Ahlan Wa-Sahlan

Welcome to the Touchstones Teacher Trainings in Jordan 2010 blog.  Due to minor technical difficulties, you're joining us with two workshops already in the books and the worst (we hope) of the team's jet lag behind us.  I'll do my best to bring you up to speed over the next few days with posts of the highlights from our trip thus far.  For now, I'll share a few photos from today, our first rest day...

We woke to discover a flea market erected virtually overnight outside our hotel.  I ran up to the roof for a bird's eye view:

Amongst the bustle of the market a curious man caught my eye:

That's a tea kettle slung over his shoulder. Around his waist he carries cups and sugar so as to offer tea to shopkeepers and market patrons.

In the afternoon, the team accompanied Dr. Graham Leonard, a long-time Touchstones volunteer and former resident of and teacher in the region, for tea at the home of Wadad Kawar, a renowned collector of Middle Eastern antiquities and traditional embroidery:

And the ceiling of the room pictured above:

A sampling of Wadad's magnificent collection of embroidered gowns:

 
We couldn't resist her invitation to don a few shepherd's garments:

Touchstones Master Trainers Kevin, Steven, and Dan

Even I got in on the act:

Thanking Wadad for her gracious hospitality, we proceeded to dinner at the home of Abir, an official of the Jordanian Ministry of Education in large part responsible for the presence of Touchstones in Jordan:

Mansaf is a Jordanian dish made of lamb cooked in a sauce of fermented dried yogurt and served with rice. It is the national dish of Jordan and traditionally served at celebrations.  I think the name means "explosion" in arabic.

Abir's husband posed with a portrait of his grandfather as we discussed their family's history:

And finally, the wonderful view of Amman from Abir's living room: 

With another day of workshops tomorrow, I'll be sure to keep you posted on our trip's progress.