This week is the Winter Camp for the Orphan Welfare Association (OWA) – the organization where I volunteer on the weekends (you may remember my past stories of crazy yet adorable 4 to 10 year olds?).
The annual Winter Camp is a week-long program in Aqaba for nearly 80 boys, orphans who live in Baqaa Refugee Camp. The girls of the OWA have never participated in the past, with the far-away sleepover trip viewed as too difficult for this conservative community. HOWEVER thanks to the dedication of the volunteers, who insisted upon making it possible for the girls (and, might I add, are also 80% men who themselves live in Baqaa Camp), a two-day program was hosted for the first time for 24 girls, ranging from 4 to 14 years old.
And…. I got to chaperone!
In two days, we visited Petra, toured Wadi Rum, had a 7fla (party) in a Bedouin Camp, took a boat tour of Aqaba, visited Aqaba’s museum and aquarium, and played on the beach. It was the first time any of the girls had gone to these places — the most famous places in Jordan. Needless to say, it was actually the best time ever.
There were 4 of us volunteers leading the girls and I really can’t even explain how much fun I had in only 48 hours. Instead, I will just share anecdotes/insights/ramble a bit.
1) Cross-cultural exchange: “Miss Mary Mack”
Pre-trip, I spent awhile trying to remember what exactly I did as a child. I usually end up having to Google the details (what are the hand motions to go with B-I-N-G-O?). This time, I was focused on camp songs and games. As it turns out, the BEST thing I did was take the time to practice “Miss Mary Mack.”
I taught some girls the game within the first 15 minutes of our 4 hour long bus ride to Petra… and I am not joking when I tell you that I played it almost a million times since that moment. I played with every single girl… I played every time we were on the bus… I played every time we paused a minute in between programs… I taught the song to girls so they could play themselves… I improvised to make it a 4 person game… I will NEVER forget that song. If that’s my only contribution to cross-cultural exchange, so be it.
2) Cultural difference: Arabic 7eflas aka Arabic Parties
I could not get over the fact that despite being SO similar to our camps in many ways, there were still cultural influences that make them different.
My favorite difference is the “Arabic party.”
What does that mean? Let me explain through example..
(A) We arrive at a Bedouin Camp in Wadi Rum and before dinner is our “party.” This means that we all go to an open space, someone starts playing arabic music, and we all dance. Some dance dabke (traditional Arabic dance) in a big circle; some dance in small groups; boys put their friends on their shoulders and dance around; small girls are tossed in the air laughing. Everyone has a ball.
(B) We are waiting for our boat in Aqaba, with about 30 min to kill. Someone brings out the drum again.. first the girls have their turn; we sing Arabic songs and dance .. then the boys, who chant and dance even more than we do. Whats also worth noting is that many of the kids know how to play and ALL of them have the traditional songs committed to memory.
(C) We get on our boat for Aqaba. Its been described as a “2 hour tour” of the Red Sea. The kids are only supposed to sit in their seats and look out at the water – because they are little/a big group and we’re nervous for them. What does it turn into? 2 hours of blasting Arabic music with everyone up dancing and singing together.
and finally,
(D) We’re on our way home. Supposedly tired from our whirlwind trip. Then the bus driver turns on the music… and all of a sudden: there go the girls, swinging their hips, hands raised and twirling in the air, imitating their best belly dancing moves.
It is actually WAY more fun and carefree than most similar things I’ve done in the States… which is funny because I feel like often people think they “won’t like the culture” in this particular corner of the world… or that it is too conversative and by extension, boring… and simply, that is not true.
PS. I wish I had any photos or videos of these parties… but I was too busy DANCING.
3) Universal value: Making children happy
The people involved with this organization are easily some of the best people I know. All the volunteers and children are truly a big family. These kids are facing a hard life.. without a tactful way of saying it: they are refugees, poor, and on top of all that, lost either their father – mother – or both. Yet they find so much love with this Association.
All the girls held each others’ hands as we strolled through the Aqaba market – me and my group slept like spoons with our three beds pushed together – each girl offered everyone on the bus a bite of every snack they open – Huthafa and Hamzeh carried the two littlest sisters on their shoulders for 75% of the trip – the girls “self” disciplined their group (come on Rania, 3ab, Miss said its time for bed) with the older taking care of the younger, regardless of whose actually related – and really, it was impossible to form a single-file line when all the girls just want to walk holding “Miss”‘s hand.
One bus ride, two sisters fell asleep and spent the whole ride snuggled under my arms and in my lap as I hummed quietly to them. I couldn’t help but think to myself: I feel like I have kids… and really, how lucky I am to find a family like this here in Jordan.
Julie in Jordan! 