Off to Amman
Friday, October 24, 2008 at 06:29PM
Beware of all enterprises that require new clothes. - Thoreau
Despite the above caution, I bought a new hooded sweatshirt for my trip to Jordan. Flight leaves today at 4PM.
I'm excited. I love the challenge of working with international educators, and next Friday and Saturday I'll be doing workshops with teacher-librarians at the NESA Fall Training Institute. This is the fourth time, I think, I've worked with David Chojnacki and his team. They are a class act!
But I am also excited to have a few extra days added to my visit just to be a tourist. I'll spend a day or so touring Amman and there is a NESA-arranged two-day visit, hike and campout to Petra and Wadi Rum on the agenda. (The campout is the reason for the new sweatshirt.) I hope to see some crusader castles and lots of other archeological-type stuff.
I worked in Saudi Arabia for five years in the mid-80s, so there is always a little feeling of homecoming whenever I get to travel to the Middle East.
Here is how my connection to the area started.
-------
On Valentines Day 1984 the temperature was well below zero in West Branch, Iowa and my 12-year-old car hadn't started. I was worried how I would get to Iowa City that night so I could work the 11PM-7AM my motel desk clerk moonlighting job. That morning I hiked the mile and a half from my old trailer house north of town to the junior high where I was in my fifth year as a half time librarian and half time English teacher. There had been an increasing number of rumors of budget cuts and it was nealry certain that either the high school librarian or I would be gone the following year.
About nine o'clock that morning an announcement came over the intercomm. "Mr. Johnson, please come to the office for a telephone call." Wow. Nobody ever called me at work. I went to the office and picked up the phone. As best I can remember, the conversation went like this:
Hi the-ya. Mista Johnson? This is Jill calling from the Aramco Oil Company in Houston. Texas? Are you still single, honey? (All said in a lovely Southern drawl.)
I confirmed that I was. I had put in an application to the company two years prior on the recommendation of my aunt who worked for the company already.
Well, Mistah Johnson, we'd just love to have you to come to Houston to interview for a nice library job with our schools in Saudi Arabia. Would you be free next month to come visit with us?
I told her I'd love to interview. (Rumor was that I could double my current magnificent $18K salary working there.) But I just didn't see how I could afford to get to Houston for an interview.
Oh, Mistah Johnson, this is the private sector you'd be working for, not the public sector. (A hint of distaste saying the words public sector.) We'll have a first class round trip ticket for you from Des Moines to Houston. We'll of course pay your hotel and meals. Is there any place you would like to be routed back through on the way home?
A few weeks later this little farm boy was in a big downtown Houston hotel watching hot air balloon rides being given in the atrium. That Friday consisted of a short orientation session in the morning about the company, country and schools; a fancy lunch for all candidates at which I had the presence of mind not to order alcohol or wipe my face on the table cloth; and the interview with the superintendent that afternoon that lasted about 20 minutes and consisted primarily of talking about the most recent mystery novels we'd read and confirming I had attended an ALA accredited library school.
Well, I passed background check, sold the trailer, and moved to Udhailiyah, Saudi Arabia that July. Oh, my salary didn't double, however. It nearly tripled.
-------
Despite politics, terrorism, and rhetoric, I've continued to have a fondness for the region. I was never treated anything but fairly, even generously, when I was there. Islam, like most religions, has peace, tolerance and forgiveness as its tenents.
I'll keep you updated on the trip...
School picture, Udhailiyah School, Aramco, Saudi Arabia, 1984-85 (Yes, the igal is too small.)
Reader Comments (6)
Doug,
I will be teaching Middle East (Geography, Government, Economy, History) beginning in about 4 weeks. Pictures would be great. I promise to give you credit to my class and Admins.
What I would really like to be able to do is show how the classroom can become more "real" when teachers make connections with people around the world. It is a slow process where I am. I've nearly given up on the conversation several times.
But yesterday Laura, a daughter of one of our teachers, spoke to my class. She spent 8 months in China (ending in April of 2008) where she taught English to the 3rd graders. My students were hooked by her pictures and stories. I am teaching Eastern Asia (China) currently. She held the pandas at Chengdo, stood a few feet from the Terra Cotta Soldiers, and had picture of pollution problems. She showed the students practicing Tai Chi on the school recreation field which helped my kids understand more about tradition and culture. We also learned about the sand dunes in Vietnam along the South China Sea. I didn't know they existed. The kids thought I was supposed to know everything. It was great to show them that we all learn together.
I have convinced the other Social Studies teachers to invite her to speak to their classes. They are working on a schedule for her to come back over the next couple of weeks.
Can you help too?
What a fascinating experience that must have been. Thanks for sharing your memories.
Please save "hello" to David and the crew at NESA. I miss the group and the NESA connections. I worked at ACS, Amman for 11 years, so please say a huge "hello" to Samar, the librarian there and also Brian Lahan, the head of the school. Enjoy Petra and the rest of the visit.
You look sufficiently serious in that picture, scarily serious even. I know I wouldn't misbehave in your library, with you giving me a look like that. I don't think I'd steal any books either. That's a great story, and quite a daring adventure. Saudi Arabian Librarian has a nice ring to it . . . although it might look kind of mystifying on the resume. That story would be a perfect prequel to resurrect your 'Slick Chicken Tricks' story. At least once every year I have to dig deep into your dusty archives to find that Saudi Arabian Librarian literary fable. Maybe you've mentioned it in your blog before, but if you haven't, you should.
My brother has worked with the United Nations in Jordan for several years in helping to coordinate projects with Iraqi civil servants. One of his most memorable trips in Jordan is to Petra, the ancient rose red city carved in stone. It has been called Jordan's most valuable treasure and tourist attraction.
Looking forward to the armchair travelogue!
@ Hi Ric,
Greetings from Amman.
International connections like you describe have been around for a good long time and seem critical to me if students are to consider themselves "global citizens." I think we were doing "keypals" over 10 years ago.
My thought is that the best connections come from international schools where students and teachers actually live for extended periods of time in a country. From short visits like mine, a culture-less travelogue may be the best one gets.
Let me know, however, if I can be of help.
All the best,
Doug
@ Hi Carolyn,
Teaching in Saudi was not just fascinating, but life changing. I'd encourage all people to work in another country at some point in their lives if possible.
All the best,
Doug
@ Hi Rhonda,
I'll say "hi" to David for you!
Thanks for the blog post about the institute, too.
Doug
@ Hi Keith,
Well, this was dress up day. Oh, and I kept my sword and dagger in my desk at the library rather than carry it on me.
My tales of publishing the Chicken Story are at:
http://dougjohnson.squarespace.com/dougwri/chickens-crickets-and-rejection.html
Thanks for the reminder,
Masallahma,
Doug
@ Thanks, Paul. Off to Petra this am and for a night of desert camping.
And I am envious of your Shakespearean experiences. We are lucky to have the Guthrie theater here in MN for these kinds of events.
Doug