Let it fly

Well it was just another day. I am sitting next to the middle son and he is playing around with pictures on the computer while singing. One thing about the people in Wadi Rum is that they are not afraid to sing and dance. (Wooohooo!) I woke up at the camp and had a breakfast of warm pita bread, cheese, pineapple jam, Hulawah (sugary thing), and some sesame paste. I always love eating up at the camp because it is the wonderful little buffet of good food and good tea. I have also become addicted to the tea they drink here. It’s a black tea with tons and tons of sugar in it. However, you only drink small amounts not big huge cups. The tea is always delicious and takes the place of desert after dinner. I feel like answering some questions about things that have happened since we have been here.

Camels.
They are amazing animals that sound like monsters when they talk. The reason that we hurt so badly was because of the way we were sitting. To sit comfortably, you must swing your leg over the camel and ride a type of side saddle. We were riding it like you would a horse, with our legs on both sides. The saddle of camels are not like that of a horse because you ride on top of the hump. (haha, funny animals).

The man slapping me.
It was a bop. It was a playful smack, not a “Oh my god I hate you,” kind of smack. It did hurt though and left a bad taste in my mouth. Don’t think that if you bring your children to the Middle East, they will all get smacked. This is a rare breed.

Eating.
I have no idea what is in the food, but it sure is amazing. They hardly use a refrigerator and all the food is fresh. They use spices, yogurt, vegetables, rice, and a little chicken

Now for random thoughts.
Today I took a nice shower, scrubbed off all the grime. (Yeah, grime, that’s the word.) Everyone that knows me would be very taken a back at my appearance. I take a shower every 3 –4 days, don’t shave (what’s the point if your covered up? Gosh I wish I could see your faces!), no make up what so ever, I wear the same 3 outfits, wash my clothes every 2 weeks, and when I wash my face I turn a different color. But I don’t care! I feel great not having to keep up my appearance, because these people don’t shower every other day, and don’t change their clothes almost all week. That is how the rest of the world lives, and I feel happy to do the same. Even though, I feel so gross sometimes that I have to take a shower in the next 5 minutes. Okay. Well after my shower I pampered myself with some lotion, cleaned my fingernails, and changed into fresh new clothes. I feel good. Earlier today after my hair was dry, I let my hair down. I keep my hair up in a bun or in a ponytail everyday and I was ready to let it fly. I walked up to the mirror and took a step back at the person staring back at me. Who is she? I don’t recognize her? I looked different and I felt different. I have not given myself a good look in the mirror since we have been here. I stood there and looked at my eyes, my nose, my hair, and my whole face. I felt different. This was me, no make up, no thoughts, and no feelings, just me. I looked different. I felt like I had stripped away my teenage hormones, my care for what people thought of me, my fake makeup, etc. Just, Bailey Marie-Francoise Theado. I just hope that I can stay this way, and the aggressive people in France do not corrupt me. (You can probably hint at my feelings towards the country =] )

Well the situation in the house is doing great. I think that a little aunt named “Aunt flow,” might have taken a visit into the house. It was a full moon a couple days ago, and if you have no idea what I am talking about I will just come out and say it. I think that the women in the house may have had their period because the full moon was out. There. I took matters into my own hands; I slept more, and just moved slower. When I would do dishes, I take my time. I just turned my “work” knob to slow, and I feel a lot better and more relaxed. I am going to go chill in the hostel and maybe sleep or play a round of cards.