We returned to Damascus at noon today after a wonderful time at the Schneller school in Lebanon. The students enjoyed Lebanon so much that one of them threatened to "lose" her passport so that she would have to stay there longer. Our students made an amazing effort to get to know the Lebanese students: they sat with them in English, science, and art classes; they lost miserably to them in our international basketball game; they played other sports like soccer with them; and they just sat around and talked with them. On Tuesday night, we went to a chapel with the Schneller students (who learned English songs just so we could sing along). At this chapel, two of our students thanked the school for all the hospitality and friendship that they showed us, and we presented a signed Canadian flag to them so they could remember us.
After the chapel, our group trudged across town to our former neighbours, George and Antoinette. There we spent a lively evening dancing the dabke, the traditional Lebanese dance, and drinking tea and Arabic coffee. Here, just like in the school, we were shown the amazing hospitality which we find at every turn in the Middle East.
Tomorrow is a big travel day as we head down into southern Jordan to the land of Indiana Jones: Petra.
Note: you can see pictures of Schneller Schule at jlss.org
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Still in Damascus
We are still in Damascus, but I had to add another post because I forgot to mention Ozzie's highlight. There are so many, but for him, a highlight was walking on the ground after the bus ride yesterday. He said that he had a new lease on life, that hang-gliding sounded like a lot of fun, and that he would appreciate every minute of every day as a cherished item. Apparently, the bus driver was in a bit of a rush, and while the rest of us were sleeping in the back, Ozzie experienced first hand "near death experiences" on the highway.
Since I am posting this, I will quickly mention the day's events. We went to a Syrian Orthodox church service this morning and it was a very unique experience to listen to the sounds, smell the incense, and watch the involvement of the congregation.
After a relaxing tea at the MCC Country Representatives, the guys and girls went their separate ways as we experienced bathing Syrian style. The Turkish bath for the guys was a bonding experience, especially as the students watched the exfoliator-dude spank me numerous times - I think he was enjoying the reaction of the students - I can't say I was enjoying it too much, but I was willing to get juked for the team. All of us enjoyed the rigorous massage and the relaxing bottle of coke as we sat wrapped up in our towels.
From what I hear of the girls' Turkish bath, things went well too. We found out later that the girls all bought matching underwear for the occasion, and they had drums and dancing in the sauna.
We are excited about heading into Lebanon tomorrow.
Since I am posting this, I will quickly mention the day's events. We went to a Syrian Orthodox church service this morning and it was a very unique experience to listen to the sounds, smell the incense, and watch the involvement of the congregation.
After a relaxing tea at the MCC Country Representatives, the guys and girls went their separate ways as we experienced bathing Syrian style. The Turkish bath for the guys was a bonding experience, especially as the students watched the exfoliator-dude spank me numerous times - I think he was enjoying the reaction of the students - I can't say I was enjoying it too much, but I was willing to get juked for the team. All of us enjoyed the rigorous massage and the relaxing bottle of coke as we sat wrapped up in our towels.
From what I hear of the girls' Turkish bath, things went well too. We found out later that the girls all bought matching underwear for the occasion, and they had drums and dancing in the sauna.
We are excited about heading into Lebanon tomorrow.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
First Few Days
After our long layover in Milan, with still a bit of jet lag in our bodies, we have found ourselves in the magical country of Syria. It has been a wonderful experience thus far. On our way back from our outing today, we asked the students to share highlights, so here they are:
Chloe: picking up a baby in the mosque and playing with the kids and talking to the mothers (Chloe and all the others loved the Umayyad mosque in the centre of the Old City - they seemed to make many friends easily and quickly).
Melissa: walking through the crack in the mountain (which was said to be opened by a saint) and climbing high on the rocks above the Aramaic speaking village of Ma'alula, and drinking Arabic coffee (although I don't think she really liked it).
Erin: climbing and exploring the Crak de Chevalier (a famous crusader castle north of Damascus) and learning to use the squat toilets at the restaurants.
Kiera: just being in the mosque and talking to all the friendly people here and drinking the Arabic coffee (she actually liked it!).
Christina: hearing the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic at the monastery and viewing Damascus from the roof of our hotel.
Steven: meeting people in the Old City. Steven agreed with one of the travellers at our hotel that everyone needs to meet these people to realize how friendly they are.
Nick: climbing around the Crak de Chevalier.
Cory: "mosque socializing" - "they just come and sit down with you."
Jordan: the Arabic music which Jordan actually likes!
Linda: seeing old friends in Amman and hearing the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic.
LeAnn: watching our girls converse to people in the mosque.
LeAnn's sentiment relates to mine as well. It has truly been delightful to watch our students immerse themselves in this culture, to stumble through some Arabic, and to fearlessly meet and greet people. Furthermore, they have tried food that I would have run away from at their age - we had a wonderful meal last night in an old-house-turned-restaurant, featuring about 16 plates of different appetizers before the main course.
On another note, yesterday morning we visited the chapel built within the house of Ananias. Under the ground in the house just north of Straight Street, we read through the story of Paul and Ananias (Jordan and Chloe acted it out). It was in this chapel that we also prayed a prayer of thanks for the safe travelling and the wonderful experiences we had already had. We appreciate your prayers as well.
Tomorrow we are off to a church service in the morning which will be done in Syriac, a language very close to the Aramaic spoken by Jesus. After that, it is off to the Turkish baths.
Next entry in a few days after we return from Lebanon.
Chloe: picking up a baby in the mosque and playing with the kids and talking to the mothers (Chloe and all the others loved the Umayyad mosque in the centre of the Old City - they seemed to make many friends easily and quickly).
Melissa: walking through the crack in the mountain (which was said to be opened by a saint) and climbing high on the rocks above the Aramaic speaking village of Ma'alula, and drinking Arabic coffee (although I don't think she really liked it).
Erin: climbing and exploring the Crak de Chevalier (a famous crusader castle north of Damascus) and learning to use the squat toilets at the restaurants.
Kiera: just being in the mosque and talking to all the friendly people here and drinking the Arabic coffee (she actually liked it!).
Christina: hearing the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic at the monastery and viewing Damascus from the roof of our hotel.
Steven: meeting people in the Old City. Steven agreed with one of the travellers at our hotel that everyone needs to meet these people to realize how friendly they are.
Nick: climbing around the Crak de Chevalier.
Cory: "mosque socializing" - "they just come and sit down with you."
Jordan: the Arabic music which Jordan actually likes!
Linda: seeing old friends in Amman and hearing the Lord's Prayer in Aramaic.
LeAnn: watching our girls converse to people in the mosque.
LeAnn's sentiment relates to mine as well. It has truly been delightful to watch our students immerse themselves in this culture, to stumble through some Arabic, and to fearlessly meet and greet people. Furthermore, they have tried food that I would have run away from at their age - we had a wonderful meal last night in an old-house-turned-restaurant, featuring about 16 plates of different appetizers before the main course.
On another note, yesterday morning we visited the chapel built within the house of Ananias. Under the ground in the house just north of Straight Street, we read through the story of Paul and Ananias (Jordan and Chloe acted it out). It was in this chapel that we also prayed a prayer of thanks for the safe travelling and the wonderful experiences we had already had. We appreciate your prayers as well.
Tomorrow we are off to a church service in the morning which will be done in Syriac, a language very close to the Aramaic spoken by Jesus. After that, it is off to the Turkish baths.
Next entry in a few days after we return from Lebanon.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Preparations Complete?
Here is our student group, ready to begin our unique adventure. There is still so much to figure out before we go, but I suppose partof the excitement of a trip is to learn things on the fly.
Tomorrow, Wednesday March 21, whether we are ready or not, our group will venture forth into foreign lands, to visit mosques and churches, to bathe in Turkish baths and float in dead seas, to play basketball with students at an orphanage, to hike with the Bedouin in the shadow of Lawrence of Arabia, to pretend we are Indiana Jones at Petra and Saladin at the Crak de Chevalier, and to meet strangers who will become our friends. Who knows what we will discover and how we will emerge when we return.
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