What am I doing here, anyway?

Sunday, July 20, 2014--From Tom:

What Am I Doing Here?---Well, when we accepted this assignment or opportunity a year ago, we really wondered what our "mission" would be here. Obviously this wasn't a "mission" in the sense that we understand it. But it always seems that our real purpose in doing something is often not known to us when we begin. So it is with us. There are the obvious things of wanting to understand  the Arab people and the Islamic faith better; of wanting to understand the Middle East and the reasons behind the many conflicts; of wanting to get a better perspective of the Holy Land and the historical and religious influences.

We both came to teach but when I arrived on campus and started seeing the many dysfunctional things, I thought, in my American way, that I could "fix" things and make them better. So I made the observations and wrote them up and had them circulated. These suggestions were to make the campus a more 'American' campus that they claim that they want to be.

After a year, it is clear that lip service is in ample supply here. My ideas were presented, voted on and accepted unanimously. Hurray!!Yet, nothing is being done by anyone, nor will it. One of my knowledgeable Arab friends says that the "discussion" is the "product". No one expects that any actions will really take place. That's why they have the commonly used expression, "Inshallah" or "Insha-allah" which means "if God wills it". It's their way of getting out of anything because if God wants it to happen, then God will make it happen. They don't believe that they have any control or influence on it. So therefore nothing gets done.

My greatest frustration is with one of the Vice Presidents in the Administration. He says he's my biggest fan but then says no to everything, everything, everything. I've had some bloody arguments with him and he says to others that "Tom has finally become an Arab". They love to argue, passionately. My Dean said that in the last Dean's Council, he questioned something the President did and it erupted into a vigorous argument. My Dean backed out of it but two others picked it up and according to my Dean, they almost killed each other. These are grown, mature PhD educators. No wonder we have problems in Syria, Iraq, Lebanon and Israel/Palestine.

I've learned that no one (especially men) are ever wrong, no one backs down or apologizes and they don't forgive. They would rather fight and die than back down and prosper. It's crazy.

Greatest Need: So I have redirected my energies to the wonderful students. Many of them are very open, eager, bright and have an altruistic optimism. When you think about it, the greatest need in Jordan, and in most other areas around here (other than the message of Christ) is to have critical thinking; to be able to see problems and find a way to solve them. They don't have that. There are many problems all around us but most people don't see them. There are systems broken all around, really everything is broken, streets, lights, signs, doors, elevators, toilets, management, cars, heating and cooling systems,…the list goes on and on. But you see many, many men just sitting all day long.

Here's the crux of it. In Jordan, over 70% of the population is under age 30 and the unemployment rate for those under 30 is about 28%. The average income for those working is about 500 Jordanian Dinars per month. ( 1 Dinar = $1.40) And they have huge families.

So the people are living in relative poverty and have few jobs. That is what the Islamic militants feed upon, discontent.

My thought is that if there is going to be a future for Jordan, there needs to be hope and opportunity for  these young people for jobs. Many of them want to leave and come to the US or go to Europe. If I can in some way give them some ability to see opportunity and learn to solve problems, it will have a long term effect on the whole country.

I am teaching the kids of some of the wealthiest families in Jordan. They will grow to be leaders of business and perhaps government. I have 3 classes with about 90 students. Two of the classes have 88 students and the subjects are problem solving in the community and critical thinking. The class titles are Cultural Development and Appreciation of Art but the more I thought about my Art class, it's really about developing the ability to do critical thinking, out-of-the-box thinking. Most do not have a clue, yet. I'm going to change that.

I've shifted the gears in my head to not worry about changing the old administrators. I need to work on the young, gifted, optimistic eager students who can make a difference. So that's what I'm here for.


Trouble in the Neighborhood: I don't want anyone to get unduly nervous but there has been a few changes in our neighborhood. You all know that Syria is really a broken state and there is no end in sight. Most of the people are either displaced and without a home or are refugees in Jordan or Lebanon. The battle is between many groups who are all fighting each other. No one is winning but there are thousands each day that walk about 200 miles being pillaged, raped and robbed to get to a refugee camp.

Syrian Refugees fleeing toward Jordan--carrying whatever they can. 

One of the worst terrorist groups (ISIS) that broke off of Al-Qaida has taken the north half of Iraq and set up a Caliphate or strictly Muslim Sharia law nation. It will be another long difficult struggle with no easy solution. Iraq can't even organize their own government to deal with the situation.

Israel and Hamas, from the Palestinian Territories, are escalating into an all out war. It's crazy. I told friends that if I want to see fireworks I can just go up on my roof and look north, east or west. Not really but almost.

So far, Jordan remains watchful but peaceful. There is little concern shown or talked about by people. They have lived in the middle of conflict for decades and Jordan still remains a safe haven. There have been a few small demonstrations in a town 185 miles south called Ma'an. But most Jordanians appreciate the peace they have. There have been no incidents here. The Jordanian military are strong and well organized and the Jordanian Intelligence service is one of the best.

The US has advisors and technical support and there are American weapons, missiles and fighter aircraft here. It would be very difficult for a foreign force to invade. It wouldn't happen that way. If there is trouble here, it would be by efforts from within to destabilize the government through demonstrations and incidents. The terrorist group ISIS has targeted Jordan, but most believe it would be very difficult and would take a long time. Yet we are cautious and only 25 minutes from the airport. So say an extra prayer for us---for all of us. It's a crazy world.

If you want to have a good news source for unbiased analysis of these events, don't rely on CNN or Fox News. They only tell so much and it's often very slanted. In addition to reading BBC news, I subscribe and read a free news report by The Washington Institute (TWI) and the Middle East Forum. Both are think-tanks in the US that seem to give factual reports and analysis without the hype. You can google and find both of them or http://www.meforum.org and http://www.washingtoninstitute.org.

This is one of my students after I gave him his grade for the 1st Exam. 

Ronna has been home in Logan for a month and other than breaking her toe she's been relaxing and hugging grandchildren. I'll be heading there after Summer Semester on August 22-23. The summer here is perfect weather. It's milder than Utah and there's always a nice breeze. I go swimming almost every day and enjoy a nice time in our orchard and vineyard. I took some green grapes yesterday and they were the sweetest most beautiful grapes I've ever had. My cooking problem is solved.

Love to you all.
Tom

Jerusalem at Night

Sunday, July 13, 2014 From Tom:

Jerusalem at Night from Mt. Nebo: I went to Osama's house for dinner and afterwards Osama suggested we drive the 5 minutes to Mt. Nebo and look over to Jerusalem. It had been a windy day so the air was incredibly clear. We could clearly see Jerusalem, Jericho, the Baptism site and Jordan Valley all lit up. It's only 20 miles or so but can take 5 hours.

Right now, our US Embassy is warning us to stay away, especially for areas south of Jerusalem. Hundred of rockets have been launched by Hamas toward Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and the southern parts of the Israeli section. Very little damage has been done because the Israeli Defense Forces have a system called Iron Dome that intercepts rockets or missiles coming in but it's a dangerous time.

So far no warnings for Jordan. There have been a few anti-government demonstrations by a tribe in a town about 120 miles south but nothing else. Everyone says that the Jordanian Intelligence and Defense forces are excellent and are on top of the situations. Still we are trying to stay aware. Our landlord is going a little crazy. I saw him digging in the back orchard. He is digging a cave under a large rock. When I asked him, he said it was to shelter 3 or 4 people. It's his version of a bomb shelter.

Jerusalem at Night--(not my photo, but this shows better)

Dinner with Osama and Houda during Ramadan: Since Ronna has returned to Utah and Osama knows that I am helpless, they have invited me to dinner every night. I only go once or twice a week but it shows how generous they are. Tonight we had the Jordanian traditional dish, Mansef. It's lamb on a bed of rice with a sauce of yogurt and lemon. Very delicious. You are supposed to eat it with just your hands. They fast all day from sunrise until sunset for a month. 

Houda and Osama serving Mansef in their newly remodeled home. They have traditional clothing on. His is called a Dishdash. 

Hey! I'm still here.

Sunday, July 6, 2014--From  Tom,

Hey! I'm still here. 
It seems like I've been forgotten over here. Ronna is now home and settled into our temporary rental. She had a somewhat rough trip home but is recovering. I'm knocking around in this lonely box. Every so often I drive down the lane and honk at the little Bedouin goat herder, just for company.

So if anyone gets this, send me a note on my email--tjensen@archnexus.com

Happy 4th of July--There's not too much of a celebration here, obviously. I was invited to go to the US Embassy to watch the fireworks but decided against it. My legs and knees are hurting and there would be a lot of standing and it's a 45 minute drive.

So, I'm going to look at the videos of fireworks that I took on my i-phone at the Logan Freedom Fire a year or two ago. I'll get some patriotic music on U-Tube and have a party. Whoo-hoo.

Classes for Summer Semester are intensive. I teach three classes with about 90 students straight through from 8:30 AM to almost 1 PM. My legs are beat but the kids are terrific. I have assignments due in all three classes tomorrow morning. The Appreciation of Art is doing a "blind contour" drawing of a friend or family member without looking at their paper. It's a way to learn to really see things. My Cultural Development is coming up with projects to get involved with in the community. If it has any effect it would be incredible. Most Jordanians are pretty passive about their communities. But these kids seem quite bright and altruistic. One girl wanted to solve "honor killings." A big task. There were over 839 in Pakistan last year.There are not too many in Jordan but it happens.

For the Architectural Design class, the students need to start from scratch. Like how do you draw a line and do lettering. They have said that after just 2 classes that I taught them more than they learned the whole previous semester.

The most fun is the Appreciation of Art. We're studying the sketching of Leonardo di Vinci and Picasso, the painting of Rembrandt and Van Gogh and the sculpture of Michelangelo. I'm preparing lectures the night before and it's a lot of work but the kids are opening up. I have kids from Nigeria, Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Malaysia and, of course, Jordan. The room is packed and they are responding. Some examples of artwork that we discussed are……

"Guernica" by Picasso--Our discussion on this almost had us all in tears. Look it up.

"The Milkmaid" by Jan Vermeer

"Nefertiti"--Reminds me of my Queen

"The Judgement" in the Sistine Chapel by Michelangelo--(remember, he painted this on wet plaster so there no erasing if there would be any mistakes. And Michelangelo didn't like to paint!!)

How would you like to be teaching about these? It's wonderful. 

Our New Wall:

Our landlord finally finished the wall around the property, including a barb wire fence on the top.

What's amazing is that it's all done my hand by two Egyptian workers. They get less than a dollar per square foot of wall and work all day in 90-100 heat. They don't order a truck load of concrete. Instead they mix it on the site and carry the buckets on their shoulders. They lift the big boulders and crack them with a large sledge. Jordanians don't do this kind of work. It's all done by Egyptians. There is broken glass on top of the wall, and then the gate has a big gap in it so even a fat terrorist could just slide under. And there is no lock on the gate. So what is the point of putting it up? At least it's keeping the wild dog packs and goat herds out. 

Happy Ramadan!!

Sunday, June 29--From Tom: (who else? Ronna's in Utah)

Happy Ramadan-- So how would you like Fast Sunday to last for a month? And if they catch you snacking in public, you might get arrested.

I wondered about Ramadan but here I am enjoying it--well at least experiencing it. It's an Islamic practice--actually it's regarded as one of the Five Pillars of Islam. It's the 9th month of the Islamic calendar and lasts for a month. No drinking, eating, smoking or sex from dawn to dusk. For us foreigners, at least you can't do any of those in public. Three of those are easy (you can guess), but it's now over 100 degrees here so I have my hip flask for a little nip of water.

Muslim people are supposed to focus on spiritual things, read their scriptures, try to read the entire Quran if possible, and give to the poor. Sound familiar. They can have large meals before  sun-up and after sunset, which often involves major parties. I went swimming at a nice hotel nearby. No one could tell if I was swallowing the water, so is that cheating? I didn't get arrested.

They also decorate the highways and downtown areas in (guess what) Christmas lights. Well, at least they look like our Christmas lights. Except there is a lot of purple and green. Actually it's pretty cool.

Store windows celebrating Ramadan--they like purple or violet

A vendor's cart decorated for Ramadan

Ronna is back in Logan-- She arrived in Utah on Thursday, greeted by Lindee, Cori and their kids, all wearing yellow shirts. I don't know if she has a phone yet and I don't think she's connected yet on email. But if you contact Lindee, she can help. Not everything went well on her flight home, but she's safe. We skyped Friday for a while, but my connectivity is so bad that it's difficult.

So I'm here alone. :(  But I'm having some pretty incredible classes to teach. I'm teaching Appreciation of Art with 52 students, Cultural Development with 44 and a small Architectural Design Class. I teach all classes each day for 4 days and then have a 3 day weekend. So it's a lot of studying night before. It's been really fun. Comments by students in the Art Appreciation class were very uplifting. In answer to the written question on their first assignment of "Why are you taking this course?" came these responses.

"Well basically I had to take this course……up until today when you, sir, really changed my view….and really got me thinking about things in a different way".

"I need to finish the university, so need to take the course, but after the first lecture I am here because of this amazing lecturer and a class full of girls, he he !!"

The second student, named Fanous, is a bit of a smart aleck and after I showed an image of a painting by Mondrian he blurted out, "I could paint that in 3 minutes." I said, "Great, I'll give you the weekend and we'll see what it looks like…. and if it sells for over $40 million". I think he's going to do it and it will be fun to see. Their assignment was to describe how a work of art, including music, has touched them emotionally. I had described how several art, architecture and music experiences had brought me to tears. It's getting interesting.

The Culture Development class requires the students to find an issue or problem in their community and work on a solution for the semester. That is what I've been doing in Utah for the last 35 years or so. It should be a lot of fun also. I have kids fighting to get into the class now.

Our phone connection is down so I'd love to hear your comments or responses via email.

Miss you!
Tom

Outing in the Scandinavian Forest

Sunday, June 15: From Tom

Fathers and Sons Outing: So what was I supposed to do? I left all my sons, sons-in-law and grandsons back in Utah and the Fathers and Son's outing was happening. Some of the families suggested that I adopt a son and go anyway. So I did.

The last time I did serious camping I was younger than Chandi and much more resilient. My favorite camping sites now are rated 4 or 5 star. I struggle with walking up stairs now.

We drove about an hour north ( toward Syria ) to a forested area in the mountains somewhat southeast of the Sea of Galilee. It's also near where Jacob wrestled with an angel. It was donated by the King of Sweden on behalf of the Scandinavian people's friendship with Jordan

Scandinavian Forest in Jordan--looks like parts of Arizona or Utah

Looking over Jordan River Valley towards Israel

Old pioneer games--pulling sticks

Elder Ron Hammond, former General Authority,  is a Humanitarian Missionary in our branch. We rode up together. 

Makes me homesick!! Where's my grandsons when I need them?

The best part was playing Capture the Flag. Running is almost impossible anyway for me and the ground was very rocky, so they used me for a "decoy" just to let me feel that I contributed.

I could hardly walk for a week.

Most of the other men are much younger than me and work for the US Embassy

Warren Leishman--Green Beret, mountain man type--works at the US Embassy

This is my idea of an outdoor adventure--on our front portico.

Ronna's idea of an adventure--dining at the Four Seasons Resort in Amman

Exams, Our Friends in Jordan and Baptism at Site

Sunday, June 8, 2014: From Tom

Final Exams-----Finally!!
We're giving final exams this week. I think it's harder on us than the students. We obviously have to make up the exams, prepare the students as well as possible, proctor the exams, grade them, listen to the whining, create the grading spreadsheet and post the grades. But we also have to make up a Portfolio of what happened in the class including syllabus, schedule, exams, projects, notes, and examples of their work. Then we have to do an elaborate analysis of the learning outcomes to see if the students actually  learned what we intended.

Final Exam in my Design Principles Class--Note the spacing to try to reduce cheating.

Rules in the Exam---Do you really need to tell them to use the toilet?? Yes, they have magical powers to enable cheating at any price. They can drive 5 hours without a stop, but need to use the toilet twice during a class lecture. Mostly it's to go get a "smoke".  We don't let them leave during the exam though.

I gave them a pretty tough exam, especially for students who struggle with English and are highly protected by their rich parents. On the first day I asked if any of them had worked in a design office (none), visited an office (none), visited an architectural project (none), read a book or article on architecture or design (none). I was amazed! I had done all of that when I entered college. So we're starting from zero. I pushed them to read, go to sites, analyze, measure and observe. By the end of the semester a good number were showing great promise--even brilliance.

While I'll need to fail about 4 that should never have been there in the first place, there are 6-8 that are very talented and amazing at grasping the concepts. It's fun to challenge their minds. The Jordanian system is based on rote memorization. "Give them a list and they will memorize it". I have them look at new images and try to analyze the systems and concepts. They need to start to think "out of the box" because we are always dealing with new situations.

Excuses, excuses!! It's always someone else's fault, always. It seems that the culture doesn't accept taking personal responsibility, certainly they never take blame. A sample of excuses: "my driver doesn't get me on time", "my mother needed to go to the dentist", "I lost my notes", "But I don't like to read," and the best one is "but I was absent on those days". There is a huge cultural difference between the Western kids who are raised to explore, seek challenges, and to try something and the Arab culture which protects their kids too much and even is adverse to exploring new ideas.

Yet I have found some very bright lights. One student believes that he will eclipse Steven Spielberg in movies. He's already starting to shoot his movies. In my Theories Class I had them all start a new company, at least on paper. It was tough but they had some good thinking. Many of the students said that I was the first professor that asked their opinion. The others just lectured.

Half of my crazy Design Theory Class--Jude, Mira, Razan, Abed and Noodles ( Anoud). Lots of energy. 

Two favorite students, Malek and Nadeen. Malek is a disc jockey and manages parties. He struggles with English but really tries. I was told to flunk him early last year when he was not doing well. I showed extra interest and let him use an Arabic-English Translator on his phone and he's doing A- work now. 

Nadeen, is always on time and does perfect work. On April Fool's Day, she called her friends to come to the class, pretend they were Security and tried to arrest me. 

 Rand, is probably my best student always getting a 98 or 99 on her exams and assignments. But she came down with a rare disease called Wilson's Disease where her body retains the copper. It could have been fatal but they caught it in time. 

Some of my fellow faculty members: 

Dr. Ali Shurman

Dr. Ali Shurman is a Musicologist, trained in Italy and Russia. He is acting Dean while Ra'ed  is presenting in Dubai. It was Ali's shoe that I tossed  a few weeks ago.

Zena

Zena, is a Graphic Artist from Dubai. She is trained and worked in San Francisco. Extremely talented.

Dr. Yasser, architect--He led the conference on Urban Minorities

Baptism at the Site:

One of our members got permission from Jordanian authorities to have their son baptized at the site of Jesus' baptism. Normally this is done on the Israel/ Palestinian West Bank side of the Jordan where there are large wide stairways leading down to the river. Many people go to be baptized and get a white gown from the local Catholic priest and essentially baptize themselves. 

The Jordan side has wooden steps under a small pavilion. Both sides are guarded and controlled by military with submachine guns since it is an international border that was at war only a few decades ago. 

Looking across the Jordan to the West Bank, where the Catholic Church provides white gowns for those wanting to be baptized, mostly baptizing themselves.

Entering the Jordan--there was a big drop off in a few feet. 

Cameron Birchenough--newly baptized

"Shoe Fly--Oh My" and Our Change in Schedule

Sunday, June 1, 2014--From Tom:

Shoe Fly--Oh My-------Oh Why?
When Ronna and I decided to come to this very interesting part of the world, we were obviously concerned about safety and health issues. We also were concerned about doing something that might not be acceptable or even offend the local culture. So we read a lot and talked to many people and thought we were prepared. Not so!

I was walking down the corridor in our department and some of the other professors were 'horsing around'. Ali, a professor of music, was doing a little dance and singing in the corridor. As I passed him I noticed his shoes had come off. Without breaking stride, I reached down and spontaneously picked one of them up and kept walking. When I got about 15 feet away, he noticed his shoe was missing. I was standing in front of another professors' office and, to get rid of the evidence, I flipped the shoe in the office and kept going. BIG MISTAKE!!

In a few minutes I was visited by a very angry professor, whom I will call Omar. He informed me that,  in the Arab culture, throwing a shoe at someone was the deepest, most serious insult possible. I was mortified. I certainly didn't intend to insult him nor did I even throw it at him, but he perceived and interpreted that I had meant it as an insult. I apologized profusely and told him that it was part of innocent horseplay and I made a mistake and did not intend an insult. He seemed to accept that and I thought everything would be OK. He is a native Jordanian who lived in London for over 20 years. He is a professional architect and editor and publisher of an international journal on Arab architecture. So he's lived in Western, rather liberal cultures.

Over the months I had helped him with his classes, given him rides out of my way, paid great attention to his family and children, had wonderful conversations, etc. But this event overshadowed all of that. He went to other professors, had a long and difficult conversation with the Dean and threatened to quit. He didn't express direct anger at me but still the insult had hurt him emotionally. I heard about it again from Ali. So I went a 2nd and 3rd time to apologize and ask forgiveness. He said he accepted my apology and knew that I didn't mean any offense. He said all was forgiven. And I thought it was.

A week or two later I found that he had gone to the President of the University and the Provost telling of the horrible insult he had received. He expresses friendship and kindness to me but keeps rehearsing the insult. My colleagues and the Dean have all told him to let it go and move on. They know I was ignorant of this tradition and didn't intend it. So it's been a hard lesson. Oh my!

You may recall that in December 2008 an Arab journalist threw his shoe at President George W. Bush while in Iraq. He was arrested, allegedly tortured and sentenced to three years in prison. But he also was  deemed a hero by the people. A Saudi businessman offered $10 million for the shoes but they were destroyed.

The shoe covers the lowest part of the body and is what steps in the filth. Thus it is seen as the worst insult. So I've learned a lesson.

While this may be interpreted as a reflection on the Arab culture, it shouldn't be. Many Arab colleagues have been puzzled by his unwillingness to let go. He's rather rigid in his classroom style and intolerant of  some of the students playfulness.


Our Change of Schedule: Unless we stay out of the US for over 330 days we pay a significant tax penalty on top of the taxes we already pay in Jordan. So we decided to have Ronna come home as scheduled and Tom will stay in Jordan and teach Summer Semester. So Ronna will be home in Utah from June 26 to September 3 when she will go to visit Chandi and Geoff in Pennsylvania. I will come home on August 23 and return to Jordan on September 13. We have an apartment in North Logan.

We have so many people to visit. Can you tell we are homesick?

Jordanian Recycling Program: Instead of the US system where we sort our waste and put it in different containers for recycling, the Jordanians put everything into one container. Then a few days later the gypsies come along and empty all of our trash into the driveway and pick out what they want and go to the next house, leaving all the trash.

So here I am cleaning up. The alternate plan is that many Jordanians just light the whole thing on fire.