International Person of Mystery

This past Thursday I had the opportunity to go with the team up to the Dead Sea for a short holiday. Here's some pics of where we stayed.
https://picasaweb.google.com/108532852514122909750/DeadSea?authkey=Gv1sRgCIvctsTd4eLKzQE# 
While waiting for Sarah to pick me up so we could begin our three hour journey I started to think of all the things that are part of life in another country that have become normal to me but I'm sure seem strange to others. Come to think of it, living in another country is a lot like being a spy...

13 Ways Living in Another Country is Like Being a Spy

1) Military and security check points become a regular part of life
 - When traveling to and fro in Jordan I've met mandatory security check points that stop every vehicle and check everyone's ID papers. I've become so accustomed to this part of life that I always carry my passport with me.

2) Fantastic locations become common place
 - Swimming in the Red Sea, visiting Petra, seeing the Roman ruins...things particular to the country you live in become less and less exotic to you as time goes on. Traveling anywhere is cheaper and easier as well once you're out of the US.

3) Sometimes a secret identity is needed

4) You acclimate to the culture but it never becomes your own making you feel like you live a double life.

5) Communication with your "home base" has to be scheduled, often at strange times
 - Sleep gets sacrificed every once in a while because there is a 7, sometimes 12, hour difference between myself and those back in the states that I want to 

6) Success is being mistaken for a local
 - I've had tourist come by Souk by the Sea and commend me on my good English.

7) You have to learn how to assess a possibly dangerous situation and plan multiple escape routes quickly.

8) Every day events like grocery shopping have to be mapped out and have back up plans.
 - There are multiple grocery shops in town but only one has coffee filters, I plan accordingly.

9) You might find yourself having full conversations in a foreign language; if not, you know enough to get around

10) You participate in local celebrations and festivities

11) Guessing the nationality and/or vocation of a total stranger becomes a reflex

12) You accept that some stories won't be shared with your loved ones back home
 - Sorry

13) You never step outside without your sunglasses

Something to take Home

As my time in Jordan shortens, I've begun to realize everything that I am going to miss. Also, I've been trying to think of things to take with me. So I asked my fellow GC worker Jumana to teach me how to make a local dish that I could easily replicate back in the states. She agreed to teach me how to make Kufta. However she was a little nervous about making it because it was the first time she would be in charge of ordering the meat. It was becoming a learning experience for both of us. Determined to do it together, we walked to the grocery store, ordered a kilo of meat, had the butcher grid onion and parsley in with the meat and returned to my house victorious. Then the preparation got underway.

Kufta starts out ground meat mixed with onion, parsley and a variety of spices. After working the spices through the meat with our hands, we rolled the meat into smaller balls and lined the bottom of the pan with them.

On top of the meat you can put potatoes or tomatoes. We opted for potatoes so that Jumana could make her fabulous lemon-tahini sauce for the dish.

We made the sauce by juicing two lemons and blending the juice with cup of tahini and some water. After covering the dish with the sauce, we added some additional spices to the top of the concoction.

Lastly we covered the dish with foil and put it on top of the stove to cook. This was the quick way to cook it. Normally, you would have to bake the Kufta for an hour; on the stove top it took about a half hour. We did put it in the stove for a few minutes after this but only to make sure the top was cooked sufficiently.

Jumana, Kelsey and I enjoyed our success together. Most of the dishes I've had in Jordan have simple recipes but they are bursting with flavor and personality. I can't wait to introduce my family to this great meal.