Well I have been in Jordan for about two weeks now. In this short time I have learned a very interesting skill. Sure I have learned more than just one but most of these are minor skills, such as bargaining in Arabic, conversions of measurements (still perfecting this skill), ordering food and knowing what it is, etc. That list can go on for quite a time and I will discuss those smaller skills throughout various posts. But this new skill is bigger than any of these useful everyday skills I listed above. This new skill does require patience, some wood, string, plastic, tape, staples, and wind.
Ok, let me give you a little background before I tell you what my new skill I have obtained. With this study abroad program I am involved with I get the chance to have a language tutor who is a Jordanian student. The peer tutor sessions will be conducted all in Arabic and does not include me teaching them English. So on Saturday everyone who wanted a tutor showed up to campus and that is where we met our tutor. We didn’t just show up and meet them though. We had an activity that was put on by a local organization here where we were basically doing an “Amazing Race” around Amman. Our first activity is where I learned my new skill. We were split up into groups of four and given tasks to complete for the afternoon. The first activity had us making a kite from scratch. Yep that is my new skill. It might be useful one day down the road. There was a demonstration on how to make the kite but my peer tutor said we didn’t have to listen because he has made kites before. That was good because we were in an auditorium size classroom full (about 120 people) all trying to watch four kids demonstrate how to make a kite. Once we got our materials we went to work making our kite. It ended up being the best one and even the kids who demonstrated how to make them said ours was the best one. Our kite had three tails attached to the kite itself, plus a longer tail extending from the main part that had a bunch of smaller pieces floating off of it. Overall our kite had about seven different colors while everyone else’s had two colors. We borrowed other people’s scraps, and even used the plastic that the materials came in to make our kite so colorful. Plus we wrote on the kite the name of the organization that was putting on this event on the kite using cut out pieces of paper. So our task was to make the kite at the campus and then commute (using only public transportation) to the Citadel (a historical spot in Amman on top of one of the hills). After making it to the top by bargaining with the bus driver (one of the smaller skills, I observed my peer tutor accomplish) to drive us all the way there (we passed a lot of people walking up the hill) our task was to fly the kite. Our kite flew the highest and even the organizers of the event mentioned that ours was the best they have seen in a while. When we left to continue our other tasks at various other locations the kite was still flying thanks to some local kids who we gave the kite to as we were leaving.
Now don’t start thinking that everyone in Jordan on their day off is out flying kites for fun. That would not be that accurate and in fact that is the first time that I have seen any kites being flown. If people are thinking of the “Kite Runner” and assume every Arab country has competitions like that when in fact that is not accurate. Plus the “Kite Runner” does take place in Afghanistan which technically is not an Arab country. I was the lucky one to have a peer tutor who has done this activity before. So when I get back if there is a day that has a little bit of wind blowing and there is nothing to really do than building and flying a kite could be an option for entertainment. Eventually will discuss what my classes are and how the University is different here, but I figured I should share my knowledge about my new skill first. I will write later In sh’Allah (as they say in Arabic all the time).
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