Can't believe it's only been a month in Jordan, I've enjoyed my time and had the opportunity to do so many great things. At work I've been able to assist with lots of capacity building activities for the organization, such as establishing the first newsletter, setting up a knowledge management system and participating in the restructuring of the member committees as well as attending a business planning training with the members and beginning the organization of a member's directory. The members of the architects and engineers association are all very prominent and well respected companies in the Middle-east and it has been fun to work with them and the Executive Director of the A/E Business Council, Samar and her assistant Amna, the only two staff members. They are both really wonderful people and have embraced me as a team member and made me feel welcome. Outside of work, I've been able to visit the beautiful pink Wadi Rum desert to sleep under the stars and dance with the Bedouins (my second time--see picture of the sunrise in the desert above) for a weekend, as well as visit Syria over Eiid which was such a refreshing experience...getting out and getting a real feel for the Middle East again, after being shut away in my cushy life style here in West Amman. I've mentioned it before, I really think Syria is a hidden treasure in the Middle East, for the beauty of the country and its largely intact and diverse ruins and for the hospitality for the people as well (far from the "axis of evil" the US media would love to have you believe)! I've experienced this hospitality (even after I tell people I'm American, probably then even more so) all three times visited. See picture above of me sitting on a Byzantine temple in one of the Dead Cities in Syria (an area in the middle of Syria that is so literated with ruins of these ancient cities--no one knows what happened to the people who lived here--that locals use their remains as barns, shelters, and even homes--guess they are not dead cities anymore, one area still grows olives in groves used since ancient times). Excited for a trip to the Gulf of Aqaba on the Red Sea, this weekend with other EMDAPers and then the weekend after, to a natural reserve I've never been to before here in Jordan called Wadi Mujib, where I'll be able to do some repelling near a water fall. Was feeling a little depressed and home sick this last weekend, though, mostly because I feel victim to the terrible flu that is going around, and being forced to stay home gave me time to reflect and realize how much I miss all of you at home. Finally felt a little better and was able to go out with EMDAPers and co-workers to a wonderful little art gallery that overlooks the city is located at an old Ammani house with a garden complete with the remains of original Roman columns. The exhibits showcasing the stories of Palestinian refugees who witnessed atrocities and had atrocities perpetrated against them and were violently and abrubtly forced to flee their land, eerily reminded me of stories I read at the Armenian genocide memorial and also, ironically, Holcoust exhibits...so sad, another example of the victim becoming the perpetrator of violence and even feeling justified in it, on and on, and so it goes, it never ends. It's the other side of the story, that unfortunately the internationally community never seems to receive. As I mentioned to some of you before, I really miss working with the less affluent population and hope to be able to do some volunteer work refugees soon too.
The evening at the art gallery made me realize there are lots of little areas to explore here in Amman including other cute hidden cafes and art galleries, once again the door is always open to anyone who wants to visit me in Jordan (I'm trying to convince you). I'm attaching some links to some pictures too, since they take forever to upload until this blog. My friend Molly has posted her pictures of our Syria trip at:
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=11gpc3m5.45vc212d&x=0&h=1&y=7nmsgw&localeid=en_US
And I have some pictures posted at Snapfish of Wadi Rum:
http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=376121223829170312/l=429529670/g=2857144/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
and Syria:
http://www1.snapfish.com/share/p=646121223829326822/l=429529671/g=2857144/otsc=SYE/otsi=SALB
I'll post more soon! L, Dena
