Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Christmas
For Christmas, Andrew and I got the wonderful opportunity to go to Jerusalem/Bethlehem! It was an exciting and fun experience. I am working on a video to post that will probably be more fun to watch than it would be to read about our trip. But here are a few pictures to wet your appetite.
This brought a whole new meaning to "a right to bare arms"
Look closely, the girl in front has a gun as well
The AC/Heating in our hotel room. This picture is mostly for my Dad. It is hooked up to nothing.
Andrew and I at the Western Wall
Yum Yum Coffee :)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Wedding
I had the pleasure of attending my first Arab wedding Thursday night. I have been thinking I need to post about it quickly before I forget all the details of what happened, but even though it was just the other day, it is hard to find the right words to write about it.
I guess I'll just start at the beginning. My friend came and picked me up about 7:00. Here in our Arab country, weddings are segregated (men and women have their own parties). Unlike a Christian wedding, the actual ceremony is not that big of a deal. Sometime earlier that day or even days before they go to the court and sign papers of matrimony. Their wedding is really just a big reception party.
We arrived, blindly followed some other ladies around a building and into a packed room with lots of Arab women all sitting at tables. We made our way to the back (me being a foot taller than ever other person there did a great job of just blending in) and found a seat which we thought was out of the way. The music was louder than any music I have ever heard in my entire life. When we left it felt like I had cotton balls in my ears. They announced the bride was coming and we quickly realized we did not have such inconspicuous seats as we had hoped for. We were sitting right by the door that the bride would come in. We of course were in all of her intimate moment pictures the entire night as each new group entered.
The bride entered with her father and possibly an uncle. She wore a typical white wedding dress we would think of except she had a white hood type thing she used to cover her head while she was outside but was loose enough it did not mess up her hair. The family took off her hood and then she and her family walked down the "isle" to the dance floor. She, her family and quickly some friends as well began dancing. Her father left so since it was all women, veils came off right and left. The bride did some dancing and took some pictures for about an hour.
They then announced the groom was coming. Everyone except for his sisters and close family covered back up. Of course we got front row seats for his arrival. She met him at the door, they greeted each other then walked to the dance floor for their first dance. They had a traditional arabic style dance and a slow dance. They they went to sit and take more pictures.
After a reasonable amount of time passed, they announced that the men were coming. These were all the men in his family and her family (seemed like any guy close enough to get in tried to). More people, including the bride covered for their coming. They proceeded down the isle, greeted the groom and stayed around for a dance or two then left.
It is custom for the groom to give the bride gold at the wedding. She took off all of the jewelry she came in with then he proceeded to put on her various types of gold jewelry. Several bracelets, several rings, earrings and a couple of necklaces.
They wheeled in the cake, down the isle, and the bride and groom cut through all the layers with a sword! It was pretty fun. They each fed each other the cake with a fork. They did the arm twisty thing with the drink. It was interesting that they had all these traditions that we have, but it seemed like they were just going though the motions with them so they could get the picture and say they did it.
We left shortly after the cake cutting. Me being gluten free and all couldn't eat any anyway. It seems so crazy to me in this culture where men and women do not have very much contact, one minute you have to steer clear of men and then the next you're living with one! This has to be a radical shift for them. It was a fun and interesting experience. I had a headache the rest of the night, but I think it was worth it. Now I am ready for Andrew to go to a wedding so we can find out what it is the men do!
I guess I'll just start at the beginning. My friend came and picked me up about 7:00. Here in our Arab country, weddings are segregated (men and women have their own parties). Unlike a Christian wedding, the actual ceremony is not that big of a deal. Sometime earlier that day or even days before they go to the court and sign papers of matrimony. Their wedding is really just a big reception party.
We arrived, blindly followed some other ladies around a building and into a packed room with lots of Arab women all sitting at tables. We made our way to the back (me being a foot taller than ever other person there did a great job of just blending in) and found a seat which we thought was out of the way. The music was louder than any music I have ever heard in my entire life. When we left it felt like I had cotton balls in my ears. They announced the bride was coming and we quickly realized we did not have such inconspicuous seats as we had hoped for. We were sitting right by the door that the bride would come in. We of course were in all of her intimate moment pictures the entire night as each new group entered.
The bride entered with her father and possibly an uncle. She wore a typical white wedding dress we would think of except she had a white hood type thing she used to cover her head while she was outside but was loose enough it did not mess up her hair. The family took off her hood and then she and her family walked down the "isle" to the dance floor. She, her family and quickly some friends as well began dancing. Her father left so since it was all women, veils came off right and left. The bride did some dancing and took some pictures for about an hour.
They then announced the groom was coming. Everyone except for his sisters and close family covered back up. Of course we got front row seats for his arrival. She met him at the door, they greeted each other then walked to the dance floor for their first dance. They had a traditional arabic style dance and a slow dance. They they went to sit and take more pictures.
After a reasonable amount of time passed, they announced that the men were coming. These were all the men in his family and her family (seemed like any guy close enough to get in tried to). More people, including the bride covered for their coming. They proceeded down the isle, greeted the groom and stayed around for a dance or two then left.
It is custom for the groom to give the bride gold at the wedding. She took off all of the jewelry she came in with then he proceeded to put on her various types of gold jewelry. Several bracelets, several rings, earrings and a couple of necklaces.
They wheeled in the cake, down the isle, and the bride and groom cut through all the layers with a sword! It was pretty fun. They each fed each other the cake with a fork. They did the arm twisty thing with the drink. It was interesting that they had all these traditions that we have, but it seemed like they were just going though the motions with them so they could get the picture and say they did it.
We left shortly after the cake cutting. Me being gluten free and all couldn't eat any anyway. It seems so crazy to me in this culture where men and women do not have very much contact, one minute you have to steer clear of men and then the next you're living with one! This has to be a radical shift for them. It was a fun and interesting experience. I had a headache the rest of the night, but I think it was worth it. Now I am ready for Andrew to go to a wedding so we can find out what it is the men do!
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Leg
I was leaving my apartment to walk to the souq the other day and shortly after exiting my apartment building, I noticed a goat leg laying on the ground on the side of the road.
I am not sure, but I think this is the same leg that the little boy was chasing all the girls with during the Aid about a month ago. I am surprised that I did not notice it until now. I took me a few days to remember to take my camera and go take a picture for everyone, but thankfully it had not run off anywhere so you all get to enjoy this leg as much as I have!
I am not sure, but I think this is the same leg that the little boy was chasing all the girls with during the Aid about a month ago. I am surprised that I did not notice it until now. I took me a few days to remember to take my camera and go take a picture for everyone, but thankfully it had not run off anywhere so you all get to enjoy this leg as much as I have!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wahead Miyat
Last night and tonight there has been a tent outside our bedroom window. This tent is in the same place and basically looks the same as the wedding tent we were able to enjoy a week after we arrived here. We noticed this tent along with a sign yesterday afternoon. We thought for sure it was going to be another wedding and we would get to enjoy the loud music all night. As evening approached, men gathered in the tent, but no music was being played. We concluded it was not a wedding but something else.
After dinner we went to town as usual for tea and coffee. As our taxi driver was returning us home Andrew asked him what the tent was. He response was "wahead miyat." A little bit of charades followed and we left the taxi confused with no clue what it was. Wahead is arabic for one. Mia is arabic for 100. We thought maybe it was someone's birthday, either a first birthday or a one hundredth birthday.
This evening we saw the tent was still up, lights still on and men still gathered. We were definitely confused now. Surely they do not celebrate birthdays for more than one day. On our way home tonight, we had a taxi driver who spoke a little bit of english so I was excited that he might be able to tell us what was going on. As we approached our apartment, Andrew asked him what was going on there. He informed us that someone had died. I asked him how long it would go on, he said three days.
Our first funeral/wake. It is not what I expected. I had expected loud wailing or something. I have not heard any. They just sit together. Share a meal. Talk. For three days they will do this, quietly remembering the one they have lost.
After dinner we went to town as usual for tea and coffee. As our taxi driver was returning us home Andrew asked him what the tent was. He response was "wahead miyat." A little bit of charades followed and we left the taxi confused with no clue what it was. Wahead is arabic for one. Mia is arabic for 100. We thought maybe it was someone's birthday, either a first birthday or a one hundredth birthday.
This evening we saw the tent was still up, lights still on and men still gathered. We were definitely confused now. Surely they do not celebrate birthdays for more than one day. On our way home tonight, we had a taxi driver who spoke a little bit of english so I was excited that he might be able to tell us what was going on. As we approached our apartment, Andrew asked him what was going on there. He informed us that someone had died. I asked him how long it would go on, he said three days.
Our first funeral/wake. It is not what I expected. I had expected loud wailing or something. I have not heard any. They just sit together. Share a meal. Talk. For three days they will do this, quietly remembering the one they have lost.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The Valley of Sand
This video is mostly of the beautiful scenery we were able to experience while visiting the "Valley of Sand," but I also feel that this video along with the soundtrack clearly depicts how I have been feeling the last couple of weeks. Sometimes it is difficult going though every day, overwhelmed with language study in a place completely foreign to me and all that I consider the "comforts of home." Yet, I will give Him praise.
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Life
I know it has been a while since my last post. Things have been fairly busy lately, but unfortunately nothing particularly blog worthy has happened. Last week we finally got a new language tutor. Our first tutor suddenly disappeared? So, we finally got a new tutor and we absolutely LOVE her! She is actually a teacher and tutors often. Unfortunately she is a little too expensive so Wednesday we will be getting yet another language tutor. I have high hopes for this next tutor. I am feeling good about her and excited to continue in language learning.
This past weekend me, Andrew and a few other American friends went out to the desert for the night. I know, I know, we already live in the desert. But this was really amazingly beautiful. Sand everywhere, but also mountains that just spring up out of no where. We spent the night in bedouin tents, which was not quite glamping, but fun anyway. The unfortunate part was it was ridiculously cold! I am still recovering for the frozen head I got while sleeping. I tried to take lots of video footage while we were there, so do not worry, a video of our adventures in the Valley of Sand is soon to come!
A Bob's Red Mill update:
This evening we went back to the little store that ordered the gluten free flour for us. As we walked past the flour section we noticed that there was no more Bob's Red Mill!! We were shocked. But not to worry, as we made our way to the back of the store we noticed he has now created an entire gluten free section with the flour, some cereal and even bread mix!
This past weekend me, Andrew and a few other American friends went out to the desert for the night. I know, I know, we already live in the desert. But this was really amazingly beautiful. Sand everywhere, but also mountains that just spring up out of no where. We spent the night in bedouin tents, which was not quite glamping, but fun anyway. The unfortunate part was it was ridiculously cold! I am still recovering for the frozen head I got while sleeping. I tried to take lots of video footage while we were there, so do not worry, a video of our adventures in the Valley of Sand is soon to come!
A Bob's Red Mill update:
This evening we went back to the little store that ordered the gluten free flour for us. As we walked past the flour section we noticed that there was no more Bob's Red Mill!! We were shocked. But not to worry, as we made our way to the back of the store we noticed he has now created an entire gluten free section with the flour, some cereal and even bread mix!
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