Hi everyone,

I unfortunately do not have much time to write tonight. I just got back from a trip to the Dead Sea, and dinner is in an hour.

The Dead Sea was amazing though. I had no clue what to expect, and I wasn't going to swim in it because the air temperature in Amman was only about 60 degrees and I didn't want to get chilled. 

However, when we got out of the bus at the lowest dry place on earth, it was close to 80 degrees and the water was warm!  I actually floated for the first time in my life (I apparently can't figure out the breathing thing that normal people do when they float so I usually just sink!).

The salt is 8.7 percent more concentrated than the normal ocean, which makes objects in it more buoyant. The salt burnt my skin after a few minutes and when I got out it dried in white streaks on my skin. On our way back from the Dead Sea we stopped on the side of the road and I got to ride a camel!  It was so cool, except that they don't have the same animal rights rules that we do, and the dudes were so mean to it.
 
This morning I did a track workout. It was on a 200-meter outdoor track at a Jordanian school. I have felt really self-conscious about having blonde hair ever since I first arrived at the airport, and today confirmed that it makes me stick out. I was doing my workout and some Jordanian boys were cheering "Go Blondie" it was really embarrassing. I feel like I should wear a hood all the time.
 
Tomorrow I am going to the Bank of Jordan across the street from the hotel to exchange some currency.  I then want to go to the local market to get some fruit.  The hotel does not serve fruit and I have been surviving off pita bread and hummus the whole week!
 
I am headed to dinner now, but will keep in touch.  The race will be here before we know it!

- Neely