Pavementologist

You may have wondered why Jane is not keen to go jogging - well there is the cultural problem of running the streets in shorts and a crop-top, there are no parks or open spaces and the pavements (side-walks) are not conducive to running - even walking on them is not an easy option. I have just completed an in-depth study of the pedestrian situation for my qualification as a pavementologist and my conclusion is that Jordanians do not like sloping pavements and have many different tastes in paving surfaces. Each property owner is responsible for the pavement outside their property which means that the surfaces vary, unless neighbours have clubbed together for a new pavement. Property owners, especially shop-keepers, like to have a level pavement outside their homes/shops, which means that every few yards there are step/s. And finally when a premise is derelict or there is an empty plot the pavement is neglected. I have completed many folders of photographs throughout my studies which I will gladly share with you, here is a taster. Please feel free to copy them if you would like to add them to your own collection of pavement photographs or you can use one as a screen-saver. P

Skipping on the Roof!

Whilst we are living in foreign climes we try to do regular exercise! This takes the form of spiritual but also the physical aerobic type. Peter takes the easy way out and attends a local Gym. Jane has decided to be more creative and do this from home. Living in a m culture we are trying to be sensitive to those around us. Some people from the West take to jogging in the streets. This is regarded as very strange and alien by the locals, so needs to be avoided if one wants to integrate. Jane has found 2 helpful options 1: is running up and down the six flights of stairs. This is exhausting but as everyone else uses the lift, no one actually sees her bright red face. 2: Skipping on the roof has become another aerobic high. Although the roofs are flat and open here, they are enshrouded in satellite disks and washing lines. So Jane has found a secret space to happily skip away! There is no photographic evidence of this ( and there won't be).
Any other hot tips for spiritual or physical exercise are all very much appreciated. J

'ello 'ello

Do you remember the comedy programme 'ello 'ello, and in particular the undercover British spy who played a French policeman (Officer Crabtree) see this clip if you're not familiar with the programme: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DrAp5gzdqc&feature=related - or search 'ello ello officer Crabtree' on youtube. Our Arabic continues to improve (slowly) and we are beginning to engage with shopkeepers and taxi drivers, but our conversation often ends up with the other person giggling - it's amazing how one litter can change the meating of a sentence. Just as in the programme, we probably sound even funnier because we are not aware of our mistakes. The important thing is that we can laugh along with the people with whom we are speaking; especially when they then try out their English with us, like the person who asked us if we liked the vegetable sponge - what he actually meant was spinach. P

Tricky Signs and Sounds!

To date we have been learning Arabic for almost six weeks. It is beautiful language with many greetings that must be learnt before engaging in social chit chat. It is language that really values people and relationships. One of the most difficult sounds is the 'ayn' sound, which is non existent in the English. To make this sound you have to constrict and relax the throat muscles. It has been described as the noise of someone being strangled!

Sometimes we feel like children learning our basic ABC; even reading the road signs can take a long time! We are grateful for the people who help and support us. We are also glad that we can provide amusement for the local population. Jane is now used to taxi drivers breaking into peals of laughter when she gives them directions in Arabic. Anyway the good thing is its coming 'slow but sure' as we say in the UK. J

Roman Theatre

Amman has two main attractions: the Citadel (Roman, Byzantine and Islamic remains) and the Roman Theatre. The theatre is great value for money - £1, which includes two museums. As we approached the site we had to get across a busy dual-carriageway that has no crossing facility, everybody apparently arrives by coach. We thought that the obvious place to start was the Tourist Information kiosk, only to find that they had just one small leaflet/map for the whole of Amman - be grateful for small things. The theatre was striking as it is in downtown Amman; it has 33 rows, and as you can see the terracing is very steep because it is built into the hill; it can accommodate 6,000 people and it is still used today for concerts - amazing what information you can pack into one small leaflet. We were considering visiting the Citadel this weekend but winter has arrived, thunder storms, hail-stones and snow is forcast. Keep warm wherever you are. P (another panoramic photo - three photos merged into one, Jane is in the top left corner - click on it to enlarge)

A room with a view

We have settled into our flat (apartment), it is very comfortable and has everything that you would expect in a home that has been lived in for 6 years. It is in a great part of town with good cafes, book shops and of course the language school. Having lived in a similar location last year we knew what to expect, but Amman is even more crowded and compact. There is virtually no open spaces in our area of town.
I have recently noticed that I have a 'panoramic' software package on the computer and so I have been playing with it - it merges photos to make a panoramic photograph - which you would expect. This is a photo from at the rear of our apartment. We have a little balcony, no room to even put a chair - it is designed to be a drying area for washing - if you look closely you can see the washing lines and how the picture has not quite merged them, you can also see both ends of the balcony on the sides. More scenic photos to follow! P

On guard!

We recently visited Bethany on the other side of the Jordan, although it was on this side of the Jordan for us - see John 1:28 - it was where John the Baptist was baptizing. We were invited to go to the annual diocese service at Bethany, which was attended by about 500 adults, teenagers and children. I didn't understand a word of the service but just being there was enough. We sat in simple wood terraced seats, which meant that everybody had a clear view of the Bishop and Priests as they led the communion service. They had their backs to the River Jordan (the brown background in the photo), which was just a yard behind them. The communion was distributed with Jordanian soldiers guarding the River Jordan, which is the Israel/Jordan border. I don't know what the soldier thought about the priests dipping olive branches in the river and flicking the water at everybody - is there a theological term for this apart from getting 'soaked'? P