Sheik to Shabab... all a good time!

Really this was a pretty good week!
It began hanging out in Dafyanna with Sheik Talal Al-Madi in his home which was a lot of fun. His brother is Bader Al-Madi who was my contact to get out here so hanging out with his family was a good time. There was a wedding celebration going on so I got to go sit in the Bayt Shar (tent) and eat Mansaf which was really tasty. It was my first time to eat mansaf with my hand and I'm told that's kind of a "must do" while here in Jordan. Fortunately I've been here for a bit so I've gotten used to the mechanics of everything as well as using my right hand for things (I'm left handed so it can be tough at times). The food was great, the company was amazing and I really enjoyed myself. I hung out with Sheik Talal and Bader's youngest brother Ahmed and his friends that night which was also a really good time. They played playstation chatted and then when some of the older uncles showed up they began reciting bedouin poetry. The poetry was beautiful and sounded just amazing with it's meter and rhythm, I just wish I could have understood more of it. They asked me if I knew any poetry but all I could think of was a couple inappropriate limericks so I decided to pass. After chatting with some of the older gentlemen there sitting around (who I later found out were pretty important government officials so I'm glad I didn't say anything wrong) they decided that for me to be truly Bedouin I needed to dress like a bedouin, so one of the men got up and brought me back a gift of a Shemagh and Thob (head covering and long dress like shirt). I got dressed and I have to admit it was rather comfortable and I looked good. I understand why so many people wear them and if I could wear it every day and get away with it then I totally would. It was a generous gift and I really appreciated it and it was just another way that I felt accepted into the culture here in the Badia. Also last weekend a bunch of SIT (school for international training) students came into the Badia so I got the great chance to meet them and get a little dose of western culture. A guy from the Midwest named Luke came to stay with Shlash so I hung out over there a lot and helped Shlash show him around the area a bit. We checked out this big black mountain where they mine all this volcanic rock out west of here and took some pretty amazing pictures (check my facebook for them as blogspot sucks for uploading pictures). We checked out this small zoo in a nearby village and I got to play with a wolf and see a hyena pretty up close and personal. We went and saw some camels of course and did a lot of cooking and eating back at the house in Subha. It was a pretty good experience but made me grateful I was living in the Badia over Amman as despite the fact that I haven't been taking formal classes like they are my language is pretty good and I can hear things pretty well. Don't get me wrong the language is still a pretty big struggle for me but it's coming and I'm understanding a lot more now despite my inability to speak well.
This week was pretty mellow and other than teaching at the pre-school (which is a blast I might add) I took a day to go to Al Ilbayt University to talk to some language professors and try to get a book in Amiyya (coloquial) instead of Fusha (formal) Arabic. It seemed like a good campus and everyone was really friendly (especially a few of the girls yelling out Ya Inglizie!!) so it's good to know I still got it despite my hessian beard and long hair. After hanging out on campus for a bit with the guys (shebab) we all went to Mafraq and ate some pretty good food and chatted for a while. I'm pretty tight knit with these guys now in the Al Oun family and they are just a blast to be around. Ahed is the oldest and is pretty loud and boisterous but a good time, Sammi is a cousin who's mother is from Syria and is going to Al Ilbayt while living in Subha, Shlash is just Shlash and not much else can be said. Shlash has helped me a ton out here and I have him to thank for being so well integrated into the culture out here. He's just a straight shooter and isn't afraid to tell me how he really feels or what he really things which I appreciate. Shlash is an English teacher here in Salhiyya and is planning on getting married in a couple weeks so that's been exciting for him to get ready for. The rest of the guys give him a hard time about it so it's nice to know that apprehension and concerns regarding marriage and of course friends ribbing you about things is universal and knows no culture.
Yesterday we all went to Amman (Sammi, Shlash, Ahed and I) and met up with Niel, Shlash's brother who is studying English at the British Counsel there in the City preparing to take the TOEFL. We stopped by the Mormon Cultural Center there and chatted with a couple of nice senior missionaries. I think they were a bit surprised when I showed up this obviously American looking guy with 4 Bedouin in tow. They were nice and we sat in their living room and chatted for a while before going to our other meetings for the day. We stopped by a couple malls which were all pretty new and western but at the same time felt very 1990 in their planning and layout (yes I was raised by a real estate developer). All in all Amman is really nice and western, but also crowded and I can see the allure of living in the Badia. Shlash explained to me as we were driving home that living in Amman comes with a cost, a cost of living with drugs, crime, and all other onslaughts against moral family living. Living in Amman meant you could have nicer things and make a better salary but at what cost to your family and well being? I explained to him that living in any city came with some costs like that which is why many people in the States live in suburbs. The problem here is that suburbs don't develop as much as far fewer people have access to cars due to the fact that they are crazy expensive here! There is a pretty big disconnect between rural and urban without much of a transition suburb which is very interesting to see. I guess I'm glad to be living in the rural areas as it's much closer to the suburban lifestyle I'm used to. It was a great day trip and I had a great time hanging out with the guys and meeting with various folks about increasing support and humanitarian efforts here in the Badia.
Speaking of humanitarian efforts... I have a shameless plug for all of you. If any of you know someone who would be interested in doing some volunteer dental or medical work out here for a bit (2 weeks or 2 months or really any amount of time would be great) we have the facilities out here but not the manpower. Give me a shout if you know of anyone who would be interested in coming and helping out for a bit.