School

Today I had my first day of school. The class this morning was entirely in Arabic which is a little intimidating, but we managed. Our professor was really nice and the class is going to be very helpful. I hung out with Arie, my roommate, in between classes and we hung out and drank coffee. Then we had our afternoon class and we had to ask for directions in to the Hospital in Arabic, but everyone on campus speaks English so it didn't go as planned. After I got back to the hotel, I had a cup of mint tea and then went next door to talk with Basaam. We're going to dinner tonight with a couple of students from Grand Valley who have been here since January. These are some pictures of me having coffee, the group and where we study, and my walk home and to the school. I'll have more pictures and more to say either Thursday or Saturday. Ma'a salaama!

First Day in Amman

I arrived in Amman at 5:00 PM on May 2nd after leaving the States at 4PM on May 1st... where does the time go??

This seems like the best way to talk to everyone and share my experiences with all of you. We are in a hotel in the Danwar al-Manhal. Amman is so different than the States, but I like it so far. Everyone is really friendly and understanding of our broken Arabic. I spent most of today in the coffee shop next door drinking coffee and talking with the owner and the cook. They are very nice people and its a good way to practice my Arabic. I start class tomorrow at 9AM which I'm not really looking forward to, but that's what I'm here for.

Mckenna and Daady having a blast

Mckenna and Herb wrestling around on the floor! They're too cute!!! 

Look what we found

Well Herb and Mckenna and I found this big guy at our house by our garage. I just couldn't believe how big he was. Mckenna didn't think much of him because he never moved she was very confused about what the big fuss was. 

Kritters in the attic

Here is the mama. Finally met her match. She destroyed the first trap and rescued one of the babies.
Here she is peering down from the live trap in the attic. She was very scared of course and pretty mad. I didn't know raccoons barked like a dog and hissed like a cat.
Here are 3 of the four babies. They are between 2 and 3 weeks old. This was earlier in the day during the first attempt. They were in the soffet over the refridgerator. The accepted practice is to nab the babies and use them as bait for the adult. The little ones are put in the back of the cage and seperated from the main compartment by a mesh wall. The mama is supposed to come in and attempt to retrieve the babies but is then unable to get out. In our case the mama was so big she didn't fit all the way in the cage so when the door to lock her in came down it hit her butt and she just backed out with one of the babies. When the Kritter Getter came back this evening he brought a stronger cage which was longer and once we retrieved the babies, which had been moved to the other side of the house we were successful. It is actually pretty quiet overhead now. This particular company is a no-kill company (unless the animals are ill) and the animals are released back into the wild. We made sure it was far from here - rather it be someone elses problem.

We are planning on mowing the lawn this weekend and going for a bike ride on the Fallingwaters Trail over in Jackson. Sunday Caitlin is throwing a baby shower for her sister-in-law so I am in charge of Mckenna.

Headed to bed for a quiet nights sleep! Yea!

Spring has arrived

Well this is not really a spring like picture but it turned out pretty good in my opinion. It is taken from the end of the trail at the Conservancy down the River Raisin.

Spring Beauty (right mom) I stand corrected - this is NOT a Spring Beauty but neither Mom or I can find it in our book. I am going back to get a better look at the leaf when it stops raining.

Dutchman's Breeches

Marsh Marigold

This morning I went for a walk right after breakfast. I was pleasantly surprised that some things were blooming even though it was very overcast. Actually it is sprinkling. There were 8 cars parked at the trail head. More than I have ever seen. I came across a group of photographers and a group of birders. The photographers were all gathered around my favorite spot to take pictures of wildflowers.

I also met a guy on the trail with earphones blaring. I can't imagine that what he was listening to was better than what I was hearing all around me. The frogs were croaking, the raindrops hitting the dry leaves kept a steady beat, the geese honking and crows calling back and forth, the deer splashing and crashing through the swampy water, the breeze in the trees. It doesn't get much better than that.

The trillium is poking through and will probably be blooming when we get some sun again Wednesday and the May apples are up about 3 inches. I didn't see any Jack-in-the-pulpit but there are usually a lot in that area. I will go back on Wednesday before work and check it out. It is still a pleasant walk since the mosquitoes are not buzzing around yet. Once they hatch it is just miserable down there. You have to make a choice between the beauty of nature and whether you want to be some insects dinner.

Yesterday was Ayla's first softball game. It was a perfect day for that. She had a couple of hits, scored once, got left on base once, and her team won. Mckenna had fun cheering for her - actually she cheered whenever anyone did regardless who they were rooting for. Today Caitlin and Mckenna are coming down and we are all headed to a baby shower.

Another tree view

This is a different perspective of the Ash tree.

Thanks to Cynthia for her patient help to get this accompolished!

Love, Grandma/Mother