more to come

you know you're in the middle east when......

1. you ride in a car with a jordanian and a syrian and they are arguing whether pig is clean or unclean to eat

2. you hear "insha2allah after everything" and it usually means "Probably will NOT happen"

3. you get the forceful hand signal out the car window when someone wants to cut you in line in standstill traffic

4. you smell falafel and shwerma on every corner

5. you have yet to meet a man who doesn't smoke

6. when it's colder in your house then it is outside

7. when the gas truck sounds like it's delivering icecream

8. when ladies kiss your check 4-5 times

9. squatty potties

10. when fireworks go off multiple times ever night

Eid Khalast (Holiday Over)

Things accomplished today. It may not sound like a lot, but when you live in the Middle East you count all that you can...

Woke up and went to the dentist. Check. No cavities. Actually thought I had one but since I've never had one before I don't know what they feel like and apparently, once again, I was gratefully wrong. But let me just say...dentist in the middle east aren't incredibly gentle. But hey, i guess they get the job done. Even if they talk abotu you the whole time they clean your teeth cause they dont thing you understand their language. ("how old is she?? 23. wow. she's so small. she still has a baby tooth...i wonder if she knows......... etc etc)

Took a friend to Subway. yummy AMERICAN food. and even got a free cookie after talking a bit with the cashier. what what.

Bought a Christmas tree and put it up and at least got the lights done! On to the ornaments!

Went to work! First day back since Eid. The other coaches told me when they got there "We do not feel like coaching today. It still feels like break! So you do it. Be light". So I "coached light". whatever that means.....and let them go 15 min early. holla!

went to eat at chris and andrews where they wiped together a peruvian dish (two thumbs up) and then hit up rainbow st. for a smoothie that would turn out to taste more like cough medicine and ended up staying on the table at the italian coffee shop.

all in a hard's days work. but glad to have my friend april here from egypt!

Thanksgiving 09

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Today was a good day. Good food, good fellowship, and lots to be thankful for.

Man, can i just say how thankful I am for my family. Got to SKYPE lots of them tonight. But seriously, my family is the coolest...I promise I'm not biased.

Mom, Dad, JB & Carla, Steven and Kimmie and Isaac, and Cameron, and Camille; just want to say I love y'all. so very very much.

Cameron, can't wait to see you brother. Counting down the days. We're gonna have a blast.

Mille, Mille, come soon. :)

Isaac, can't wait to meet you little buddy. Even if you will be talking and walking by then. I'm still going to be your favorite/coolest aunt EVER. (sorry carla and camille)

Anyhow, so thankful for you guys!

GoodBye Warm Weather, I will Miss you

It's that time of year again. Where the weather has changed to winter and I get my annual dose of broncitis. This year has been especially bad in the fact that I've lost my voice for an entire week and the added factor that EVERYONE smokes here. Granted only one of those days my voice was completely gone.I couldn't even tell a taxi driver how to get home and had to use arm signals. hahaha. But I still "sound like a man" according to my little athletes. But man, they keep me laughing. And although I've been coughing up a storm and they all think I have H1N1, they still want to hang off of me like little monkeys when I'm least expecting it. Thanks, kiddos.

I am so ready for Thanksgiving! Not that Arabs celebrate the American holiday but mainly because Eid will begin the next day which means HOLIDAY!!! I'll have 5 days of rest and possibly a little diving in the Red Sea if this weather warms up at all [and if i get over my fear of sharks! ah!]. People tell me Aqaba is a lot warmer....but I don't do well in any kind of cold. Good thing I moved to the Middle East and not Russia! Brrrrrrr....

Love it

"Mom!! I met REAL Americans! Like the ones in the Embassy!!"-My 12 year old Iraqi neighbor :) So cute.

I remember this one time...in america....

top things i wish i could do if i were in the states!

1. tailgate in the Grove with Ellison and Jennifer and Anna Golsen at "our tent"

2. Eat at the Beacon for breakfast, Handy Andy's BBQ for lunch, and Ajax's for dinner. yum yum.

3. Meet up with Amy Cole at Bottle Tree Bakery.

4. Roll Toomers and grab some lemonade.

5. go to Panera with Amelia and Cierra all while eating frozen yorks

6. laugh with Maggie while planning her upcoming wedding!

7. Visit Morgan at the summit in B'ham

8. Hug my nephew!

9. Hug my dogs! I love you, Pepsi! (and Routy, and Sadie)

10. Obviously be with the fam and beat Camille at the Wii

Visitors!

So October is almost over. Wow. Where did it go? It has started to feel more like Fall. Granted I don't see leaves changing into any vibrant colors. But as one of the Jordanian coaches I work with put it, everything is different-over the course of 3 days people have changed what they wear, what they eat, and are all happy that summer is officially over.

With November around the corner I anticipate the arrival of many guests. Let the good times roll. :) First April comes at the end of November, then MY BROTHER! yay! and childhood friend Jesse for Christmas! As well as Joy and Madi! Can't wait to see you all! And then... once Spring Break rolls around I'll get to see the parents! And Camille! Can't wait to see you, sissy! And possibly/hopefully Amelia!!

Now if only I could convince Carla and Kimmie to come...