Written by Lina Ejeilat It was just recently that I was introduced to the beautiful music of Souad Massi; France-based Algerian guitarist and vocalist, and I was very excited about the chance to see her perform live for the first time in Jordan, amidst the ancient columns of Jerash's North Theater. What I didn't expect was that it would turn out to be one of the most wonderful concert experiences I've witnessed, captivating the audience, and bringing people down to the middle circle to dance and sway to Souad's passionate music and beautiful voice. (more...)...

Language of Baklava: A Memoir, Diana Abu-Jaber, Anchor Books, New York, 2005. Written by Lee S. Tesdell Diana Abu-Jaber, the author of the Language of Baklava, has confirmed something I have suspected for some time; food, in immigrant and refugee communities, can become food-language, a connection with back home: What is food-language? It spans the continents. It might be the growing, acquisition, or the preparation of the ingredients. It might be the culinary utensils and the company you keep when you are preparing the food. It is the sounds of the original language used to discuss food and the smells and tastes around the table as you are partaking; food language is powerful. Sometimes there are no words for the food or dish in the host culture. Sometimes the ingredients have to be altered to substitute for one that does not exist or...

Video provided by Khobbeizeh....

This article is the third in a three-part series focusing on education in Jordan. This piece concentrates on brain drain or the educated moving and living abroad. The lure of money in the Gulf is drawing some of Jordan's best and brightest where they can earn what they are worth. Written by Ramsey G. Tesdell Low quality education, rising living costs and the lure of money in the Gulf are causing many to move away from Jordan to work and live according to education officials and experts. Education and industry officials argue that some of the best-educated Jordanians are leaving the country because of the decline in work opportunities and an economy that cannot support the employees. “The economic structure is not prepared to absorb the educated graduates from Jordan’s educational system and forcing them to look elsewhere for work.”...

Written by Waleed Tarteer Summer has arrived in Jordan. So has the heat, the endless days of sun and clear skies and traffic jams caused by cars from outside of Jordan. For the student body, we are now enjoying the summer in every way we can, starting with sleeping in. Our parents are more lenient and allow us to go out with friends, or go swimming and then going back to sleep. For the unfortunate ones who have to work, the evenings are filled with concerts and weekends filled with shorts trips to various summer places around Jordan. There are lots of things that we can do during the summer. Things such as going to watch movies, sipping lattés at the various cafés, playing sports (biking, swimming, tennis, karting), and a lot more. I asked a few people about what...

Written by Ramsey G. Tesdell This article is the second in a three-part series focusing on education in Jordan. This piece concentrates on higher education. Higher education in Jordan is suffering from "chronic problems" and faces stiff and unrealistic regulations that are hampering economic development in Jordan according to university and industry officials. The Kingdom currently has 10 public universities and 17 private institutions that are regulated by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. The Ministry also is responsible for the Higher Education Council and the Accreditation Council. (more...)...

In the coming weeks, Jordan's students will be heading to the tawjihi tests. We take a look at how the educational system works, and some of the major challenges facing education in Jordan. Written by Ramsey G. Tesdell This article is the first in a three-part series focusing on education in Jordan. This piece concentrates on primary education. A growing disparity between private and public primary education in the Kingdom is contributing to divisions in society and furthering social tensions among citizens according to education officials and experts. (more...)...

Macadi Nahhas was born in Amman in 1977. She studied at the Music Conservatory of Beirut in Lebanon. While in Lebanon she has become a popular singer for her unique mix of traditional and modern styles. She performs at various events in Jordan. "She released her debut album “Kan Ya Ma Kan”, in the year 2004. In the same year, and under the patronage of H.E Minister of Culture, Asma Khader, she presented a joint work with the well-known Lebanese poet Zahi wahbeh; Poems & Acapella singing. Also in the year 2004, the Greater Amman Municipality produced a song titled “Amman” and by the end of the year she participated in the song “Inti El Shams”, dedicated to victims of the November terrorist acts in Amman, with Ruba Saqr & Sawsan Habib who composed the song. Her latest Single is a...

The Children's Museum, the first hands on and interactive institution of its kind in Jordan, was brought to life last month. Dedicated to serving children, families, schools and the community at large, the Children's Museum provides powerful interactive learning experiences to encourage and nurture lifelong learning for children and their families. The cheerful exhibit hall is full of possibilities; three main themes - humankind, the natural world, and technology- are featured throughout the hall. These three themes are further developed through topics such as health and fitness, astronomy, geology, the environment, creativity, civilization, mechanics, robotics, light and optics, mathematics, air and flight, communications, and more. There is also an outdoor garden that includes exhibits relating to water, science, music, and travel. Some exhibits invite full body participation, others encourage contemplation; some are noisy and busy, others inspire calm reflection. In the museum, children can discover recycling opportunities, challenge their...

The Castle That Time Forgot: Qasr Al Bashir Written by Marc-Henry Saillard The beautiful Middle Eastern sun begins to set just as it has for many times before on this remote site. What makes this site that much more incredible than watching the sun set from anywhere else is the history you are sitting on. This castle is a testament to time immemorial; surviving military attacks, earthquakes and the fall of one of history’s greatest empires, the Roman Empire. Yet it remains, albeit in a ruinous state, as an example of previous military forces in a region steeped in history. (more...)...