fun times with arabic

so here are my most recent language mishaps...

1. i told a lady that Jesus turned the water into servants..... whoops.

2. a girl asked me who my friend judy lived with and instead of saying, "she lives with her husband". i said "she lives with YOUR husband"... another whoops.

random thoughts

5 days ago marked the year and a half anniversary of my time overseas!! crazy to think how time has in a lot of ways gone by so fast!

still working 6 days a week. the "federation" (sounds like a star wars term doesn't it?) has offered and begged me to stay with them until December. As most of you know, I can only stay until October and even then I'd planned to take some time off of work. So we'll see if they'll let me trade 5 days a week at the gym instead of 6.

Wish I had a funny story to tell. But right now life is moving on at a steady pace and temperatures are finally getting warmer. (oh no!). You can tell the Summer is quickly approaching!

Spring I love you

Well Spring has arrived in Jordan! I can walk outside and see green grass, flowers I've never known existed, and every patch of spare land, including my driveway, there can be found a shepherd and his sheep. Man I love spring! I love being able to go outside and see a shepherd napping under a bloomed tree while his sheep lazingly "mow" the grass or lay beside him. What a sweet reminder of the Word and how He is my good Shepherd. His rod and staff comfort me. He leads me beside the still waters...ah! i love it!

Wednesday we have a gymnastics competition here in Amman. I'll be the head coach representing Amman Baccalaurete School. Pray for my little kiddos and me. One of my sweet gymnasts broke her wrist in two places last week. Eh. But man, I hope she wins the judges over with her cuteness! Pictures will be posted!

On another note, please forgive my lack of English skills. No joke. Arabic is horrible for your English. It's distroying my native tongue! I tend to talk English lately like I would to an Arab. Which is basically arabinglisi as I call it. It's bizarre. And I may need English rehab when I get home, seriously, to be grammatically correct again. But speaking of Arabic it's slowly getting easier. I know what you're thinking, man, you have been in the Middle East a year and a half you should be fluent! Well I'm not even close. Google it. On average it takes a person 7 years to master Arabic. So don't judge me. haha. But I can explain why I won't marry you. haha. And I can tell you a lot of important stuff like where i live, etc. And don't worry, it really is coming along. I've memorized the Roman Road for those of you who know what I'm talking about. The story of Daniel and his 3 buddies (1 chpt), story of the woman at the well, and many others. So thank y'all for always asking for that one. Language is coming on nicely and I have lots of little kiddos to correct my southern Alabama Arabian Accent. :)

update coming...

well, i know i know. it's been almost a month and my parents have come and gone and lots has happened since then and during our awesome trip together.

but know that an update will be coming soon.........

but not tonight :)

March! Finally, you are here.

Well, this is my first post as a 24 year old. Where has the time gone??

My roommate and friend, Yancee planned me a surprise party. I was very surprised and did not expect it. I told her I'd be home early from work that night not knowing she was inviting people over. But instead of early I was late and didn't get home until 8. hahahaha. So people were waiting for me for almost 2 hours. whoops..... But it was a blast.

Last night I went to a banquet honoring the Iraqi Gymnastics Federation who has been using our facilities here in Jordan to host a Gymnastics camp. They offered me a job...which I said "insha2allah". Which is another of way of basically graciously declining. This job would place me in the heart of Baghdad and would require a body guard and in all seriousness, the ability to avoid being kidnapped. Not sure my parents would be to excited bout that offer. But still nice to make connections in the sporting world.

My parents come in a week! With Camille my sister and Amelia!! Can't wait!!! Dad will be running a half marathon in Jerusalem!! Man. I hope he wins!!

i do not prefer organs, thank you

Today I ate a chicken's heart. and then his liver.

it was nasty.

tasted like chalk.

but when you visit someone they don't ask you if you want any. they just fix you a plate and boom. "harram" if you don't eat it!!!! (harram=not allowed).

so, out of politeness, i ate his heart.

EL ZARKA

Yesterday my team loaded up in a big charter bus and we drove 45 minutes out of Amman to a city know as Zarka. Here we put on a presentation promoting the sport of gymnastics at a Center for preforming arts. The Princess was there to give out gifts to all of those in gymnastics who have medaled at meets around the world. I didn't get to video record it. Had my roommate try. And although my roommate tried to pretend she could not see the Royal guards waving at her to turn the camera off...we still didn't get enough footage. Will try again next time so you can see the fruit of my labor!

pictures of a few of my rascals before the big show: