Today was a really good, relatively uneventful day. I slept in, and woke up to make myself coffee. Hanin and her mom took me to breakfast (at 11:30 am–the transition to meal times here is a bit rough) at a cafe called Wild Jordan. It’s actually a part of the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature, a valuable NGO supported by the kingdom to preserve, protect, and enrich Jordan’s fragile natural systems.
When you picture Jordan, it’s a bit legit to just think of deserts and camels. For the most part, that stereotype is true. Jordan is the world’s fourth poorest country in its water deficit, and its natural reserves are being threatened by a community that doesn’t know much about ecological preservation or sustainability. But beyond the deserts, there are quite a few landscapes you wouldn’t expect. There are hot springs about an hour outside Amman, a forest called Ajloun nearby, and wadis (various valleys, sometimes originating as dried up riverbeds) that host an impressive amount of wildlife.
I’m dying to volunteer at Wild Jordan’s city center–calling tomorrow to see if anyone even wants me, seeing as how I’m a bit useless as of now to Arabic speakers.
Educate yourself! Come on, it’s fun….
hi sweetheart, just read your entry for the 16th
and enjoyed the movie about the nature of jordan.
I want to thank you for sharing these things while you are over there. we tried to call you the other morning but you were not on. any way we
enjoy the daily writings. Keep them up. we love you very much and we miss you.
Comment by grandma — October 16, 2009 @ 4:49 pm
I LOVE the ostrich eggs! If you go back, see if you can find them and let me know how they look.
Glad your day went well. Hopefully you’ll be able to volunteer with them … sounds like it’d be extremely interesting! Love you!!!!
Comment by Mom — October 17, 2009 @ 12:15 am