I RAN. First person past simple of the verb "to run".
So (when I'm not attempting to teach, i.e. babysit, 2nd graders) one of my biggest frustrations in Jordan is the fact that exercising in public is generally considered unacceptable for women, unless you are just walking and have a walking buddy. I do walk to school every day but besides that it wasn't an option until recently because it was "too cold". I usually walked a few times a week, with or without people because I'm the ajnebiiya saida, and even if people think it's inappropriate, they excuse it because they like me and they think I don't know better.
About a month ago I was in a charity race at the Dead Sea which reminded me how much I love the rush of real exercise... since then I've been exercising inside - running in place, doing jumping jacks, leg lifts, anything to get the blood moving without convince people I should leave town. One girl I walk with makes comments about how sad it is that we don't see more women out walking and about how the Prophet encouraged people to exercise. I wish more people heard her say that. She really does say some beautiful things that are supported by Islam.
Another girl has decided that she wants to be my walking buddy, too. Somehow yesterday that turned into us running for about 2 minutes on a softly lit street lined by olive trees and a house whose owners live in Aqaba. Today our numbers grew as nieces and a sister-in-law joined... ages ranged from 13-me and one 40+ year old (who ended up running in her socks)... Everyone joined in on the running which spanned several stretches which I'm not completely certain are unseen, but if I've got my running buddies, who can say I've done wrong? or is it worse that I brought them down with me? We're meeting again tomorrow... the running posse... I think I'm unleashed an angel/devil on my village.
So (when I'm not attempting to teach, i.e. babysit, 2nd graders) one of my biggest frustrations in Jordan is the fact that exercising in public is generally considered unacceptable for women, unless you are just walking and have a walking buddy. I do walk to school every day but besides that it wasn't an option until recently because it was "too cold". I usually walked a few times a week, with or without people because I'm the ajnebiiya saida, and even if people think it's inappropriate, they excuse it because they like me and they think I don't know better.
About a month ago I was in a charity race at the Dead Sea which reminded me how much I love the rush of real exercise... since then I've been exercising inside - running in place, doing jumping jacks, leg lifts, anything to get the blood moving without convince people I should leave town. One girl I walk with makes comments about how sad it is that we don't see more women out walking and about how the Prophet encouraged people to exercise. I wish more people heard her say that. She really does say some beautiful things that are supported by Islam.
Another girl has decided that she wants to be my walking buddy, too. Somehow yesterday that turned into us running for about 2 minutes on a softly lit street lined by olive trees and a house whose owners live in Aqaba. Today our numbers grew as nieces and a sister-in-law joined... ages ranged from 13-me and one 40+ year old (who ended up running in her socks)... Everyone joined in on the running which spanned several stretches which I'm not completely certain are unseen, but if I've got my running buddies, who can say I've done wrong? or is it worse that I brought them down with me? We're meeting again tomorrow... the running posse... I think I'm unleashed an angel/devil on my village.
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