places in Africa together and spend some time together NOT listening to Arabic-but rather Swahili. I'm pumped. Although we'll still be on a beach (more sand), I'm looking forward to my time in Tanzania and what the day will have in store while I'm there!