Obama- One for Dad:
Taxi drivers seem to know a little about American politics and have an opinion of our President. One driver simply said Obama's name and shook his head.
The laughable encounter went like this: I Got in a taxi in Bethlehem and the driver asked me where I was from. "America," I said. He said, "Ah, Obama, he talk, talk, talk and doesn't do anything." ;)
Wafat’s House- One for Sis:
Majdee, Muhannad’s brother and his wife, Wafat, live next door. She invited me to her home one evening and I was stunned when I walked in. It was beautiful! They had just refinished the cabinets, put in hard word floors and built an amazing tile ceiling and fire place. She had all sorts of cooking machines like cappuccino makers and juice makers, either tucked away or strategically placed on granite counter tops. Her decorating style was on par with my sister and I’s. Majdee’s remodeling talents rivaled my fathers. Totally amazing and I will show you pictures when I get home.
Food:
It is soo good, but I had to learn the word “shuban” which means "I am full, no more!"
I have eaten mloheh, a traditional Arabic meal that uses mloheh leaves in olive oil mixed with rice and chicken. The rice is different here; it is mixed with a thin noodle and lots of Arabic spices.
Also fakus is a vegetable that Beit Sahour is famous for. It is much like a cucumber. Today I had stuffed fakus. The vegetable is hollowed out and stuffed with meat and rice and cooked in a tomato-milk-cheese-sauce. Super yummy.
Ice cream bars and cones look nothing like the picture on the wrapper. You know the crunch bars in the states? I was so excited to find one that looked like that. When I opened it, there was no toffee crunch, just a chocolate covered ice cream bar.
There is an ice cream truck that drives by the house. I haven’t seen the driver but I wonder if they look like they do in the states- like they just got out of prison. Strangest thing, what is the deal with the ice cream truck drivers and how scary looking they are?
Arabic tea is amazing and so is mint lemonade. I found a drink I like and buy at the market. It is this juice mix of bananas and strawberries that comes in a can. I get it at the market up the street and the owners are super nice to me, I shop there a lot. I think they also like to ask me what new Arabic words I learned and laugh at the little American girl who speaks funny Arabic.
Oh and yes I smoked some hookah. :)
Housekeeping:
Prepare yourself; we don’t flush the toilet paper here. We throw it in the trash because of the pipes. Yep, it took some getting used to. So the big challenge is remembering that I don’t have to do that when I get back to the states.
Outlets are different too, and you have to buy an adapter to use them. They are weird circular plug things. I guess the good deal is the voltage is the same, so not as bad as Europe. I was told that in Europe you have to convert voltage as well.
Arabic:
Arabic grammar is hard, words I am good at and I am told pronounce them well. Just the grammar part is difficult. The language doesn't have words like "are, is, and was" and a ton of strange stuff. Like to say, "my house" you say "bet-i," House is "bet" and the "i" is my. Same goes for her, his, our, but different tags. Anyway, let’s just say I speak a very broken form of Arabic. LOL
Arabic TV:
I watch TV on occasion. Sponge Bob and Oprah in Arabic are a trip. Most of the time Arabic television is on some kids show.
Quiet Time:
I love waking up in the morning, sitting on the balcony and watching the sun rise. Not all the way, I am not up that early. I take my tea and a book out in the morning and evening and have a little me time.
The Program:
The program itself is not what I expected. We are way to busy all the time. I work like this at home; I wanted this to be more of a break. We go to volunteer in the morning. Two hours for lunch, well one really cuz it takes an hour by foot to get to the college. Then Arabic until 5 and something after, a speaker or get together. Then an hour’s walk home, too much food, and bed. Hardly have time to blog and definitely no time to edit my posts. I always seem to feel rushed.
By the way, I am still not at the shelter yet. Some disappointing news, they are having security issues and not sure about my placement. I am currently writing articles for Palestine News Network. On Monday, I am hoping to have a conversation with the man who funded my trip about the shelter and if he will continue funding the two months if I don't get placed there. Working at the shelter was also allowing me to use the experience for Continued Competencies for my CAC III. So staying for two months without that and the funding thing is making me uncomfortable, a little. I think I will feel better after I talk to my funding source and see where he is at with things.
OK all, I miss work. Horrible I know, I know, but I said it.
I miss my friends too and my apartment and driving.
I am sure time will fly by and it will be time to leave before I am ready to go home.
Tomorrow:
I am going to the Dead Sea with the family. I can’t wait. When I say family I mean: George and Sumiya, Nancy, Muhannad and the two kids, Muhannad’s two brothers- their wives and their three kids. So yea, it will be good times.
Taxi drivers seem to know a little about American politics and have an opinion of our President. One driver simply said Obama's name and shook his head.
The laughable encounter went like this: I Got in a taxi in Bethlehem and the driver asked me where I was from. "America," I said. He said, "Ah, Obama, he talk, talk, talk and doesn't do anything." ;)
Wafat’s House- One for Sis:
Majdee, Muhannad’s brother and his wife, Wafat, live next door. She invited me to her home one evening and I was stunned when I walked in. It was beautiful! They had just refinished the cabinets, put in hard word floors and built an amazing tile ceiling and fire place. She had all sorts of cooking machines like cappuccino makers and juice makers, either tucked away or strategically placed on granite counter tops. Her decorating style was on par with my sister and I’s. Majdee’s remodeling talents rivaled my fathers. Totally amazing and I will show you pictures when I get home.
Food:
It is soo good, but I had to learn the word “shuban” which means "I am full, no more!"
I have eaten mloheh, a traditional Arabic meal that uses mloheh leaves in olive oil mixed with rice and chicken. The rice is different here; it is mixed with a thin noodle and lots of Arabic spices.
Also fakus is a vegetable that Beit Sahour is famous for. It is much like a cucumber. Today I had stuffed fakus. The vegetable is hollowed out and stuffed with meat and rice and cooked in a tomato-milk-cheese-sauce. Super yummy.
Ice cream bars and cones look nothing like the picture on the wrapper. You know the crunch bars in the states? I was so excited to find one that looked like that. When I opened it, there was no toffee crunch, just a chocolate covered ice cream bar.
There is an ice cream truck that drives by the house. I haven’t seen the driver but I wonder if they look like they do in the states- like they just got out of prison. Strangest thing, what is the deal with the ice cream truck drivers and how scary looking they are?
Arabic tea is amazing and so is mint lemonade. I found a drink I like and buy at the market. It is this juice mix of bananas and strawberries that comes in a can. I get it at the market up the street and the owners are super nice to me, I shop there a lot. I think they also like to ask me what new Arabic words I learned and laugh at the little American girl who speaks funny Arabic.
Oh and yes I smoked some hookah. :)
Housekeeping:
Prepare yourself; we don’t flush the toilet paper here. We throw it in the trash because of the pipes. Yep, it took some getting used to. So the big challenge is remembering that I don’t have to do that when I get back to the states.
Outlets are different too, and you have to buy an adapter to use them. They are weird circular plug things. I guess the good deal is the voltage is the same, so not as bad as Europe. I was told that in Europe you have to convert voltage as well.
Arabic:
Arabic grammar is hard, words I am good at and I am told pronounce them well. Just the grammar part is difficult. The language doesn't have words like "are, is, and was" and a ton of strange stuff. Like to say, "my house" you say "bet-i," House is "bet" and the "i" is my. Same goes for her, his, our, but different tags. Anyway, let’s just say I speak a very broken form of Arabic. LOL
Arabic TV:
I watch TV on occasion. Sponge Bob and Oprah in Arabic are a trip. Most of the time Arabic television is on some kids show.
Quiet Time:
I love waking up in the morning, sitting on the balcony and watching the sun rise. Not all the way, I am not up that early. I take my tea and a book out in the morning and evening and have a little me time.
The Program:
The program itself is not what I expected. We are way to busy all the time. I work like this at home; I wanted this to be more of a break. We go to volunteer in the morning. Two hours for lunch, well one really cuz it takes an hour by foot to get to the college. Then Arabic until 5 and something after, a speaker or get together. Then an hour’s walk home, too much food, and bed. Hardly have time to blog and definitely no time to edit my posts. I always seem to feel rushed.
By the way, I am still not at the shelter yet. Some disappointing news, they are having security issues and not sure about my placement. I am currently writing articles for Palestine News Network. On Monday, I am hoping to have a conversation with the man who funded my trip about the shelter and if he will continue funding the two months if I don't get placed there. Working at the shelter was also allowing me to use the experience for Continued Competencies for my CAC III. So staying for two months without that and the funding thing is making me uncomfortable, a little. I think I will feel better after I talk to my funding source and see where he is at with things.
OK all, I miss work. Horrible I know, I know, but I said it.
I miss my friends too and my apartment and driving.
I am sure time will fly by and it will be time to leave before I am ready to go home.
Tomorrow:
I am going to the Dead Sea with the family. I can’t wait. When I say family I mean: George and Sumiya, Nancy, Muhannad and the two kids, Muhannad’s two brothers- their wives and their three kids. So yea, it will be good times.
