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!