tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41080974259031482942024-03-13T03:57:09.418-07:00Hannah's Outside VoiceMusings from abroad on special needs inclusion and my travel adventures.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.comBlogger41125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-3236947461758427542014-10-11T17:53:00.000-07:002014-10-11T17:53:00.028-07:00England in PicturesSome of my favorites from the three months I spent in England.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6yQtY_sssvHEWhF-8o22OtFPAhDm8_eXaXxbXOwIBaTD8vDDFiLwe5cybbkp7IkwVH5NfzsfQSoxakdltOKodXuskVnCNcSXCQZtKArHWUmkTWYcoSMDfNSDQsg4vpokViTlLk-uLEo/s1600/DSC01727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT6yQtY_sssvHEWhF-8o22OtFPAhDm8_eXaXxbXOwIBaTD8vDDFiLwe5cybbkp7IkwVH5NfzsfQSoxakdltOKodXuskVnCNcSXCQZtKArHWUmkTWYcoSMDfNSDQsg4vpokViTlLk-uLEo/s1600/DSC01727.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I lived on a boat on the Thames. It was really lovely. A nice, picturesque spot near the Kew Bridge. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgvxRtu6aJCYviYH5nmLOn4iQwj80nsyI3hmhb6_A9UVYyvY7Ms5LjrfAAZq5yjtm_MaXlrnhiNGJOPOgk0CkQDlR6FF9ZKK6-ggXAmlrJYs_4h3abF7hm6DZNZmVC8AuJ6-aj31R8Zs/s1600/IMG_4242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdgvxRtu6aJCYviYH5nmLOn4iQwj80nsyI3hmhb6_A9UVYyvY7Ms5LjrfAAZq5yjtm_MaXlrnhiNGJOPOgk0CkQDlR6FF9ZKK6-ggXAmlrJYs_4h3abF7hm6DZNZmVC8AuJ6-aj31R8Zs/s1600/IMG_4242.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Part of the kitchen and living area. Yes, I could touch both sides of the boat with my arms stretched. Let's just say this makes my apartment here in Cambridge seem massive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9oF9wPRS1DnuM_K0bqexWObnGW0RjTE9Q0sT137j3yWpY3Qi6GjZAUsN7RJR1QpL8v3uOQ_P0kGYTZcXWl1TP9Agi5F_F8KAgUAdrOsSV-pKQ0kfBK0Z6mx7rFh_CStDYFAOEmWDFxs/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh9oF9wPRS1DnuM_K0bqexWObnGW0RjTE9Q0sT137j3yWpY3Qi6GjZAUsN7RJR1QpL8v3uOQ_P0kGYTZcXWl1TP9Agi5F_F8KAgUAdrOsSV-pKQ0kfBK0Z6mx7rFh_CStDYFAOEmWDFxs/s1600/IMG_4281.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">If you squint, you can see my little, green and red narrow boat across the river on the left.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4hyphenhyphenPL6-T4X3LUW-uKUK8tdsg9X-j4Ne1MnWC7n002hkZ2LZyljPeyKD3kXD04ugW3NBD6kQ9HGN7TKy5i7Lvm2HgZFnDHtYr9QPIa4Nw9kIdSztdpYNrxbsCh1WtZ6u85IQoA4-eFns/s1600/IMG_4364.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl4hyphenhyphenPL6-T4X3LUW-uKUK8tdsg9X-j4Ne1MnWC7n002hkZ2LZyljPeyKD3kXD04ugW3NBD6kQ9HGN7TKy5i7Lvm2HgZFnDHtYr9QPIa4Nw9kIdSztdpYNrxbsCh1WtZ6u85IQoA4-eFns/s1600/IMG_4364.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">These guys were my neighbors!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS86nFpLJbv3nY5dw7BY2u9IIbRiQfvWnvN61ZdfQQpAhad123HW4u9OOwO4gmftSvZmTtjj67rNxlvXIhpO4DirMnXlIrw9eT7OS8pfljdnn3xHSKVFLSFo8rDJG1fs6NqlMIf4Hhp-s/s1600/DSC01766.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS86nFpLJbv3nY5dw7BY2u9IIbRiQfvWnvN61ZdfQQpAhad123HW4u9OOwO4gmftSvZmTtjj67rNxlvXIhpO4DirMnXlIrw9eT7OS8pfljdnn3xHSKVFLSFo8rDJG1fs6NqlMIf4Hhp-s/s1600/DSC01766.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Saint Paul's Cathedral was stunning. I looked for the bird woman from Mary Poppins, but all I found were tourists.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hX19z7aa0716bedOm8wsEfgqVtbKsGMAH3UCc2z7CqibmcY1dII0CymcTgdnWonvrk8PPm9ucH_U0mZvATlpy859cgHc5jluWxC90ClW0sTWZbrXghSQ2HlB1BRCF6MJohsumuCzpr4/s1600/IMG_4351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9hX19z7aa0716bedOm8wsEfgqVtbKsGMAH3UCc2z7CqibmcY1dII0CymcTgdnWonvrk8PPm9ucH_U0mZvATlpy859cgHc5jluWxC90ClW0sTWZbrXghSQ2HlB1BRCF6MJohsumuCzpr4/s1600/IMG_4351.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">This photo reminds me of the Treasury in Petra peeking through the walls of the Siq. <br />Except this is Saint Paul's Cathedral in the middle of London.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Allergies. I was utterly miserable as I battled this white nonsense in the spring. It was the WORST. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Loved the green expanse of the English countryside. This is near Stonehenge. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cream tea. I miss this afternoon delight so much.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I love trains and I also love train tracks. This sight was plentiful in London.</span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-72992725685682280232014-10-11T14:01:00.001-07:002014-10-11T14:01:12.216-07:00Gymnastics and Swimming and Soccer, Oh My!I know it has been FAR TOO LONG since I've posted anything. I really dropped the ball on updates from the last few months of my Watson adventure. I've had posts swirling around in my brain for months now. However, October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month!! This was just the motivation I needed to hop back on the blog horse and share a few more stories and tidbits from my Watson year.<br />
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One of the most interesting and fruitful things I was exposed to during my time in the U.K. was the Down Syndrome sports community. I did a few sporting activities with individuals with special needs in other countries, primarily through Special Olympics, but what I found in the U.K. was a thriving community of athletes competing in Down Syndrome-only sporting events. This is a fairly unique approach to sports and something we don't really do in the United States.<br />
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I found the discussion on the merits of Down Syndrome-only sports to be quite interesting. I had thought some on the efficacy of Down Syndrome-only sports in Germany when I went on a training walk with Running Club 21. This was a small, but successful group of people who trained for marathons in particular. The U.K. though has made Down Syndrome-only sports a prominent and organized sporting community. Special Olympics is a great organization, but due to its pan-disability participation, it may not be the best fit for people with Down Syndrome who have both intellectual and physical limitations. Down Syndrome-only sports provides an opportunity for individuals to train and compete against people with similar abilities. Of course, there is a wide range of ability level amongst individuals with Down Syndrome themselves. So this approach doesn't entirely eliminate the discrepancy.<br />
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The president of the Down Syndrome International Swimming Organization, who turned out to be one of the most welcoming and helpful contacts I made in the U.K., explained that these were some of his motivations for starting the Swimming Organization. Additionally, he shared that Down Syndrome-only sports attempt to provide higher caliber training and competition than Special Olympics provides. Bailey is doing Special Olympics soccer at the moment. The team practices once a week for a few months and they participate in three tournaments. This is the typical time commitment for most Special Olympics sports. And it works great for most people! It's good exercise and provides a fun time with their peers. However, there are some Down Syndrome athletes who would thrive given the opportunity to practice multiple days per week and compete with other similarly abled individuals in legitimate competitions. There is a lot of debate about whether or not people with Down Syndrome can and should participate in the Paralympics. To combat this, Down Syndrome-only sports provides the opportunity for these individuals to reach the top of their sport. Whatever the sport, whatever the intensity level, Down Syndrome-only, or pan-disability, the most important thing is to provide the opportunity for people with special needs to do what they love.<br />
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I got to see a couple of these sporting events in action. I went to a regional swim meet just outside London. It was fantastic! All the athletes did a great job! And the strong chlorine smell and extreme humidity in the pool really brought me back to my own swimming days. Everything was very well organized, but there may have been a few races when the athlete didn't know he or she was finished... It became quite a struggle to flag some of them down! They just wanted to keep swimming! Too cute.<br />
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The same day Bailey had one of her track meets, I was at an all day gymnastics event in Leicester (which is pronounced Lester...) Once again I was impressed with everyone's efforts. It was especially amazing to see the boys on the rings and parallel bars. Wow! Such strength! Gymnastics offers numerous opportunities for medaling. Each medal recipient was so excited to get a medal and stand on the podium. It didn't matter if it was their first or their fifth, the joy brought a smile to everyone's face.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome moves on the parallel bars!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These little boys were great!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Team artistic floor routine.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rqOuqTvXz3Q94JH-IGrHgK4UXnMcNITZh-8-wYixR1_77kySr90HMX3L85HYXG3WTtCPIofuENMddCyyI99WMXRFwb2P4R0_EQAbnHFkXLgqbBEAv2684YDOXqiAz5HO5N6u-671PYk/s1600/IMG_4450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rqOuqTvXz3Q94JH-IGrHgK4UXnMcNITZh-8-wYixR1_77kySr90HMX3L85HYXG3WTtCPIofuENMddCyyI99WMXRFwb2P4R0_EQAbnHFkXLgqbBEAv2684YDOXqiAz5HO5N6u-671PYk/s1600/IMG_4450.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Had to include a picture of my sister! I loved getting What'sApp <br />updates of Bailey in Oregon as I watched gymnasts in England. </td></tr>
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The swimming and gymnastic events were great examples of high caliber Down Syndrome-only sports. Some of the athletes I saw do compete on the international level. However, more low key Down Syndrome-only sports are available in the U.K. as well. DSActive is a program run through the U.K.'s Down Syndrome Association. They work directly with the local soccer (errr football... but now that I'm back in the U.S. I'm going to call it soccer again...) and tennis clubs to offer weekly practices for kids with Down Syndrome. I was really impressed with the coaches' patience and their ability to adapt the drills to fit everyone's skill level.<br />
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One of my favorite memories of DSActive soccer is of a young man named Chris. Chris was pretty quiet and shy, but he had a sneaky gleam in his eye. During the scrimmage he camped out near the goal and quietly scored multiple goals, even nutmegging the goalie on one occasion. It was brilliant! After each goal, he would give a subtle thumbs up and reposition himself near the goal. I think back on simple little stories like this a lot. In the midst of my crazy, grad school schedule, when my Watson year feels like the distant past, these sweet memories take me right back to the moment.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-74304204883060637452014-06-20T07:14:00.000-07:002014-06-20T07:14:01.284-07:00Words from C.S. LewisJust a few of my favorite quotes from C.S. Lewis's book, <i>Mere Christianity. </i>I finished it recently and loved his insight, analogies, conciseness, and honesty. It had been on my list of books to read for years and it did not disappoint.<br />
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Enemy occupied territory- that is what the world is.</span></i></div>
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- Book 2 Chapter 2 The Invasion</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">After each failure, ask forgiveness, pick yourself up, and try again. Very often what God first helps us towards is not the virtue itself but just this power of always trying again. For however important chastity (or courage, or truthfulness, or any other virtue) may be, this process trains us in habits of the soul which are more important still. It cures our illusions about ourselves and teaches us to depend on God. We learn, on the one hand, that we cannot trust ourselves even in our best moments, and, on the other, that we need not despair even in our worst, for our failures are forgiven.</span></i></div>
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- Book 3 Chapter 5 Sexual Morality</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Virtue- even attempted virtue- brings light; indulgence brings fog.</span></i></div>
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- Book 3 Chapter 5 Sexual Morality</div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">Love, as distinct from "being in love," is not merely a feeling. It is a deep unity, maintained by the will and deliberately strengthened by habit; reinforced by (in Christian marriages) the grace which both partners ask, and receive, from God.</span></i></div>
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- Book 3 Chapter 6 Christian Marriage</div>
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<i style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">(Speaking on pride) There is no fault which makes a man more unpopular, and no fault which we are more unconscious of in ourselves. And the more we have it in ourselves, the more we dislike it in others.</span></i></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">- Book 3 Chapter 8 The Great Sin</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: large;">A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down, you cannot see something that is above you.</span></i></div>
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- Book 3 Chapter 8 The Great Sin</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-41537451235385192832014-05-22T08:41:00.000-07:002014-05-22T08:41:25.645-07:00Denmark in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I thought I would share a bit of my life in Denmark with some of my favorite photos. I'll post more on facebook, but large photo albums can be a bit tedious. Here are a just a few highlights. Enjoy!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiildn3ol_AYoCmNHJMDhIZQHZbZNl6mKonBo5Ps76HENKSKyvvJm5i6mjhKWW5K9ea71OyS0PGggDczvWh70ERqeDQnB0SofijP23Q5IU88V9o5zTxaE7C-o6QYsw7I3sEeWnA4RxfqOA/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiildn3ol_AYoCmNHJMDhIZQHZbZNl6mKonBo5Ps76HENKSKyvvJm5i6mjhKWW5K9ea71OyS0PGggDczvWh70ERqeDQnB0SofijP23Q5IU88V9o5zTxaE7C-o6QYsw7I3sEeWnA4RxfqOA/s1600/IMG_3866.JPG" height="198" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Panoramic of my room. It was cozy and lovely!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9aNMmbs3hSN5R4-oOfGL3tn4auyXk-bV-rUixlTnwZTWB_10OwN493YqVEU9JUjlIwnXgQUviAZpOtJg0mbhUWqotmKAhXf4_Mm_5QIFtdrasaBlpbB48kKPL89_6reZYgNaB9o2GYo/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu9aNMmbs3hSN5R4-oOfGL3tn4auyXk-bV-rUixlTnwZTWB_10OwN493YqVEU9JUjlIwnXgQUviAZpOtJg0mbhUWqotmKAhXf4_Mm_5QIFtdrasaBlpbB48kKPL89_6reZYgNaB9o2GYo/s1600/IMG_4009.JPG" height="432" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The quaint street with apartments located above the cute flower shops and clothing boutiques.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdpxCd7ly-xebRlDRqMn7ZhcsWKPULf8duWjiuioOHjEDNiPhY6gFAi6Z9PParH3xFyw1eRoa5ffxKLz5lxvbl6E35C5Owa5vNMBSREx7nk0szc_i8H0jfYhLf2FKOHYR0QTYEO0eWjQ/s1600/DSC01514.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRdpxCd7ly-xebRlDRqMn7ZhcsWKPULf8duWjiuioOHjEDNiPhY6gFAi6Z9PParH3xFyw1eRoa5ffxKLz5lxvbl6E35C5Owa5vNMBSREx7nk0szc_i8H0jfYhLf2FKOHYR0QTYEO0eWjQ/s1600/DSC01514.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The beautiful colored buildings along Nyhavn. Very touristy, but so much history! Constructed in the 1670's it was the gateway into Copenhagen for cargo and fish and sailors. Hans Christian Anderson, famous Danish fairy tale author, even lived here for some years in the 1800's. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPTIUPFzr56xe3R85f4n7oXnbd9dA9gomL8bFdVPMY_Byu47zCt-Cdby7dM8oEMFrwlMfqTO1NheDSURL6AM9UTLKfNdaGuyAk2-m5ECni3Y2j1Mj4IepUJUJfXeHinJMREhk4zPmfxM/s1600/DSC01516.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwPTIUPFzr56xe3R85f4n7oXnbd9dA9gomL8bFdVPMY_Byu47zCt-Cdby7dM8oEMFrwlMfqTO1NheDSURL6AM9UTLKfNdaGuyAk2-m5ECni3Y2j1Mj4IepUJUJfXeHinJMREhk4zPmfxM/s1600/DSC01516.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Rosenborg Castle Gardens. One of my favorite places in the city! When I arrived, little blossoms were just starting to poke through the grass. Danish castles are a bit more humble, not so ostentatious, when compared with those I visited in Germany. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdwdMuyfKXxRjbq2lQ1wEluEmMuQK2p76AlytV2KX8KRbDDTNNFfm8xkkx10uFWP9ijmaGCPfhY0lzkuSKqDRRyK2vTp1iElLr7uOivrPi3Q4cZ7S5PAgwv3MTdSgt0NW-VGc8ge-NsU/s1600/IMG_4085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKdwdMuyfKXxRjbq2lQ1wEluEmMuQK2p76AlytV2KX8KRbDDTNNFfm8xkkx10uFWP9ijmaGCPfhY0lzkuSKqDRRyK2vTp1iElLr7uOivrPi3Q4cZ7S5PAgwv3MTdSgt0NW-VGc8ge-NsU/s1600/IMG_4085.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Also Rosenborg Castle Gardens. On a bright, sunny day everyone comes out to enjoy it! And you better believe I was right there with them. It had been a few months since I'd gone outside without a heavy coat... The sunshine and warmth was most welcome.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT38VjNc_-8-lMmvkVSwC1BTIGAMjAvYKaXgwpHi5PXgOR_IqsEHb0YJzxwb6qG-NUFHY0gyVnxNhSZmu9tYIVREngW9m8ufyUPKRXcksLNX4-av6xYVvHCRo-OHiJPa0P_HLqSK5ZG4/s1600/IMG_3905.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibT38VjNc_-8-lMmvkVSwC1BTIGAMjAvYKaXgwpHi5PXgOR_IqsEHb0YJzxwb6qG-NUFHY0gyVnxNhSZmu9tYIVREngW9m8ufyUPKRXcksLNX4-av6xYVvHCRo-OHiJPa0P_HLqSK5ZG4/s1600/IMG_3905.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The Little Mermaid. A classic, Danish icon. She's a bit smaller than I expected and the industry seemed odd in the background of the dainty figure. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVj9RwwQfXclWara-O3tBGj3OT_sAhCzSrKsqw3U_k22OlWsKSl2M9x7XZfqUOywTBamDo3PiNRROetUtKQuRLnt0uWi6QAHDzqRrrz6EaUfkhMmZuXBUOtVNiJqK1Mbi2zmkkXqiGCY/s1600/IMG_3897.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDVj9RwwQfXclWara-O3tBGj3OT_sAhCzSrKsqw3U_k22OlWsKSl2M9x7XZfqUOywTBamDo3PiNRROetUtKQuRLnt0uWi6QAHDzqRrrz6EaUfkhMmZuXBUOtVNiJqK1Mbi2zmkkXqiGCY/s1600/IMG_3897.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmexvzRjvjEzxluw0olS47S0NtaL-sODHWy-M5AKWKYomjZxQnEsutaEUIW3sVbVp0BoOoX1tICpTz8V4tueo71PKhjFhOxeKG3XyTmg6_JwuByoEMriFCca4r-aeTrzvw-TK20qMgJ6c/s1600/IMG_3987.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmexvzRjvjEzxluw0olS47S0NtaL-sODHWy-M5AKWKYomjZxQnEsutaEUIW3sVbVp0BoOoX1tICpTz8V4tueo71PKhjFhOxeKG3XyTmg6_JwuByoEMriFCca4r-aeTrzvw-TK20qMgJ6c/s1600/IMG_3987.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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I absolutely LOVED the flowers displayed on the sidewalks everywhere. It never failed to make me smile and brighten my day! I must not have realized just how dreary those winter months can be. Spring was a welcome sight to my eyes. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Yes, that's right. I went to IKEA in Denmark. I think the meatballs tasted even better closer to the source. Fun Fact: IKEA opened a store in Jordan this year! I got to see the building progress, but obviously missed out on the grand opening. Hope the Jordanians enjoy the lingonberry sauce!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu3xhz4HshD3CQaJ8i2S3n93uoBLTXCoXou2BVJIspBcUz8u-8fyw10bSe8YnU3UOkn-zBVGfu_a10XVx-Mc1nGVydkS76aQOxSNVl_s7f2atj10v-siqjXMvUaH3MB2URsiaX2zW5Io/s1600/DSC01588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpu3xhz4HshD3CQaJ8i2S3n93uoBLTXCoXou2BVJIspBcUz8u-8fyw10bSe8YnU3UOkn-zBVGfu_a10XVx-Mc1nGVydkS76aQOxSNVl_s7f2atj10v-siqjXMvUaH3MB2URsiaX2zW5Io/s1600/DSC01588.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tivoli Gardens! The second oldest amusement park in the world, right in the middle of Copenhagen. And the world's oldest amusement park, Bakken, is just a short train ride north of the city. I say the Danish really know how to have fun. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC_uN7MV0URGl7g1nDD-Mh_lvA1pgtQdi2u0GJFacik5v0iu1wTfl7X78Y2Os0bJRhuJZITFhYyObhl_MJf9aifAQyeB9QD367qcmPx6FSMMCOW1RHJd7R82CLA3I5LSUZplFHuwva5E/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibC_uN7MV0URGl7g1nDD-Mh_lvA1pgtQdi2u0GJFacik5v0iu1wTfl7X78Y2Os0bJRhuJZITFhYyObhl_MJf9aifAQyeB9QD367qcmPx6FSMMCOW1RHJd7R82CLA3I5LSUZplFHuwva5E/s1600/IMG_4100.JPG" height="480" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Tivoli is a magical place with a very different atmosphere than Disneyland... Perhaps more relaxed and cozier. I went with Anne and Eva and we picked a beautiful day to go!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Just a photo I liked from the canal tour I took one day. There is so much water in Copenhagen, it's really quite amazing!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1G4cA0B7Uz04tZ5JfeavsuKHD24HhSAaoQJSJrg6-oHNKXV4YyATb3r_oFr-2qobyWe_kH6l6DCgHCnpnNONpYHhJr6v5qVXDaYIOiPVNpVMl5s9rYTMohs161q_0xiJnD5fzUQ0G34M/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1G4cA0B7Uz04tZ5JfeavsuKHD24HhSAaoQJSJrg6-oHNKXV4YyATb3r_oFr-2qobyWe_kH6l6DCgHCnpnNONpYHhJr6v5qVXDaYIOiPVNpVMl5s9rYTMohs161q_0xiJnD5fzUQ0G34M/s1600/IMG_4041.JPG" height="420" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">The view from the path along the sea where I ran nearly every day. If you look closely on the horizon, you'll see a line of windmills. The Danish love their wind energy. I couldn't get enough of the fresh, sea air. It was glorious! </span></td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-63579784599482995922014-05-19T14:13:00.000-07:002014-05-19T14:13:25.279-07:00A Misconception<div class="p1">
Life in Denmark was good, as I’m sure you all read in my last post. But with how much I enjoyed my time in Denmark, I must note that I almost decided not to go to Denmark at all. Back in January and February, during my unsettled month, I had a lot of second thoughts about spending a month in Denmark. This doubt was triggered by a couple conversations with people in Germany. These well-meaning people, who wanted me to see the best of disability provisions in Europe, informed me that Denmark offers free prenatal testing to all pregnant women. Thus, the number of babies born with Down Syndrome has significantly decreased in the past decade or so due to abortions following a prenatal diagnosis. The perception of Denmark and the government was that it is their goal to eradicate Down Syndrome from society. </div>
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<span class="s1">This was extremely disheartening to hear and I began to look into alternative countries. However, it dawned on me slowly that, assuming what these people said about Denmark was true, project work in Denmark would open my eyes to a whole different issue I had yet to explore this year. Prenatal testing, its connections to people with special needs, and the mindset of a society that heavily prioritizes a woman’s choice are highly relevant topics and aspects of my project I may have missed out on had I not traveled to Denmark. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I did quite a bit of reading on prenatal testing while in Denmark and I brought up the subject with nearly everyone I spoke to. I am happy to report that the negative perception that people in Germany have of Denmark is not reality. What I actually found is a country very much in tune to the needs of people with special needs and an adequately funded social welfare system that does its best to provide for people. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I want to highlight one organization, Lavuk, that I found quite impressive. This organization’s whole mission is to create meaningful spare time activities for adults with disabilities. One of the main supervisors I spoke with said, “It’s my job to make everyday special and fun.” How awesome is that!? Lavuk is open in the evenings Monday to Friday and transportation is provided to the facility and events located elsewhere. They have more than 200 members who regularly participate in activities offered during the week. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The activities are completely varied. They have music events at the center, art and sewing time, sports activities, and of course movies and video games available. They also serve dinner for anyone who would like to join. They go horseback riding and bowling and even offer six or seven overnight trips each year. So, how is all of this paid for? It’s really quite interesting. When an individual requests to become a member of Lavuk, staff members get together and compose a proposal to send to the municipality. It is the municipality, basically the city level, that manages the budget for people with disabilities in their community. The municipality then approves for funds to be allocated to the individual. Some members attend Lavuk five days a week, others only one or two days, this is all based on how much funding they are given. Of course, the funding is not unlimited. If an individual with special needs is already receiving funds to live in a residential home, it might be more difficult to receive money to attend activities at Lavuk as well. If an individual lives at home, funding might come more easily. From what I heard though, the goal of both Lavuk and the municipality is to work together to meet the needs of the individual as best they can. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Following my initial visit to Lavuk, I was invited to come back for their live music event on a Friday night. It was a happening place! There was a band, with a few members who had disabilities, playing great music. A number of people were dancing, many of them with Down Syndrome I might add. I could have predicted they would be on the dance floor. :) Others were finishing up their dinner, staff members were ensuring that those in wheelchairs were comfortable and had a good view of the action, and others were visiting with their peers, enjoying a cup of coffee. After dinner there was a snack bar set up as well. People lined up to buy an ice cream bar, a bag of chips, or a nice cold Carlsberg beer. I sat down and chit chatted with Trine and Claus, while others came over and shook my hand throughout the evening. We listened to the music and talked about traveling, food, Denmark, movies, and music. It was good fun!</span></div>
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<span class="s2">On the way home that night, I was really moved by what good work Lavuk is doing. </span><span class="s1">The friendly, welcoming, and loving staff members are all about creating fun, social time for people with special needs. Think about this for a minute, all of us “typical” people have the ability to organize our own spare time. We can go to the movies and effortlessly buy popcorn. We can call up our friends and meet for coffee. We can ride bikes and go shopping, you name it. By the time we are teenagers we are completely independent. We are capable of organization, transportation, and any other logistics that arise. None of this is true for most people with disabilities, especially people in wheelchairs and even more severely, people in wheelchairs who can’t feed themselves or communicate. But these individuals have the right to social activity too! They shouldn’t just have to sit at home after work (if they do go to work) because they have certain limitations. Lavuk is one such organization that makes it happen. I was impressed and deeply moved by their efforts and the compassion and joy that staff members have at their job. They make sure everyone is cared for, loved, and included. It is a safe and clean environment where individuals can drink a beer, buy a candy bar, use the computers, play video games, watch movies, and just generally be stimulated by their peers and the activity around them. It was awesome to experience. Well done, Lavuk!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">And I have to say again what a privilege it is for me to get to spend time with people with special needs all over the world. Even though some of them smell funny or have drool coming out of their mouth, even though I don’t know how clean their hands are when I get a heartfelt handshake or they spit in my face when they talk, I love them all. They deserve attention and love and respect as much, or perhaps even more, than everyone else. And anyone who commits just a bit of time, attention, and love to an individual with special needs will see their efforts repaid ten-fold with the sincere kindness, joy, humor, and simplicity that a person with special needs gives. </span></div>
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<span class="s3">Looking back, I can’t believe I almost didn’t go to Denmark. I would have missed out on a lot of learning opportunities. </span><span class="s1">As far as the issues with prenatal testing, it seems to me that perhaps well-meaning people in other countries saw one news article about the declining birth rate of kids with Down Syndrome and assumed the worst about the government and the healthcare system. While I do think that Denmark favors a woman’s right to choose, it is certainly not anyone’s goal to eliminate imperfections from society. And I’m so grateful I took the chance to visit Denmark and discover that for myself. </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-45484813923765476722014-05-16T03:47:00.000-07:002014-07-13T14:47:18.768-07:00Life in Denmark Was Good<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">Goodness, I’m so behind with blogging! Here I am, more than 3 weeks into my time in England and I’ve haven’t shared anything about Denmark! But before I talk about the good life in Denmark, I want to preface things by describing a bit of my emotional state upon arriving in the country. I have posted some of the highlights of the two months I spent in Germany, but what follows is a closer look at my thoughts and struggles during that time. I wrote about this in my third quarterly report I sent to the Watson last month, so I will include a lot of it here. It serves as a good recap of the last few months. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">“I took a different approach this quarter and was not stationed in one city for the whole time. Instead, I had a short term home base in three different cities, in two different countries. As a result, the past three months were very different from the six months that came before. My experiences, emotions, thoughts, project work, and living situations the last three months in Germany and Denmark were vastly different when compared with my time in Jordan or Japan. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">I started this quarter in the quaint city of Nuremberg, Germany and my time here was marked by one word—unsettled. Don’t get me wrong, I certainly relished the luxuries of being in a Western European country after my adventure in the Middle East: good indoor heating and plumbing, convenient public transportation, and no stares from loitering men. Likewise, it was rather refreshing to be in a small, sleepy, Bavarian city after the utter chaos of Amman and the crowdedness of Tokyo. Despite these positives (and many others) I was often consumed with anxiety about the coming months. I wasn’t sleeping well and my brain was all over the place. Half of me was present in Nuremberg, while the other half was planning for a visit from my family, scheduling my stay in Hamburg, Germany, and assessing the feasibility and timing of my stay in Denmark. I quickly realized the nice thing about staying in one place for a longer period, there’s far more time to focus on the task at hand. In Jordan and Japan my brain was not pulled in so many different directions and I missed that during the month in Nuremberg. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">However, having too much to think about isn’t necessarily a foreign feeling. Four years at Harvey Mudd taught me a lot about handling anxiety and constant busyness. Of course, there’s one big difference between the brain pull of school and that of the Watson. At school, my schedule was mostly prescribed for me. I was told when to go to class, turn in homework, or attend meetings. The “have to” mindset has no part in the Watson Fellowship. Nothing is dictated for me. And while this complete freedom is one of my favorite aspects of the fellowship, during this month in Nuremberg I felt the exhaustion of having to constantly create my own structure, routine, and priorities. During this month, it was quite taxing to think about how to fill my days. All of these feelings—unsettledness, anxiety, exhaustion</span><span class="s2">—</span><span class="s1">left me significantly unmotivated. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">But with a lot of prayer and a “just push through” attitude I made it through being unmotivated and made some fantastic project connections! After three months of “Arab time” where scheduling is flexible, most things start late, and communication is hit or miss, I so appreciated the quick email responses from people in Germany and their willingness to meet with me. It was really a good place to go for such a short time because everyone was so efficient at getting back to me and scheduling appointments! </span></div>
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<span class="s3">Some of my struggles that first month in Germany may have been due to missing my family as well. After seven months away, I needed to see some familiar faces! So, my family’s visit was a refreshing interruption to my solo travels. Their visit </span><span class="s1">was just the beginning of a complete whirlwind of a month though! After sending them off, I headed to Hamburg in the northern part of Germany. I was short three travel buddies, but I gained a suitcase (winter clothes take up far more room than clothes for summer in Japan) and a fresh perspective on the convenience of traveling alone. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">After just two and a half weeks in Hamburg, I uprooted myself once again and moved to Copenhagen, Denmark. I handled this transition far better than the move from Amman to Nuremberg, only slight anxiety and much more excitement. However, I didn’t get much chance to adjust before I headed to Norway for a three day conference organized by the Norwegian Down Syndrome association. I had a total blast meeting different families, listening to interesting lectures, sharing my experience as a sibling to new parents, and learning about the situation for people with Down Syndrome in Norway. I even learned some sweet new dance moves from the kids at the Disco night. It was a fantastically stimulating three days and I can’t think of a better way I could have spent my time on World Down Syndrome Day.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The Norway trip concluded my whirlwind month. I came back to Copenhagen for the final month of this quarter. A month marked by complete joy and contentment. I finally felt like I was able to take a breath, rest, and reassess my priorities.”</span></div>
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<span class="s1">German was amazing, but it took its toll on both my mental and physical energy. I was able to rest, recuperate, and process everything in Copenhagen. Here’s some of the things that generally contributed to my contentedness:</span></div>
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<span class="s1">I had a fantastic living situation. I didn’t know this before coming to Copenhagen, but there are not many vacancies in the city. Just as I was beginning to think I would have to spend five weeks in a hostel, I got a response back on an ad I had posted a couple weeks before. Anne and her daughter, Eva, had a spare room they were renting out. It was perfect and absolutely an answer to prayer. Anne and Eva treated me like part of the family, but gave me space and independence as well. I felt completely at home, the room was luxury, and the location was a place I thought I would only dream of living. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Speaking of location, the sea was only about one mile from the apartment. One mile through a beautiful wooded park and past an old castle before opening up onto the coast. It's been years since I ran seriously in high school, but in Denamrk I started running again. I had to take advantage of the perfect location and was even further motivated by the healthy and fit Danish people around me. After the extreme heat in Japan, the cultural stigma of running outside in Jordan, and the cold winter in Germany, it was time to get out and run. And I loved it!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">Finally, let’s talk about “hygge.” This is a Danish word that doesn’t translate well into English, but it is a hugely important part of Danish culture. After talking with numerous people about what hygge means to them, the best way I can describe it is “cozy quality time.” Getting together with friends and family, sharing a meal, engaging in conversation or watching a movie, that’s hygge. Intentional quality time with the people you’re close to, in a cozy atmosphere, that’s hygge. And I think it’s fantastic! Without knowing we were channeling our Danish roots, my family (particularly my Mom) is quite good at cozy quality time, it’s something I grew up appreciating. For example, I remember so fondly the “picnic” dinners we had when I was kid. A simple meal spread out on a blanket in the living room as we watched Little House on the Prairie or You’ve Got Mail. Learning about and experiencing hygge in Denmark made me feel so at home and relaxed. It was lovely. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Part of the reason I didn’t blog so much during my stay in Denmark was because it felt like <i>my time</i>, time I just wanted to relish for myself. But now, after the fact, I appreciate the opportunity to relive it as I share it here. Life in Denmark was good. :)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCUvq08IhnI-c2iMvntaPSpugDszV6ut9SDpFoPedmAtaUayiBkhPxpYos6rAaob4ZmXuozTmTOu4OUP9Johfg5V2CPdMSZzJXtNvChyXkdTkT9iui0xf41wJt4o9H64MUz0sahZ3x4g/s1600/IMG_4109.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmCUvq08IhnI-c2iMvntaPSpugDszV6ut9SDpFoPedmAtaUayiBkhPxpYos6rAaob4ZmXuozTmTOu4OUP9Johfg5V2CPdMSZzJXtNvChyXkdTkT9iui0xf41wJt4o9H64MUz0sahZ3x4g/s1600/IMG_4109.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eva (left) and Anne (right). My Danish family! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Love them so much!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCaLrel6qYYirkW1Nf1eLckXy2vpkCmYBNZZBTqXF_b_DvyQ3BJUKHLg_t4C1a9bACvMGZpPry8pQTIkqOyOh96uxBDczposjNjf57U2RzhkLBRBdVGQLmQGzJnR1LnMy5NeCRS8mjJU/s1600/DSC01578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCaLrel6qYYirkW1Nf1eLckXy2vpkCmYBNZZBTqXF_b_DvyQ3BJUKHLg_t4C1a9bACvMGZpPry8pQTIkqOyOh96uxBDczposjNjf57U2RzhkLBRBdVGQLmQGzJnR1LnMy5NeCRS8mjJU/s1600/DSC01578.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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Eating traditional Danish ice cream in Helsing<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: left;">ø</span>r. Two scoops of ice cream </div>
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topped with whip cream, jam, and a<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; text-align: left;">flødeboller</span></span> </div>
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or chocolate covered marshmallow. YUM!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-66003288422002737182014-04-25T14:29:00.000-07:002014-04-25T14:29:23.347-07:00Hamburg Highlights<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">I was in the beautiful city of Hamburg for just about two and a half weeks. I stayed quite busy, but it was definitely not enough time to see and do everything. This visit also proved the beauty of the Watson Fellowship and the random, but awesome, connections I've made around the world. While I was in Japan, Nobuko (a Japanese friend of my aunt's who has a daughter with Down Syndrome) introduced me to Carolyn (who happened to graduate from Pomona College and also has a daughter with special needs). Carolyn then introduced me to Steffi and Marc, a German couple from Hamburg who happened to be visiting Japan while I was there. As it turns out Steffi works with people with special needs! So, I made a point to visit Hamburg during my time in Germany.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">In Nuremberg, I learned a lot about what life is like for high functioning individuals with disabilities. However, in Hamburg I was able to complete the picture and learn about provisions available for lower functioning individuals who need a bit more daily help than others. Steffi works in what I will call a day care center. The umbrella organization, Alsterdorf Assistenz, has a long history in Hamburg and last year celebrated its 150th birthday. Providing for the needs of individuals before the year 1900 was quite revolutionary. Sadly though, Nazi policies during WWII tainted the organization's history. While the leadership of Alsterdorf didn't necessarily approve of the euthanasia practice, they were perhaps powerless to stop the program from affecting those within their care. It was absolutely heartbreaking to learn about this heavy history. I was only consoled by seeing the true redemption that has occurred in the organization and the community since that dark time.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">There were a lot of different activities going on at the day care center. After a leisurely morning of breakfast and coffee, people did art projects, went grocery shopping, worked in the kitchen preparing lunch, folded laundry, played games. A few times a week people are also transported to other locations for fun activities or small jobs. I got to go dancing with them a couple times while I was there! All of these activities provide meaningful stimulation for people with disabilities. This is NOT a day care where people just sit idle all day, they are active and engaged. The staff provides smiles and encouragement all day long.</span></div>
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Here are some of my friends at the day care center. It was dress up day so I got to wear a crazy hat. I sure love all the wonderful people I've met on this journey!</div>
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<span class="s1">I think what I was most impressed with though is the Ursprung Cafe that is a part of Alsterdorf. The cafe is a great example of productive community effort. It is located in the lobby of a local church that lends the space for free, making it possible for Alsterdorf to afford running a cafe. People from the day care center are assigned to work in the cafe each day for the few days it is open per week. In the morning, everyone works together preparing lunch and serving the morning customers. To make the job accessible to everyone working there, the staff devised a really unique menu system. Each table in the cafe has a corresponding symbol. So, if someone sits down at the star table, they will receive the star menu. The menu then has a cards for each item, a coffee card, a lunch card, a tea card, each with the star symbol on the back. The customer orders by giving the cards to the worker. This way, even people with disabilities who may not be able to read and write, can still participate in the cafe work. I thought this was quite clever and empowering. The staff really try to make sure that the people with disabilities are doing the work and getting the experience. It is a team effort, everyone has a lot of fun!</span></div>
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Here is Steffi and Christian getting the tables set up with the cool menus. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chopping carrots for lunch.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The cafe crew.</td></tr>
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Another striking thing I learned in Germany: people working with individuals with special needs have a surprisingly high level of education. For instance, Steffi has a degree “staatlich geprufter heilerziehungspfleger." This roughly translates to a “certified care worker,” which I would describe as a mix between a social worker, a special education teacher, and a nurse. People working toward this degree take classes in physical care, inclusion, disability policy, and do one or more internships at an organization. As far as I know, the United States does not have an equivalent degree. In fact, I would venture to say that very little education would be required for someone to work in a similar day care center in the U.S. From what I saw in Germany, the quality of the staff’s education at day care centers, workshops, and residential homes really improved the quality of the programs, activities, and general atmosphere. The U.S. would do well to learn from Germany in this case. I expect my professors, for example, to be educated and qualified to teach, why not expect the staff working in the special needs community to be appropriately educated and qualified as well.<br />
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<span class="s1">There is one final thing I want to mention about my time in Hamburg. Steffi took me to an awesome exhibition called Dialog in the Dark. It was an amazing experience that gives visitors a glimpse into the lives of people who are blind. Small groups go through the experience in complete darkness led by a blind guide. We went through rooms that simulated different environments. We crossed a busy street, went to the supermarket, rode on a boat, and listened to music all without our sight. Throughout the tour the guide gave us some insight into different techniques blind people use to get through everyday tasks. Then at the end of the guided tour we sat in a cafe (also in complete darkness) and chatted with each other and our guide about the experience. The 90 minutes I spent in the dark was one of the most interesting things I’ve done this year. It was fascinating to experience things without the aid of sight. At the supermarket simulation, there was a stand of fruit and vegetables near the street. I found the sounds of the street and the people around to be so distracting that I could hardly identify the fruits and vegetables by touch. We pick out foods at the grocery store without even thinking, but take away sight and I couldn’t tell a tomato from an orange. I noticed immediately that I am not particularly kinesthetic. Touch did not prove too helpful in getting through the exhibition, but the sound of the surroundings and the guide’s voice was much more meaningful and easy to follow. I didn’t want to leave the darkness, I wanted to keep learning and exploring. I was reminded of how I would close my eyes and try to walk through my house without sight when I was younger. Of course, I am more grateful than ever for my sight, but I appreciated the stimulation and what I learned about myself. I would encourage everyone to try an experience like this sometime. (And if anyone knows if there is something similar to Dialog in the Dark in the U.S. let me know!)</span></div>
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<span class="s1">As always, there is so much more I could say about my jam-packed time in Hamburg. I took a sightseeing trip to Berlin, toured a particle accelerator, learned about some interesting Down Syndrome research, got to see my dear friend Veronika from Jordan, spent a night in a tiny German village... Ask me about it sometime! :)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitting at Dietrich Bonhoeffer's desk in Berlin.<br />I felt like a fan girl enthralled with the famous German theologian.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Made my own chocolate bar at the Ritter Sport Store in Berlin.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVED the cross walk symbols! Too cute!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice drive through the German countryside.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flensburg, Germany</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toured the tunnel that will soon house a <br />new particle accelerator.</td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-10639767315133120782014-03-21T00:10:00.002-07:002014-03-21T00:10:52.035-07:00World Down Syndrome Day 2014Happy World Down Syndrome Day, everyone! I am currently at a conference in Trondheim, Norway organized for this special day. While most everything is in Norwegian, it is just exhilarating to be in a room with so many people who love their family members and friends with Down Syndrome and are passionate about seeing each of them reach their potential. I do have a few kind interpreters, so I'm learning lots about the situation for people with Down Syndrome in Norway! (Perhaps more about that in a subsequent post...) There is also a youth conference for young adults with Down Syndrome happening parallel to the one I'm attending. They invited me to their dance party last night! I squealed with glee along with them when the DJ played Justin Bieber and learned a thing or two from everyone with great dance moves. So much fun! :)<br />
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Today though, I just want to show some love to a few of the incredible people I have in my life and to some of those I have met in my travels. Each one of them has made me smile and laugh. They have taught me patience and to remember what is important in life. Each of them has opened my eyes to see past my own minuscule problems. They have shown me unconditional love. And all of these people have brought great joy to my life.<br />
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From Germany:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My walking buddy, Steffen.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My train riding buddy, Youstina.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyup3tmETsiZLF7v29xCK6etgNjxkcpdpoBJE9n5k5dgj-JBiQZtSgegQ5Tvy5hDSIlMb0b8X9aN1lzWL3xDHJIuctSWoMlJKdoaBYcbGBxkgeWHjzjrm3mGbILzKprJVLcUC3724WR48/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyup3tmETsiZLF7v29xCK6etgNjxkcpdpoBJE9n5k5dgj-JBiQZtSgegQ5Tvy5hDSIlMb0b8X9aN1lzWL3xDHJIuctSWoMlJKdoaBYcbGBxkgeWHjzjrm3mGbILzKprJVLcUC3724WR48/s1600/IMG_3188.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My little friend, Mikey.</td></tr>
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From Jordan:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OjE7Sv4w0y-vmNUb9GPdhl48FFcoHornWwwErfUx4tW5597QQ6-l_SCOqe2vPSl0u3x8WrqRs-bD1qHvUO-LYq-4JHYInvfWSq4vpJmNXN1o8yieHFp8DpI8vyECscZKeg9X6TwJ_RA/s1600/IMG_2724.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OjE7Sv4w0y-vmNUb9GPdhl48FFcoHornWwwErfUx4tW5597QQ6-l_SCOqe2vPSl0u3x8WrqRs-bD1qHvUO-LYq-4JHYInvfWSq4vpJmNXN1o8yieHFp8DpI8vyECscZKeg9X6TwJ_RA/s1600/IMG_2724.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shahed (left) and Aya (center).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkrFKz9HAgN_2gxVLWIg8jcTjvRTccZn2rv5UpJZhnGJ6yrQJDYfmqKPaENeVxcL4-X5vfHwmwTITX71m7gLA9Ig66YPE-1zJw2ehPUFBMayGtmRJeMWSrFTNgaQGjJ66g04uwTsib7E/s1600/IMG_2852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkrFKz9HAgN_2gxVLWIg8jcTjvRTccZn2rv5UpJZhnGJ6yrQJDYfmqKPaENeVxcL4-X5vfHwmwTITX71m7gLA9Ig66YPE-1zJw2ehPUFBMayGtmRJeMWSrFTNgaQGjJ66g04uwTsib7E/s1600/IMG_2852.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite star!</td></tr>
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From Japan:<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKdbYhfWhX5Ma1uwi1auWniD6DSqJW9yzsEpnIAVtRKrEmgO2IRNef-OnRdwbuZDcJ7_C-c1TOCBUrUjux8MwhuMIaUnYfo-TEvCT2NnSv5zuhJ-B3yVmpraotI6V9eWXQuyjq6jwHHA/s1600/IMG_1645.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihKdbYhfWhX5Ma1uwi1auWniD6DSqJW9yzsEpnIAVtRKrEmgO2IRNef-OnRdwbuZDcJ7_C-c1TOCBUrUjux8MwhuMIaUnYfo-TEvCT2NnSv5zuhJ-B3yVmpraotI6V9eWXQuyjq6jwHHA/s1600/IMG_1645.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shoko and Naru taught me some <br />sweet dance moves!</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhYu-r_Xd7PSlTtQf4f2wlecFjfb7jvZGkNrxPb4LBgWwMN6RDBKqu0az1Ute2LCQnOEYAwqQEt7HOl-ad79KO7NYbWLdZZkFVmJ_OxuW0sXLz8foKD0kfQSeq4hJKHeWaDeeiO9zrsw/s1600/IMG_1632.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilhYu-r_Xd7PSlTtQf4f2wlecFjfb7jvZGkNrxPb4LBgWwMN6RDBKqu0az1Ute2LCQnOEYAwqQEt7HOl-ad79KO7NYbWLdZZkFVmJ_OxuW0sXLz8foKD0kfQSeq4hJKHeWaDeeiO9zrsw/s1600/IMG_1632.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Karaoke will never be the same without <br />Eiko and Shinichi!</td></tr>
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And last by not least, from back in Oregon:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdvUZV7TAJOcKs_IoDQEptS1lFPPL7B69JsHNW-IN8c0k7ozgbZaEiAhfbNLuS9wQlUbFdiMZjCmPDL_RhAuiJkGiD7dVu2eDz99LOnn4TcPp0Yb0L1O8JxTnwrfq8AP3C-aGDk4w5fs/s1600/Kristin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixdvUZV7TAJOcKs_IoDQEptS1lFPPL7B69JsHNW-IN8c0k7ozgbZaEiAhfbNLuS9wQlUbFdiMZjCmPDL_RhAuiJkGiD7dVu2eDz99LOnn4TcPp0Yb0L1O8JxTnwrfq8AP3C-aGDk4w5fs/s1600/Kristin.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My sweet friend, Kristin. I love her enthusiasm!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B6r8ekdiNfMVnc7XEAO3dJCn-_AfaCEO7vLUrBpse13gJXJwys_YEhV3vn-x0R-vldnqc7bKwQVxrRlJDL6TIARP_0DFcyd9AKcdQLjLTSDrkNepWaAT4En9b8rT01E-ExOYcEVOWuI/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5B6r8ekdiNfMVnc7XEAO3dJCn-_AfaCEO7vLUrBpse13gJXJwys_YEhV3vn-x0R-vldnqc7bKwQVxrRlJDL6TIARP_0DFcyd9AKcdQLjLTSDrkNepWaAT4En9b8rT01E-ExOYcEVOWuI/s1600/IMG_2455.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bailey's friend Danielle. <br />My go-to source for all things Portland Trail Blazers!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvEmLyFkk2xXwiuF0QtPqyqFrmCyYJmCGi_Hf0YgRs7WTZUjB59ESQDAmTxnOYmOptX2I-sQ4Au9ol1uS0whuhPUr9fD21iMeo-VRxCQK5rNQNhg4D63oV5OR25DFr-XN5JxHA8PQEAo/s1600/Peter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirvEmLyFkk2xXwiuF0QtPqyqFrmCyYJmCGi_Hf0YgRs7WTZUjB59ESQDAmTxnOYmOptX2I-sQ4Au9ol1uS0whuhPUr9fD21iMeo-VRxCQK5rNQNhg4D63oV5OR25DFr-XN5JxHA8PQEAo/s1600/Peter.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cousin Peter, always ready with a big hug!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiObpHpfgtPExGU10QQdzETRyf7yMh4urrQIuugCTumVqKNu2RjXGTx6j9IihUbaicFr5aiQK8WQFEHlaWpqLHLl06PCYSdKRPD2r9QY16E0jHA8ddvFMugYaCmtUWYyU5CiCoJeBWKZk/s1600/DSC01039.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiObpHpfgtPExGU10QQdzETRyf7yMh4urrQIuugCTumVqKNu2RjXGTx6j9IihUbaicFr5aiQK8WQFEHlaWpqLHLl06PCYSdKRPD2r9QY16E0jHA8ddvFMugYaCmtUWYyU5CiCoJeBWKZk/s1600/DSC01039.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the best little sister in the whole world!</td></tr>
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I so want to give each of them a big hug in person, especially Miss Bailey, but this picture collage will have to suffice. For those of you who can...do it! Give them a huge hug! One from me too! Show them how much we love them!<br />
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Note: For those who may not know, March 21st (3/21) is World Down Syndrome Day because people with Down Syndrome have a third chromosome in the 21st pair. Cool, right!?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-3693063697281487362014-03-16T11:11:00.001-07:002014-03-16T11:15:38.070-07:00Facebook Posts from Germany<div style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">
<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">It's that time again! I hope everyone enjoys reading these as much as I enjoy posting them. I encounter so many random things while living everyday life in a foreign country. It's nice to share!</span></div>
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1. Indoor heating is amazing. I no longer have to sleep with two pairs of socks and a sweatshirt. I'm not in Jordan anymore!<br />
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2. I carried red, Wadi Rum sand all the way to Germany. It's all over my backpack and now the hostel. Oops...<br />
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3. I was warned about this before arriving in Europe, but sometimes a glass of wine is cheaper than a glass of water. So... I opted for the wine. </div>
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4. I love the street musicians playing accordion! It fits nicely with the cobblestone streets and quaint shops.<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">5. I see this billboard everywhere. The whole family in the bathtub...? Really?</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDIiaYmYSJznGcyN3OnGmiDK0FG8IGoann5w70_euRgI8wuEfAFAj5ewX6gdpG_EFdcMUpomgP9fKLpO4O92VYfqbBCiV422KWrF1clrpIHTbZB8UHDHq-JLf3qZJuGjUQ8Jhc6kIs54/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDIiaYmYSJznGcyN3OnGmiDK0FG8IGoann5w70_euRgI8wuEfAFAj5ewX6gdpG_EFdcMUpomgP9fKLpO4O92VYfqbBCiV422KWrF1clrpIHTbZB8UHDHq-JLf3qZJuGjUQ8Jhc6kIs54/s1600/IMG_3163.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">6. Nuremberg has the best walking/running paths along the river that runs through the city. Met these guys on my delightful Saturday morning walk one weekend. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeSnQOvfN5g1_aA6uwZBXzliGmtKQ9Oapr5IBLg5P-5T9PfrgtoUzYmLs4yUbc-ZbZ8SK3tZTVaLF8FqzivGOW2Au6-8iIwXZ6_-YSu5vi2CM_iIQTVlSIx8OkucEZDpnWZq_0yXSBr4/s1600/IMG_3175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOeSnQOvfN5g1_aA6uwZBXzliGmtKQ9Oapr5IBLg5P-5T9PfrgtoUzYmLs4yUbc-ZbZ8SK3tZTVaLF8FqzivGOW2Au6-8iIwXZ6_-YSu5vi2CM_iIQTVlSIx8OkucEZDpnWZq_0yXSBr4/s1600/IMG_3175.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. I love seeing the little, old German ladies carrying their wicker baskets to the market. Too cute.<br />
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8. What we call bread, Germans call "American Sandwich Bread."<br />
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9. Someone called me a seasoned traveler! Whoa! It caught me by surprise. Who would have thought!?<br />
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10. Germans don't bother with training wheels. Give the kid a bike!<br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.333333969116211px;">11. Well, I was prepared for a cold and snowy couple months in Germany, but the winter turned out to be quite mild. (I'm not complaining.) We got snow in Nuremberg one day though! Just enough to make the train ride to nearby Lauf absolutely beautiful!</span><br />
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12. I met an American here in Germany who had heard of Harvey Mudd because of the Taylor Swift concert. That's a first. </div>
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13. Definitely too many coins in this currency system.<br />
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14. These would have been helpful for those 8AM lectures at Mudd. And those afternoon lectures... And the late night homework sessions...<br />
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15. Anyone need new dining chairs?<br />
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16. Pudding is a common dessert in Germany. It's cheap and delicious, so I bought a few packages. Turns out making pudding is more difficult than you think. My first attempt turned out a bit lumpy. I didn't put enough sugar in my second batch. And I burned the third. Seems I can travel alone just fine, but can't make pudding... Hmmm<br />
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17. I was quite amused with the U.S.A. food section at the supermarket in Hamburg. Pop tarts, Easy Cheese, "Pancake Syrup", BBQ sauce, peanut butter. Clearly all of our favorite health foods.</div>
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18. Labskaus! A Northern Germany culinary specialty! Potatoes mixed with corned beef, onions, and beets. Served with an egg and a fish. Delicious!<br />
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19. Random act of kindness. A nice woman gave me her day ticket for the U-bahn on my last day in Hamburg. Totally made my day!<br />
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I'm in Denmark now! Ready for more exploring and learning. Still amazed and thankful for God's daily provisions as I continue this adventure. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-67333531504720525152014-03-15T14:38:00.000-07:002014-03-15T14:38:05.256-07:00Laufclub 21<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This weekend a very special race is happening in a small town near Nuremberg, Germany. This race is a marathon organized by Laufclub 21 (Running Club 21), a running club for athletes with Down Syndrome and other special needs. The club was started in 2007 by a passionate and dedicated mother of a young boy with Down Syndrome. She was inspired by the story of a man with Down Syndrome who completed a marathon and wanted to give others with special needs the chance to do the same thing! This club advocates full inclusion. The athletes participate in community races, open to participants of all abilities. Interestingly, this is intentionally in contrast to Special Olympics which tends to be a fairly independent athletic entity. </div>
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When I was in Nuremberg, I had the privilege of going on a training walk with a few of the amazing athletes that participate in Laufclub 21. I was amazed at their dedication and totally inspired when I learned that they had each participated in multiple marathons! Wow! I can barely run three miles these days... But I sure got some exercise on this training walk! We walked for 5 hours through some beautiful woods, fields, and neighborhoods outside Nuremberg, at a fairly brisk pace I might add. It was truly a lovely way to spend a Saturday morning!<br />
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<span class="s1">One of the most endearing moments of my time in Germany happened during this walk. </span>We were more than halfway through the walk and I was holding hands with a young man named Steffen for encouragement and stability as we hiked up a hill. I could tell he was quite tired, but I tried to encourage him to keep up with the group and increased my pace slightly. But Steffen wasn't too keen on going any faster. He tapped me on the shoulder and with very clear hand motions said, "Langsam." One word in German and I knew exactly what he meant, "Slow down, Hannah. I don't go any faster. Take it easy." It was great! I couldn't help but smile. So, I chilled out and we chit chatted about Michael Jackson (one of his favorite singers) and our favorite swimming strokes. Finally, at the end of the walk, we could see the parking lot: the finish line! At this point, Steffen threw his arms in the air, "Yay!" He clapped, kissed his fingers and held them to the sky, and then RAN the last 10 meters to the car! I don't know where that energy came from, but it was classic. Steffen was so proud of what he had accomplished and expressed his joy for us all to see. I went home that day full of fresh air, renewed perspective, inspiration, and memories of my time with Steffen that I will never forget. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me and my good buddy, Steffen. He rocks!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The woods. Very peaceful.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The whole group! We had a great time!</td></tr>
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Good luck to everyone running in the marathon tomorrow! I'm cheering for you all from Denmark! </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-39111664041998893942014-03-07T06:45:00.000-08:002014-03-07T06:45:21.847-08:00Groshong's in GermanyMore than a week after my family returned home to Oregon, I am finally sitting down to write about their visit! Whew! The last few weeks have been a whirlwind! Ah, but it was such a delight to have my family with me in Germany. I got some much needed hugs and snuggles from Bailey, had some good chats with my Mom (FaceTime is just not the same...), and enjoyed laughing and making jokes with my Dad.<br />
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I met the weary travelers at the train station in Nuremberg. We managed to find some Dr. Pepper for Bailey and some bratwurst for my Dad. But even with these incentives, I barely kept them awake that first afternoon. Jet lag is the worst, I completely understand.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So good to have these three with me! </td></tr>
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On our first full day together in Nuremberg, I took them on a walk around the former Nazi Party Rally Grounds. While most of the buildings are unfinished (or construction never started), we marveled at the huge scale of the grounds. The cloudy sky, dreary weather, and threatening rain befit the grey buildings and tainted history as well.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Outside the Congress Hall.</td></tr>
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This was our first of many walks for the week... I don't think Bailey knew what she in for. Her initial energy and excitement may have dwindled a bit. But what's the best way to rejuvenate tired legs? Food! We had some traditional Nuremberg sausages and warm potato salad for lunch. After one bite Bailey remarked, "Ah! Now this is real food!" I think she had been a bit confused with the meat, cheese, and bread at the breakfast buffet that morning. Where were the Froot Loops?! Fortunately, she was quite pleased with our lunch choice.<br />
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We snapped some photos at the Nuremberg Castle, which has a great view of the city, a sea of red rooftops. Even though most of the castle was destroyed during WWII and rebuilt, it was still fascinating to learn about the LONG history this castle has in Bavaria (we're talking the 1100's here).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My cute sister is so photogenic!!</td></tr>
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My visitors dropped like flies for a nap that afternoon. I blame jet lag, but it may have also been the delicious pastries we indulged in... Jet lag plus sugar low is a deadly combination. You should know as well that it became a running joke to notice how many bakeries and pastry shops there are in Germany. Carbs on every corner! I'm certainly not complaining!<br />
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And then it was off to Munich! We decided we were the tornado family getting on and off trains. Four clueless people with too many bags who don't speak a lick of German... we felt bad for the poor girl who had to share a compartment with us. I was grateful for the travel buddies though. I did have to adjust a bit to having three other people with me, but it was so fun to share the new sights and experiences with the people I love most.<br />
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Our first day in Munich we took a day trip to visit two castles in the area, both built by Ludwig II of Bavaria. The first castle, Linderhof, was a small hunting estate tucked into the Bavarian Alps. We stepped out of the bus into a winter wonderland! The inside of the castle was excessively ornate and featured a table that lowered down to the kitchen so that Ludwig could eat completely alone, without even an interruption from a servant.<br />
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The second castle we visited, Neuschwanstein, was right out of a fairy tale. In fact, this castle was the inspiration for Disneyland's Sleeping Beauty Castle! We got to go inside, but had to climb a lot of stairs in the process. Bailey looked up at the huge spiral staircase and said with a grin and a hint of sass, "Really!?" This then became her mantra for every long walk or stair climb for the rest of the week.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from Neuschwanstein. Ludwig had to outdo his father's castle, <br />the "little" yellow one on the right.</td></tr>
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Day two in Munich was one for the books. We went to BMW Welt! We sat in all the nice cars and checked out all the motorcycles on display. I would have totally come here by myself, but it was 10 times better with my Dad's commentary on all the neat features in different vehicles and technological developments that have occurred over the years. He enjoyed the castle tours, sure, but he had a whole different level of excitement at this place. :) But seeing the finished products wasn't all we did... we got to take a 2 hour tour of the manufacturing plant!! The efficiency, the quick tooling changes, the quality checks, the robots! In the body shop alone, there are over 800 robots, making it 99% automated. It was incredible! By far the most impressive manufacturing facility I've visited. This engineer was pretty gleeful.<br />
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However, I think the highlight of the day was the special experience that made Bailey gleeful. There was a 1959 Isetta on display on the exhibition floor. If you don't have a clue what this looks like, it's Urkel's car from the show "Family Matters." Remember that show!? Anyway, we noticed a clean cut German man in a suit starting it up. We were content to watch him drive the little car around the show room. But then, guess who got a ride in the cute, blue, bubble car? Check it out!<br />
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We topped off the day with a walk around the Olympic Grounds from the 1972 Munich Olympics. Right as I commented how cool it would be to see the swimming pool we saw the Schwimmhalle ahead! It was awesome. Just imagine the energy in the place with all the best athletes in the world walking the grounds and making history in beautiful facilities. And how cool would it be to live in a city that hosted the olympics? Kids get to take swimming lessons in a state-of-the art pool where olympic athletes once raced. That's a few steps up from the old Oregon City Pool where I lifeguarded, taught swimming lessons, and competed... Anyway, we got some swim caps from the small shop at the pool. Best souvenir ever!<br />
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Despite some cold weather, we saw a lot more sights in Munich. My Dad aptly commented, "There's something to take a picture of on every corner of this city". Lots of churches, cool old buildings, palaces. Oh and we ate plenty of delicious food. Probably enough sausages to last a lifetime.<br />
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Before leaving Munich, we made it out to Dachau Concentration Camp. A heavy and intense visit to be sure. Bailey certainly sensed the seriousness of the place and didn't like talking about it much afterward. I have read so many books about WWII and the atrocities that took place. But this visit made those stories and images real in a whole different way. Conversely though, the particular day we visited, the weather was eerily pleasant. The sun was shining and the birds were chirping, an atmosphere which contrasted sharply with what we were learning about the place. This dichotomy was difficult to comprehend.<br />
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Our time in Munich had come to an end and we made our way to Heidelberg. (Again, we were the tornado family on the train.) Apparently this is the town all U.S. tourists visit. In the words of one German we talked to "there's just some ruins of a castle there." Well, we don't get to see castle ruins everyday in the Oregon! Heidelberg proved to be a quaint and relaxing town. Just what we needed at the end of our trip.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the castle! </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful grounds overlooking the river. </td></tr>
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Besides the castle visit, the other highlight of Heidelberg was the Philosopher's Way. This is a unique walk that first takes you up the hillside on a cobblestone path with stone walls on either side, then meanders along above the river with beautiful views of the city and the castle. Bailey dragged her feet a bit and about halfway through my Dad said, "I'm about done philosophizing." But my Mom and I totally loved it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think she would have preferred riding the Isetta up the hill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Heidelberg and the Neckar River</td></tr>
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This was really the vacation of a lifetime for our family. And I am so thankful I got to share a bit of my adventure. I needed an interruption in my usual aloneness. But to be perfectly honest, traveling with four people is A LOT more complicated than going solo. :)<br />
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It was certainly hard to say goodbye. Bailey was convinced I needed a travel buddy and that she would be willing to take on that role. But alas, we had to part ways. I am so grateful for the memories we made together!!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-73622737078969729452014-02-13T06:40:00.001-08:002014-02-13T06:40:16.148-08:00Great ExpectationsWhen I first chose the countries I would visit for this project, I wanted a good variety. I looked for places that would provide exposure to different cultures, different political systems, different attitudes. Well, I don't know that I could have picked three countries as different as Japan, Jordan, and Germany. Project-wise, Germany has been fascinating so far. But as you might imagine it's been quite different from my previous destinations.<br />
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One of the first things I did here in Nuremberg was visit the Down Syndrome Info Center. And it has proved to be the largest, most extensive Down Syndrome organization I have visited thus far. I received a very warm welcome, as I have in every country, and was introduced to all the services the info center provides. The organization started about 25 years ago and offers information and services for people with Down Syndrome of all ages. For example, they have a sort of clinic about once a month where parents of babies with Down Syndrome can bring their child and talk to all sorts of specialists under one roof. They meet with occupational therapists and doctors, talk with speech therapists, and get advice from other parents. What a great support system! Then, for adults with Down Syndrome, the organization offers numerous classes through a program called DS Akademie. These classes are a great way for people to interact and continue learning after they've finished school.<br />
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I was able to attend a fantastic weekly yoga class offered through DS Akademie. I'm not too experienced with yoga, so a class with adults with special needs is really right at my level. It was extremely well structured for people with Down Syndrome. The teacher took time at the beginning of the class to discuss concentration and other important aspects of yoga. There was a lot of repetition throughout the class, which is great to ingrain the moves. And rather than only ending the class with relaxation, these activities were interspersed throughout the class. They were especially welcome after the difficult poses... I really should work on my flexibility.<br />
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Also offered through the DS Akademie was an afternoon seminar: Sonne, Mond, und Sterne (Sun, Moon, and Stars). A parent of a boy with Down Syndrome volunteered his time and expertise in astronomy for this seminar. 11 students attended this seminar and while there were certainly some yawns throughout, I was sincerely impressed with their engagement and participation in the lecture. I had to laugh, before the seminar began, the teacher asked them if anyone could speak English. Most everyone responded, "Yes!" This is especially amusing because if you were to ask Bailey if she speaks Spanish, she would certainly respond, "Si!" Too cute.<br />
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The purpose of these seminars is really to provide further learning opportunities. Similar to the United States, kids with special needs in Germany are taught some basic academics, but academic lessons quickly give way to life skills lessons in many cases. There is no reason academic lessons should stop. Not only was the content of the Sun, Moon, and Stars seminar interesting and appropriate for the audience, it was a great opportunity for the students to practice good classroom behavior, interact with their peers, and participate in discussions.<br />
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Another thing I was impressed with is the publication that the Down Syndrome info center sends out three times a year. It is a very well-done magazine that goes to people all over the world. There are a variety of articles from inspiring personal stories to informative medical news on many different topics. I got to spend some time packing the magazines to be sent out with other loyal volunteers, mostly mothers of kids with Down Syndrome. Also helping out was a young woman with Down Syndrome named, Youstina. She works full time at the info center helping out in a number of different capacities. After my first visit to the info center, I got to ride the train back home with Youstina. She's taking an English class so we chit chatted about our siblings and Lady Gaga. What fun!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another sweet new friend, Youstina.</td></tr>
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So far, I have noticed that there are high expectations for people with special needs in Germany. In Japan and Jordan, I certainly met individuals who had high expectations for their children or even for the special needs community as a whole. But in Germany, high expectations are more widespread, from parents to community members to the government. For example, the seminar I attended through DS Akademie was held on a Saturday because it is expected that adults with disabilities will have a full time job during the week. Likewise, I have heard of more people with special needs who live on their own or in a group home than anywhere I've been so far. These opportunities are made possible because of high expectations for people with disabilities and these expectations will continue to translate into forward progress. <br />
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One last thing, I want to share a video with those of you interested. This past December, some people put together a campaign for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities that featured disabled mannequins modeling the latest fashions in a storefront in Zurich, Switzerland (a place known for its upscale shopping district). A friend posted it on Facebook just after I returned from a quick weekend trip to Zurich! The video is awesome, <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8umFV69fNg" target="_blank">check it out here</a>.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-45321827463624783612014-02-01T13:14:00.000-08:002014-02-01T13:14:16.055-08:00First ImpressionsAs some of you know and I mentioned briefly in one of my last posts, I was a bit of a mess when I left Jordan. I was a big ball of anxiety my last week there in anticipation of uprooting myself once again. I can't tell you why. I wasn't this nervous when I went to Jordan (although that would have made more sense). I worried about my luggage arriving with me and finding the hostel and securing a more permanent place to stay... I even found myself lamenting the fact that I would have to figure out trains and subways again. "But taxis are just so easy," I whined. Wait, what did I just say?? Yep, I was a mess. But this was especially difficult because I had to leave a place I really loved. Every day, every little interaction, every conversation gave me a small glimpse into the country and the complexities of the Middle East. It was fascinating and I didn't feel like I was done learning.<br />
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But alas, my visa was about to expire, I had a plane ticket, and I had to follow through with my plan to travel to Germany. But as you can imagine. I had NOTHING to worry about. Everything went incredibly smooth upon arrival. I figured out the subway system, found my hostel, and ended up at a lovely cafe for some coffee and a pastry. After two hours, I liked Europe already.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was the first picture I took after emerging form the subway, <br />the quaint little square in Nuremberg.</td></tr>
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I am finding it very refreshing to be in a smaller city. Nuremberg (population 500,000) is noticeably smaller than Amman (population 2 million), and well everything is small compared to Tokyo. Nuremberg doesn't feel crowded or chaotic at all. And I have to say that, as much as I miss Jordan, the hostel I stayed in when I first arrived in Germany was nicer than my apartment in Jordan. And the shower...utterly luxurious. Good indoor heating is also nice. Oh and no stares or catcalls from men! A definite positive! In fact, I am quite a bit more anonymous here in Germany. For the first time in about six months, I don't look foreign. Of course, this does mean people start talking to me in German, assuming I understand...<br />
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So, just like Jordan was the opposite of Japan, Germany is equally quite different from Jordan. No honking horns, no constant cigarette smoke, and instead of the prayer call echoing through the city it's the sound of church bells.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Lorenzkirche</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St. Lorenzkirche</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view from my hostel, up on a hill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't get enough of the cobblestone. This is the square in Lauf.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I love my walks along the Pegnitz River. </td></tr>
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I've been at this Watson Adventure for about six months now. If you're thinking that the new experiences might be dwindling, well you couldn't be more wrong. Sure, not all new experiences are as dramatic as riding in a taxi through the chaotic streets of Amman... No, this week I had a much less thrilling, but nonetheless amusing new experience that I thought I would share.<br />
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I decided to treat myself and have breakfast at cafe that I had been wanting to try. They didn't have an English menu so I wasn't sure what all I ordered, but the waitress brought me a nice selection of breads and jams and a cup of coffee. Perfect! I settled down to people watch and sip my coffee when the waitress brought me one more thing... a nice soft boiled egg in a cute little cup. At that moment, I literally chuckled out loud. An egg served like this was something I'd only see in movies in the vain of Pride and Prejudice. I had absolutely no idea how to eat such a thing! It just sat there in front of me, a new experience I was not anticipating for my morning. So, I did what any person with a data plan on their cell phone would do and I googled it. Yep, right there in the cafe I googled "how to eat a soft boiled egg." I read a few marginally helpful articles, looked at some pictures, and decided to just go for it. I lightly cracked the egg on the top with my spoon, definitely something I saw in a movie, and then just ended up peeling the shell halfway down. So far so good, but who knows if those around me were scoffing at my poor etiquette. It seemed ready to eat! So I took my spoon and scooped off the top, but I wasn't expecting the soft boiled egg to be so...soft. My spoonful of egg white slide right off my spoon onto the table and the yolk oozed down the side of the still intact part of the egg shell. Again, I couldn't help but smile to myself. I recovered from the spill and managed to eat what remained. It was delicious! But there you have it, proof that the new experiences just keep coming in all shapes and sizes. :)<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-71408902163354559832014-01-22T08:10:00.000-08:002014-01-22T08:10:46.098-08:00Bringing in the New YearBefore January ends, I want to write briefly about the unforgettable New Year I had back in Jordan. I promise my next post will be about Germany, but my last couple weeks in Jordan were a whirlwind of last minute sightseeing, project work, and emotions. I have decompressed since and would love to share this last Middle East adventure!<br />
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On New Year's Eve, a good friend and I took the bus from Amman to Aqaba, a coastal city in Southern Jordan on the Red Sea. Aqaba (and the Red Sea in general) is known for being a great snorkeling and diving site. Upon arrival, Catriona and I immediately rented snorkel gear and wetsuits and headed for the water. Like everything else in Jordan, this experience totally exceeded my expectations! No more than 10 meters from the beach, I felt like I was transported into <i>Finding Nemo</i>! The fish were exquisite, the plant life was unbelievable. It was just incredible.<br />
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While we could have explored for hours, it was a bit chilly. We warmed up and walked along the beach, watching the sunset and marveling at the fact that we could see Israel and Egypt across the water. Even more interesting was the signpost near our hostel that read "10km to Saudi Arabia". A nice little reminder of where I was in the world.<br />
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That night, we ate the most delicious fresh, grilled fish ever. I hadn't had fish since Japan and this was a welcome change from lentils and pita bread. I think the only thing Catriona and I could talk about during dinner was how good the fish was. Ok, now my mouth is watering, excuse me while I go get a snack... :)<br />
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The next day (New Year's Day), my travel buddy had to head back to Amman. But I traveled to Wadi Rum for a one day/one night tour of the desert. A whole group of us bobbed around in the back of jeeps and pickups as our Bedouin guides showed us the sights. Here are some of the highlights:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Met this guy when I first arrived.</td></tr>
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This was the first of many rock scrambles/ hikes/ climbs for the day, to what used to be a spring. I didn't see any water, but was greeted instead by some goats!<br />
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This was my ride for the day. The sun was out and it warmed my cold bones. </div>
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Next, we went to this HUGE sand dune. One of the guides gave me his board...I attempting to stay standing, but it was much more fun to just sit and slide down. Also, I unknowingly brought a bunch of red sand with me to Germany. I am still dumping it out of my shoes and finding it in my bag. Oops.</div>
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Here are some ancient camel hieroglyphs! I'm only partially convinced that these are ancient... Come on, how easy would it be for people to just add some nice carvings into the rock...? Just kidding. I'm sure they're legit. ;)</div>
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Our lunch spot. The most "in the middle of nowhere" I think I've ever been. We gathered some kindling for a small fire so we could have hot tea. I was glad I got to have more Bedouin whiskey before I left Jordan.<br />
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The afternoon was filled with more hiking, the supposed site of Lawrence's house (Lawrence of Arabia), interesting trees, and a climb up to a rock bridge that ensured I exceeded my adrenaline limit for the day.<br />
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Yep, that's me up there on the bridge... Now, I'm not afraid of heights, but I am quite cautious. I was acutely aware of the fact that one wrong move of my weary legs could be detrimental... Let's just say I was glad to be back solidly on the ground after this climb. This whole day also made think about how we really can't do stuff like this in the U.S. Tour companies or parks would be way to concerned about liability issues. You'd have to sign some kind of extensive waiver and follow all the rules. My tour guide/jeep driver, Ahmad, didn't seem to concerned about safety, just that we have a good time.<br />
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We watched the sunset, with more hot tea, before heading back to the camp for a delicious meal and chatting around the fire. When I got up from the fire to head to bed, I happened to look up at the sky. What I saw literally took my breath away. I have NEVER in my life seen so many stars. Despite the cold, I wandered a little way outside the camp in the pitch dark, laid down with a rock as a pillow, and just took it all in. I had spent the day marveling at God's creation, but being underneath that blanket of stars, I couldn't help but pray and sing praises to Him.<br />
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I can understand how the Israelites might have complained a bit after 40 years of wandering around in the desert. But you know what, I would quite like to wander around Wadi Rum for a few weeks, eating manna and exploring the vastness. One day just wasn't enough. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-42627337152357439732014-01-16T11:53:00.000-08:002014-01-16T11:53:05.866-08:00Three Little Sheep and Other Tidbits<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The holidays were a rough time. I found it was a time when I wanted/needed to talk to people from home most, but those people were busy traveling home or waist-deep in holiday preparations. I did end up having a fabulous Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with lots of really wonderful people, but something else that cheered me up significantly was a visit to the Center of Hope for Special Education. </div>
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Just before Christmas, a group of young adults with special needs at this organization put on a small production of the Christmas story. My friend, Veronika, and I had the extreme privilege of watching a rehearsal of the play a few days before all the family, friends, and members of the community were invited to watch. The play was narrated by one of the teachers, but the students did an excellent job repeating their lines, entering at the designated time, and knowing their places throughout the performance. It was awesome!<br />
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I think my favorite part was the three little sheep who accompanied the shepherds to go see baby Jesus. And I also enjoyed the star that the wise men followed. :)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBy21e_3EqdJ5GT8MVIJjiF6uq35jCZ0pu4JB62k6G1X78eaUFqmv07dDpAGFs8VqZV6F1UDNnQDKtZgYraKB-9hcrTz1E-ZQjnB_-eypHd6B8v1_cKg9wlwzHRJEBrra7aMgaMPPCJQ/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoBy21e_3EqdJ5GT8MVIJjiF6uq35jCZ0pu4JB62k6G1X78eaUFqmv07dDpAGFs8VqZV6F1UDNnQDKtZgYraKB-9hcrTz1E-ZQjnB_-eypHd6B8v1_cKg9wlwzHRJEBrra7aMgaMPPCJQ/s1600/IMG_2848.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mary and Joseph awaiting their visitors.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks04nisKVZe__J-Sgly9WQCz8yEYDFu9d7XgzAs_G9X_fg2x0m5xgsOPC3O5JwZFwQvmKhMONJ1Gt6AHOPQ9p9NA7MkKf46wvRKzdKYMv6FC5kxRCe15wSV0GZykbEU3QgrQI2YNon6o/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks04nisKVZe__J-Sgly9WQCz8yEYDFu9d7XgzAs_G9X_fg2x0m5xgsOPC3O5JwZFwQvmKhMONJ1Gt6AHOPQ9p9NA7MkKf46wvRKzdKYMv6FC5kxRCe15wSV0GZykbEU3QgrQI2YNon6o/s1600/IMG_2846.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three sheep.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrE62MbaGyhyxVy2nM8haVwJuDdPB-9KPaT3T8KsnyfVQLKzX2GHAw2PwRSSAaV23S6pm5SbxKk_c3_2rShauAcMjqfY1qlHjteiXAJDxB_N2i5Ao4X0sH52yB_9AhE1Y5ibDM0I7gUM/s1600/IMG_2852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwrE62MbaGyhyxVy2nM8haVwJuDdPB-9KPaT3T8KsnyfVQLKzX2GHAw2PwRSSAaV23S6pm5SbxKk_c3_2rShauAcMjqfY1qlHjteiXAJDxB_N2i5Ao4X0sH52yB_9AhE1Y5ibDM0I7gUM/s1600/IMG_2852.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can't miss the star!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDycKQQGQIl7wirXN2EXNg6-u6A6GZyqc4FT627EqPueUlyB0vuSCSW8VCyKUOgrerxPfz-C5RjXWV7JbAbjy66P6nGtnyEQ1O1m1UJUStx9NswjDhs7sutMfQc4zHBGTzlz4Mc4EF1o/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfDycKQQGQIl7wirXN2EXNg6-u6A6GZyqc4FT627EqPueUlyB0vuSCSW8VCyKUOgrerxPfz-C5RjXWV7JbAbjy66P6nGtnyEQ1O1m1UJUStx9NswjDhs7sutMfQc4zHBGTzlz4Mc4EF1o/s1600/IMG_2853.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone has arrived!</td></tr>
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This organization is a kind of school for young adults with intellectual disabilities and it serves a low income part of Amman. They provide academic lessons as well as some life skills training. I was so impressed with how involved each student was in the play and the rest of the daily activities. The atmosphere was welcoming and calm and each student worked diligently.<br />
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I was also impressed with some of the things the organization has created themselves to promote learning. Take this cool map of Jordan for instance:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM_Uj2hHKPtMVx3DnvBaUodePK6jsr1ZXVV-ZGuAPXjJ8XEsxW77yVhnP1d2_KUjwyRLLBRKNT95vdXyah2rg2t0Lzip9BctVu9FTPYrjrnEMTNAEmgsRjXzqe8AUmM-V3NEG6kwI4k4/s1600/IMG_2858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEM_Uj2hHKPtMVx3DnvBaUodePK6jsr1ZXVV-ZGuAPXjJ8XEsxW77yVhnP1d2_KUjwyRLLBRKNT95vdXyah2rg2t0Lzip9BctVu9FTPYrjrnEMTNAEmgsRjXzqe8AUmM-V3NEG6kwI4k4/s1600/IMG_2858.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Different cities and points of interest have a corresponding LED light on the map. Students can press one of the buttons on the red panel on the right and see it light up on the map. Cool! (Or maybe I just really like maps...) It's this kind of creativity that I like to see when I visit different places.<br />
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There are a few other tidbits of information I want to share about the portrait of disability provisions in Jordan:<br />
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As for the policy side of things, I learned that government involvement is quite complex. There are four main government entities that have some sort of influence on the special needs community: Ministry of Social Development, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, and the Higher Council for Person's with Disabilities. While there are sufficient laws and policies in place, there doesn't seem to be much implementation oversight and there is very little standard procedure for dealing with particular issues. I heard numerous stories about well-meaning people sent on a wild goose chase to various ministries in order to get the right information or paperwork filled out. Frustrating, to say the least.<br />
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Interestingly, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which has a strong presence in Jordan, is currently working with the government and other organizations to make improvements. JICA regularly sponsors trips for Jordanian individuals working in the special needs community to learn about how things are done in Japan. (At a parent support meeting I attended in Jordan, I heard from a woman who had just returned from a trip to Japan. I was pleasantly surprised to hear that her generalizations about the situation in Japan were similar to my own!) In addition, JICA is sending an individual to work in the Ministry of Labor this year. Her goal is to help integrate people with special needs into the work force. While I do admire this goal, getting another government ministry involved will certainly add complexity.<br />
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Finally, I want to comment on the wide use of social media in Jordan. I found that most communication happens through social media. Nearly every organization I visited has a Facebook page, often their only web presence (no accompanying website). Parents and other inquirers use this as the main way to contact the Jordan Down Syndrome Society, for example. Also, the parent of a child with Autism started the Twitter account AutismJO, which now has more than 500 followers. For people in Jordan, social media is helping organizations be part of the community at home and around the globe as pictures are shared and connections are made.<br />
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Well, there is lots more to tell, so feel free to ask me about it sometime! I certainly can't write everything here, but I look forward to sharing more with interested people in the future!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-42398665393629506422014-01-10T08:35:00.000-08:002014-01-10T08:35:02.076-08:00Facebook Posts from Jordan<div class="p1">
Since my Facebook posts from Japan were so popular, I thought I had better compile a list for Jordan as well. Here's a glimpse into my everyday life and some random thoughts from the last three months!<br />
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1. Emirates is my new favorite airline. I highly recommend it.<br />
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2. Comment from my mom as I flew red-eye from Tokyo to Amman: "We get two sleeps before you even get one." Time change is weird.<br />
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3. I am finding it difficult to refrain from doing the peace sign in pictures now...</div>
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4. I thought I was getting more confident and becoming a real traveler, but then I met some people at the hostel in Jordan... I'm still a newbie for sure. There are some intense travelers out there.<br />
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5. I'm juggling like 6 different time zones at this point. I feel so smart and well-connected.<br />
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6. The Abdali Flea Market is a sensory overload and a gold mine for cheap clothes. I love it!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2D7GsJ6ScixqBYjrlAn3BXMUquIbVg8SmXBIPrgM7UT287_WONI4ZcqA83CRXrZMSH8JHpixItmf05vgKPnpu1m4FcaD0qX9KzCLM81L5cq6r65N3QXfneiNV2tMaAb35E8KzcngHQ-Q/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2D7GsJ6ScixqBYjrlAn3BXMUquIbVg8SmXBIPrgM7UT287_WONI4ZcqA83CRXrZMSH8JHpixItmf05vgKPnpu1m4FcaD0qX9KzCLM81L5cq6r65N3QXfneiNV2tMaAb35E8KzcngHQ-Q/s1600/IMG_2275.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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7. How the first Watson Fellows survived without google maps is a mystery to me. Even in a country where addresses are a new phenomenon, google maps is invaluable.<br />
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8. May have just purchased an album of 55 Arabic Pop Hits. Get ready friends, DJ Hannah has all kinds of new material.<br />
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9. One of my favorite things to do in a new country is figure out my go-to snack foods.<br />
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10. Love me a Jordanian sunset. #palmtreesillouette<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKA9IL8CJ9PaLyzpwYUJgtv0JYw0okWhWrFBVurMVKHHXo10iMmtO9Yf2L__KlN4_F3Q_BcwNiUgZHyqw2heHdGqcCQJNL3corlRRBY0LVDp7ux3cO2-bt0uLWBzbgE9AwuT_h9mNvNk/s1600/IMG_2695.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJKA9IL8CJ9PaLyzpwYUJgtv0JYw0okWhWrFBVurMVKHHXo10iMmtO9Yf2L__KlN4_F3Q_BcwNiUgZHyqw2heHdGqcCQJNL3corlRRBY0LVDp7ux3cO2-bt0uLWBzbgE9AwuT_h9mNvNk/s1600/IMG_2695.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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11. Hannah's oatmeal Japanese style: with milk and bananas. Hannah's oatmeal Jordan style: with yogurt and honey.<br />
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12. Walked to the store to buy pita bread and hummus, only to hear Call Me Maybe playing over the loudspeaker in the store. Kinda killed my Middle East vibe.<br />
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13. One stop shopping for all your smoking needs.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl3czz2SKxBroI2M3oK1EZIfw2NNnEJxS6x307CtnEuVosLtymgSnW7GFpZQwaHQ6VLjIPYGnesXZFT2F8CqTcUUYMqDsdJbbl1Xpt0AP120fO7Z1Xg65nJA9Mn4cZFp2EiggVUhBp5o/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFl3czz2SKxBroI2M3oK1EZIfw2NNnEJxS6x307CtnEuVosLtymgSnW7GFpZQwaHQ6VLjIPYGnesXZFT2F8CqTcUUYMqDsdJbbl1Xpt0AP120fO7Z1Xg65nJA9Mn4cZFp2EiggVUhBp5o/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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14. Totally startled when a little kid shot off a pop gun as I walked past. He laughed at me. haha<br />
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15. Snacks for the bus ride home from Petra. These'll go straight to my hips.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGahsfANz_UWAa3dPobBY5h0YiHY6wwVfTN_4tBtH_Fvo-AJa7__ahBc7ks9RKb8xeM_GagWe3p8m83sPBIZGtqr_WX7AFUvKqoacfNORlGR_Ucb6BTN-UEYX15awaOtG1rB3LN1odJI/s1600/IMG_2685.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIGahsfANz_UWAa3dPobBY5h0YiHY6wwVfTN_4tBtH_Fvo-AJa7__ahBc7ks9RKb8xeM_GagWe3p8m83sPBIZGtqr_WX7AFUvKqoacfNORlGR_Ucb6BTN-UEYX15awaOtG1rB3LN1odJI/s1600/IMG_2685.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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16. A taxi driver insisted that at 22 I should be married with two babies. Guess I'm a bit behind...<br />
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17. Amman is a MESS before and after a futbol match. The streets are chaos with honking cars decked out in Jordanian flags sitting in stalled traffic. Kids are let out early from school in anticipation of the traffic. And I could basically watch the entire game on my walk home going past all the packed out cafes with big screen TVs.<br />
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18. Saw Hunger games with these lovely ladies!! Complete with Arabic and French subtitles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi4inmcX7sye9LHUsvNTPMiE4dHZkTdC2mLy5c4VRHjD5tQaR9t-O3mlArDnHbmJNkBJGEo-UoItmBGRG9xtiJf-NSlTWe4SdSZzZNinz8mONbTBwLGw9PAhJqRB4gIyG-_bxcveEzdw/s1600/IMG_2688.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKi4inmcX7sye9LHUsvNTPMiE4dHZkTdC2mLy5c4VRHjD5tQaR9t-O3mlArDnHbmJNkBJGEo-UoItmBGRG9xtiJf-NSlTWe4SdSZzZNinz8mONbTBwLGw9PAhJqRB4gIyG-_bxcveEzdw/s1600/IMG_2688.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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19. There is a huge difference in street harassment when I walk with a guy than when I walk alone or with another girl.<br />
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20. Plastic palm tree. At least it doesn't need water?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNU8xOkmtH-JLKXQJr3j7pP1HOSDZWa0YHNWg-3vzFqyfJGoTO4A9F3zjjc0kzQAoYZE2TpgUmyidtb9ZQv3PPB6YB0xGk1filrrmoBDmgElzoRAIt2VnnxxTyQhh1lVUoJlRu-8K0wo/s1600/IMG_2748.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgNU8xOkmtH-JLKXQJr3j7pP1HOSDZWa0YHNWg-3vzFqyfJGoTO4A9F3zjjc0kzQAoYZE2TpgUmyidtb9ZQv3PPB6YB0xGk1filrrmoBDmgElzoRAIt2VnnxxTyQhh1lVUoJlRu-8K0wo/s1600/IMG_2748.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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21. I don't remember the last time I had hot chocolate. Cafe Strada for the win.<br />
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22. I actually used a cross walk today. That's a first.<br />
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23. Saw sowers sowing seeds!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tRgP2cioYv-lzUl9FCv4KuJs51KDHFvoBetazTGMj3Eks1UrbsakpP0JbpAC-z0gvUXBW_TK97jtoMashzCzv9G62VLMc8Nd9XbMzT-wUqjVwcgSLYa1v5CLAiGbNYKCUmF_tva69yk/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7tRgP2cioYv-lzUl9FCv4KuJs51KDHFvoBetazTGMj3Eks1UrbsakpP0JbpAC-z0gvUXBW_TK97jtoMashzCzv9G62VLMc8Nd9XbMzT-wUqjVwcgSLYa1v5CLAiGbNYKCUmF_tva69yk/s1600/IMG_2875.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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24. I bought apples from Washington! They traveled a long way!<br />
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25. In a taxi on my way home one evening, stopped at a light and the driver starts honking... This is typical, but the light is clearly red so I was confused. Then a man appeared at the driver's window selling a hot cup of coffee! Quite the entrepreneur on these cold winter nights!<br />
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26. Pita bread, figs, bell peppers, Arabic coffee, falafel, hummus. These are a few of my favorite things!<br />
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27. Not a big fan of tile floors. My feet are cold.<br />
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28. After much pondering, I do think I prefer the cold here in Jordan to the heat and humidity in Japan.<br />
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29. I need a snuggie.<br />
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30. Any guess on what this is? There used to be two of them sitting on the street too... #disappearingact #whatisit #hopeitdoesntexplode<br />
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31. Best Christmas tree ever. With real candles too!<br />
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32. I was convinced there were ice cream trucks all over the city because I always heard these loud jingles coming from trucks on the street. Come to find out... gas can delivery isn't exactly ice cream...<br />
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33. Practicing patience and pomelo peeling.<br />
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34. So thankful for Facetime! I love my family.<br />
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To be honest, while I am certainly excited to see what adventures lie ahead for me in Germany, I am quite sad to leave Jordan. It has been an amazing three months and the country totally exceeded my expectations. I have met so many wonderful people here and the sightseeing was incredible. Jordan, I hope to see you again someday!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-68505130088038524632013-12-22T10:57:00.000-08:002013-12-22T10:57:08.106-08:00Two Ends of the Spectrum<div class="p1">
<span class="s1">As many of you may have noticed, I haven’t written a project update in quite some time. And I assure you it’s not because I have been slacking off and partying all the time. The truth is, project updates are hard. It’s much easier to write about my touristy adventures, show nice pictures, and tell funny stories about daily life in Amman. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">The picture of disability provisions in Jordan is complex. There are strong religious, political, and social influences at work. I have so many different thoughts going through my head at any given moment, trying to make sense of everything I hear from people and observe firsthand. There’s also the problem solver at work within me, trying to unravel the intricate web of influences and figure out how to improve the situation for people with disabilities in Jordan. And again, as I mentioned in my last project post, I want to portray everything honestly without making harsh or negative generalizations about the situation here. See? Project updates are hard!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">But I’m not one to be too intimidated by challenges. I mean, I am alone in Jordan for goodness sake, you’d think I would be able to write a silly blog post. So I’ll do my best! What I want to illustrate in this post is the broad range of provisions available for people with disabilities. There are definitely two extremes, two ends of the spectrum.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">First extreme. I’ve spent some time with an organization called Al Masar located in West Amman. Something I’ve learned is that West Amman is by far the more affluent part of the city. I live in West Amman, nearly all expats do. However, East Amman is quite different. I’ve heard it said that you have to have a reason to go to East Amman. There aren’t any destinations per say. This being said, provisions for people with disabilities are typically better in West Amman. Then among all the organizations in West Amman, I could say that Al Masar is probably the best. This gives you an idea of just how extreme we’re talking here. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Al Masar is a private center that was started as a place where all services for kids with disabilities could be offered under the same roof. They have speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, early intervention for kids under the age of 5, and a school for kids over the age of 5. Very comprehensive! They offer amazing services, but unfortunately this high quality is quite expensive. Families pay top dollar for their kids to be able to attend the school at Al Masar or receive weekly therapy sessions. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Over the past few weeks, before the snow hit and we were all housebound, I helped out in Al Masar’s class for kids around age 14 to 21. This class is very similar to the class Bailey attends! They focus mostly on life skills. The teachers do some functional academics like money and time. In addition, they do vocational training which tend to be hands on, practical activities. For example, one day I was there, they were making an olive mixture and putting it into jars to sell at a bazar. Once a week, the kids have a swimming lesson at Al Masar’s very own pool and another day some of the kids are bused to a small farm for a short session of horseback riding offered through the Princess Alia Foundation.</span></div>
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<span class="s1">The activity I found most interesting though was their weekly trip to a local grocery store where the kids help sort produce. This was one of the first efforts I learned about that aims to get people with disabilities involved in a real job within the community. This grocery store has agreed to partner with Al Masar in this effort and Al Masar is hoping to get more employers involved in the future. It is great to get these kids out of the classroom and into the community doing work that is appropriate for their ability. The work is challenging and stimulating for these kids. At the moment, I wouldn’t say that the situation is perfect, but it truly is a step in the right direction. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Ok, second extreme. Recently I met an amazing woman named Veronika. She is from Germany, but has lived in Amman for a number of years and has essentially dedicated her life to helping Jordan’s disabled community in her own way. I’ve been able to accompany Veronika on her weekly trip to a women’s center in a small village about an hour from Amman. Women come with their daughters who have special needs and Veronika makes sure they have a fun time. Veronika brings along conventional things like memory cards, dice games, and games that help the kids practice colors. But she also has a whole collection of everyday household items that keep the kids entertained and stimulated. We throw handmade knitted balls or toilet paper roll “darts” into a tire...balance round cardboard disks on paper towel rolls...play music with empty cans of different sizes...string colored bottle caps onto wire in different patterns. The possibilities are endless and everyone has a GREAT time! These activities are things the families can do at home too, no big expensive equipment required. This is really the only formal, semi-educational interaction these young women receive during the week. It is so good for them to interact with their peers and participate in stimulating, fun activities. Veronika has high expectations for these girls. She knows they are capable of learning, growing in their confidence, and improving their behavior; a mindset not commonly shared among many people in Jordan. The kids (and their mothers) look forward to seeing her every week. And the weekly trip has become a highlight of my time in Jordan as well!</span></div>
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<span class="s1">So there you have it, two ends of the spectrum. I’m not proposing that one extreme is “better” than another. But I hope this illustrates the definite difference in approach and funding and awareness and expectations in the country. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">One more thing before I close. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">An interesting interaction. Remember the organization, Nour Al Barakah, that offers different activities for adults with disabilities in the evenings? One day a week, local high school kids come to volunteer as well, working in the garden and interacting with the young adults. Well, after one session, I was talking with a woman who helps care for Hiba, a young woman with special needs. She told me, “It is so good for Hiba to interact with the ordinary kids!” To which I responded, “And it is so good for the ordinary kids to interact with Hiba!!” She gave me a quizzical look and said, “Why? Why is it good for ordinary people to interact with people like Hiba?” </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Well, I’ve been preparing my whole life to answer a question like this!! I excitedly explained to her that people with special needs teach us patience. We have to learn to move at a different pace and be flexible, important skills to have. People with special needs help us improve our communication skills as we have to figure out how to use our words in a way that people of different abilities and comprehension will understand. People with special needs also give us a different perspective on life. I know that it was always helpful, when I was waist deep in Harvey Mudd chaos, to call home and hear Bailey’s joy that her favorite contestant on American Idol made it to the next round. Bailey and others like her bring a certain joy and simplicity that us “ordinary” folks tend to miss. </span></div>
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<span class="s1">Fortunately, the woman I was speaking with was very receptive. She seemed to appreciate and understand my response. I was overjoyed that I had the opportunity to share this and hopefully change her mindset on special needs issues for the better. Her attitude is not all that uncommon in Jordan so I’m certainly trying to do my part to raise awareness while I'm here! </span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-42705428702632493262013-12-16T11:41:00.001-08:002013-12-16T11:46:24.072-08:00Some Serious SnowThe snow storm that hit the Middle East this past week was historic. It was the biggest snowfall the region has gotten in decades! I figure the experience deserves proper documentation. I watched the snow accumulate from my little apartment as I drank tea and layered on the socks. Check out how the landscape changed over the course of three days!<br />
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Before things got too bad I went to the tiny store around the corner from my apartment building to stock up on food. I made it about two steps outside my building and I was on the ground. I laughed out loud at myself, wondering if anyone had the pleasure of seeing me flail and land on all fours on the slick surface. It had to have been hilarious. </div>
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The morning of Day Three of snow, I woke up early to thunder, lightening, wind, and the morning prayer call. It was wild! Later in the day, after the wind finally died down, I ventured outside to check out the neighborhood in its blanket of beautiful, white snow. I put on nearly all the clothes I own to go outside, I'm still in the process of acquiring warm clothing... Gotta love layers! Here's how things looked at peak snow accumulation. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC10ccTcuYiORs_B5X2mrx5DVh9Rx5ITiIkixvjKJf4zZSYqTdx_M0gcFcVU2fJlqp_qgo2Nd2WpgKMzHu_P7sOLTcV0AAboQqqt3lWwlxZRVv-vLJ01sFkJtxtVkKuJLR6rAjSo13p-w/s1600/IMG_2778.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC10ccTcuYiORs_B5X2mrx5DVh9Rx5ITiIkixvjKJf4zZSYqTdx_M0gcFcVU2fJlqp_qgo2Nd2WpgKMzHu_P7sOLTcV0AAboQqqt3lWwlxZRVv-vLJ01sFkJtxtVkKuJLR6rAjSo13p-w/s400/IMG_2778.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stuck in the snow. </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tiny store around the corner from my apartment. <br />
So glad I was able to replenish my pita bread supply.</td></tr>
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The sun finally came out and the temperature rose on Sunday. And so the great thaw begins.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palm trees! And snow!</td></tr>
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Before I close, while I have the luxury of heat, hot tea, and a solid roof over my head... there a thousands of refugees living in tents in Jordan and other parts of the Middle East. These people are often in my thoughts and I pray that they are cared for with food, warm clothing, blankets, and shelter. The snow has been quite an adventure, but perhaps not so much of a welcome adventure for some. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sunset as the snow slowly melts.</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-19291034618456672932013-12-12T23:54:00.000-08:002013-12-13T00:02:09.789-08:00I'm Just So Thankful!<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise Him!</i></div>
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<i>~ </i><i>Psalm 147:1 </i></div>
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I am currently bundled in my little apartment, snowed in for the second day in a row. The snow is pretty pathetic by many standards, but for a city that doesn't handle heavy rainfall very easily, you can imagine things kinda just shut down when it snows. Everyone tends to hunker down and wait it out, trying to stay warm in decidedly drafty, poorly insulated buildings. And this is perfectly ok with me! I've been getting things done, staying cozy, and reflecting on thankfulness.<br />
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As I think about how incredibly thankful I am right now, I remember back to this time last year. I was in the throes of my penultimate semester at Harvey Mudd, overwhelmed with grad school applications, my Watson application, clinic... The future was completely unknown, I was stressed, and honestly I wasn't very thankful. Even the small things, like a delicious vanilla latte from Starbucks, did little to ignite a thankful fire within me. I remember then being frustrated with myself because I wasn't thankful! It's a vicious cycle.<br />
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Well, how things can change in just one year! While a year ago, I wasn't even sure how I would make it to graduation, this year I'm spending the holidays in Jordan! And I couldn't be happier. I just want to share a few of the many things I am thankful for:<br />
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- I'm thankful I'm here in Jordan. I love this country!<br />
- I'm thankful that the transition to Jordan was so smooth and that I found a roommate and an apartment so quickly.<br />
- I'm thankful for how easy it was to get my visa extended so that I can stay for three months.<br />
- I'm thankful for the amazing project connections I have made here. I have met so many interesting and helpful people!<br />
- I'm thankful I found a church family here! And I got to have Thanksgiving with them! It is such a encouragement and a privilege to worship and fellowship with other Christians all over the world.<br />
- I'm thankful that with this church, I get to pray for the people of this region.<br />
- I'm thankful for my friends and family back home who give me so much support and encouragement. Thanks for listening to all my stories!<br />
- I'm thankful for the amazing new friends I am making on this journey.<br />
- I'm thankful for oatmeal pancakes and hot tea.<br />
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And finally, I'm thankful for what I'm learning about being flexible and placing my trust fully in the Lord. I came across these verses a few weeks ago and they have since become my daily prayer.<br />
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<i>Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go, for to You I entrust my life. Rescue me from my enemies, LORD, for I hide myself in You. Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God; may Your good Spirit lead me on level ground.</i></div>
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<i>~ </i><i>Psalm 143: 8-10 </i></div>
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I praise God for my thankful heart and for how He provides for me every single day!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-80629465748136481052013-11-27T13:02:00.002-08:002013-11-27T13:02:58.736-08:00Petra: Utterly Indescribable<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Stop and consider the wondrous works of God.</i></div>
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<i>~ Job 37:14</i></div>
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<i>The earth takes shape like clay under a seal; its features stand out like those of a garment.</i></div>
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<i>~ Job 38:14</i></div>
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I caught a bus at 6:30am last Monday bound for Petra. As I watched the sun rise over sandy, desert hills I was expectant about the adventures I would have and the sights I would see. But over the course of my trip, Petra exceeded my expectations far beyond what I could have imagined. I have procrastinated writing this post because I still find it difficult to put my experience to words. I want so badly to share just how amazing Petra is with all of you, but I fear I will fail miserably if I even try. I will try though! I will try to convey the awe-inspiring nature of the place through a few humble stories and novice pictures. </div>
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Upon arrival I decided to first head to Little Petra which, as the name suggests, is a smaller park with similar rocks and carvings about 20 minutes away from the entrance to Petra. I tried to bargain for a taxi, but they all tried to rip me off. Before forking over the cash, I called Atef from the Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp where I planned on staying to see if he'd be willing to drive me. Sure enough! He was more than willing to be my tour guide! The taxi drivers were not too pleased I took my business elsewhere though. </div>
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Atef dropped me off at Little Petra and it was amazing! Little Petra has a totally different atmosphere than Petra because there aren't as many tourists, thus there aren't as many people trying to sell things to tourists. It was beautiful, peaceful, and above all it was quiet. I can't remember the last time I was in a place that quiet. I had to just stop and listen to the stillness. </div>
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I could have stayed there all day, basking in the quiet, but I had an opposing urge to talk and whistle because the acoustics amongst the rocks were so cool! So I whistled some to myself as I walked along. </div>
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My good buddy Atef picked me up when I was finished exploring Little Petra and then made a suggestion I couldn't pass up. He offered to take me off-roading through the desert to a particular overlook, which he promised would be spectacular. In hindsight, it may not have been too smart of me to go off-roading in the middle of nowhere with a man I had just met... but I made it out alive! No worries! We drove for a while, then got out and hiked a short ways. I huffed and puffed up the mountain, struggling to keep up with my tour guide who was 10 meters ahead of me, wearing sandals, and smoking a cigarette. haha When we reached the top, the view all around me was indeed spectacular. Pictures DO NOT capture the majestic beauty my eyes beheld.</div>
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And the story just keeps getting better! Atef and I walked back to the truck and he headed for the passenger side... he let me drive the truck back to the road! I hadn't been behind the wheel of a car since I left the U.S. It was so fun to rattle through the rocks and sand and herds of goats. Atef really knows how to show the tourists a good time. </div>
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I made it back to the town and did a little browsing through some of the shops. There was a sweet, young Jordanian woman working in one of the shops, which is pretty unusual. I typically only encounter men in the shops, so when I'm alone I tend to keep conversations limited and short. But I got to talking with this woman and after a bit she invited me to stay for coffee. We had a lovely time talking and laughing and learning from each other. </div>
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The next day I had the extreme privilege of meeting up with a group from my home church in Oregon! It just so happened that Athey Creek planned a trip to Israel and Jordan this year! They were only in Petra for one day, but it was a huge blessing to be able to spend time with them. I have to say it was a bit weird to be with a big group though! I'm so used to being on my own all the time! We did the main hike through the Siq (a long and narrow gorge), past the Treasury (made famous by Indiana Jones), and up 800 steps to the Monastery. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Treasury, peeking out through the walls of the Siq.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Treasury and some camels!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMITL-O9_Fm6Q9zSqP5Mk88kNewYLcBHnoz1t8PGln7lIITjr6ifeG-jJIJgoRjWhzrJ3j_4uyhivknS5Ux4aUcEz1QuwjiYpGAKPbijW49ZUJh8ceZA570LT8C_BFZAUc0yiEbqSGx4/s1600/DSC00488.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigMITL-O9_Fm6Q9zSqP5Mk88kNewYLcBHnoz1t8PGln7lIITjr6ifeG-jJIJgoRjWhzrJ3j_4uyhivknS5Ux4aUcEz1QuwjiYpGAKPbijW49ZUJh8ceZA570LT8C_BFZAUc0yiEbqSGx4/s400/DSC00488.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The magnificent Monastery.</td></tr>
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The colors of the sandstone as we walked through the Siq were exquisite. Different shades of pink, grey, and brown (a result of various minerals in the rock) change and glow depending on the light. Coming upon the Treasury for the first time, I was struck by the grandeur of the monument. And you cannot help but be completely impressed by the feat of the Nabatean people who carved the structure into the rock. The hike from the Treasury to the Monastery is arduous to say the least, but it is not without company. Bedouin men on donkeys followed us most of the way up asking if we wanted a ride to the top. Bedouin women have small shops set up along the trail, selling trinkets and jewelry, "No charge for a look." </div>
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Reaching the Monastery was well worth the effort of 800 steps, burning muscles, and the bombardment of donkey ride offers. Once there, the whole group gathered inside the Monastery. We sang a couple worship songs and then Pastor Brett did a brief study on the biblical significance of Petra. It was awesome!</div>
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I parted ways with the Athey group that afternoon and headed to the Seven Wonders Bedouin Camp for the night. I had a relaxing evening sitting around a fire, eating a delicious dinner, and drinking copious amounts of "Bedouin whiskey" also known as sweet tea. Then after an equally delicious breakfast the next morning I headed back to Petra for round two of hiking, sunshine, and people pestering me with donkey ride offers. Even after refusing, twice I was tricked by the line, "Lady, you dropped something... You're smile." Very funny. </div>
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First, I hiked to the High Place of Sacrifice, where I was rewarded with more stunning views in all directions. It was here that I met Sami, a sweet Bedouin girl trying to sell me some necklaces. I used what little Arabic I know to ask her name and how she was doing (although I'm pretty sure she knows way more English than I know Arabic). She was beautiful. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sweet little Sami and her armful of necklaces.</td></tr>
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After a quick snack break, I hiked up another mountain, Jabal Al-Kubtha. A nice Bedouin woman with a CUTE baby pointed me in the right direction. I'm telling you, it's the cute children that entice the tourists to look at the trinkets they are selling. This hike led to a spot on the mountain that overlooked the Treasury from above. Check it out! </div>
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There was a very nice guy with a tent set up at this spot. I would argue he has the best spot in the whole place actually. He offered me some more Bedouin whiskey and I took in the view. It is here that I will pause briefly to implore all of you to be good tourists. I heard numerous stories from the kind Bedouin people I talked to about tourists who were rude and disrespectful. They also know when people feel uncomfortable out of ignorance. I know firsthand how important it is to be safe and cautious, but that doesn't have to come at the price of basic niceties. And sure, at a place like Petra a lot of people are there just trying to sell you things. However, I met some genuinely kind people who merely want to show what an amazing place it is. So the next time you find yourself hiking through Petra and you make it to the top of a mountain and a nice person invites you to sit and rest, be friendly, strike up a conversation, and take it all in. :)</div>
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Now, I could have stayed and basked in the beauty of Petra for hours more, but unfortunately I had to catch a bus. As I came down the mountain, the same woman with the CUTE baby waved to me and asked how I enjoyed the view. I had just enough time to sit and have tea with her and little Lulu. A lovely ending to my incredible trip. I made it back to the bus worn-out and dusty, but full of fresh desert air and experiences I will most certainly cherish for the rest of my life. </div>
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There are many more stories I could tell about this trip, but I'll close with one of my favorite camel pictures. Aren't they great!? </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-36907849970355647972013-11-21T22:31:00.001-08:002013-11-21T22:31:28.178-08:00Alive in the Dead SeaI made it to the lowest point on earth! The Dead Sea! For one final birthday adventure last week, I treated myself to a day of floating and relaxing. It was the best!!<br />
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The sun was out and the water was warm. I waded into the thick, salty water and as it got deeper and deeper, my feet just lifted off the bottom of the sea, unable to touch because of the crazy buoyancy. It's a challenge to stay vertical in the water and pretty soon it just cradled me as I floated effortlessly on the surface. It was wild! </div>
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The extreme saltiness is a natural exfoliant for your skin, so it felt great. But you can go a step further and rub dark, smooth Dead Sea mud all over to leave your skin feeling even softer! Quite an experience!<br />
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As you can see, I opted to wear modest swimming attire by Western standards, but I felt rather immodest compared to the women in FULL coverings swimming next to me. Showing a little skin, something we consider so normal when swimming or hanging out at the beach, is unthinkable to other people. While the full covering seemed a bit cumbersome to me, I was also glad I wasn't one of the few conspicuous tourists in teeny bikinis.<br />
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I thought a lot about Bailey during this fun day. I chuckled out loud thinking about what she would do in the buoyant water. Although, all the flies in the area would have really bugged her. She would totally dig being covered in mud (in fact, when I told her about this detail she was indeed quite jealous). But the party would have been over if she got salt water in her eyes. Bailey's wise comment after I told her all about the Dead Sea, "Maybe you can't drink the water." Good thinking. :)<br />
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Funny story. So the beach I went to has a couple large pools with tables and chairs all around and stunning views of the Dead Sea, as well as the beach access. Anyway, as an ex-lifeguard, I can't go to a public pool without watching and cringing when people do unsafe things. It's a curse. But it was particularly difficult (and amusing) to see the lifeguard, without any kind of life saving device, smoking a cigarette next to the pool as children jumped on top of each other. A little later, he had his hookah pipe next to him too... a bit of a different world.<br />
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I did some reading on the Dead Sea before I went and did you know that the water level is decreasing at a rate of about 1 meter per year? Dams and canals on the Jordan River, which feeds the Dead Sea, have severely reduced the water flow. As you can imagine, water is a huge issue in this region. While it's important to use the Jordan River for drinking water and to irrigate crops, it comes at the cost of a shrinking Dead Sea. However, Jordan and Israel have gotten together to propose the Red Sea - Dead Sea Water Conveyance Project. Broadly speaking, this project intends to convey water from the Red Sea to the Dead Sea for the purpose of maintaining and even re-filling the water levels in the Dead Sea. In addition, the project hopes to incorporate desalinization plants and generate hydropower to provide water and energy to the region. Pretty interesting! Here's a brief overview of the project from the World Bank if you're interested, <a href="http://siteresources.worldbank.org/EXTREDSEADEADSEA/Resources/Overview_RDS_Jan_2013.pdf?&&resourceurlname=Overview_RDS_Jan_2013.pdf" target="_blank">check it out</a>. This project is a huge endeavor and I look forward to following the progress in the coming years.<br />
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Here's a couple more photos before I sign off. Stayed tuned for an update about my trip down to Petra!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Really cool salt patterns on the shore of the Dead Sea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We love the Dead Sea!</td></tr>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-35985509012266891242013-11-15T11:18:00.000-08:002013-11-15T11:18:12.913-08:00The Promised Land<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land- from Gilead to Dan, all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. Then the LORD said to him, "This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob when I said, 'I will give it to your descendants.' I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it." </i></div>
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<i>And Moses the servant of the LORD died there in Moab, as the LORD had said.</i></div>
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<i>~ Deuteronomy 34:1-5</i></div>
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I may not have climbed Mount Nebo like Moses did and it wasn't a particularly clear day like it probably was back in bible times. But looking out over the Promised Land, at the very place that Moses may have walked, was breathtaking. Like much of what I see in the Middle East, the scene that lay before my eyes was unlike anything I've ever seen before. I could sense the vastness of the Holy Land. It is still unbelievable to me that I am in a place with such immense biblical history. Take another look.</div>
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Like I said, I did not climb Mount Nebo, but the story how I did get there is quite comical. (Transportation in Jordan never fails to amuse me.) I was hanging out in the city of Madaba, with Mount Nebo about 10km away. I knew I had to make the trip up, but I really wasn't sure how to get there and get there relatively cheaply. I waited around for a bus at the spot that my only-somewhat-trusty guidebook suggested, but didn't have any luck. As I was about to give up a taxi driver pulls up and asks where I want to go. The same somewhat trusty guidebook said a roundtrip taxi ride would cost about 12-15 dinars. So I asked how much the taxi driver would charge, making sure he understood I wanted a ride up there AND back. As cool as it might have been to camp out on Mount Nebo for the night, I didn't really want to get stranded. Anyway, he only charged me 10 dinars! Perfect! Finally someone who didn't try to rip off the young, foreign, female traveling alone!</div>
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As we got on our way, it became clear that his English consisted of the phrase, "NEBO GOOD!!" Then when he gathered that I was from America, "AMERICA GOOD!!" Complete with a very enthusiastic thumbs-up. At one point, he pulls over and runs into a small grocery store. I am, of course, very confused, but after a minute or two he emerged with a soda for each of us. Wasn't too sure what to think of this one, but I went with it and we enjoyed them as we made our way to Nebo. When we arrived, I got out of the taxi and started to explain that I would be back. "Don't leave without me!!" But the driver got out of the taxi and followed me in! He stopped and chatted with the locals at the gate, allowing me to explore a bit on my own. Then he caught up with me later and pointed out some important sights and took a couple pictures for me. It was sweet! </div>
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Side note: If any of you are getting a bit concerned about friendly taxi drivers I encounter in this country, just know that my danger sense is certainly on high alert. I make sure I don't get into situations I can't get out of, I'm not overly friendly in return, and I do my best to distinguish between friendly and creepy. Prayers for safety and wisdom are always appreciated as well. </div>
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On our way back down the mountain, we blasted some arabic music with the windows down and he tried to convince me to stop at some of the souvenir shops on the side of the road. I told him to take me to the bus station in Madaba, despite his offer to take me all the way back to Amman. "Only 10 dinars!" Always willing to help... for a price. :)</div>
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What else did I do in Madaba? Well, Madaba is known for its ancient mosaics, particularly a 6th century mosaic map of the Holy Land. This map covers the floor of the Church of St. George, which was built over the remains of a 6th century Byzantine church. Here's a part of it, the whole thing wouldn't fit in the picture. </div>
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I also stopped by the Church of St. John the Baptist. This church was also built on some Byzantine ruins which visitors can explore beneath the church. I definitely felt like I was in <i>National Treasure</i>, all I needed was a torch lamp and Nicolas Cage and I'd be set.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXWEcClbQ1lDNt3wM0q4YMAyfQ31QKzVvGdMPTXCR1pti9LI9Gb6MMMBREsO2CSMavtrYCnHfy4cenJ4ykS908MUJDMR6yVllE7j2McXBJjaG3uqK_p1uLeM4FQqRQtAhVfqO6RRkYlU/s1600/IMG_2395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoXWEcClbQ1lDNt3wM0q4YMAyfQ31QKzVvGdMPTXCR1pti9LI9Gb6MMMBREsO2CSMavtrYCnHfy4cenJ4ykS908MUJDMR6yVllE7j2McXBJjaG3uqK_p1uLeM4FQqRQtAhVfqO6RRkYlU/s400/IMG_2395.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My favorite mosaic.</td></tr>
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All in all, it was a great day of sightseeing. NEBO GOOD!!</div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-56511157284943023722013-11-13T03:02:00.000-08:002013-11-13T20:37:20.356-08:00Hey! I Don't Know About You, but I'm Feelin'...23Taylor Swift really needs to come up with a song about being 23. I was at a loss on what song I should have been blasting yesterday ... I'm considering taking matters into my own hands at this point...<br />
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Anyway, this may not be the most exciting of posts, but I'm writing it partially so that I will remember the birthday I celebrated in Jordan and partially so that all of you know that I had a LOVELY day! Mostly, I splurged on delicious food. I had to make up for the fact that my parents couldn't exactly send an edible arrangement like the last few years.<br />
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So, the festivities actually started the night before my birthday! My roommate and I went to the Wild Jordan Cafe for dinner. It was on the list of 99 Things To Do in Amman, so we figured we would check it out! This was the view from our table.<br />
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Couldn't get enough of it. We will definitely be frequenting this place more often. I splurged on their special caramel cappuccino, dinner, and dessert. So fun!!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEW2DqWKeTofHQplTg0xxxgaNfoBrIXlJPwRuOet6I-CZJHqL5kEC5zUniJypnVRzvT9UwK8gCvdGjPZ4h7nbKgjBxcJ82BkdCfdiqWGV-dFN8e5oJwcfhDgosvAKhuphUD3I3aVjb2Yg/s1600/IMG_2450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEW2DqWKeTofHQplTg0xxxgaNfoBrIXlJPwRuOet6I-CZJHqL5kEC5zUniJypnVRzvT9UwK8gCvdGjPZ4h7nbKgjBxcJ82BkdCfdiqWGV-dFN8e5oJwcfhDgosvAKhuphUD3I3aVjb2Yg/s320/IMG_2450.JPG" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNP4FhLqh2GJ2BMIvAdWglwuyoKwS9UeeZ78xcKF1o9oYA9AaqqpSta6I3LpjasPRaOVgUWvJb8gOo85dF1RruTH4RwFdG9c_sSZ9Kscb5aEWhL7A9HJHuLF4tKRl6iIDZuYa_T2FHYU/s1600/IMG_2448.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitNP4FhLqh2GJ2BMIvAdWglwuyoKwS9UeeZ78xcKF1o9oYA9AaqqpSta6I3LpjasPRaOVgUWvJb8gOo85dF1RruTH4RwFdG9c_sSZ9Kscb5aEWhL7A9HJHuLF4tKRl6iIDZuYa_T2FHYU/s320/IMG_2448.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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The next morning, after a FaceTime call with my mom (so thankful for technology!), I set out for my favorite cafe. I treated myself to an expensive coffee, spent some time with Jesus, and got some work done. So relaxing! </div>
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I got a falafel sandwich for lunch and enjoyed it with this view. It was a BEAUTIFUL day!!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_CRezSU04xXbYFIzq1DWVRNppAm-DGrMZ4UDSbJvXSMiYFZDyrCbeYaXVhe_QAQer05otnmGoORJFGc4X0atTw1r5wVEy2doZSA7mZvJ5b2Z2eu1jQrIXR1Vnp8xT5eIPOMANnstOnU/s1600/IMG_2458.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk_CRezSU04xXbYFIzq1DWVRNppAm-DGrMZ4UDSbJvXSMiYFZDyrCbeYaXVhe_QAQer05otnmGoORJFGc4X0atTw1r5wVEy2doZSA7mZvJ5b2Z2eu1jQrIXR1Vnp8xT5eIPOMANnstOnU/s400/IMG_2458.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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Oh and I couldn't pass up ice cream near the Rainbow St. stairs.<br />
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I bought myself a birthday scarf before catching a taxi back to my apartment. Which brings me to an interesting story. I got in the taxi and told the driver where I wanted to go, to which he responded, "Do you remember me?" Uhhhh, I meet a lot of taxi drivers... then he said that he was the one who took me to the bus station on my way to Madaba! And it all came back. He was the one who wanted to know where I was from, how old I was, whether or not I was married or had a boyfriend... Well, this time he informed me that he really likes California, that he would like to see me everyday, and that when I go back to America he would like to take me to the airport. Let's just say I had him drop me off at the grocery store down the street so that he doesn't know where I actually live...<br />
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I spent the rest of the afternoon with my dear friends at Nour Al Barakah before a late dinner at home with my roommate. I splurged one last time and picked up some desserts from the sweets shop down the road. It has taken A LOT of self-control to refrain from buying something from this shop until now. The name of the shop is Vanilla & Caramel for crying out loud! How could I resist!?<br />
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And just when I thought my wonderful day couldn't get any better... <i>You've Got Mail</i> was on the English movie channel we discovered a couple weeks ago!! For those of you don't know, I am not ashamed to admit that this is my all time favorite movie. It helped me get through a rough patch in Japan and I couldn't believe the coincidence of it playing ON MY BIRTHDAY! It was perfect.<br />
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Thank you all for the birthday wishes! Life is good in Jordan and this was a birthday I won't forget.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-43431276234497554592013-11-11T01:49:00.000-08:002013-11-11T01:50:44.801-08:00The Reality on the GroundAs you may have noticed, I have been in Jordan for about one month and have yet to provide a project update. The reason for this is twofold. First, I purposely didn't plan things for the first couple weeks after I arrived. My first few weeks in Japan were utterly overwhelming with culture shock and jet lag, so I opted for a nice slow start here in Jordan. And I'm happy to say it has been a very smooth transition to this new part of the world. There is another reason for the lack of project posts though. The reality is that there are not many provisions for people with special needs in Jordan.<br />
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I have spent time the last few weeks thinking about how I want to portray what I'm learning. I certainly don't want to just point out things that Jordan is doing poorly in the area of disability provisions, but I do want to be honest. I want to bring to light some of the challenges different entities face as the country works toward advancement in this area and also highlight some of the interesting and courageous things people are doing despite these challenges.<br />
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The reality of the conditions for people with special needs in Jordan has necessitated a mindset adjustment. The questions I asked in Japan aren't applicable here. The concerns of parents and the governmental issues I learned about in Tokyo are not the same in Amman. In fact, after my first couple project related visits I wasn't even sure I would stay in Jordan for the full three months I had planned. I was so busy in Japan and there was so much I didn't even see there. At first glance, it didn't look like there would be much for me to do here in Jordan. However, after coming up with new questions and adjusting my mindset I am confident I will have no problem filling my time. There are a lot of intricacies to be uncovered and I look forward to learning all I can.<br />
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So what have I learned so far? Early on I went to visit the Jasmine Society for Down Syndrome Children. This society was started by a group of very passionate parents about three years ago. I met with the president of the society who has a four year daughter with Down's. She explained that because I have a very special sibling, it is like I am part of the family. It was a very welcoming sentiment. The Jasmine Society provides early intervention services free of charge. Mothers bring in their child about once a week for a 45 minute session where a trained early intervention specialist instructs the mothers on how to best help the child learn and develop. For example, the mothers learn different techniques for strengthening their child's jaw to improve speech or they learn different games to help their child identify colors and objects.<br />
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Before the Jasmine Society began there was no such support for parents and their children. They are providing an innovative and unique service for these families. And most importantly, the Jasmine Society is providing the families with hope. In a country where medical professionals and government organizations say that children with Down's Syndrome are incapable of learning and cannot contribute to society, the Jasmine Society teaches otherwise. They encourage parents and give them the resources to help their child reach their full potential.<br />
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In addition to the Jasmine Society, I have been involved with an organization called Nour Al Barakah on a regular basis. This is a one-of-a-kind organization, founded in 2009, that provides opportunities for adults with intellectual disabilities. Also started by a group of parents, Nour Al Barakah rents a small piece of land in the city where they have built a nice classroom-like facility and started a garden. They meet in the evenings at least three times a week. One day is a community work day where local high school students often come to help in the garden and interact with the special needs individuals. Also on this day, a volunteer comes in to do a movement/exercise class for the participants. Volunteers come on other days to teach a music class and an art class as well. They provide a safe environment for adults with special needs to do something fun and socialize with their friends.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The garden, very well maintained.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playing with a beach ball. The kids LOVE this!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Art class!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painting pasta to make into a necklace.</td></tr>
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I'm really glad I have been able to go regularly and get to know some of the special people that utilize Nour Al Barakah. It took a while for the kids to warm up to me and trust me. I finally felt like I was "in" when one day my sweet friend, Basma, greeted me with the traditional kiss on both cheeks. I definitely cherish that moment. Looking forward to more good times with this great group of people!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the cat in this cute park adjacent to Nour Al Barakah. </td></tr>
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14272241355583170202noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4108097425903148294.post-66713124026663535002013-11-07T04:21:00.002-08:002014-07-13T14:46:25.683-07:00Red Velvet Curtains to Desert OasisTransportation in Amman can be quite exhilarating. I spend my days hailing honking cabs, hoping that I know enough Arabic and the cab driver knows enough English so that I get where I need to go, and praying that he doesn't try to rip me off in the process. Just the other night I had a dream that a cab driver drove me all over the city and wouldn't let me out just to keep the meter running. I ended up dramatically jumping out of the moving vehicle. The impact woke me up, it wasn't pleasant. Now, I'm not afraid of this happening in reality, but apparently my sub-conscious finds this to be a real concern.<br />
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So far, I have stuck with taxis as my main mode of transportation. Before arriving I had this grand idea that I would use the bus system almost exclusively and save a ton of money. But that idea has proved to be rather unrealistic. Buses don't really have routes or timetables and a certain level of Arabic language skill is required that I just don't have. My solution: I adjusted my budget to allow for taxi transportation! This works great for getting to places within Amman, but to travel to neighboring cities taxi fares can be quite spendy. So, I tried my hand at bus riding this week and it was an adventure indeed!<br />
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My desired destination was King's Academy, a private boarding school located near the town of Madaba, west of Amman. I had an appointment for 10:30am and not having a clue how long it would take me to get there, I set out from my apartment just before 9:00am. There are a few large bus terminals around the city so I hailed a cab and told him I wanted to go to the South Bus Station. I had spoken with a girl who had successfully taken a bus from this station to Madaba in the past so that seemed promising. The taxi driver asked me which city I was going to and tried to convince me that he could take me all the way there, but I stood firm. "No, I will take the bus."<br />
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I made it to what I think is the South Bus Station... I can't be sure because as it turned out there weren't any buses to Madaba... I had about three people gesturing to the street and giving me directions on where I could catch an appropriate bus. I think they sensed my confusion and incompetence so a nice taxi driver took me down the road a ways (at no charge!) to a chaotic intersection and said I could catch a bus from there. Sure enough, a big bus pulls up and stops for just enough time for me to run up and ask if it was going to Madaba. It wasn't... but they assured me they could take me to ANOTHER bus that would, in fact, get me to Madaba. At this point, I'm not even stressed, just highly amused. I recalled all the seamless train transfers I had experienced in Japan and just smiled. Life in Amman is a bit different.<br />
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So, after two taxis and a bus, I made it to bus that was headed toward Madaba. Whew! Now, this wasn't your typical public bus. It's a cross between a bus and gigantic van, complete with red velvet ceiling coverings and matching tasseled curtains on all the windows. Luxurious or tacky, whatever way you want to think about it. Most buses, I believe, have a driver and a person I will call a "bus conductor". This person collects the money and rearranges people if necessary. A woman is never expected to sit next to a man on a bus, so it the bus conductor's job to make people move around so that women sit next to women and men sit next to men. This is cultural norm I really appreciate.<br />
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We got on our way when the bus was nearly full, but the bus conductor remained hanging out of the open doorway yelling "Madaba" to people on the streets. We picked up a few more passengers this way as we approach the outskirts of Amman. I sat contentedly taking it all in. However, my next task was to figure out where to get off the bus. I was told to look for a sign for King's Academy on the highway and get off on the side road that led to the school. In no time at all I spotted the sign! I jumped out of my seat and motioned to the driver and the bus conductor that I wanted to get off. And no problem at all, they let me off on the side of the highway and drove away leaving me in a cloud of dust.<br />
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As I walked toward the King's Academy gate, I spotted a nice little herd of sheep on the move. I didn't see any lush pasture around so I have no idea where they were headed, but it seemed somewhat fitting that I bump into these guys after my transportation adventure.<br />
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And believe it or not, I arrived at King's Academy RIGHT ON TIME! Upon arrival, I soon realized I had stumbled on a true desert oasis. I got connected with King's Academy through a Harvey Mudd professor and it was such a privilege to visit the campus. The purpose of my visit was just to meet people and learn a bit about the school. I received an incredibly warm welcome from everyone I talked to and I even came away with a few contacts to further my project here in Jordan. It was an amazing day!!<br />
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King's Academy was founded by King Abdullah II of Jordan in 2007. Like I said, it is an elite boarding school based off of Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts (where the King received his high school education). As a graduate of good ol' Oregon City High School, this is world I know very little about, but find quite interesting. King Abdullah II had a vision to bring the unique New England boarding school experience to Jordan and so a desert oasis was born.<br />
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The campus is absolutely beautiful. I think it was the first time I had seen grass in Jordan. And the grounds are complete with two helipads for when the King comes to visit. The architecture reminded me a bit of Pomona college, or perhaps it was just the clock tower...<br />
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I found myself thinking about what it would have been like to leave home as a 9th grader and attend boarding school. While I'm certain I would have enjoyed the routine, the challenging academics, and the college prep help, there is a certain family bonding that occurs during high school that would be lost. Regardless of how well I would have liked boarding school or not, I found King's Academy to be a really unique place that is providing an opportunity for girls and boys to learn alongside each other. In addition, almost half of the students are on financial aid which creates a unique socio-economic diversity uncommon in most private schools in the region. These are the kids that have the potential to be leaders in the region and in the world. In midst of a region where countless non-profit organizations and NGOs work hard to make a small bit of difference in education or quality of life, King's Academy is educating students in a rigorous and innovative environment that is sure to produce big results. Again, it was an extreme privilege to get a glimpse into the King's Academy world and I look forward to following their growth and achievement in the years to come. </div>
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