Everything Blue

The Mediterranean Sea

Cafe Seles in the Old City

An Early Morning Trot

One day of outdoor adventure. That was my recreational goal that I allotted myself in my time here, so I investigated into several touristy options. Kite surfing- nope, takes 3 days to learn. Spelunking- unfortunately the only man that knows the location of the caves is in currently France. (Or so they tell me.) Sailing- there no lessons offered at this time. Horseback riding on the shores of the Mediterranean- YES!

A friend and I went riding this morning. My horse kept trying to go deeper in the water, so I named him Musah, Arabic for Moses. She named her horse Sandy, which turned out to be a bit prophetic, as halfway into the ride, he rolled over on his back in the sand... while she was in the saddle. She hopped back on though and we continued on our early morning trot as wild dogs nipped at our horses' heels.

It looks like snow, but that's sand!

I'm so thankful for new friends and adventures.

Lions and Saints

"Is not Africa filled with the bodies of holy martyrs? And do they not bear witness to the truth?" - Augustine of Carthage (North Africa)

Friends and I recently traveled to El Jem, only an hour away. When this colosseum was completed, Rome launched its grand opening by feeding 60 Christians a day to starving lions- a practice that continued for years. As the saints were released into the arena, instead of huddling together, they ran to the edges of the arena towards the crowd and sang hymns and spoke of the Word before they were killed. Thus many in the crowds came to faith.

Just as my time in Jordan inspired imagination of Ancient Work, so too my time in North Africa also calls my faith eyes to look heavenwards in imagination.

"To sum this up, this perfect truth,
   Renewal is everywhere.
Whatever you meet has been before;
   Whatever you've lost returns to you;
All things come back whence they have gone;
   All things begin that once have ceased.
They come to nought that they might be,
   And nothing dies but lives again.
And so the order of earthly things,
   The course of nature that turns full circle,
ALl of this bears testimony to
   THE RESURRECTION OF THE DEAD."
- Tertullian (of North Africa)

Blue Doors of the Mediterranean

"If anything has mystical powers, it would be water." - August from last week's episode of Once Upon a Time

As I daily pass homes with blue shutters and doors, I am reminded that I do not share the same mystical worldview as my neighbors . They paint their doors the color of water to keep away evil spirits and appease the powers of water. They are aware of their vulnerability- that they lie at the mercy of water and nature and a spiritual realm. In my American mindset, I am quick to chuckle or even frown at their superstition... until I realize that maybe its actually weakness that my worldview leads me to believe I am in control, that I am ruling my life and my luck. Their blue doors remind me that we do live in a spiritual world and are at the mercy of the sea and the One who sets it's boundaries.

"...by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed." 2 Pe 3:5-6

Pirate Ships and Tourists and Me

My seaside African town welcomed me and my exploring feet today. I wore skinny jeans and boots to fit into the local attire, as well as a cardigan and scarf because of the salty wind and cold. I grabbed a notebook, pen, book, and some dinar and was set.

The smell of fish and fried bread drew me to the Medina, or the 'City Center' of town, where I purchased pastries and one more rainbow scarf.  I was not the only foreigner roaming through the ancient walls. Sunburned and fleshy retired Europeans strolled through the Medina in their spaghetti straps and shorts, oblivious to both the chill and culture.  Alongside the Medina was a peer with docked 'pirate ships' waiting for the gullible tourists to be lulled into their 4 hour tours.

Apart from the pirate ships and mass Europeans, it indeed felt like the Arab world. Just a bit fishy and also a bit French. I pulled out my notebook to begin surveys with a few of the young women and was able to glean some valuable information for our research. Yet, I couldn't help but wish I had a friend with me as I tasted and smelled and touched and walked. Just someone to laugh with when I can't understand the shop-keepers or when I fail miserably at navigating.

Now I'm back at home with my awesome American family, where I can hear the waves and see a light-house in the distance from our living room window. Soon, I'll begin my nightly routine of line-dancing in the kitchen with the teenage boys I live with. I think our featured song tonight is "John Deere Green." Keep your eyes out for a future video post of our Texas dancing talent.

Packing for North Africa

I may have just written a nostalgic post about transitioning back to the States from the Middle East and the desire to use a drying rack.  However, I'm returning to the Arab world tomorrow for two months. North Africa! I'll be doing a variety of things, including research that can be used for helping young North Africans find local jobs.

Here is a lovely pic of my packing thus far. As you can see, I'm bringing peanut butter and Altoids with me. Yes, that is also a swimsuit, since I can hear the sea from my bedroom!

My Drying Rack

I'm allowing myself one post-Jordan entry... and its about laundry.

I went to Target and bought a drying rack. Now, my parents have a great dryer, but I miss my drying rack. Actually, I miss drying my clothes on the line on top of my first roof in Jordan. Its ridiculous though. In the winter our clothes would hang for several days until they grew mildew, and they still wouldn't be dry. I would've given anything to have a dryer. Now, I MUST hang my clothes.

Hanging clothes to dry isn't only about the crispness of the laundry or the saving of energy. To me, it represents a simpler life. One in which I scheduled time in my day to hang clothes, wash dishes, and cook from scratch. I once thought that chores like these took away precious time and the invention of machines made life easier. Yet it almost felt like such chores kept life paced and simple. Routine. They gave time to think and pray and listen to music and talk to whoever may be coming or going.

I hope that I will always have a drying rack instead of a dryer, just as reminder to keep life slower, simpler. And to retain a part of my old and uncomplicated Levant life.

My neighbor's laundry hanging to dry. One of my favorite sites.