Busy! Busy! Busy!

Ok, ok.  I know this post is long due; for that I beg your forgiveness.  

As usual, things have been pretty busy around here.  There's been much researching, meeting with people, and teaching English.  This ain't no 9-5 job! There have been many times we are meeting with families either developing relationships or teaching English and they insist on feeding us dinner.  So, there are many times we don't leave until late.  This is just a glimpse into the life of KJW.  

On top of work, I am also attending a Strategic Coordinator Seminar.  These classes are for people, like me, who desire to pioneer certain works in foreign places.  You learn strategies, media options, and other ways of doing what I'll be doing.  This is definitely a stretch because for those of you who know me, I am NOT a detailed-oriented person so this class is good for me :)

Just a few more weeks until everything changes.  In about 3 more weeks, I'll be meeting my team for Indo and will be getting back into the student mindset.  Needless to say, I'm pretty stoked about it!  Until then, I'm learning how to teach English (even to people to doesn't speak English AT ALL) and how to relate to Muslim people.  

The Muslim people are an amazing group of people.  Now, I love Southern hospitality, but Muslims actually put it to shame (I'll break now for the Southerners reading this who are having a fit).  Ok, now that the fit has been had, let me explain.  Every time we meet a family (usually the women), they serve us tea/coffee and biscuits (again, for us Southerners, biscuits are actually cookies) or nuts.  When they greet each other (and us), they grab your hand and kiss each side of your cheek.  I have found each culture differs with the kissing.  Iraqi people willgive one kiss on one cheek, another kiss on the other cheek, then another kiss on the original cheek.  Jordanian woman kiss once on one cheek and twice (in a row) on the other cheek.  Now, when we greet our students, I get confused and turn my head at the wrong time.......this can be awkward.  The women are very patient though and we laugh it off.  

I guess that's about it.  I've been forgetting to take pictures lately, so here's a very random assortment.  By the way, for those of you who are looking for pictures from the people I work with, you won't find them.  I don't post those pics for security issues.  I wish I could because they are some amazing people!  On to the pics!

This is my strategic coordinators' class. It was Ari's birthday but he didn't make it b/c he was sick.  So, we had the cake without him :) Ah! the love! 

This sign we're holding says "Happy Birthday, Ari" just to let him know we we're thinking about him while eating his cake :)

A group of us decided to make crepes (which are extremely popular here) on our free night (Wed. night).  I felt very old since all the people in this picture are 22 years and younger.  I still had fun :)

My housemates and I had a "brinner" night.  Brinner is "breakfast for dinner".  I got to plan the menu. So, we had eggs, french toast, biscuits, bacon and oh yes!! good ol' southern style white gravy!  I made several believers of it.  As per Southern tradition, I tried to cram as much salt, butter, and grease in one meal.......I think I succeeded.