An evening you don't want to miss!

Musica Sacra

The choir I sing with, Dozan wa Awtar, recently got back from Germany performing at the Musica Sacra Festival.  Click here to listen to a performance.  I especially like this piece.  It's actually a collaboration of several themes, including a Byzantine communion hymn, a Sufi melody, and an Islamic song that's newish (rather than ancient, the original is sort of a pop song style / new age style / hard to explain).  In between the Sufi melody at the end, choir members are singing various songs that are important to them, including monastic chants.  It certainly reflects the color and beauty of the culture here. In a few days we have a Dozan get together where I'll get to hear stories from those who went on the trip.  Looking forward to it! 

~ Um Tulip

Min Zamaan (been a long time)

Yes, it's been over two months since posting.  Lots of excuses, like wondering if anybody actually reads what I write.  I suppose I write for myself more than anything, though.  This morning is my first day off from school.  Exams are done, and we're planning for next year.  I'm really excited about teaching next year.  We're implementing the PYP (International Baccalaureate) standards for the elementary school.  I get to focus on creative writing.  So school has been busy, but fulfilling.

What else has happen in the past two months?  Well, my choir put together another amazing show.  This time, they traveled to Germany for the Musica Sacra festival.  Follow this link to read.  Performing religious music (both Christian and Muslim) I know they wowed the audiences there and had a blast.  This picture shows "qanuun" used to accompany a few pieces.  I missed going, but chose to focus on my family this month, as there have been some big events. 

• Abu Tulip and I celebrated 10 years of marriage together.  10 years!  It's sad so many don't make it to this milestone, and I'm so blessed to be married to my best friend.  We're taking the family for Switzerland for 10 days at the end of the month to celebrate and take a little time out for refreshment. 
• Oliver turned 7 years old.  His party was batman themed, hence the cupcakes.  He is such a joy.  The other day he said to Abu Tulip, "Dad, you were wrong, there is something that drinks but doesn't pee.  Plants!"  This kid is thinking and observing all the time.  He's done a great job on his first grade "exams".  No, I did not have him study, unlike his classmates, but he has learned a lot and is speaking and reading Arabic.  
• Teddy Bear graduated from pre-school.  He'll go to KG1 in the fall.  He has a great little best friend from nursery that will join him at the kindergarten.  He sings in Arabic and English, and recently was jumping on my bed singing a song from my choir. (He is Mr. Sun in the picture)
• Baby Bulb is no longer a baby.  I need to find a new name.  Ideas, anyone?  He is a climber, and has a vocabulary of about 8 words.  Mommy, no, la (no), anineh (bottle), hatti (give me), daddy, baby, daw (light).  

I'm looking forward to taking the kids to the pool this summer (nearly six years here and we finally spent the money on a membership), watching our plants grow (we'll see if any vegetables make it this year), and a visit from Abu Tulip's parents in July.   Here are some pics from our garden, beans, radishes, and snails.

Oh, Oliver also finished his first season of T-ball.  Yes, it was only T-ball, but watching him play reminds me that my kids are going to grow up.  Watching the high schoolers play on the field next to us was a reality check for me.  Those boys are all taller than me, and my boys will be taller than me some day.  One Friday morning we watched a few from the team get out of a taxi and go to their game.  In perfect Arabic, they thanked the driver and headed out to the field.  I learned that they had just come from running in a race down at the Dead Sea.  Responsible, capable, and thriving (not just surviving) in a bilingual, multicultural world.  Yes, this is what I hope for my children.  Lord, give me strength to raise my boys in wisdom and maturity!

Easter Concert sold out!

Been a busy with well, life.  Last week was the culmination of many rehearsals and we put on a great show!  Both the Wednesday and Thursday night concerts were sold out.  If you read Arabic, follow this link, as a local paper wrote about our performance.  The Faure Requiem was outstanding.  At times, it was hard not to just close my eyes and listen to the blending of our voices along with the symphony.  Our director flawlessly gave us everything we needed to perform with beauty and grace. 

During intermission I was talking with a fellow choir member.  This is her first season with Dozan and she commented, "this is so exhilarating!'  Really, we don't tire of performing.  Our voices came together for what may have been our best concert yet.  I appreciate this diverse group of friends so much.  Thanks, Dozan, for a great spring break.  Thanks, Abu Tulip, for your support as I've skipped off to rehearsal and performances so many nights in a row.  Thanks, Lord, for giving us voices and instruments to create sound that gives you glory. 

~ Um Tulip

Easter Concerts

Language advice you may or may not want to try

Abu Tulip has been reading a book, How Languages are Learned  by Patsy M. Lightbown and Nina Spada.  This passage caught his eye, especially considering how difficult some of the sounds of Arabic are for speakers of Western languages.

"Another aspect of personality that has been studied is inhibition.  It has been suggested that inhibition discourages risk-taking, which is necessary for progress in language learning.   This is often considered to be a particular problem for adolescents, who are more self-conscious that younger learners.  In a series of studies, Alexander Guiora and his colleagues (1972) found support for the claim that inhibition is a negative force, at least for second language pronunciation performance.  One study involved an analysis of the effects of small doses of alcohol, known for its ability to reduce inhibition, on pronunciation.  Study participants who drank small amounts of alcohol did better on pronunciation tests than those who did not drink any.  While results such as these are interesting, they may have more to do with performance than with learning.  We may also note, in passing, that when larger doses of alcohol were administered, pronunciation rapidly deteriorated!"

 
(page 61)

I can think of a few people who probably would have been willing to participate in that study and contribute to scientific knowledge.   ~Abu Tulip

Blog about Jordan day

We've lived here in the Middle East for over five years.  It's hard to imagine being anywhere else.  I often don't really think about the fact that I'm a foreigner - a guest in the country.  I've learned the language (to an extent), love the food, and two of my children were born here.   Our oldest is in a local, private school where Arabic is the primary language.  It's adorable to watch him practice for his upcoming assembly, sharing "ana ilmalfuuf"  (I am the cabbage), a presentation on vegetables.

When I meet new people, they often ask, "where is home?"  I usually answer, "home is here".  This is my home.  Of course I miss family and friends who are back in the states, and there are certainly days I yearn for certain characteristics of my passport culture, but I'm proud to say we really have made our life here.

I realized my friends understood this during a recent choir rehearsal.  The choir I sing with is an eclectic mix of locals and foreigners.  We've been learning some Arabic folkloric music, and it is just fascinating.  At one point, the director asked for the Arabs to sing a section once through, and then for the others to sing once through.  This was for her to listen to us sing and check to make sure we were getting the pronunciation and nuances of Arabic music.  Quarter tones are amazing, but a challenge for us Western singers.  An Arab friend turned to me and asked, "inti ma3na 'aw mahum?"  (are with you us or them?) .  I smiled.  Both?  She had given me the ultimate compliment.

So, thank you Jordan, for accepting me into your country.  Your friendship, hospitality, food, music, and grace are in abundance. 

~ Um Tulip