Here in Jordan we celebrate Easter at the same time as the Orthodox church, meaning that Easter Sunday will be this Sunday (April 27th).

Last Sunday was Palm Sunday and everyone was dressed up and came to church bringing woven palm branches decorated with flowers and bows. During the church service we each were given olive branches and all of us walked in a procession around the church, singing an Easter hymn. It was fun to see and take part in a new-to-me Easter tradition.

Since I've been terrible at posting and figure most of you are wondering "What are you doing in Jordan?" I figured I'd answer by giving you a rundown of a day in my life:

My day starts when my German roommate/fellow volunteer Miriam and I get picked up by the school bus. When I arrive at school I hurry to English class (in 1st, or 2nd grade)where I assist the English teacher in giving the lessons and help the children complete activities.

After several English classes I head to the Kindergarten where I work specifically with the blind and visually impaired students. I may practice Braille Arabic letters with them, have them complete tactile puzzles, play matching games or play outside to help them develop their motor skills. I also eat lunch with them. In all activities I encourage their independence and help to teach them skills like washing their hands and opening and closing their school bags.

Later, depending on the day, I have more English lessons, or Miriam and I work with the blind kids in the 2nd and 3rd grades to develop their mobility and orientation(amazingly some of them still do not know how to find the washroom by themselves). Then I spend some time in the office, uploading photos I've taken of the school during the week, making powerpoint presentations and sending emails and letters to English speaking supportors of the school.

At the end of the school day, Miriam and I ride in the school bus with the children for about 1 1/2 hours, acting as "bus teachers".

Once at home we usually spend the rest of the day cooking, cleaning, playing with our cute little host nephew Musa, doing prep work for school, watching TV, or hanging out with our host family.

The other week I went to Amman for an MCC Jordan Christmas dinner. It was really nice to be together with the other MCCers and to eat some North American food - like turkey! We had a good time together, telling Christmas stories, and laughing A LOT! I also discovered that my American friends do not understand "Canadian English"! Words like "billet" and "poutine" stumped them. I had a blast listening to them try to guess their meanings. Hill, that dictionary of Canadian words we found would have really come in handy!

Life here is going well. We have been busy at the school and the church celebrating the holidays with a Christmas bazaar, staff Christmas dinner, Christmas parties with the kids, Christmas concerts, and so on.

And as the holidays approach and its easy to think about what I am missing at home (like a gigantic snowstorm!) I wanted to write a few things I'm thankful for:

-for a guava tree outside of my window
-my German roommate, Miriam
-the fact I learned German in highschool
-a supportive MCC team
-being able to work with kids each day
-having a great host family and a beautiful host nephew (3 month old Musa!)
-the fact that I have made friends with the teachers and am starting to build quality relationships
-a God who is always with me and enables me to face each challenge, and succeed
-the opportunity to be in a new country and get to know a new culture and language
-a great support system of friends and family at home

I wish each of you a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

First of all I want to apologize to all of you who may be wondering what is going on with me. I haven't been lost in the desert without anything to eat or drink for days if that's what you've been thinking...although that would be a convenient excuse for not writing for months!

I'm learning that a job description is a very fluid thing here in Jordan and am truly learning the meaning of the word "flexible". For the first two months I helped primarily in the Kindergarten helping the kids learn to write the letters (in both English and Arabic!), often working specifically with the slow learners or the visually impaired kids. I am also just generally another pair of hands for the teachers. The other part of my job is to write emails and other such things in English to English-speaking supporters of the school. I also wrote the content for the school's website mentioned in the previous post.

This week I started working with the English teacher in Grades 1-4, helping mark, helping with pronunciation, or helping the low vision students to fully participate in lessons. I like the change for the most part, I feel like I am able to contribute more than I had been, but I also miss my kindergarten kids! Whenever I have a break from English classes I sneak away and visit them!

I generally show up at school having no idea what I will end up doing. This means that things are never boring, which I like, but it also makes it hard for me to be prepared for tasks that may be given me.

I will have to write more about my life in general at a later date but for now just know that I am doing well. I know that many of you think I'm a little crazy to be living all the way in Jordan...but for me it feels like the most normal thing in the world and I'm enjoying it.

Hi Everyone,

Unfortunately, I don't have time to write much but I want to let you all know that I am doing well and keeping busy here in Jordan. I wanted to quickly post a few links that will tell you a little more about the school that I am working at here. Check them out if you are interested!

http://www.mcc.org/globalfamily/projects/middleeast/jordan/aes.html

www.aeschool.org