Coffee at AHSS

Arabic word of the day:

school = "madrasah"

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Today at Rami and Adam's school, parents were invited to watch the first three periods of the day.  For Adam, this meant I could observe his Math, Arabic, and English class.

Overall, I was very happy with Adam.  He has made so much progress since last year.  Of course, there are many things Adam and I need to work on throughout the year, such as writing and spelling in Arabic and English.  Wish us luck!

First Time at a Group Yoga Class

I love yoga.  I love the way I feel when I practice yoga regularly.  But alas, I have been in an exercise rut lately.  HAH!  Well not lately.  To be completely honest, I have been exercise lazy for the last..........5 years. Whoops!

Now that the kids are back in school,

The kids are excited for the first day of school.  Can't you tell?!

I have decided to get my exercise groove on.  Yesterday, I toured two exercise facilities.

First, I toured Fitness First, a complete gym experience.  Wow!  It had lots of everything I could think of and some things I hadn't.  It was incredible, and it had the price tag to prove it.  It will have to go on my wish list.

Second, I toured One With Nature Center.  They have group yoga and pilates classes that I am interested in.  I decided to try the yoga class today, and a pilates class next week.

Finally, next week I will tour One II One's Barre class before I make my final decision between which classes I will join.

Today, I participated in my very first group yoga class!  In the past, I have always been what you would call a solo practictioner.  I was never comfortable exercising in front of people.  I am still not in my confort zone, but I have the say the class was okay.  I liked the instructor, and her voice was very soothing.  My one complaint is that we did not do too many different poses for an hour and a half class.  We did a lot of breathing.  Also, she did not play any music until the very end of class.  Is this a normal occurrence in a group class?  All in all, it was a good experience.  I may just go again next week.  We will wait and see.

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I have decided to make my own energy granola bars.  I have been searching the Web for recipes, and searching Amman grocery stores for healthy ingredients (which is very difficult, that is for another post).  Today, at Cozmo, I found a seasoning pack for Cookie Spices.  It gave me a laugh.  Check it out.

I had to buy it.  It will taste great in my date oatmeal bars.  lol

Drivers License Running Around

***Update******

Yesterday, I had 48 views on this blog.  Wooohooo!  I think you guys are amused by my ridiculousness.  Since I have an increase in followers, I have a question to ask.  Do you have any questions about Jordan or thoughts that you want me to answer or share on my blog?  I am open to discussing any topic that may bring a laugh or a smile to your day.  You can either comment on this post, or you can email me at melissaashour@yahoo.com.  I cannot wait to hear from you!


Back to the Post:

Yesterday, Teta and I made plans to work on my Jordanian drivers license.  You may not know that my Louisiana Drivers License expired on my birthday last year, and I have not been to visit the States to take care of the renewal.  Apparently, you can only renew an American drivers license in America. What are the odds? lol  Because my license is expired, I am having a lot of trouble obtaining a Jordanian license.

My husband and I decided before he left that I would just obtain a drivers license like a true Jordanian.  I would have to take the drivers test, obtain certification that I went to driving school, and lie and cheat to get my license.  My brother in law knows a man, Munir (not his real name), that can get me copy of the test with answers and get a forged driving school certificate for me.  So, now I am going to feel like I am fifteen again studying for the BIG DRIVING TEST!  Lets hope I pass on the first try again.  At least this time around I will fix my hair in anticipation of passing.  lol.

So today, Munir came to take Teta and I to the Ministry.  I told Munir that I did not get a copy of the test.  He replied that we would try something different before I took the test.  Taking the test would be a last resort.  Sounds good to me.   Until........................................................................................

Munir takes us to the Ministry of Interior.  I have been here before.  I have been here many, many, times before with my husband.  Ray and I came here many times to TRY AND GET MY DRIVERS LICENSE!
Last time I was here, we were told there was no way I could  get a Jordanian license with my expired Louisiana drivers license.  Guess what they told me today?  I CANNOT GET MY JORDANIAN LICENSE WITH AN EXPIRED LOUISIANA LICENSE.  I am so glad I have clarification on that.  It does not matter how many people we ask or how many offices we step into or how many people are with me, the answer is still the same.  A big, fat NO!

I am soooo glad I inconvenienced many people today.  NOT!  I feel terrible that my brother in law took off work so he could pick my boys up from school.  Not to mention, that I will have to do this again when I go take my drivers test Wednesday or Thursday.  Munir is coming tonight to give me the copy of the drivers test and answers.

Wish me luck!

Arabic Weddings

Anyone can have more fun at an Arabic wedding than at any nightclub in America.  And there is no liquor!  Just crazy, sober fun!  Arabic weddings make American weddings look like a snooze fest.  There are many differences between the Arabic wedding and American wedding traditions.  Here is a quick list of five things about Arabic weddings off the top of my head.

1.  The groom and his family pay for the wedding, dowry, and the honeymoon.  He may even pay for the engagement party, but I am not sure.  The groom and bride may live with his parents for years before he can afford his own home.  What a trade-off for a bride to get the wedding of her dreams, eh?

2.  The dowry is for the bride only.  It usually is in the form of beautifully ornate gold jewelry.  This is "her" money, to be used by her alone.  It is her safety net if anything should happen in the future.

3.  On the wedding day, the bride and her family wait at home for her groom to fetch her and take her to the wedding hall.  This tradition signifies the groom taking the bride from her parents house to his home to be his partner for life.

4.  The legal aspect of the marriage is completed before the engagement party, but the marriage is not consummated until after the wedding party.

5.  Most weddings begin with the men and women in separate rooms.   This is so the ladies can uncover their hair and dress sexy if they want to.  When it is time for the men to join the ladies, these women recover their hair and bodies.

****Please note that if there are any mistakes that I have made in my understanding of Arabic weddings, just blame the _______ American girl!




The bride was my husband's cousin.

While the Bride waits for her groom, the family begins the dancing fun and celebration.

At the wedding hall, the dancing starts with the bride and groom dancing together.  I am sorry that I cannot post the picture, because the bride does not have her jacket on or her hijab.

Next, the ladies join in.

When the men are allowed into the party, it begins with a traditional Palestine line dance.

The men dance.

Everyone dances!

The Bride and Groom posing for pictures.

Rami was old enough to attend the wedding.

Raed and I in our fancy clothes!

Where was Adam?  He was here all night!

Embarrassing Moment of the Day

OMG!  Don't you hate it when you misunderstand a situation, and find out about it months later?  Well, do I have a story for you.  So sit back, and prepare to laugh until you cry at my expense.  All I can say is, "Only in Jordan!"

Ray, the kids, and I are on the way to the ice cream shop for a last family outing before Ray returns to the States.  We stop at the gas station to get gas, and I ask Ray if this was the station where he had the car's oil changed.  No, he had it changed at the hole in the wall mechanic shop down the street.  I know this place. This is the place that I usually go when my tires need air in them.

I proceed to tell Ray that I need to visit this mechanic shop to put air in my front passenger tire, because it is low.  He offers to take the car for me, but I politely refuse and tell him that I know how to handle it on my own.  I tell him that in the past I just pull up to the shop and say, "Law samat, biddi air".  This means, please I need air.  Or so I thought.

There is an Arabic word that sounds just like the English word "air".  It is not a nice word.  In fact, it is a very bad, bad word.

All this time, I thought the guys working at the mechanic shop were laughing and smiling at me because I am the American girl trying her best to speak Arabic.  I thought they were encouraging me.  I thought they were impressed with how well I spoke.  BIG FAT NOOOOOO.  They were laughing at the __________American girl.

Ray has just informed me ,today, that previously at the mechanic shop,  I boldly declared to all the sweaty mechanics that I want d!$k.  Yes, indeed.  While my husband is away, I want to play............ with sweaty, gross men, NOT!

So folks, today's Arabic vocabulary lesson is a word that sounds like "air".  It means "a penis".