the holiday wrap-up part one: jesus’ birthday

So yeah, it is almost June but we thought we’d sneak in some pictures from the holidays past. Christmas in May? Why not?

At the insistence of many trainees, PC allowed us to get together at the weekly training site on Christmas eve and day. The area actually has a few church options for Christians, and we attended a Catholic Mass- although it was in Arabic and we didn’t realize until mass started that people chose to gender segregate. Anne was stuck on “the boy’s side”- oops! Many of the Jordanian women also wore white mantillas. The only music in English was some recorded Mariah Carey, we had very hard wooden kneelers, and there was an added procession at the end where (mostly) men kissed the feet of the little white doll playing Jesus. White baby Jesus always puzzled me and seemed especially confusing in the Middle Eastern setting, but it was lovely. After mass, traditional music was blasted from atop the church. Hearing “Joy to the World” in Arabic is pretty surreal.

  

Many of us were treated to a delicious falafel dinner, curtesy of a generous friend and fellow trainee. Back at the center, we had hot chocolate, cookies from America, party hats, music, and transformed one of the olive trees into a Christmas tree with the magic of paper snowflakes. A few days later, we were treated to a very American meal at the embassy. None of this could begin until after my host family prepared a special Christmas meal for me. 

               {my host parents- saying goodbye for even a few days is serious}

{my christmas meal of quail. the women worked all day making it!}

{may i have another?}

{yes virginia, there is a catholic church}

{great food, great company. thank you, scott!}

{the stockings were hung by the radiator with care}

{breakfast in bed: egg, falafel, yogurt, pita, instant coffee, tea, cup o’water}

{the tea bag has spoken}

{cultural exchange thru paper snowflakes}

{inappropriate touching in front of xmas tree}

{cultural exchange thru olives}

{martha stewart would be proud}

{gorgeous sweater}

{happy birthday, jesus!}

{hijab as santa beard}

{hot chocolate+ tree shaped marshmallow+larkin st hoodie = happiness}

{dave with some local holiday art}

{best gift ever? surprise PB+J}

{cleaned up and happy at the embassy}

{crazy gingerbread village}

{camel detail really makes it}