Letter from Liza Behrendt, June 23, 2003 from Amman, Jordan

Hiya, beloved friends, and greetings from Amman, Jordan!, 

I arrived in Amman, Jordan safe and well, and have been having excellent experiences already. I am absolutely amazed and delighted. I have about 12 new friends I feel I've known for 20 years, and in the three days I've been here...

I went to a youth forum that took place at the gorgeous Hussein Cultural Center and involved about 40 extremely impressive and engaged young adults who are in the process of creating bylaws so that they can form their own NGO and accept and distribute funds for youth causes;

I've been taken under the wing of two very competent and enthusiastic teachers of Arabic, and have managed to mispronounce just about every word they give me, but I'm trying!; I've attended an opening for a newly renovated children's art gallery as well as an art studio where a new Jordanian friend, who speaks English better than I do, was taking photos for the proprietors to use in publicity, and these galleries were set up on a hill overlooking the stunning, light colored architecture of Amman which has already grown on me and brings me peace;

I "taught" a session at a community center in the rural town of Madaba, 35 kilometers outside of Amman, where about 30 beautiful, energetic young women and girls were having the last days of their week long summer camp (I think they taught me much more than the reverse!); and I've been invited to "teach" at a boys camp next week, so I'll probably pull up stakes at my hotel and live in Madaba for a few days...

I have seen numerous Bedouins in town and in the country and some Gypsies with tents and goats outside of town... heard the calls to prayer which begin at 3:00am! My hotel is near a mosque, but then my friend Anas explained that everything is near a mosque!... eaten shwarma and... YES I am in culture shock!

The most disorienting has been the way everyone has defied by 100% the images in my silly little head about what Middle Easterners are like. And the emphasis on Democracy has me pondering a great deal. But that's for another message in the future...

Goodbye for now. Please email me if you want to stay in the loop. You can just say "subscribe" if you wish.

Meanwhile, all my love to you, and salam (peace),

Liza