First Impressions

First Impressions is a series of posts about one extraordinary person's first impressions of the United States. To read about how he got to the States, go here. To read all the posts in the series, go here.

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The day finally came, and we moved him in to his dorm last week.

It was one of those happy/sad moments in life...I was so excited for all the adventures that await him at school, but was sad to drop him off and drive away. My mommy heart skipped a beat. 

The university hung a Jordanian flag in his honor to welcome him as a new international student. That made us all feel really proud!!

Ok! Enough of the sappy-ness of the drop off of our first kid to college. Now on to a few quotes from the enormous list of insightful and often hilarious observations since his arrival. We have so enjoyed seeing our culture through his eyes.  
 

"The amount of green I see where I am now is more than the amount of desert in the whole country where I came from. Just the back yard feels like a jungle to me!"

Leaving the desert...

landing in the jungle.

 "Cars are actually stopping whenever they see a stop sign, and giving signals when they want to go left or right, not acting like they are Chuck Norris and trying to go through other cars without crashing in to them and pretending that they can go through them like a phantom."

Image from Jordan Times

source

 "I have noticed there are no cats on the streets. Are there any cats in the US?"

For a full dissertation on trashy cats...go here.

source

And one of my favorite quotes:

"Americans spend a lot of money. Everyday."

And there you have an astute summary of America: beautiful, rule oriented, rich, animal lovers.

When History Repeats Itself

Our family had an experience this week where history repeated itself. It happened at the zoo.

Way back in 2005, we took the kids to a zoo right outside Amman. Going to a zoo in a developing country is quite different than going to a zoo in America. Most the animals in the zoo in Jordan were sick or 'deranged' animals that had been left behind from the Russian traveling zoos that passed through the country. Zoology is not offered at the local universities, so the people running the zoo are, uh, just people running a zoo.

So, when my small boy walked past the bear exhibit {the angry, hungry, deranged bear in a cement block cage} the bear decided to roar at the top of his lungs and rear up on his legs so the small boy could see how small he was compared to a big, angry, hungry, deranged bear standing on hind legs.

Fast forward to 2012. I took the kids to the zoo this past week and while going past the bear cage, my small daughter got to see how small she was compared to bear up on his hind legs.

 

Except this time it was all clean, cute, cuddly, nice and safe. 

We did, however have a very strange zoo experience that you would have thought should have happened in a developing country with deranged animals. One I would never expect to have seen in real life  mostly because I have seen this scene play out between the characters in Madagascar...a cartoon.

We approached the chimpanzee enclosure. One of the chimpanzees was right in front, making some great monkey faces and sounds. He seemed to be quite pleased with himself.

More and more people were gathering around as he carried on. He then bent down and picked up a piece of poop. Strange, I know. Picking up the poop just made him more charged up. He was starting to dance around and do the typical 'jumping, scratching the armpits' dance that monkey's are stereotypically known to do.

It was right after I snapped this photo above, that I decided to switch my camera from photo to video mode. This monkey was getting down and I needed to get it on video! But, in the split second that I was flipping the buttons, that coo-coo chimp flung his poo right up in to the crowd! We screamed, he fell over laughing, and my son grabbed my arm and said "mom, we gotta get out of here!"

That is when I decided two things:

1. I should not be so critical of the deranged animals kept in a developing country's zoo.

2. I did not evolve from monkeys because throwing poo at people and laughing about it has never crossed my mind.


Quite a day. And this was the zoo trip right after we found out my son needed glasses {ostensibly so he could better see poo flying at him} and had his 8 stitches removed from his leg by an evidently inexperienced PA who missed two...so my former ER nurse husband had to finish the job when we got home.

And I thought life in America would be relatively boring.

Our Neighbors

There is an old Arab proverb that has given us some food for thought...

We have some 'interesting' neighbors in our building.

I'll just list the highlights:

It started at 5:32 am one morning.

Gunshots.

Outside our bedroom window.

Upon further investigation {after I was revived from my heart attack}, we discovered that the city came by and shot the neighbors dog.

At 5:32 in the morning. With a high powered rifle.

In front of our bedroom window.  Left a blood trail on the front walk.
Here are the facts we collected:

• their dog got pregnant
• their dog had a puppy
• the puppy ran loose and started snapping at people
• the puppy got shot {in front of our bedroom window}
• the mom dog got pregnant again
• the mom dog had puppies
• the mom dog got poisoned
• the mom dog died
• the new puppy tried to eat our daughter on our front porch
• I was tempted to report the puppy to the city {but was worried about the gunshots}
• meanwhile, during all the puppy drama, the guy next door got married again {a second wife who interestingly, his son who was at university in Russia, brought his father a second wife as a gift upon returning for a visit}
• the guy got divorced {from the second wife, she couldn't learn Arabic fast enough}
• they crashed a taxi from their taxi company
• they made the crashed taxi into a yard ornament
• his poor first wife walks everywhere, even though they own a taxi company
• and his son travels via roller blades everywhere
• they own 15 cars

And this was all in a three month time period.  We should have interviewed the neighbor prior to renting our apartment.

Note to self: memorize more Arab proverbs

Similarities

Last summer, I posted some obvious differences between the two cultures we live in that I observed right away upon arriving to the States. This summer I took note of the many things that just seem to be the same all around the world:

1. After a very long and involved battle with a cockroach invasion in our house in the Middle East, we came 6,000 miles to the West and had a very long and involved battle with horse flies. Life has troubles wherever you may find yourself.

2. From the pick up games of football {soccer} that happen in the street in front of our house in the Middle East to the pick up games of basketball that happen in the driveway in front of our house in the States. No matter the language, age, or family background, if there are kids playing, other kids will join. Don't you wish adults would learn more lessons from kids?

3. Around dusk {cue the creepy music}, anywhere around the world, you must be very careful while driving. Did you know there are 60,000 deer/car crashes in our State every year? Did you know that there are 60,000 trashy cats that live by our dumpster in the Middle East? Watch out. I'm not really sure {and don't want to find out} which would cause more damage on a car - a deer or a trashy cat. I do believe the trashy cat would cause more psychological damage.

4. McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut - Why, oh why have these places invaded the entire known world?

5. Of all the places we have traveled in the world, I have observed that for the majority of the population, life is very much about family. A job that provides. Health. Peace. Love. When looking at these factors, the world really does become a small place.

Here's to enjoying your small slice of life in the world today!

Horse flies and all. {swat}

Another Year: In List Format

In 24 hours we will be on a plane headed back to the States for our summer vacation! I took these fun comparison shots from the airplane window on our trip home last summer.

Taking off from the Middle Eastern desert.

Landing 13 hours later in the green Midwest.

All that keeps going through my head is: we survived another year!
{I celebrate that no matter what country we live in.}

Our year in review:

• I didn't accidentally say any racial slurs. {At least that I was aware of}
• I didn't make any obscene hand gestures that started a riot. {At least that I saw.}
• I only walked into one men's restroom {and that was in London...where all the signs were in English!}
• I survived all my driving adventures and mis-adventures. If I got paid a dinar for every time someone turned left from the right lane in front of me, I would have made a lot of money this last year.
• I traveled thousands of miles without getting patted down in too many uncomfortable places. {and I didn't loose any luggage...or kids}
• I had the privilege of experiencing many different cultures.
• I kept my blog rolling.
• I enjoyed working with all the amazing ladies at Green Creations.
• My baby girl learned how to read!
• I got to see Queen Rania with my own eyes!
• I got rid of all my gray hair.
• I learned more Arabic.
• I got to live in a house with a sea view!!
• I survived a few rocket attacks on my city.
• I didn't conquer my fear of scuba diving.
• I was not abducted by trashy cats.
• I survived a near deadly amoeba.
• I made friends with great people from all corners of the earth.
• I fell in love with London.
• I laughed a lot.

It was a good year.

Now I'm ready to go experience some reverse culture shock for a bit.
{and eat lots of ice cream, go to Target, and speak some English}

Police Here and There

Police in the States: I don't mess with them.

Police here: I may mess with them a bit. {In a respectful way, of course.}

Why? Because there is a lot of room for negotiation here. I adapt well to this part of Eastern culture.

The other day, I could not find a parking spot. I had to run into a shop to buy two items. So, I decided to park right in front of the police hut on a major intersection in town. Of course, the police guy came out and said I couldn't park there. I smiled and said:

"Ya know what? I just have to run into that grocery store right there and grab two things. Can you be so kind and watch my car for me while I'm in there? Come and get me if you need me to move my car. And, while I'm in there can I get something for you?"

He smiled big and away I went to get my shopping done.

And these friendly military police are always happy to pose with a cute little boy who finds them fascinating.

Car accidents are another 'flexible' area. A friend wrote about our most memorable car accident here. I recently hit another non-moving vehicle. {moving vehicles are too hard to hit!}

Poor Prius

Right after I hit the guy {just so you know, I was driving under the influence of 'I have not had my morning coffee yet', it was just too early} he jumped out and exclaimed:

Praise God, You Arrived Safely

I gave him the same response and said I was so sorry. He replied that it was no big deal because nothing really happened to his car. {it was my car that got junked up}

I asked him if he wanted me to call the police.

He looked at me like I was on drugs and said:

What will they do?

I don't know. I could have asked them to bring me some coffee...and I think they would have!

Made in China: It Just Might Make You Curse

I have discussed before the severe lack of shopping in my cute little city. {Which works out great for saving for our kids college funds!} But, at times get a bit frustrating. AND when you do stop into a store, hoping to find what you need, MOST items available are made in China. There are apparently many different grades of made in China quality...and we definitely receive the bottom of the barrel.

Below are the instructions that were printed on the back of a vegetable peeler that one of my friends purchased. This entire essay seems to explain the problem we find with made in China products...including the major F bomb you will find toward the bottom. What in the name of all things to do with vegetable peeling are they trying to explain?

Peeler Usage Manual

With gratitude meaning you use the product of the my firm, very much from the bottom of the heart. Please must take a look first this manual before using, in order to use in the exactitude. Pleasing furthermore must keep this manual.

Attention: Please at the time of dismantling wrappingly, be carful and do not run into the knife blade, because of for mow the wound hand easily.

The attention that use the top orders:

• Please at before using have a meal first rinse liquid that having and using cleaning empress use again.
• Divided by the vegetable, fruit exluding, cannot used for the other. It is in view of the fact fo fake the thing of the blade, so while using please watch for the safety.
• The handle is placed in to slip away the slippery appearance descend (oil, water, wash away dirt etc) to please do not use.
• Were sliced the object accumulate the small time, pleasing watch for the finger do not want to touch with blade, because incaution cut the hand easily.
• The absolute prehibition against child uses alone. While using must adult together, teach to the right operation method in chile, in well carefully of foundation, send greeting the whole usage.
• Descend to please do not use at the appearance that transformed.
• Under the heavy circumstance in burthen please avoid usage, for cause like this and easily the product transforms.
• Please do not used for the strong and tough material, cause razor blade indentation, mistake an etc. easily.
• Please do not put by the side of fiety and near. Because the resin may take place to melt, burn, transform the excrescent circumstance in etc.
• Please wash, clearly wipe using to fuck, make it kept to the best dry, whereas, cause easily the rust, germs breeds.
• Such as usage the metals brush, grinds the powder, etc. wash away dirt, cause the wear and tear easily.
• Please place the place that can not take in the child takes care of.

I Love/Hate This Place

Well, here we are again...with major world news unfolding before our eyes.

And here I sit again.

Wondering why I decided to write a blog about humorous things I find in the Middle East when the last few months have been a little less than humorous around here.

The other day {it had been one of those days!} I had to force myself to make a list of all the things I love about living here. {Anyone ever have those days?} I'll share some highlights:

• school uniforms {never any clothes drama in the morning!!}
• fresh squeezed lemon with mint drink
• seeing religion play an important role in everyday lives
• sea side living - slow pace
• sun almost every day of the year
• the people I work with whose lives are being changed
• friends from around the world {our gatherings look like a session of the U.N.}
• the lack of temptation for consumerism  {because there is not a whole lot to buy here!}
• nutella {it literally tastes good on anything}

okay - so a lot of my list has to do with food

but there are many more things...trust me!

Now unlike the picture my happy happy funny funny blog portrays, I also hate living here in many ways. You wanna hear them? {tell Pollyanna to go in another room for a minute}

• we live under constant stress and anxiety because of language, and culture, and raising kids in a foreign land, and driving, and working, and terrorists, and...
• recent world events have torn our hearts out, infuriated us, built up compassion, and made us want to puke all at the same time
• we will never understand all the nuances of the culture we live in
• we always miss our friends and family
• cryptic warning messages from the State Department {which all became clear last night}
• we have suitcases and stuff and houses all around the world {I must be part sheepdog as I exhaust myself trying to herd everything all the time}
• and the biggest one this week: Will and Kate postponed their honeymoon! Is there no end to the bad news on BBC? She was going to be my best friend. Boo.

Well, this has been a long ramble. And if you are still with me, you probably expect me to end this with some great quote about how trials and struggles build character and wisdom {which they do and I know they will}.

But I have no such quote.

My only solution right now is to try to find the best thing in my pantry to spread nutella on and have a little feast. Gotta run!

The Evidence of Adventures

Sometimes the boys of the family feel the need to get away on adventures on the weekends. So they just take off and go hiking or snorkeling or some other grand adventure.

I feel happy that they get time alone together. They get to climb and get dirty. They love that stuff.

Then they come home with evidence of their adventures.

Pictures like these:

There he lays. My only son. On the ancient high place of sacrifice. A mothers heart does not find this comforting.

There he is again. My only son. With his legs going in all manner of different directions.

Am I the only one wondering what will happen when my son {my only son} wants to breathe? Air. Since his snorkel is full. Of water.

Then there is this one...

This time they dragged my little baby girl into it. My only baby girl. Dangling off a cliff. I won't even comment on the dangling position of the photographer {my hubby!}.

But when I see what the camera captured...

The evidence of their adventure makes my heart smile.

Driving Rant: Brace Yourself

I realize I live in a country that has a different value system than the one I was born and bred in.

That is just fine with me.

I also realize that because there is a different value system, law and order is interpreted differently.

That is okay with me too.

I realize I come from a society that is very rigid in our interpretation of law and order and I live in a country that is more flexible in their interpretation of law and order.

I can live with that too.

But I realized I have some anger issues when this is all applied to driving. I need to work through these feelings. So, I am going to deal with them right here on my blog, using a formula that I learned to help resolve conflict: When you ______ it makes me feel _______.

So. Here it goes.

When you...

• turn left from the right lane, cutting off everyone turning left IN the left lane...
• drift to the the middle of the road because you are on your phone, blocking all cars from getting by on either side...
• triple park on the busiest street in town...
• think putting your flashers on excuses you from doing any number of idiotic maneuvers...
•  think hanging your hand out the window doing any number of hand motions excuses you from doing any number of idiotic maneuvers...
• speed up to get around me and then slow down to a snails pace once you are in front of me {because you don't want to mess up your pimped out Kia on a speed bump}...
• honk from behind me the instance the light turns green...
• trail my bumper so close I can read your car's VIN number...
• park in the middle of the road 'just for a minute'...
• let your kids crawl around the car and hang out the window while your speeding down the road...
• use your large size SUV and government plates to try to intimidate me to let you have the right-of-way...

it makes me so very, very ANGRY I could just spit!

Moments after I snapped this photo, the light turned green and the taxi on the right...turned left.

Would it shock you if I mentioned that each one of these things happened to me today?

I drove from my house to work and back.

That is about five miles round trip.

I'm just gong to walk tomorrow.

{then I can do a post about how scary it is to be a pedestrian with all those crazy drivers out on the loose}

Two Pictures

These two photographs were taken about the same time.

They explain something important:

I live in paradise.

{ignoring all the protests and general mayhem, of course}

where we used to live

where we live

Please Don't Judge Me!

I turned 35 today.

And.

I have the same hairstyle as I did when I graduated from high school.

Before you judge me.

{I know you are!}

Let me explain why this has happened.

There are two simple reasons:

1. I live 200 miles away from the only man in this country that I trust with my hair. So, by default, I had to grow my hair out so I don't have to go as often.

2. While we were in London and I was bored sitting on the subway, I people watched. I noticed that all the cute, classy London ladies had bangs. So, what did I do? I woke up one morning and cut my own bangs. My husband was standing by the whole time watching, saying "You're going to regret this. You're going to regret this."

I never regreted it.

Until today.

When I turned 35.

If I went to my high school reunion, I would win the "Hasn't changed a bit" award.

And I don't think that is really a compliment.

A Middle East Guide to Aircraft Overhead

I woke up the other morning and sent a text message to a bunch of friends that read:

Good morning great friends! Are we the only ones that heard explosions this morning at 6 am?

I find it kind of disturbing that I send text messages like that.
No one else heard the explosions...
It happened again the next morning, but I was too lazy to send a message out again.
I blamed it on the road construction going on behind our neighborhood.

A local friend recently stated when we worried out loud about our safety:

Oh, your city is so safe... you only get bombs or rockets 4-5 times a year, it's not like you live in Baghdad!

{as if terrorist threats are like thunderstorms}

Needless to say, we see a lot of aircraft flying overhead in our little city. My dear hubby created a viewing guide for reference when I hear the chug-chug-chug or whiiiishhhhh and look out the window...then I will know exactly what to do.

I wondered if this may help someone else out there. So, I decided to be nice and share.

A Middle East Guide to Aircraft Overhead

F-16's flying in formation

GOOD: graduation or event nearby


F-16's flying in two-plane attack formation close to the speed of sound

GOOD/BAD: military trying to scare the hummus out of some stupid terrorists

F-16

Desert Camo Huey's in formation

GOOD: someone important is being flown into town


Desert Camo Huey

GOOD: daily coast border patrol

Desert Camo Huey flying 1m from water

GOOD & BAD- Suspicious my husband SCUBA'd in from a neighboring country... one day the border patrol decided to inspect/scare him by flying so close to the water that when my husband surfaced he could tell the pilots rank and eye color {this really happened}

Huey

Osprey VTOL crazy space age flying things

GOOD - troops doing joint exercises with friends

Osprey

Small Regional Jet

GOOD - local scheduled airline flight

Embraer

Boeing 727

GOOD - local airline flight, when regular plane (see above) is broken

Boeing 727

Old Russian-looking propeller plane
GOOD {Scary}: Charter flights from strange locations that haven't yet seemed to catch on to the whole 'jet propulsion' phenomenon.

Old propeller aircraft

Drone, slow flying almost model airplane looking thing

GOOD {and, um, not so good) - Either our neighbors are spying on us, or someone is doing joint training with friends again and watching our son and his classmates at school while they draw pictures of the circling sci-fi looking drone surveillance aircraft {yes, this really happened}.

Drone

Black, small fast helicopter flying just above satellite dish altitude

BAD- Looking for/trying to scare/intimidate suspicious things/person/people who keep launching rockets our way... or it's the traffic-copter... who knows.

Helicopter

Small sport/stunt propeller planes on weekend mornings

GOOD - practicing or performing for the crowds
AWESOME - smoke tails

Stunt Planes

Middle East Conflict...and Burritos

So we were eating burritos the other night. My 9 year old boy left the dinner table to go to the bathroom. When he came back, he asked:

Mom, I really don't understand why there are so many problems in the Middle East. Can you explain it to me one more time?

So, I did what any normal mother would do.

I dumped out the crumbs in the bottom of the corn chips bag.

I made a map of the Middle East out of chip bits.

And I started explaining.

These people think this is their land.

These people think this is their land.

These people don't have a land.

This major religious thing happened here for this religion.

This major religious thing happened here for this religion.

And this major religious thing happened here for this religion.

So, these people want this land.

And, these people want this land.

And, these people want this land.

And it's all the same land.

Then the boy said:

Oh, I think I get in now.

Then he ate Gaza and the West Bank.

I ate Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq.

And the sister ate Israel.

With some salsa on top.

The Middle East Peace process just got even more complicated!

Potty Mouth

I try to keep my blog clean.
I have only sworn once. Forgive me.
Confession: I have a few posts in drafts that have a few more swear words. Yikes! Should I post them?
We'll see!


But today {again, forgive me} I must discuss a dirty topic.


Potties {as any mommy would say}


Around here, we enjoy a variety of potty options.


You got your squatty potty - basically a hole in the bathroom floor where you, well, squat.

You got your body potty - otherwise knows as a bidet. We {really, my kids} call it a body potty because when we first moved here, they had never seen anything like it in their short little lives. And like most curious kids, they learned what is was by touching it. Which means, your body gets wet from head to toe when you turn on the faucet and a geyser shoots up to the ceiling. Those things have force! Therefore...a body potty. I guess my girl is still trying to figure out exactly what those things do when she recently asked if I ever gave her a bath in one of those when she was a baby.

You got your wadi potty - wadi {Arabic for valley} is the 'driving down the road and someone has to go' option.

You got your underwater potty - yes, that is my hubby and yes, that is a toilet on the ocean floor. Don't ask.

You have your wash machine potty. Unique, I know. Most houses here are designed to have the wash machine in the kitchen. That did not work for me. Especially since I require a dish washer in my kitchen. So, we removed the 'body potty' from the kids bathroom and used the drain and water to install the wash machine. Brilliant, I know. Now, we don't have a wash machine in the kitchen, we have it in the bathroom. Still strange, I know.

And you got your boring ole regular potty - I am thankful we have these in our house as opposed to the other options available, actually! My only issue is that in all the houses we have lived in here, we have had a rainbow of colors. Pink, green, turquoise, white with gold trim...should I go on? I have already discussed how my decor tastes are a little different from the culture around me.



And one last potty issue to discuss. 
The grocery stores here don't always know how to classify American products. I usually find strange things in strange places. But, this one tops the list...

Clorox Wipes in the baby wipes section. Ouch!

Time to go clean the babies...I mean bathrooms!

Christmas Shopping Our Way

Now that I shared all our tricks for celebrating Thanksgiving...it is time I shared with you how we go Christmas shopping:

I love a good bargain. In the States, I was the queen of eBay and Craigslist. I loved a good garage sale and LOVED my local Goodwill.  I can't remember the last time I paid full price for something. Moving overseas kind of cut that addiction out of my life. No eBay, Craigslist or garage sales here.

But, about a year ago, I found someone who can give me a good fix every once in a while when it comes to kids' toys! The shop owner is actually a very sweet man. In fact, he is on my top 5 list of most favorite shop owners in the country {this list is NOT easy to get on, it requires not EVER making me feel a creepy vibe or feel that I am being ripped off}. He is also a sheikh, actually THE sheikh for the mosque downtown. That means he has to close down the store five times a day to run and do the call to prayer. I don't mean just go and pray. I mean he is the little man whose voice rings out from the minaret. {Recently he locked my husband and I in his shop so we could continue shopping while he did the prayer...I told you, he is just a nice guy!} He also has an African Grey parrot that lives outside his shop that says: Marhaba (hello), Salam wa alaykom (peace on you), and will cat call at anyone walking by. The bird also does the perfect imitation of a cat meowing. Poor thing. You know who he gets to hang out with all day in that alley. He was actually a bit camera shy when I shot this video. He would NOT talk for the camera. Silly parrot.

Anyway. Abu Sheikh {as I like to call him 'father of sheikhs'} also has an amazing memory. He remembers all the toys that our family has ever purchased {not to mention the fact that he has the entire Koran memorized}. If he sees me coming he starts pulling out his new wares customized for us...kind of like how Amazon.com has {probably very complicated programming} suggestions of items you may want to buy based on your buying history.

From what I can figure {and all the bizarre questions I've asked him}, he gets big containers full of items that have been returned at places like Target, Toys R Us and Walmart. He gets overstocks from Goodwill and Salvation Army. And one time he got a load of left over garage sale items. I really have no idea how he gets this stuff. But I love him for it. He has three locations: His store. The storage room next to his store. And his storage garage behind his mosque {I call this place his Holy of Holies}. You would NOT believe the stuff he has in there. Recently he got about 40 huge burlap bags full of overstocked Old Navy and Gap clothes. {yippie!!!!}

WARNING: This will just make you jealous if you are a fellow bargain shopper...proceed with caution!

Here is what I have found over the last years and the prices Abu Sheikh sells them for:

American Girl Josefina Doll: Retail $95 - Abu Sheikh price $7

Playmobil Large Pirate Ship: Retail $110 - Abu Sheikh price $17

Playmobil Fairy Palace: Retail $60 - Abu Sheikh price $14

Lego Star Wars Various sets: Retail $20 - $60 - Abu Sheikh price $10

Lego City Airport: Retail $99 - Abu Sheikh price $15
Mexican Train Dominoes: Retail $20 - Abu Sheikh price $3

Tony Hawk Wii Skateboard and Game: Retail $50 - Abu Sheikh price $12

5 Wii Games: Retail $30 - $60 each - Abu Sheikh price $7 each

Pink ihome alarm clock: Retail $50 - Abu Sheikh price $10

Hannah Montana Monopoly: Retail $20 - Abu Sheikh price $4

Eye Clops Bionic Eye  Microscope for TV: Retail $70 - Abu Sheikh price $8
Huge set of Lincoln Logs: Retail $40 - Abu Sheikh price $2
My Little Ponies: Retail $6 - Abu Sheikh price 75 cents each

Back in college, my boyfriend {who later became my husband!} did a summer internship in a small Guatemalan village outside of Antigua that was famous for their unique, colorful handwoven crafts, with patterns only made in that area! Look what we found at Abu Sheikh's a few weeks ago:

From Guatemala in some tourist's bag... to Abu Sheikh's in Podunk, Middle East. If that thing could talk... We found it just hilarious that it was lying next to a Bible cover {not too much of a market for those around here}.

Well, before you get too jealous of my great fortune. I will leave you with this picture. This is his store on an organized day:

Abu Sheikh on the hunt for the perfect toy.

See anything you want?

Happy Christmas Shopping!

The Next 24

We plan on staying home for the next 24 hours.

Schools are closed.

Businesses are closed.

Tomorrow is election day which brings a buzz of excitement around the country.

Here are the issues I am voting for:

1. SAFER DRIVING CONDITIONS

I will be SO happy when the elections are over so all the banners that are hanging in every intersection in town can come down! Driving is bad enough around here. It makes it even 'better' when you can't see around the round-about.

2. STRICTER ZONING LAWS

Instead of the annoying commercials we endure in the States during elections, each candidate here sets up a tent in any available empty lot that constituents can visit in the weeks leading up to the elections. It seems as the commercials in the States try to out do themselves, each tent tries to out do itself here. I drive by this one every morning and a little chuckle escapes my mouth each time. Yes, that is the King, the Crown Prince, and the candidate running for parliament. Larger than life (and palm trees for that matter)! 

3. HIGHER STANDARDS FOR NOISE POLLUTION

And I will be happy when the elections are over so the noise level in our neighborhood goes down. Each night the candidates speak/holler from their tents as constituents pass through to hear their views on all the issues. The national anthem plays in my mind even while I'm sleeping. That can not be healthy!

The Jordan Times recently ran a great article about the unique political situation here. Monarchy. Democracy. Tribalism. We are a three in one deal! And it will be interesting to see how it all plays out...from my window.