83

My heart. Started a new job a couple of weeks ago, teaching at a school for kids with hearing impairments. I am the drawing teacher, because apparently talent is relative. You can see a sample of my genius there on the table. The center has 15 kids, these 3 are the youngest, and I spend the most time with them, mostly because the kinds of things they are learning, I know how to say and write (big vs little, colors, counting, etc). I'm already completely obsessed.

82

omg. omg. omg. Got my Easter package today from the family. It's totally ok to subsist on chocolate alone for a week or so right? How about if it is supplemented with Starburst jellybeans (they are made with REAL FRUIT JUICE, it says so right on the bag)?

81

Indoor Smore party. One of the many many benefits of only having a moveable stove. Apparently Lupe didn't get the memo that this was supposed to be a themed picture. Or maybe Mark and I didn't get the memo to look like normal people.

80 (April 24)

Easter brunch. Egg bake and the most delicious cinnamon rolls I have ever had. Ever.

79 (April 23)

Went to my friends' house for Easter weekend. Tried to take a nice picture of Jana and Lupe, but some creep photobombed.

78

The family's pet turtles. The closest thing to a pet that I have seen at least. There are 9 of them on the roof of the garage outside their window. See how they put out some carpet for them to hide under? And Pepsi bottles for them to...play with? And old CDs so they can...see their...reflections to check their makeup?? Ok so they just throw piles of trash out there and hope that it occasionally contains something the turtles want to eat.

77

Springtime! My habibti on the homemade swing in the front yard. We walked down the street to get a popsicle, discuss the meaning of life, and enjoy the last of the pleasantly cool weather.

76

Sandwiches are for the weak. A real picnicer brings mansef. Actually the perfect picnic food because everything is precooked, then the pot of hot yogurt is wrapped in a blanket so when you're ready to eat, just pour it over everything and, bam!, hot food. All the trimmings (lettuce, parsley, spinach, green peppers) can be picked up from the vegetable stands that line the highways along the way.

75

Biggest success of the week. And the classiest. Served on my only slightly broken tray (nothing survives my cat completely unscathed). Don't bombard me with requests for the recipe, it's too complicated for most to attempt.

74

At the other end of the center's backyard. Every day Baraha and I walk a nice lap around the center, then go and sit by the back gate for a bit. Sometimes I bring speakers, we listen to a song or two then start the long walk back. Sometimes the other students come along, but at least we two go every day. Even on days like this where it is windy and dusty. We are troopers, what can I say.

73

The autism awareness team practicing the now infamous Awkward Peace Corps Family Photo. Landon ftw.

72

Me at the touch station.

71

And we had the hearing station. Two different songs playing in each ear, while trying to keep up a discussion with Landon.

70

We did an autism awareness workshop at Jordan University of Science and Technology. One of the days we did some sensory overload activities. This was the smelly table with MJ.

69

Pouting.

68

Schnaggle face. A girl after my own heart.

67

Ok they're really cute too.

66

Favorites (don't tell anyone). They're so cute.

65

Trying (and failing) to convey a sense of the smoosh of the bus rides home. 4 adults on the seat,4 kids squatting on the little plastic overhang behind the front seat, adult and kid in the front seat. It's a source of entertainment every day, everyone loves piling in for some reason, maybe it's because everyone is within striking distance, which makes it a pretty much constant string of smacks and retaliations. Usually it goes: Hamudeh (front seat) hits the driver, Nisreen (blue sweater) hits him for hitting the driver, Muaweya (yellow sweater) hits Nisreen for hitting Hamudeh, teacher (checkered hijab) hits Muaweya, Baraha (purple hoodie) giggles.

64

Accompanied by a "ta daaaaa!"

63

But wait, there's more...! Muaweya saw my camera in my bag, grabbed it, took me by the hand, led me to the back of the center, handed me back my camera and proceeded to strike a pose like it was his job. I have a whole series of them, and I think he chose this particular spot for his photoshoot because of the vista behind him. I think this because most of his poses looked like the one in the post above (don't know why, this thing won't let me put two photos in one post).

62

Look at them all, in such a nice little row, happy, relaxing. Took a picture to savor the moment.

61

It's caterpillar season in Mansheya!! Nasty. They covered the walls of the center.

60

One of the best things I have received from the States: a glow in the dark puzzle of a unicorn in front of a beautiful waterfall. Hours of enjoyment. Best paired with the movie Point Break and a bottle of Shani (the sweetest, most delicious pop around).

59

Desire to be outside + desire to watch a movie + Peace Corps ingenuity(and/or hardheadedness)=this masterpiece of wiring. Extension cord run out my bedroom window, up the side of my house, held down by a cinderblock, and stretched to its max across the roof to my little hidey hole. What you can't see is the roof that I made out of some blankets and more cinderblocks to make a sunshade to cut the glare on the screen. All well worth it.

58

Walking to school on a rainy day in Mansheya. Felt like the 'burgh and it made me happy.

57

sleeping tiger

yeesh

ok. let's just all agree that i kind of suck at this and move past it, ok? I hadn't even bothered to charge the battery in my camera for the last few weeks, so i'll fill you in with a pile of pictures that i did manage to take since the last post. Inshallah from there we can resume the whole 'post a day' thing that i am ostensibly going for.