So far so good! I'm really getting adjusted to the area. One thing that might take a little while to get accustomed to is how laid back a lot of life seems to be compared to back at home. In the US everything had some sort of organized system; everything seemed to have a well thought out plan and flow. One thing I will never be able to fathom is how driving works...it is more chaotic than I've ever seen, in the States and even the trip I went to Mexico. Similar to how the foreign exchange student that we hosted (aka mein Deutscher Bruder), Niko, once described the chaotic traffic we witnessed in Rome: everyone knows the other drivers are as crazy as themselves, so somehow it all comes together and works. However, unlike our trip to Rome, a car ripped off the side rear view mirror of another car RIGHT in front of some of us going to a pizzeria. Oh, and as many of my friends are well aware of my proactive stance on ensuring I, as a pedestrian in the US, executed my right of way...forget it. Crossing streets here is like the classic game Frogger...sped up 100x.
My hotel often hosts a variety of special events. We get numerous sports teams and we have had a wedding celebration on every day I've been here so far...which is actually the reason I am still awake at 12:30am writing this blog. They hold the celebration on the 7th floor. They were just blasting a drum and bass/techno version of "Smoke on the Water." The hotel is not too bad...although definitely not anywhere close to even the cheapest hotel I've stayed in in the US. Included in my language training tuition (hereafter referred to as "The Ali Baba Language Center" or something of the like) was full accomodation including all 3 meals. However, the hotel's menu does not seem to vary much at all and I am already quite tired of the food. Breakfast: mostly pita bread, fo'ol (a type of bean dish), low-quality scrambled eggs, cucubmer/tomato salad, occasionally feta cheese (which is good but VERY salted tasting), and some spreadable cheese and jam. Lunch and dinner have mostly been rice with chicken and lamb dishes, a couple veggie salads, more pita bread, pasta and some types of chocolate cake. Fortunately, food outside of the hotel is VERY cheap and I've been able to have some falafel and hummus, and soon will be trying more of the traditional style dishes.
Today my temporary host-Rotary counselor, Yousef Bashton, drove me around the city to most of the areas. Now when I step into a taxi with VERY broken Arabic, I'll know where I'm asking to go. And now that I know several other people studying here I will have people to go touring around with!
Alright the wedding reception has calmed down...time to try to sleep. Good night or messah il-kheer!
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
My arrival in Jordan!
Finally I've got to a place with internet to make a quick update!
So far everything is going well. The hotel I am at is pretty good and the food, though good, will be getting old fast as I hear it is mostly the same every day. I hear there are very cheap places to get really good Arabic food not far from my hotel, so I will be checking those out soon.
Coincidentally, during my first flight I sat next to a Rotarian from a club in Auburn. I gave her my card and got hers, and will be in touch with her when I return to give her club a presentation...small world! My flights were long and tiring, and I got in around 2am or so...I couldn't sleep during the night much and when I did manage to get to bed I woke up to the call to prayer around 4 or 5am (I think)...it was a very beautiful sound though! During the first day I slept and last night I actually slept for a couple of hours, so I think I may avoid the serious jet lag many have forewarned me about.
There are several Americans at my hotel, and a lot of them are going through the Ali Baba Language program-the intensive Arabic training that I am completing prior to attendnig studies at the University of Jordan, Language Center (UJLC). The students have definitely been a huge help and relief. I also spoke with my Rotary contact twice as well as last year's rotary scholar here. I will be meeting up with them sometime soon. There are others from an organization that promotes peace through dialogue...I might try to check into their program more for some of my volunteer work/community service if I see them again.
My Arabic is definitely VERY VERY elementary and the year will take a lot of hard work..but so far everyone has been very helpful and I can tell the year will be great! Once I manage to find a power adapter for my laptop and find a good internet conntection at my hotel I will try to make more updates!
So far everything is going well. The hotel I am at is pretty good and the food, though good, will be getting old fast as I hear it is mostly the same every day. I hear there are very cheap places to get really good Arabic food not far from my hotel, so I will be checking those out soon.
Coincidentally, during my first flight I sat next to a Rotarian from a club in Auburn. I gave her my card and got hers, and will be in touch with her when I return to give her club a presentation...small world! My flights were long and tiring, and I got in around 2am or so...I couldn't sleep during the night much and when I did manage to get to bed I woke up to the call to prayer around 4 or 5am (I think)...it was a very beautiful sound though! During the first day I slept and last night I actually slept for a couple of hours, so I think I may avoid the serious jet lag many have forewarned me about.
There are several Americans at my hotel, and a lot of them are going through the Ali Baba Language program-the intensive Arabic training that I am completing prior to attendnig studies at the University of Jordan, Language Center (UJLC). The students have definitely been a huge help and relief. I also spoke with my Rotary contact twice as well as last year's rotary scholar here. I will be meeting up with them sometime soon. There are others from an organization that promotes peace through dialogue...I might try to check into their program more for some of my volunteer work/community service if I see them again.
My Arabic is definitely VERY VERY elementary and the year will take a lot of hard work..but so far everyone has been very helpful and I can tell the year will be great! Once I manage to find a power adapter for my laptop and find a good internet conntection at my hotel I will try to make more updates!
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