Curiousity in a Kingdom

Get Your Kittens

2006-05-13T12:51:00.000+03:00

How could you let these six-week-old kittens go to the streets? If anyone knows anyone who would like to have one of the cutest kittens this side of the Jordan River, please contact me at jim@jimkorpi.com. We're willing to help out with all the shots... They are already trained to go the bathroom in a litter box, very smart kitties!

Let's Go Scuba

2006-03-14T20:08:00.000+02:00

OK folks. Diving will commence on the 6th of April starting at approximately 10 a.m. We will dive the wreck and the reef close to the wreck on the first day. Two dives will take place on the first day. We will dive at about 10 a.m. and then again after lunch. On the second day we can decide what we want to do. I personally would love to dive the Japanese Gardens. Anyone who is only interested in diving the first day or just snorkeling with us is more than welcome to do so.
I will be in Aqaba that week, so anyone wanting to come down before the dives is more than welcome to meet me down there. I thought we could stay in a Bedouin camp near the dive site on the night of the 5th and the 6th. You can do what you like but I thought all of us getting together for a night or two on the Red Sea would be great. Please let me know who is interested in doing what.
Hopefully,
Jim

Certified:
25 JD per day fully equipped for 2 dives.

Uncertified:
30 JD per day fully equipped for 2 dives.

Rachel's Words: Amman, Jordan, Friday, the 17th of March

2006-03-13T19:36:00.000+02:00

RACHEL'S WORDS: Staged Readings, Public Readings, Living Room Readings

March 17th: Amman, Jordan, Books@Cafe, Jebel Amman, 8 PM

Please consider taking part in an important initiative on March 17th called RACHEL'S WORDS and forward this request widely.

"My Name is Rachel Corrie" is a powerful one-woman show based entirely on the writings of Rachel Corrie, telling her story from the time she was a small child and leading up to the days before she was killed at the age of 23. The play was produced by the Royal Court Theatre in London to sold out audiences and wide acclaim. "My Name is Rachel Corrie" was scheduled to open at the New York Theatre Workshop on March 22nd. It has been postponed indefinitely, sparking much controversy.

The play's director Alan Rickman stated, "Rachel Corrie lived in nobody's pocket but her own. Whether one is sympathetic with her or not, her voice is like a clarion in the fog and should be heard." Rachel's mother Cindy wonders, "Why are people so afraid of Rachel's words?" We ask the same question. RACHEL'S WORDS was developed in response, in order to provide a platform for Rachel's voice to be heard.

Just as Lysistrata was read in 59 countries and 1,029 cities in March
of 2003 as an act of theatrical dissent against the impending war we intend RACHEL'S WORDS to provide a burst of light in the pervasive climate of fear and challenge to free speech that is increasingly prevalent in our society and open the door to many other silenced voices.

On March 16th, the third anniversary of Rachel's death, Rachel's e-mails and selected writings will be read in private homes, cafes, black box theatres and street corners. They will be read by small groups of friends, Muslim and Jewish dialogue groups, individuals with bull-horns, families, and performance artists. They will be read in cities including Abuja, Basra, Brussels, Cairo, Jenin, Jerusalem, London, New York, Paris and San Francisco -- the list continues to grow.

Occasionally unique circumstances arise which present an opportunity to galvanize people, unite communities, and open people's minds. We believe this is such an opportunity. On March 16th let us come together world-wide to hear what an exceptional young woman had to say about what she was witnessing in the world -- and decide for ourselves what we think.

FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO READ RACHEL'S E-MAILS: Go to Rachel's Words

CAN YOU ORGANIZE A READING OF RACHEL'S WORDS?: Let us know at info@RachelsWords.org. Write "MARCH 16 READING" in the subject. Our website will list all the cities across the world where Rachel's words are being read.

DO YOU WANT TO ENDORSE THE RACHEL'S WORDS INITIATVE? Please write an e-mail to info@RachelsWords.org and write ENDORSE in the subject.

DO YOU WANT TO DONATE TO THE RACHEL'S WORDS INITIATIVE? Please visit Rachel's Words for information on how to support this undertaking.

MARCH 22nd, NEW YORK CITY: Because the play was scheduled to open on March 22nd in New York, it is fitting that we hold a large event on that day, hosted at the historic Riverside Church. Actors, activists and playwrights will participate in a live reading of Rachel's emails, video of the worldwide events from the 16th will be broadcast, and speakers will address how vital it is for the arts to provide a forum for difficult discourse; something that is greatly needed on the issue of Israel and Palestine. We have an incredible line-up of participants -- visit our website for updates on this event.

(Rachel Corrie was a 23 year old human rights activist and gifted writer. On March 16th, 2003, as she tried to protect the home of a Palestinian pharmacist from demolition in Rafah, Gaza Strip, she was crushed to death by an Israeli army bulldozer. She left behind an extraordinary body of writing.)

New Movies

2006-02-20T15:20:00.000+02:00

Another few movies for those interested, both quality versions;
Scent of a Woman
Munich

Prophetic Orientalism

2006-02-03T16:39:00.000+02:00

It was a bit grueling to get through, but now that I’m done with Orientalism I’m wondering why I didn’t read it before coming to Jordan. For all those interested, the book is up for the taking. First come first serve.
Read this one paragraph and realize how brilliant and relevant the material is for the present, and the book was written between 1975-76.
“Thus as a revolutionary turmoil grips the Islamic Orient, sociologists remind us that Arabs are addicted to “oral functions,” while economists – recycled Orientalists – observe that for modern Islam neither capitalism nor socialism is an adequate rubric. As anticolonialism sweeps and indeed unifies the entire Oriental world, the Orientalist damns the whole business not only as a nuisance but as an insult to the Western democracies.” pg 108

Food for the Soul

2006-01-15T01:51:00.000+02:00

For all those full of city life with its unwalkable sidewalks, unbearable cab rides and unending smog, escape to a more tranquil place and cleanse the soul. (This would make a great advertisement.)
Dana Nature Reserve is the place. Annah and I treated ourselves to a night in the Guest house and then made our way down the Wadi to the Feynen Lodge. At the lodge things move at a slow and relaxing pace. Candles light the hallways, the bedrooms and common areas. Solar rays heat the water and power the bathroom lights.
The cost of staying in both these places is a steep 31JD, but it’s worth every piaster for the sanity it restores.

Scuba Anyone?

2006-01-05T12:39:00.000+02:00

All,
I'm not sure any of you are interested, but I've got a friend who owns a scuba shop in Aqaba and I thought maybe we could set up a group dive or a group scuba course. If you've never dove before that's ok. You can dive beside the dive master without a license, but if you're interested in getting a license, I might be able to work something out if I get enough people to take part.
We can dive a big wreck and the coral reef at the South Beach which is supposed to be amazing. If you haven't seen the coral reefs in the Red Sea, you need to before you leave. Let me know what you all think. If the group is big enough the discount could be huge. It's already cheap down there.
Cheers,
Jim

2006-01-05T12:26:00.000+02:00

Folks,
I've got a few new movies to pass along. "City of God," happens to be one of my favorite foreign films to date, so please take a look. The cinematography and the screenplay are beautiful. If you have any interest in the problems facing the Americas, it's also a good look into the lives of the less fortunate. Maybe I like it because the main character is a photographer? No, it's a well done film.
We also have "The Day After Tomorrow." I know it's Hollywood, but it's entertaining. So borrow at will.
Cheers,
Jim

Books and Movies

2005-12-30T17:56:00.000+02:00

Hey all,
If you’re interested in any of these books or movies just contact me and I would be more than willing to pass them along. As I finish them I hope to lighten my load.
Cheers,
Jim Korpi

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl (from museum in Amsterdam)
Contact, Carl Sagan
Walden and Civil Disobedience, Henry David Thoreau
The Motorcycle Diaries, Ernesto Che Guevara
Slightly Out of Focus, Robert Capa (War Photographer)

Movies
A Patriot Act, Mark Crispen Miller

Blood donation

2005-11-12T20:44:00.000+02:00

I couldn't find the link on the Jordan Times website to provide you all with, but there was a small article in Friday's newspaper asking for people to come to hospitals and donate blood. They are especially looking for anyone with type O blood (any kind). I can't recall what the nurse had said about blood donation here, but it's worth checking into since we all have the day off tomorrow for King Hussein's birthday.

A Jordanian Blogger has some more details about the need for blood:

"AMMAN (JT) â€” The Amman blood banks have appealed for donors to come forward with type O+ and O- blood. Donors with these blood groups should go to the Blood Bank in Al Bashir Hospital.

Blood Bank officials have urged those wishing to give blood to space their donations over the coming weeks and months.
For more information please call: 475 7459 or 477 5111."

Salam--

Marcy

Unfortunate Times

2005-11-11T12:24:00.000+02:00

Please keep in touch everyone and keep us all posted on you well-being. I'll be posting some images from my work at the site of these events in the next couple days. Alain, I'm sorry for not listening to you email, but I can truthfully plead ingnorance in this case. For those who didn't see what happened, I hope these photographs can give an idea of the severity.
Cautiously,
Jim

Days Inn on 9/11 right after bombing

2005-11-11T02:40:00.000+02:00

Days Inn on 9/11 right after bombing
Originally uploaded by marcynewman.

There is a Jordanian photographer who got amazing shots of the bombing last night as well as the candelight vigil tonight. I think he must have also uploaded some photographs from the AP newswire. I strongly recommend checking them out if you want to see up close what the scene was like.

Salam--

Amman's 9/11

2005-11-10T18:03:00.000+02:00

I already wrote a long post on my blog, but I'm sure if people are checking this blog from back home they would like to know that we are all okay. I also took some photographs from around the city if people would like to see what things were like today.

Salam--
Marcy

Eid in Aqaba

2005-11-09T20:29:00.000+02:00

Eid filled up the hotels and hostels in Aqaba and packed the beaches with those celebrating the end of Ramadan. To any of you thinking of visiting Aqaba, the temperature is warm enough to shed the layers needed in Amman and possibly even go for a dip in the Red Sea. Aqaba is a developing tourist town, with all the problems that presents in a conservative culture, so even though the beach will bring thoughts of bikinis to mind, think about dressing more conservatively than Amman or consider paying to enter one of the hotel beaches.

Wanadoo

2005-11-08T17:21:00.000+02:00

To get high-speed Internet access in one's home you need to go to Jabal Amman, between 1st and 2nd circles, to the Jordan Telcom building. It's near the Iraqi embassy and you can see the Jordan Telcom sign at the top of the building. On the 2nd floor of the building you will go to the Wanadoo office and fill out an application and pay, with a credit card, for your first 2 months of service. For prices, check out the Wanadoo website. The amount you pay depends on how fast you want the speed to be. Then you go downstairs to the ADSL office of Jordan Telcom and pay them, this too depends on how fast you want your service to be. This must be paid in cash. I believe I paid them 70JD for setting this up and then it's around 16JD per month, on your land line Jordan Telcom bill. They will set up a time to have someone come to your house to set up the wiring. Then someone from Wanadoo will come to your house to finish setting it up and they will bring the modem with them.

I think that's it...it's been a couple of months since I did this so I don't remember all of the details precisely.

Salam--
Marcy

2005-10-25T20:58:00.000+02:00

Good to see others are posting. I just wanted to let everyone know that if you cross over into Israel be sure to check the times of the crossing points. I showed up at the Allenby bridge after 3:30 p.m. and got turned away with a simple, "bridge closed."

2005-10-16T14:28:00.000+02:00

The Abdali flea market has become a favorite past time of mine on Fridays. The first time I visited merely to look around and see whether I could find a few cheap things of use. I mostly browsed through the rows and rows of womens clothing, keeping an eye out for items I liked. After a second visit the clothes seemed lmore and more the same, but my eyes were opened to the incredible variety of items sold. From spices to books to Jewelry to perfume to dishes to quite literally the kitchen sink (or at least the faucet), you can find it in Abdali on a Friday. The fruits and vegetables alone make a visit worthwhile, and I came back home with pomegranates, figs, guavas and lentils for mere pennies. But even more than the items for sale, I love the atmosphere of the flea market. It is in some ways reminiscent of the souks deep in the heart of the old medina of Fes in Morocco. With so many tents and pathways and people the area at the bottom of the Abdali bus station becomes its own old world city every single Friday.

2005-10-13T16:53:00.000+02:00

Finally Annah and I were invited to an iftar dinner, only we were the ones to help host it. The children were, more or less, underprivileged and lived in the Jebal Amman area. Nate, right next to your plot in the sand.
It was just nice to see this side of the city and recognize the needs children like this have. Also, it was damn good food to boot.

2005-10-11T22:30:00.000+02:00

Hello all,
He who opens his mouth should make sure he does what he says, so I've gone ahead and started the Jordan Fulbright blog. The beauty of it is it will change all the time and anyone can have access to it. Please let me know if you need help figuring out how to post... I'll help as best I can. The name of the site can change if everyone agrees. This is a democratic site. One would expect this much from folks of such a democratic country.
Anywho, post away and let us all know about life in Jordan. Post your stories. Post you tips. Post your recipes. Post anything you want to share with the group.
Enthusiastically,
Jim Korpi