Our Trip To Colorado,...Rocky!!

we took a small educating trip to the State of Colorado, flying from Philadelphia airport to Denver. We visited Colorado museum and and a book store there, slept in Denver's University dorms for one night.
The next day we were lucky to visit United States Air Force Academy USAFA, and there we visited the Christians and Jews chapels, and a small place for Muslim prayers,also a chapel for Buddhism is available there.
These are designed according to the number of the people who believes in each religion in the USAFA.

After that we headed to Boulder, checked in Courtyard Marriott hotel to stay in for the rest 4 days . Then we had a tour in the University of Denver with one of its active students.

Few hours later, we went downtown and saw many people are playing guitar or piano, others doing random shows in the streets, playing with fire.

Colorado International Park is another story to tell, hiking the ROCKY MOUNTAINS there, seeing the waterfalls and the magical lakes, the beauty of nature it self is enough for anyone to forget the whole world.
I couldn't help myself from getting into water and playing like a small child...
yesterday we checked in the hotel , did some shopping in the last day of boulder, then to the airport to wait more than 4 hours to the flight which was delayed until 6:25 pm.

we reached Philadelphia at 12:30am and Delaware at 2:30 am .
I am finally at home sweet home,...Delaware sweet Delaware!!

Here are some photos,...

The Rocky Mountains,....

Reaching Delaware

Following up things and events happened to me since I wrote last on this blog.

We mepi celebrated the independence day of the United States on the 4th of july in Washington,DC. Had a gread chance to watch all the parades from all around the world in one show, and being able to see and enjoy the fiteworks in the sky of washington at night.

We arrived Delaware on Saturday the 5th of July, to the university f Delaware and Christiana Towers where we live in its dorms till the end of the program.

We went to longwood garden in Penniselvanya- one of the most wondderful places I've ever seen in my entire life...so far.

Don't miss the fountains show,...

Thesedays we are taking many lectures and classes with a bunch of specialist Proffessors in Delaware and the states.

D.Jim Magee-Political science, D. Lesa Griffithis which is the director of mepi here, Ralph Beigleter CNN reporter.

Many presentations on communications, Leadership, Controversial issues, US media and American Policy -elections.

Yesterday, 12th of June , we headed to seaford in Delaware to do our first community service in the states.

Habitat for humanity, helped in Building houses and like stuff, ..nailing, sweaping, planting grass, and painting which I enjoyed working with.

International History Museum, Washington, DC...

The Crystal Ball, ...up side down

The Beach , eastern part of Delaware...

Flight to Washington, DC

Finally, after 4 months of waiting, It came to me.

The mepi scholarship for leadership training skills,....I got the permit to go to the holy land Jerusalem on Friday 27th of June to make the visa interview in the Us consulate there, crosses so many checkpoints, Howara, za3tara, 3otara, qalandya and was checked in more than 8-9 revolving irony doors of the Israeeli's,....my bag has been opened and closed many times for many soldiers.

After arriving to the Us consulate, We had to wait for a long time untill our name were called, " Aghbar, Jamous, Lati and Dasa".We waited in the holding room in the consulate, then we were called by names with speakers to sign on papers , then again to take fingers prints then again to make the interview.

After that, Me & Shafeeq & Osama went to the old city of Al Quds and cought the opportunity to pray Al THohr with the Imam.After a tour in the old city , we returned back to Ramallah and Nablus after many fights to get into buses,....many people were waiting!!!

On Moday I got my Visa,.........Finally.

I went to Ramallah the day befor my travel to have my Passport from Moureen from the US consulate department, then we had a meeting with a guy (Mohammad) from Beithlahem who was from mepi 2007 student.

Me and Rawan Got the visas, Shafeeq and Osama not yet, Siba and sami didn't have the permits...!!!

I packed all my stuff after returning to Nablus, actually I didn't know what to take & what to not..It's my first travelling time...and it's by plane.I didn't know if I will be afraid from the airplane or not since I have never tried it, even never ever seen a plane.

on Tuesday, I had to go to Jordan for the second time of my whole life after 15 years maybe, I was alone , but luckily I found some onderful people who were traveling with me passing Jordan to Syria,...Im Mohanad 3arafa from Beteba and her daughter and here son'e wife and children, they helped me alot.

I reached Amman at 6.30 pm was scared at the beginning because I had to leave those people on the Jordinian bridge.....Oh foget to talk about waiting 1500 person in Jericho and many ours in buses, then 100 on the Jordinian Bridge.

I took a taxi to Nazaal neighborhood to go to my cousin's home, nearly was lost but cell phones are the endure at the end.

It was a very warm meeting with Hilda and her children after many years I didn't see them.

She is saying hi to you Mum and Dad...!!

Spent the night talking , chatting, remembering things and memories and stole some time to print my E- plane ticket.

Now.........

Yes, I made it I am in WASHINGTON, DC right now, can't believe it,..........unbelievable REALLY new world. I wish I can stay here forever. everything is different here, the people are so friendly, the place is amazing....... the flight was exhausting for me 13.45 hour from jordan to chicago then 2 hours waiting at O'hare airport, then they closed our washington flight before we get in, so we have to take the next flight wish is at 9.00 pm and arrived DC at 12.30 at midnight. I couldn't imagine spending more than a day in the light of the sky without seeing the moon and the evening. It seems we'll have lots of fun here
Today is USA independent day, so we went to the international history museum in DC, I saw the Dinosaurs!!!
then we stayed, sat on the streets, watched the parade from different countries in the world, Philippine , taiwan, India ....lots of fun.

tonight we will go to the Georgetown University campus, and then see the fireworks.......waw I am so excited.
We still have tonight in Jury's Hotel in Washington.Tomorrow we are heading to Delaware State and its University by Bus.
By the way,....I really like the two decks buses, I hope I'll have the chance to try them.
About the food, actually I miss our palestinian food, I have hard time with meals.Yesterday I ate Mexican food at dinner,
It looks very delicious when you look at it but it is not.

I took my camera and its battery charger, unfortunately the batteries are dead now and the charger doesn't work in here ,even though we bought an adaptor, still not working, so I am using my cell phone camera which is good but not enough.

Have a look.......... :)

13.45 hour flying from Jordan to Chicago