Here is an overview of the main things I have done over the past two weeks, one of them being an amazing trip to the Dead Sea!!
We got to go to one of the private beaches so it was less crowed and attached to a gorgeous hotel. So after eating a beyond-filling feast inside, we all ran out to the beach.
Our professor from the university (Doctor Muhammad) brought his son Salahh who was adorable. It was also cute to see Doctor Muhammad interact with him. Here the children call their Dad "Baba" and Mom "Mama" and they Dad's call their children "Baba" and the Mom's call them "Mama"! While Doctor Muhammad lived in the US for 6 years, he was still shocked to hear that we don't do the same in the US - it would be like my Mom calling me "Mom" and my Dad calling me "Dad."
The Dead Sea (as you may already know) has so much salt in it because it doesn't drain out to an ocean like other bodies of water. So the salt has been accumulating for thousands of years - so you float! You can't even sink if you tried to. Also the bottom of the sea has this dark clay material that you are supposed to spread on yourself and let dry in order to soften your skin (Hence why we have mud on ourselves).
The next week after class on Wednesday, we went to meet the "Sheikh" of the Clan "Benni Hussan" in Jordan. It is the largest and arguably the most important clan in Jordan - which is very important for a country that basis a lot of its politics on the Tribe/Clan system.The Sheikh is a part of an ancestral line that has been leading the clan for hundreds of years. He basically mediates all problems related to the clan - no courts necessary. So if two members of a clan have a problem, they come to the Sheikh's house and talk about the problem. Then once the two men drink coffee from the cup, the problem is considered solved. If one of the parties does not want to solve the problem, they stand up and throw the coffee on the floor (very disrespectful).
Here is me with the Sheikh and his wife (may I reiterate how important he is in Jordan...)
So we spoke with the Sheikh for some time and afterwards we moved to the other room for lunch. I will classify this moment as I walked into the room for lunch as one of the most horrifying moments of my life. At first glace, it was just three platters of Mensef (the traditional Jordanian dish). Now in general I think Mensef is delicious, but this Mensef was just a little too realistic for me.
You may now be able to guess why this Mensef was not so appetizing. That's right, that is the head of a dead sheep right in the center of the platter--teeth, eyes and all.Needless to say, I lost my appetite entirely, so I maybe ate two scoops of rice - I wasn't able to eat the sheep meat. Here is everyone eating together.
Some of the boys (like Ghawwar) were brave enough to eat the food, even traditionally with their hands. I was not so strong.
But other than the food - the trip was great! Here is all the girls with the Sheikh, his wife and two daughters.
After the "meeting" we took a short trip to a part of their land in Mufruk and explored the oldest church in the world, according to what they said. There wasn't too much left of the church, but the mosaic on the ground was pretty interesting.
Here I am being the first one to discover the mosaic (everything was covered with sand in order to protect it).
On Thursday we had a break from classes and took a trip together to Jerash, Abdoun, and Irbid. In Jerash there are gigantic ruins which are pretty impressive. Unfortunately, it was a popular class trip day so we were harassed by waves of loud children.
Here they are... At one point I told one my name, and after that about 15 boys somehow knew it too and would rotate coming up to me and saying "Hi Yasmine!!"
Me and my new best friends:
While I don't have many pictures of the castle in Abdoun, we did have quite a bit of fun so Ill mention it anyway. We were all feeling a little sick of looking at ruins, so we played Sardines instead. And let me just say, playing sardines in a castle is AWESOME. This is me finding everyone last. Typical.
Afterwards we went to Irbid to go to one of Doctor Muhammad's friend's houses. There we saw a woman making fresh and homeade "khubez taboun" aka delicious huge bread. She made it individually in an oven in the ground set up in a shed outside their house.
Afterwards we sat down for a huge meal that they had prepared for us. It was a little odd since we barely spoke to them and didn't eat with them, I would have preferred just to talk to them. Oh well. Regardless, the food was incredible. Look!
Yacoub and Jafar smiling!
Oh! And I promised to show you a picture of Mazin, the one who we hang out with a lot and worked at the school where we teach English. Here we are below!
That's all for now! There are two weeks left of school so I am freaking out! Afterwards I have about three weeks to travel and relax but I am not positive what my plan is exactly. But I'll figure it out soon!