Christmas Break!

Christmas is only 3 days away!! I can't believe it's almost here!

It's hard to get into the Christmas spirit in Kuwait. At home you see Christmas decorations in homes and stores, Christmas commercials and Christmas movies are playing on TV and it's cold outside. We don't have a tree, but we do have our stockings up, a Christmas tree scented candle burning and of course Christmas music playing all the time! I think one thing I miss more than I thought I would is playing the piano! I love playing carols and hymns on the piano and this is the first year without it!

So the plan for the next few days was last minute and unexpected, but most definitely a blessing! If you talked with us this summer, you probably heard about the visa processing fiasco! The list of things to get done to have a work visa issued is intense-background checks, degrees, teaching certificate, marriage license all authenticated in Raleigh and Washington, DC, along with a slew of medical tests. When everything was almost done, we were told to just enter with a visitor visa.....it was a mess!! 

So to finish the visa process, the school is sending most of the new teachers Jordan for 3 days. Some took the trip in September, some will go in January and a few of us were asked to go in December. The date kept being pushed back, but we got the final word on Wednesday that we are going to be in Jordan Saturday to Tuesday!

Working at an Islamic school, we only get Christmas Day off, but with this trip, I will be out of school Sunday and Monday : ) We'll fly into Amman, Jordan tonight and come back right before our Christmas Eve party! 

Here are our plans for Jordan, Insh'Allah: 

1. Visit the Dead Sea-It's going to be in the 50s during the day, but I hope we can still take a dip : ) 

2. Visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan-this is the part of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. 

3. Enjoy food and drinks around Amman-apparently there are some places in Jordan that are very "American." Maybe we'll see a Christmas tree! 

We're looking forward to the Christmas Eve party, Christmas morning breakfast with friends at our place (minus the sausage, bacon, quiche and grits) and of course skyping family and friends! I can't wait to see what Santa brings Reagan and Reece : )

Merry Christmas! Love the Phillips, 2012

PS. I counted 13. Sorry.. I wrote the word "Christmas" 13 times in this post. Can you tell it's my favorite holiday?