These are some pictures from the King Houssein Mosque in Amman. It is a giant mosque built to hole up to 5,000 people. It can be seen from most of the city and has become a major landmark. It is surrounded by a garden free to the public which includes soccer fields, tennis courts and walking paths. Many families come out after the sun goes down to have some hookah, go for a walk or just simply to enjoy the nice weather.

Durring the hot summer months the city hosts a festival called Amman Summer. Last night Reem took Kate and I to the festival and we had a great time looking through the bazzars and watching the performances.

Reem works for a microfinance organizations that helps women in Jordan start their own small businesses. The women had booths last night and were selling jewelry, soap, food and all kinds of handmade things.  It was really great to see how their businesses were growing and hearing about how their small businesses were employing other people in the community as well. :)

More later...

Ma'selema

Kaneesa Latina

These pictures are from the Catholic Mass we attended in downtown Amman.

A group of us form AMIDEAST went together and had fun meeting the congregation and hearing the mass in Arabic. 

Madaba

Petra and Wadi Rum

This weekend was a blast! Lol it started out at 5:30 am when we arrived at the bus station.

Around 11 we arrived at our first stop, Petra. The landscape was pretty stark but the giant rocks and the unobstructed views were amazing. We walked for about 30 minutes until we reached the famous treasury. The way was lined with smooth walls tht hid the treasury until the last second.

After climbing and exploring some more we headed back to the bus tired and reaaalllly thirsty.

We bought some food and water on the way and then watched out the window as we left civilization farther and farther behind. After several hours we reached what looked like a campsite far in the distance. The bus stopped and we all got out literally in the middle of the desert. We had arrived at Wadi Rum.

A little pickup truck pulled up and we all hopped in the back. The guy florred it and we all screamed and laughed as we flew accross the desert to our camp site. Then we unloaded our stuff and settled into our tents. After that we got back in the truck and went for an even crazier ride. I lost my sunglasses during this excursion lol but it was well worth it. Later we climbed some rocks and this hill of sand that took some serious effort to run up-haha it was much more fun running down. :)

After a long day we headed to a hugh plateau to watch the sunset. It was absolutely beautiful!!

Then we all headed back to the campsite for dinner and.... a HAFLA!! (party)

To be continued...

Mass in Arabic

SO last Sunday we decided to go to mass at a local church. It is a normal workday for most Jordanians so mass is in the evening. After class, we decided to grab a cab and head to an area of Amman called Weibdeh to a "kaneesa latina"(catholic church).

The service was in Arabic and it was fun to follow along with the hymns and prayers. lol it was a challenge to keep up at times but overall the experience was a good one. The congregaton was really welcoming and at the end of the mass the priest actually invited all the "Amrekeyoon" ie the five of us, to come up to the front of the church so he could introduce us to the church community.

We were then invited to have coffee after mass and several people came up to us to personally welcome us and to talk about the United States (some of them had family there or had been there to study).

Ma'selema

AMIDEAST