Salt, Sickness and Fire

So you're probably wondering why yet again I have not kept my word and provided you with updates about the goings on over here. Well you see, life happens...

First the good news. Two weeks ago my fellow interns and I had the chance to chaperone an Access field trip. Access is the English program for teenagers that aims to not only improve the English skills of the students but also to instill in them a sense of personal value and obligation to the betterment of their community. Boys and girls take different trips because of the size of the classes; we went along on the girls' trip. Our trip would take about four hours one way so about nine in the morning a charter bus, a minivan and a red car set out from the center. The girls had been studying famous entrepreneurs so the first stop along the way was the King Hussein Bin Talal Convention Center. This center has hosted meetings of renown political and economic powers such as the World Economic Forum, the International Monetary Fund and the United Nations. Here the girls heard about such meetings, the leaders who attend them and the true keys to success. Afterward we all made our way to the Amman Beach, which is the public section of the Dead Sea outside of Amman.

The Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth making it painful to travel to and from since your ears pop so often. The Dead Sea is also the saltiest body of water on Earth. Sadly, the waters have been steadily dwindling over the past few years and without intervention it is estimated that in thirty years the Sea would dry up. At the 2009 World Economic Forum, Jordan unveiled its plan to pipe water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea. This system should be completed and the water level sustainable by 2017.The water is 97% salt making it impossible for anything to live in it and impossible for a person to sink in its waters. However, the salty water and the mud of the banks is said to have healing and regenerative properties. I'm sorry to say that the waters did not work on me. The level of salt in the water makes the water feel like oil and after wading in to mid calf, the salt started burning my skin. Needless to say I did not go in any further and instead I hung out on the beach with some of the girls while the rest floated out further. After a time we meat sandwiches over a grill and played a few relay games. Girls between the ages of 13 and 16 are the same wherever you are. These girls like to talk about the newest movies and One Direction while taking multiple pictures of themselves and the group with their iPhones. We had a fun day despite the long journey to and from our destination.

On to the bad news. I'm afraid our trek up north left me sick with a cold for nearly a week. I only worked one day out of the week before Kara sent me home. She said something silly about how someone with a fever needs rest. Luckily our English classes had not resumed yet and I could get some sleep.

More bad news. Thursday morning I woke up at 4:30 in the morning. While questioning why I was awake someone came beating at the door of my house. After spending a few moments wondering whether to call for help or wait for it to stop, my cell phone rang. My manager Rob's name came up on my phone and I quickly answered it. It was his wife Jess; she was the one knocking on the door. She and their four children were outside. Their house had caught fire and they needed to come inside. Their youngest daughter had woken up to use the bathroom and noticed the house was full of black smoke. Soon everyone in the house was roused and taken onto the upstairs balcony. It became apparent that they could not stay there and Rob was forced to jump off the balcony to procure a ladder for his family. We all agree that he wins Father of the Year; unfortunately his fall broke his wrist severely. The hospital here was not equipped for the surgery he needed so before noon the entire family headed up to Amman to see a surgeon there. I am so proud of how our team came together. All week shifts of people ready to work switched in and out of the house repairing the damage done. A power washer was utilized, fingers and faces were blackened, walls were primed and painted, books were carefully cleaned and a white dog was bathed multiple times. This weekend everything was moved back into the house, only 9 days later.

Living and working overseas always has a unique set of obstacles that I do not believe anyone can prepare for. Reaction to such circumstances reveals character and I am so glad to report that good character is one area the team here is not lacking. I am indeed blessed to be here at a time such as this.