To my little, taller, cooler, smarter, beautiful(ler), funnier sister on her sweet sixteen:

I wanted you bad. I wanted you so bad, I prayed for a girl. I wanted to share my room with you. I wanted to brush your hair and dance to my trashy boy band music with you. I wanted to read books to you and teach you all the important things I knew like how to ride a bike, braid hair, make cinnamon sugar, and all of the Usher songs. Seven years of my life were spent in constant battle, defending myself from the two monsters. Barbies heads were decapitated. Necklaces and pinky toes were broken. My body was always tackled, tied down, and contorted. They never did weary. Finally, when all hope was lost, my prayers were answered in January of '98.

The picture above was taken a couple days after you were born. Our parents told me I could hold you so long as I didn't stand up. I agreed, but grew tired after an hour or so. Meanwhile, everyone left the room and I was afraid to shout so this is what happened.

So, back to my infamous list-making. I already made two lists for both of my brothers. Now here is a list of some of my favorite stories/things about Jory, my little, taller, cooler, smarter, beautiful(ler), funnier sister:

-Jory, as a toddler, could throw down a stick of butter like no one I've ever known. When she went missing in the house, she was probably eating butter in a corner or some of those chocolate morsels. But, she was no respecter of foodstuffs. She enjoyed all food equally.

-She was the cutest baby. SO fat, on account of her butter diet. Everyone loved her immediately and wanted to hold her and pinch her cheeks. But Jory would not go down without a fight. You see, she also suffered from Resting Bitch Face (RBF) as a toddler. (It's rare to suffer from RBF at that age, but it does happen. RBF is now an established medical term.) She could frown all the old ladies away at the grocery store, smiling for no one.

-It took a lot for Jory to like you. In fact, I only remember her instantly gravitating towards one person (besides our immediate family) and that was Jovita. Lucky, she has grown out of RBF, at least for the most part.

-Jory is so beautiful. My dad wanted us kids to take a picture with him on his birthday after we ate so everyone got ready. Jory woke up feeling sick, got dressed in a barn shirt, teased her dreads, pinned her hair to the side, decided against makeup, and vwallah. Done. How many girls do you know who get pictures taken without makeup? The answer is none. And this is how she looked (first picture):

Like SNOW WHITE, am I right?! I've always loved how she looks. Ivory skin. Dark hair. Green eyes. Flawless. Well done, Amy and Matthew. Well done. 

-Jory does NOT like to share toothbrushes so don't even try it. 

-When Jory got strong enough to walk and lift herself up, she used to climb out of her crib, still sucking on a binkie, up onto my loft bed in the middle of the night. I never did tell my parents because I loved it so much.

-Somewhere in between me leaving for school and graduating, Jory got funny. It's probably because someone had to fill the void of my comedic genius that I so reluctantly left behind. I would say we're about equal in funny points, except now she is really good at quoting movies whereas I'm not. And it's mostly funny. She may have passed me this time.

-Jory went through a phase where she would not answer unless we addressed her as princess. She was 15.

(Just kidding. She was a toddler/post-toddler).

-I'm going to paint a scene for my next bullet-point. Imagine this square face with big green squinty eyes sucking on a pacifier peering over your loft bed in excitement amidst a ransacked room.

So, one time I got grounded on my birthday weekend and had to postpone my birthday party (another story for later). Months passed and I assumed that the party was no longer an option. One night in April, I went to a neighbor's house to babysit. My mom insisted that I clean my room, so I did. And I cleaned it goooood. Spick. And. Span, ya'll.  I came home that night to a trashed room and Jory looking down at me with pure joy as she anticipated my arrival.

I yelled, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" Then, all my friends jumped up from underneath piles of clothes and blankets and out of the closet and yelled, "SURPRISE!!!!." Jory's face fell from excitement to disappointment as she began to tear up.

I felt so bad. This among a list of other short-tempered, impatient happenings is one of my biggest regrets in life along. Apparently, we used to pull each other's hair. I don't remember it, but I also don't doubt it. Patience was never one of my strengths. I will spend the entirety of my life striving to show you the love that you deserve.

-Patience has always been one of Jory's strengths though. She is the best older sister to our youngest sister, Jacy. She is so kind and she allows Jacy to be a kid. She never loses her patience with her. I love watching them play. They're weird, but I like it. I've learned a lot from her in this regard. She's who I want to be when I grow up.

-When Jory was little, she was so afraid of our brothers (and rightfully so). One time, I was sitting in my room and she came running panicked. She ran into the wall, fell, got up, continued to run, and leapt into my arms. Soon after, Jess came running into the room, ran into the same spot of the wall, fell, got up, and continued to run towards us. Jayk came sprinting after, hit the wall in the exact same spot and got up towards us. It was like a Tom and Jerry episode. So glad I was deemed worthy enough to witness that. It is forever engrained in my mind.

-When I showed her some bridesmaid dresses, she said, "I guess I'll have to shave my legs, huh."

-Jory is musically talented. She plays the standup bass, electric bass, guitar, and uke. She's in a couple bands and they have gigs on the weekends. On Christmas Eve, she sang and played the uke, tambourine, and shaker at the same time. Every time I see a she-bass player, I get excited because they remind of my sister.

-Jory has always been naturally gifted at school, moreso than any of us Cherry kids. She's so smart. From the time she began to read, she always had her nose stuck in a book. Girlfriend reads a ton.

-Jory can win an entire Just Dance tournament without moving her hips once. It's amazing.  

-Along with her being gifted with music, school, and life in general, she is an amazing artist. When we were all little, my dad tried his damndest to instill his creativity in us. It passed right over my head, which soon became clear to my dad when he told me to draw a picture of a rabbit and I drew him a cartoon one that could probably also pass for a dog, cat, rabbit, some sort of vermin, or doorknob.

It sorta worked with the boys. They're creative enough. They threw pottery and drew things, but mostly they're artsy in the musical kind of way. With Jory, it was naturally easy for her. She can see colors and shapes and other things and she can draw them. She leaves her sketch books around and I love looking at the drawings inside them. It's cool to glance into her mind. She's quiet, but a lot is going on up there.

-Jory is no one but herself. She listens to Janis and other rocker chick music. She walks slow where ever she goes. She's nice to everyone. She doesn't judge others. She takes hour long showers. She defends the helpless. She teases her hair. She never tries to conform to what society says she should do or how she should act or what she should be interested in. She wears combat boots with dresses.

I'm glad I live closer to you now. Those four years were way too long. #eastcoast4ever

I consider myself lucky because I got to watch you grow into who you are. And I LOVE who you are. I love every thing about you. I think you're brave and true and honest and smart and kind. And I will always be your greatest defender. I'm excited to see where you go and what you do in life.

And mostly, I'm so glad you're my sister.

I've got some explaining to do...

This post is long overdue.

I am engaged (since September) to be wed in May.

This may seem a bit out of the blue and shocking coming from an outspoken dating/marriage cynic. But for us, it's been a long time coming.

 I met Sean Fall of my Sophomore year. My roommates nicknamed him the neighbor boy who wears  dresses. When he found out another Arabic major was living next door, he put on his Arab garb and knocked on our door. Ahlan wisahlan.

We call ourselves friends of convenience. Not only was Sean my neighbor, but he was also my TA (cliche, I know). We attempted to set each other up with different friends. It's a shame neither of those dates worked out. We also spent a lot of time studying together. Well, I studied. Sean climbed on tables and knocked over book shelves in the library.

Sean says I exaggerate.

The realization of my feelings for him was gradual and yet, kind of sudden. I mourned his loss when we went our separate ways at the end of the year, one to Jordan, the other to DC. We still kept in touch and started dating when I returned to Utah. Vwallah.

It is difficult for me to bear my feelings for him. They are normally kept private, much to his chagrin. No post I write will ever do him any justice, which is why I have been hesitant to write about him for awhile.

I value so many of his attributes especially the many of his that I lack. He is beloved by those who meet him. He has a gift of interacting with people and I enjoy seeing him work a crowd. He talks. Like a lot. But it's probably a good counterpart to my taciturnity.

We share similar interests--the Middle-East, Arabic, travel, politics, ethnic food. However, we are opposites in most other capacities and I bask in these differences.

Sean is so well-versed in many topics. I'm proud of what he has been able to accomplish. He is open-minded, tenacious, and eager to learn. I've already learned heaps from him and am thrilled to learn much more.

He emits a quiet calm. I feel utterly and completely relaxed when I'm with him, which is quite the feat. His chi is a lot more tranquil, a lot more enjoyable, and a lot less chaotic than the lifestyle I've been living lately. 

We will be married on May 24th in the Oquirrh Mountain temple. I mostly chose this because I really like the spelling, but also because Sean suggested it. :) Our reception will be at the Holmgren Historical Farm later that night. We would be honored if you could attend. 

Like I said, this is brief and imperfect. I wanted to introduce him before he starts to frequent my posts from here on out.

I also want my (two) readers to know that Sean makes me a better person and I love him. I've never been so sure about this as I am now--apart from him since July. I'm weary of this long distance business and ready to be with him permanently.

And also I'm really, really happy.

to my Podagee, Hese

My earliest memories of Jess are of him standing, sucking his thumb on the hill above our student apartment at NAU. His stick-straight-hair never sat straight, but instead stuck straight out at the sides and on top of his head. His feet stood pigeon-toed. His little limbs carried his protruding belly, like the kids in Africa with the bloated bellies, except I know he was never starving. He was always eating someone's food, if not ours, the neighbors'. 

He was always dirty like ... more than normal kids should be. I think his face was permanently stained with the burnished, rusty color of Arizona dust. 

He wrapped his monkey legs around everyone and everything. He was always climbing on things. 

Basically, he started life existing as a sort of primal animal.

Jess was the lucky one to get the brown, athletic, muscly, Portuguese genes. Fitting, because our parents gave him the Avila name. If they gave it to Jayk, people would be confused. 

Also his eyes are super slanty and droopy so much so that when I was little I wondered if he saw straight. Apparently, he does because his coordination is pretty impressive. Maybe, I'm the one with the crooked eyes. 

Jess has always had the uncanny ability to make people of all kinds fall in love with him, even men. It's quite the talent. He is always surrounded by friends, mostly girls. 

There is an exception to this rule. Some teachers don't seem to agree with his teasing antics. I'm pretty positive Jess got more detentions than all of us combined. 

Family pictures have always been a fiasco. Fifty percent of the blame goes to Jayk and the other half to Jess.

Check out my knees. I'm surprised I could ever walk straight. Jess learned at an early age that he could take me down when I was being too bossy. I never had the same power over him again. 

Jess and Jayk have always been best buds. They always have to be touching each other. I'll never quite understand their bond, but I enjoy watching it. Unless, the attention is directed physically towards me.

When he plays the banjo, he bears all of his front teeth.

Jess LOVES working. Last summer, we would sometimes walk to work together. He would chant, "I'm ready. I'm ready. I'm ready" the whole way there. For those of you who don't know, this is a spongebob reference.

He really knows his stuff about boxes.

He also loves bailing hay, especially when he's with his people in St. Johns, AZ. 

Mom reminded me of this story the other day. She took us five to our annual doctor's appointment. We eagerly waited and eavesdropped on every sibling. Consequently, our annual doctor's appointment transformed into our annual size-up competition. Jess was so little and Jory was this fat, squeezable baby. So juicy. In hopes that Jory would out-weigh him, Jayk and I chanted Jory's name while he stepped up to the scale. Jory. Jory! JORY! and then the crowds went wild! Our Vietnamese doctor told him, "You need eat more snack." (See my mother for an impression.) Jess cried the whole way home.

When we moved to Pennsylvania, I looked up to him. He called me out a couple of times (rightfully so) for being a brat. I needed to hear it. He is a good example to me.

I love going rock climbing with Jess except for when he drops me for cheating and I have to start over. That's just cruel for someone who breaks a sweat on the kiddie wall. 

Everyone should know that I'm better at yoga than Jess. He likes those breathing videos.

(Just kidding). However, we have to agree that grandma is better than both of us.

I put this one up because of our cute outfits. 

And this one because Jess wore a pimp suit to a church activity and because Jayk is batman. LOL

Also! Everyone, someday Jess is going to buy me a pick-up truck. He lost a bet. Can't wait to take everyone out on my sweet, new ride!

I'm proud of you. I'm excited to see what you do in the future because I think you are so talented. Good luck with school braddah. I'll be seeing you soon. 

After a stressful day, I was happy to discover this song on my I-pod.

Enjoy.

Sometimes when I miss you, I log onto facebook and watch all of your videos. I watch you play Uncle Kevin's guitar with your tangled and un-snipped wires. Your favorite. I watch your stubbornness, but also your alacrity as you humor others song after song.

If only you could see the effects that you have had on number three and number four. If only you could hear them now. They plunk and they twang just as you did, adding their own distinct hues to the racket we call music. Their tenacity to make sounds intensifies with each pulse.
 

 I eagerly await the day when you will see what has transpired. I eagerly await the day when we will find our family whole. But I endeavor to combat my selfish desire because you labor in the thick of true altruism. So for now I'll be content watching clips of you and Uncle Kevin's guitar with the tangled and un-snipped wires. You add your cheeky variations, your way of rebelling against the many song requests. My favorite.

#FirstWorldCountryProblems

Arabic paper is DONE.
Font:14
Spacing: 1.15
Sources: 16
Pages: 15

What did it take?
My soul
and countless weekend nights at the library.

SO much self pity when Saturday nights are spent in the library.
It's kinda pathetic.

Anyways, DONE.

What got me through?
Vanilla coke
and Alexis Jordan's up-tempo song "Happiness" on repeat.

Yeah, embarrassing.
 Especially since I tortured Liz relentlessly for liking the song.
 (Hypocrisy at its worst)
Ya3ny, what ever gets it DONE, right?

What else?

I cannot drink another coke or I will throw up.

My eyes hurt from looking at a computer screen for hours.

Also, I've had to alter my walking pattern to avoid the blossoming trees on campus.
They incite terrible campaigns of sneezing and hours of watery eyes.

I want to go outside, but there's no wifi.

I hate working at the Gap.

(And so the internal debate continues:

Continue my abusive relationship with Gap while holding on to what is sacred and true

 or lose my discount.)

OHHHH
and

My roommate is engaged after less than two months of knowing her fella and will be married in June.
June. Juney. June
I suppose this isn't a #firstworldcountryproblem though. I'm debating which is better, #mormonsandmawwiage or #thirdworldcountryproblems.

 Even though I'm forced to listen to high-pitched squeals, I know I'm going to be fine because it's free pie night at the Village Inn and I can actually go.

"Hallo fellows, pie fo freeay."

Instead of Preparing for Class, I'd Much Rather Be...

Laying on a hammock in Old Creek Canyon watching dark clouds gather and smelling the mixture of warm rain and dirt roads.

Dancing on a falooka in an unfamiliar land, hearing an unfamiliar rhythm, imitating an unfamiliar movement.

Running Izaak Walton trails with Csilla and syncing to her pattern of breathing.

Watching my dad paint while we listen to music of the best kind.

In a hot yoga class for two.

About to embark on an adventure using public transportation. And there is no time frame and no need to rush.

Listening to Jayk strum some chords on his guitar and sing some Bob Dylan tunes, his pitch dipping in and out of tune.

Taking a nap in the shade of a tree. It's hot, but not humid.

Dancing in my 560 N 845 E kitchen to some raunchy music with roommates. The smell of baked goods is filling the room. Also, we pray the mold under the refrigerator doesn't continue to spread.

Naked.

Starting a field hockey game. I'm excited, but mostly apprehensive.

Listening to a good o' tale, one that has been recited countless times, one that is hilariously familiar.

At a market place. No one has regard for personal space or control of their personal volume.

In a playful wrestling match with Jess, only this time I am the one who has biceps and he is the one that resorts to biting.

On a long walk at a late hour.

Listening to my mom hum the harmony of a Carpenters' song and secretly wishing I had her low, smooth voice. I will never admit that to her.

In the middle of a night game. Screams and laughter are echoing.

Barefoot and sandy.

At the beginning of a road trip with Ynna, only this time she's driving and I'm in the passenger seat with my feet up on the dashboard. Instead of gummies, our snacks consist of ham roll ups and ice-cold slurpees. We swap deep, dark secrets.

Responding to Jacy's never-ending string of questions, trying to be witty, trying to make her laugh.

Pretending to be asleep, only I am under the covers with a book and a flashlight.

Drinking a cold glass of sobia from a juice stand. I use a community, glass mug. Sometimes they rinse it off, sometimes the residue of a stranger remains.

Running across the bottom of the ocean weighed down by a massive rock. I'm safe below the unbridled waves.

Thumbing through Jory's never ending hair, fighting sass with some more sass.

Stealing a mango from a neighbor's tree and passing it down a long line of Soliais.

Playing with Liz in an abandoned St. John's tree house, practicing drills in case of a freak tornado or hurricane or fire or volcano eruption. Next up our playground is a log, but we can only see a pirate ship.

Sitting on the porch of a Lancaster row house listening to the racket of a banjo. It's a summer day. And there are no mosquitos.

Reunited and it FEELS. SO. GOOD.

The Long Awaited List

We made a list of memorable occasions/signs of going crazy during the study abroad. Enjoy!

-tracing a hand to make a turkey during class
-sleeping in the ladies lounge for two hours
-not being able to connect english sentences
-reading an article about Iraq peeing oil
-breaking out in dance moves
-Sami's border crossing
-Sami playing poker with a girl from the Israeli army
-dance careers
-doing handstands on edges of cliffs
-guys dreaming about mahajababes/mahajaskanks
-boys watching anime movies daily
-sticking pens up one's nose (ahem James)
-trying to fit the entire recorder in one's mouth (ahem James)
-dissolving into boston accent
-wearing leggings for extended periods of time
-toilets exploding
-checking out our boab's booty. we call him big booty haris
-southern bell and eastern flower (m3 ba3d?)
-five foot tall attacking sass-a-frass
-no shave november
-roasting marshmallows on a gas heater
-choosing between warmth and asphyxiation (warmth won)
-stuck in elevators
-hair tumble weeds
-two students playing in sewer water (it was raining)
-speeding and drifting with arabs
-five liters of pepsi (small boston, big pepsi)
-epic dancing peekers
-fashion show on the bus
-boys talking like girls
-shwarma twice a day
-increased chocolate eating
-ferrel felines following students to school
-ferrel felines singing outside our window
-"I trusted you"
-someone trying to get an audience with the king and breaking all possible social norms (failed)
-race drama
-"thats what she said" got Out. Of. Control.
-skinny dipping in the Sea of Galilee
-running out of water in the middle of a shower
-the miracle of the water
-meeting with members of the Muslim brotherhood
-the miracle of the internet
-hitchhiking
-sticking fingers in water tanks because it was leaking
-wearing roommate's last pair of garments without permission
-punching a taxi
-eating falafal everyday
-Arab women falling in love with Andrew
-hellen keller
-Gary drowning in Wadi Mujib
-stalkers
-shoulder touching stories
-Arab men falling in love with Sarah Kate
-wearing ugly clothes, two sizes too big
-pushing two twin beds together and fitting four people
-comparing every price to falafal
-getting get kicked out of a taxi
-throwing humus in the restaurant
-getting flashed by an Iraqi mamma
-getting felt up by an Iraqi mamma (oh yeah, those happened)
-getting locked in kitchen/apartment
-unknown couple kissing in Qasid (STILL unknown)
-pregnant couple count: 2
-crazy shabab hair/pants
-talking teachers out of presentations
-falling asleep on buses
-speed walking to kanafa
-frequenting koshary restaurants
-adventures to Mafruq
-wearing clothes to bed, getting up and going to school in the SAME clothes (guilty)
-increased facial hair (not guilty)
-climbing down the colosseum illegally in Petra
-climbing up cliffs illegally
-mustache count: 8

Time for the Holy Land

Finished my exams!!

I have survived the Jordan study abroad. 

My apartment is experiencing a wild range of emotions. So if you are one of the men from the program, I suggest not coming within 50 feet of this apartment. 

Our next couple days are busy with our goodbye's and packing. We leave on Saturday. Here is my itinerary for the Holy Land:

Saturday 10th:
Cross border early
Massada
Jericho- lunch
Cable Car to Monastery
Hisham's Palace
Staying the night at a convent in Nazareth

Sunday 11th:
Sephoris
Akko
-Crusader Ruins
-New Excavations
-Prison Tour
Haifa
-Bahai Promenade
-Beach
Sisters of Nazareth Convent

Monday 12th:
Nazareth Churches
Nazareth Village
Sisters of Nazareth Convent

Tuesday 13th:
Banyas + Waterfall
Tel Dan
Druze Restaurant
Golan
Staying at Ein Gev, Kibbutz on Galilee

Wednesday 14th:
Galilee Churches
Boat Ride
LDS Church
Tiberias
Baptismal Site
Ein Gev

Thursday 15th:
Bet Alpha
Megiddo
Um Al-Fahm
Kibbutz Ein Shemer (dinner)
Ceasaria
Arrive to Jerusalem Center

Friday 16th:
Triumphal Entry Walk
Via Dolorosa
Cardo
Demascus Gate
Western Wall
Jerusalem Center

Saturday 17th:
Church
Gethsemane
Garden Tomb

Sunday 18th:
Temple Mount
Davidson Center
Kotel Tunnel
Lunch in Bethlehem
Jerusalem Center
Lectures at 7 and 8 PM

Monday 19th:
Lectures at 8 and 9 AM
Free day in Jerusalem (but wait, we have an assignment?)
Lectures at 7 PM
Jerusalem Center

Tuesday 20th:
Yad Vashem/Mr. Herzel Field Trip
Lectures 7 PM
Jerusalem Center

Wednesday 21st:
Sederot Tour
Tel Aviv:
Bun Gurion's House
Independence Hall
Rothschild St. Wooden Houses
Jaffa

AIRPORT

BOSTON :)

So naturally I am excited and praying that my energy will last a little longer.

Payback is Sweet, Matthew Martin

Meet Majdid, the mother of the Iraqi family. She just beat her kids in a card game.

 It must be a universal thing. Remember when you would make Jess cry, mom? Oh wait and Jayk and Jory AND Jacy. I can still hear your cackle.

I had to say goodbye to them last night. It was rough.

One time, Ynna criticized my blog for its lack of pictures. Since it's your birthday, this post is dedicated to you. Happy Birthday, pretty girl. I miss you.

This weekend we went on a two hour bus ride and found this:

Green.

So Dil stopped the bus and let us walk around outside. 

I'm thankful to be here.

I'm thankful to learn more about myself while studying Arabic and this culture. 

Even with the consequence of a constant headache, I'm thankful for our moveable gas heater. It saves us from our thirty degree apartment.

Death by hypothermia or asphyxiation?

Easy. Asphyxiation.

Our Thanksgiving was a little unorthodox with falafal sandwiches and hours of newspaper reading. We made up for it shwaya with a potluck dinner tonight. Finding cooking supplies and working ovens was a fiasco. Creative thinking made it work in the end and it was delicious.

I'm thankful for my Jordan family.

More importantly, I'm thankful for these girls. Last night, all three of us squeezed into a twin bed. Didn't think that was possible, didya? They even let me sleep in the middle, those gems.

I've written about Dana previously. She is the sweetest. 

Jordan and I have literally spent every minute together on this study abroad. We have pushed each other to maximum capacity and fought through times of sluggishness and despair. She's brilliant and extremely talented. I'm thankful to be around someone who is motivating and supportive. Shuks katiir.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Dancing: We are repressed from it. Music is ubiquitous in this culture and creates a temptation of the worst kind. We don't want to attract negative attention in public so we sit there and tap our fingers at the most. Well, the other girls tap their fingers. I lack self control so I shake my shoulders. When we get into elevators full of girls, we break out in the best booty dancing you wish you could lay your eyes on.

Today was one of those days.

I didn't think this white city on the hill could get more beautiful. 

And then it started snowing.

My mind was wondering today. There were a lot of situations in Egypt I did not understand while they were occurring. Looking back on them, I have more insight. 

Maiza was/is my favorite person from that study abroad. She is one of the servants in my host mother's home. I wrote about her once before. 

I went out one week with some friends to go look for a Galibiyya, a traditional Egyptian dress. We were excited for an upcoming dance party and Galibiyyas were the required garb. I bought a black dress with intricate gold embroidery. I remember trying it on in the attic of a Khankhalili store, looking in the mirror, and thinking it was absolutely beautiful.

When I got home to show my host mother, she took it from me and told me I couldn't keep it for reasons I still don't understand. Maiza watched from the hallway and instantly knew I was heartbroken/ young and stupid. We watched So You Think You Can Dance and ate mangoes that night.

When I returned from school the next day, Maiza had purchased a new Galibiyya for me. I have racked my brain trying to figure out its origin praying that she did not use her allowance for me. 

The dress was navy blue with gold embroidery and probably three sizes too big. I tried it on and she laughed. We spent the whole night altering it, trying it on, altering it once more. It's beauty along with the beauty of the memory continue to outgrow the first.

I'm aware I can never repay her for her kindness, but when I am in a position to, I'll try. 

Today was one of the better days.

Jordan and I visited the salon. I understood everything that was said. Better yet, I understood everything that the Moroccan woman said. Her name is Ahlam. Tonight, she tried to convince me to become the second wife to her husband. Evidently, he looks just like Enrique Iglesias. As fun as that sounds, I graciously declined.

On the way home, Jordan and I decided that this conversation was probably just a joke that only Arabs get. 

Or so we hope. 

I realize my comprehension has improved tremendously. I needed to recognize that accomplishment. 

So, yay, I can understand Arabic.

Now, time to work on my sputtery, sad excuse for speaking skills. 

Pillow Talk

"I'm pretty sure I haven't had any water for three months. It's only been pepsi."

"...gross, Jenny Boyle."

"Sometimes I open my mouth in the shower."

"Thats worse, Jenny Boyle."

Last post before I get serious.

Petra was incredible. We were giddy the entire weekend.
It's against BYU rules to rock climb.

(whoops)
I'm second to the left.

The only place we weren't able to get to was the urn on top of the monastery. Dil was guarding that like it was his job
(Well it was, in fact, his job).

We ended our Petra trip with a desert safari drive in Wadi Rum. This included more frolicking, rock climbing, camel rides, off roading in the back of Toyota pick-ups (I felt like I was re-living your St. John's childhood, mom and dad. teehee), dune tumbling, and eating a traditional rice and lamb meal called Mansuf.

Honestly, I'm surprised we all survived without major injuries.
It's a freakin' miracle.

Now, it's crunch time.
With peace ya'll.

I'd Stay Closer If I Were You, For Safety's Sake

For a moment we felt like little kids again.