Who does what

Don't normally post silly forwards but this one caught my eye. I'm grateful for a husband who makes me coffee each morning. I'm not a morning person, by any stretch of the imagination. Abu Tulip is heading to a work conference next week and I'll be alone with the kiddos for five days. Along with figuring out how to manage them on my own, a big worry is getting my coffee fix each morning in the midst of feeding and clothing three little boys in time for school.

A man and his wife were having an argument about who should brew the coffee each morning. The wife said, "You should do it, because you get up first, and then we don't have to wait as long to get our coffee."

The husband said, " You are in charge of cooking around here and you should do it, because that is your job, and I can just wait for my coffee."

Wife replies, "No, you should do it, and besides, it is in the Bible that the man should do the coffee."

Husband replies, "I can't believe that, show me."

So she fetched the B ible, and opened the New Testament and showed him at the top of several pages, that it indeed says........ ..."HEBREWS"

Cincinnati Chili

For those of you from Ohio, the idea of putting Chili on spaghetti noodles is, well, normal.  I didn't know about ordinary chili until I was in high school, as Cincinnati style chili was a staple growing up.  Leftovers the next day were always coney dogs.  When we travel, I always bring Skyline Chili spice packets back with me to make at home.  However, here in Amman, there are two chains, Chili House and Chili Ways, that are much like Goldstar Chili and Skyline in Ohio.  Except I don't think they have oyster crackers. 

This Wikipedia article gives some info, the most important bit is that four Jordanian brothers started Goldstar in Cinci in 1965.  Chili House was started in Amman in 1985.  Obviously, it's all in the family. 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_Star_Chili

I actually prefer Skyline to Goldstar, started by Greek immigrants in Cinci in 1949.  I even had a cook-off with a friend here in Amman a couple years ago.  He was from Cinci and preferred Goldstar.  Needless to say, his favorite place to eat in Amman was Chili House.

So, Mommabean, you are invited to our home for chili.  Ahlen wa sahlen. 

~ Um Tulip

Oliver gets called a duck in class

Oliver is my oldest.  He's in an Arabic school, and doing his best to keep up in Arabic.  He has a lovely first grade teacher.  I'm also working at the school, part-time, in the English department.  Yesterday his teacher told me about a situation in class.  I just have to share it.

She was going around the room writing "batal" بطل on each child's hand.  This word can be translated as "hero" or "brave".  He often has this word written on his worksheets when he does a good job - and for my perfectionist son, it is often.  The teachers go on and on about his neat Arabic handwriting.  For those of you who know my handwriting, his is better than mine.  I'm not worried about his handwriting, but I do want him to speak!  But I digress. 

So the teacher was putting this on the kids' hands to show them they were great students.  As she was writing this on his hand, Oliver turned to the teacher and asked, "Why are you writing 'duck' on my hand?"  I'm sure the wheels in his brain were turning, "is duck a good thing or a bad thing?". 

The word for duck is "bata"  بطة and as the 'l' sound in Arabic is just a little different than the English 'l' he did not recognize the difference in the two words.  I'm glad he learned his teacher thinks he is a "hero" and not a "duck" !
                                                  ~ Um Tulip

Seen around town....

Our city turns 100

A friend just wrote about the centennial celebration that took place on Friday.  He did such a wonderful job that you all must take a look here. 

As usual, life is keeping me crazy busy which means no interesting posts.  Unless you want to hear me rant and rave about a classroom of 20 fourth grade boys.  Advice on discipline?  How to implement cooperative learning in the classroom?  How to get them to speak only in English for an hour straight? 

Until later, Um Tulip

Beauties of Technology: Khutbeh across the ocean

We just got back from a fascinating trip to Jerusalem, but that's not what I'm going to write about.  Still collecting my thoughts on that one.  However, the night before we left we attended a Khutbeh (engagement party) of the sister of some good friends.  The engagement ceremony is formal and includes dancing, cake, and fancy dresses.  It is much like a wedding, just not quite so ostentatious.  It involves the parents agreeing to the marriage, jewelry, and lots of pictures.  After this ceremony the couple is now allowed to date, be seen in public as a couple, and start preparing for the wedding.

The family of the bride-to-be includes seven sisters, one of whom lives in America.  I'll call her R.  As her baby sister is going to be married, she wanted to be part of the Khutbeh.   Another sister brought her laptop with a USB internet connection and set up Skype for the duration of the ceremony. 

As sister S was dancing with her fiance, sister R was also dancing in a fancy dress, in her dining room in California, right along with her.  It was a beautiful site.  The seven sisters were all in tears, so happy to share this moment as a family, even though R was so far away.  The family moved the laptop around the room, swaying to the music, offering her cake, and did everything they could to have her participate. 

As one who lives far away from family, I was really touched by the family unity I saw and grateful for the way technology has helped us all feel a little closer.

~ Um Tulip