Boab Sammy

In Jordan, each building has its own caretaker called, Boab's.  These guys supervise the building and help maintain the cleanliness of it.  Our Boab, Sammy takes out our rubbish, cleans our car and waters our plants on the front porch.  We pay a fee once a month for this service.  Our Boab, Sammy is a lovely man from Egypt (they are all mostly from Egypt).  He is the sweetest thing and so kind to Ayla.

Independence Day, May 25th

In 1946, Jordan achieved freedom from the British.  It was on this day that Transjordan became what it is know as today, The Hashemite Kingdom Jordan.  Today, there has been a wonderful airshow flying over Amman.  Ayla has been petrified of the loud sounds going over our heads.  It is a national holiday in Jordan and a nice day off work.

Long live the King of Jordan!

Copas Central

Copas is new hang out for Robert and I.  We have been here once and it was a lot of fun.  It sells tapas and other foods.  On a Thursday after school, many of our friends come here to take advantage of the 'Happy Hour' which is buy one drink, get the other free.  As the weather is getting warmer, this a is a great place to hang out and unwind after a hard week's work.

Shams El Balad

This morning, some good friends took Ayla and I to a nice restaurant downtown called, 'Shams El Balad' near first circle.  It is a wonderful place to catch the morning sun and enjoy a cafe with some excellent, organic food.  The manager told us that the food is made off site by local women who use only organic produce.

There is a nice, smoke-free downstairs, but an even better upstairs with a nice view of the Citadel and the Ummayad Palace.  

They do not sell bottled water which is a huge plus for the local environment.  They have free water for customers which is very good for Amman.

Levant Seafood

It looks like my blogger days are dwindling away!  It is amazing how much a baby can change your life.  Working full time and parenting full time takes all my time and very little is left to write in my blog.  I have also just started a part time masters so most of my writing time now needs to go into that.  However, I will share with you a recent find - Levant Seafood.  I wrote a post about Levant Restaurant a while ago.  Just across the road from there is their Seafood Restaurant and I must say, it is excellent!

We were treated by our school one night to this nice, fancy restaurant and we loved it.

Maria's Yoga Studio

I began a yoga practice in Taiwan in 2004.  I was thinking, "what am I going to do with my life?  I can't stay teaching ESL in Taiwan forever!  I know, I'll become a yoga teacher!"  I had never practiced yoga before in my life, but the naive 20 something year old that I was believed that I could be a yoga teacher, live in Thailand and be a hippy for the rest of my days.  Thankfully, I became a school teacher!  I quit yoga in 2004 after I had an accident, but in 2009, I resumed my practice only to get sick in 2011.  I couldn't follow any of the asana's because I was unable to breathe correctly.  I struggled and I quit yoga again.

In November 2014, I found Maria's Yoga Studio in Amman.  A group of my girlfriends have been going for a long time, but I had a hard time bringing myself to go.  My past love and pursuit of yoga was often followed by some personal struggle.  However, in Maria's studio and with Maria herself, I found a great resurgence of energy, inspiration and happiness.  The studio with its warm, positive, clean environment and Maria who is strong, caring, kind and giving have enabled me to become reacquainted with that young, naive 20 year old who dreamt of a wholesome, green and healthy existence.

Becoming Ayla's mother has made me even more determined to be happy and healthy!  I want to be the best role model I can possible be for my daughter.  I find that yoga is challenging me to transform myself into a better, more healthier person.  It gives me clarity of thought and with a daily practice, helps strengthen my self discipline.

Going to Maria's allows me to build space for me in my life.  A place where I can be alone with my thoughts.  I have been going 3 times a week and it is an oasis in my busy, hectic life.  Here, I stop, meditate and stretch.  I am so very grateful for this place, for reigniting a dormant Michelle and for allowing me to breathe.

Unfortunately, Maria will be leaving soon!  However, the front room to our house is big enough to create a space similar to Maria's.  We tried it the other day and it worked. I lit candles, lit incense and played some shanti music.  It was just fine.  Who knows, maybe this is the start of me creating my own yoga space.  One day, I may just fulfil that 20 year old dream of becoming a yoga teacher.