Adventures in Jordan

Class

Here I am, two days into class. Everything is going well! I’ve only had my Arabic classes, and the area studies classes start on Wednesday. So far, I feel confident in the Arabic classes. I like both the professors, and the course load doesn’t seem too bad, but I could be wrong about that in the future. What I found out, is that I am in the higher level of advanced 1, so that kind of makes me happy. The only thing I’m thinking about, is when I return how will the credits transfer. The reason I worry, is because before I left, I went until chapter 7 in book 2, but now we are starting in chapter 3 of book 2. How will I catch up when I return? I’m not too worried, just conscious.

I realize how well we have it in America. I was never oblivious, I guess I just didn’t understand how much we take for granted. Take central heat, here there are heaters for the rooms, and they work wonderfully, but its not always warm all the time. I sleep very well, and never get cold, but God forbid in America we experience any bit of discomfort. Water is also something that is a touchy subject here. Each family has a water tank, and this is to last the whole week. There is no problem if it runs out, it just costs to get refilled. The water is expensive to heat, so when the sun is out, it’s shower time. Showers are something most people back home take every day. Here, it’s a few times a week. BUT I joined a gym, so I can take a shower every day if I want. Simple activities like these become a little more complicated here.

I’ve got the taxi rides down now! I’m proud of me.  I HATE THE BUS. It’s way too crowded, and it really stresses me out. Thankfully, on my really early days, my host brother will take me to class. I appreciate that a lot. Although the taxi is usually 1.50 JD, and the bus is only .40 JD I still can’t get comfortable with it.

I ate skittles ice cream last night. :)

Overwhelming trips at the supermarket, and my first marriage proposal make for an emotional, worn out kind of night. This is the first night I feel a little lonely, and miss home.

In other news, Nutella ice cream is really good. :)

Taxi rides

Today I had to ride in a taxi by myself for the first time. I had to get to the University from the house and then back again at the end of the day. In the morning, I told the driver where to go, and he went. The ride home was a little more complicated. Luckily, Mama made a map for me to get home.

There were no classes but we did have to go to a ton of meetings. I found out what level I’m in, advanced, and the other classes I will take. The only bad news of the day, which kind of upset me, was that the Arabic program at OU is not as good as I had thought. What my adviser told me, is that the test scores of the kids from Oklahoma were lower than the others, but not by much. But of course there are other schools that have a lot better programs, and more to offer. The kids that I am interacting with have somewhat of an upper leg, I think. It’s not that I won’t try my hardest, and it’s not that they are better than me because of it, it’s just that like I said, I’m a little disappointed. I am in the level I am supposed to be and everything is going the way it should, I just hope I can keep up.

We also signed up for all the trips today! Petra, Wadi rum, Quraysh, Dead Sea, and some community service. There is a marathon too, called Dead to Red. Running from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea. I want to do it, and I would only have to run 5 kilometers at a time, which I think is feasible. There will be a group of like 10 people, so we all take turns. I’ll have to join a gym to continue running, but that won’t be a big deal, because I was planning on it anyway, and they have free showers. 

Tomorrow is friday, so I don’t have anything to do. I hope all is well at home!

Moved in!

I’ve moved into my host family’s home, and already I feel at ease. The mother, Nada, has made me feel just like her own daughter, and keeps saying she is “the same mother.”  She’s is sweet, and her daughter Sarah is so energetic. Sarah is constantly talking to me, and I like that a lot. She is in school, but on break right now. Nada said I have to help her with english, haha, fine with me! Sarah keeps asking me if I love Justin Beiber, or Taylor Swift, or Jonas Brothers. She’s cute. As soon as I got here, Mama fed me, and then made me tea. I love the tea here! Tomorrow I have the task of getting home from the University. Quite daunting if you ask me, but I know that after a few times, I will get it! Also, I get to find out what classes I am in tomorrow.

I don’t think it has hit me yet that I am here for four months.

I’ve been trying to upload a video of yesterdays activities, but it won’t! ugh, hopefully I can get it up soon.

Today was the placement exam, and interview. Both went well, and the interview was a lot easier than I was expecting. The test was ridiculous, but I did everything I could. Hopefully I will be placed in advanced, and if not, I’m sure I can talk to the professor about moving me. We also visited the university today, and lemme tell you what, it’s big. The drive across campus takes 20 minutes, the time between classes is 10 minutes. Can you see a problem?? I just hope I don’t have classes that are across campus, right after another.

I think I fried my straightener, and my voltage converter.

The weather here is just like Oklahoma, fyi. Kinda cold, rainy, and a little windy. Today the sun was out for most of the day, then about 3:30 the clouds came and it cooled down. I’m glad I’m used to this, so it’s not too much of a shock. The only big difference, is that it’s so dry here. I’m always thirsty for water, and my lips can never get enough balm.

Tomorrow I meet my host family! I will be sharing a room with Sarah, who is 12 or 13, there are four other boys, two grown, and a mother. They all speak English, but the mom only speaks a little. There is internet it the house, but I don’t know to what extent I can use that, so I’ll have to see how things go. I may just be using an internet cafe all the time. Also, I don’t know how far they live to the University.

I’ve been sleeping well, and through the whole night. The only sign of jet lag is that I’m always so tired at the end of the day. I went to bed around 10pm last night, which is crazy considering just last week I had been up till 1:30 usually every night.

Everything is awesome, and I hope everyone back home is having a good day!

I made it!

Hello all, I am currently in Jordan! I’m not too tired, considering it’s only 1:49pm in Oklahoma. I’m pretty excited but mostly just worn out. The flights were… not so bad, but I didn’t sleep at all, really. When I got my luggage, one had a plastic bag around it… What I saw is that one of the main zippers of one of my suitcases had split from the case itself. Good thing I had a strap around it, or I would have had to say byebye half of my clothes. Tomorrow starts early, and it’s supposed to be a city tour as well as getting a few essentials done. I found out my family, and I am happy! I hope things go well. I’ll be sharing a room with a 12/13 year old girl, named Sara. I really don’t wanna be in the hotel right now, I’d rather be living with the family. The only bad news is that the phone I got in the states, specifically for here, doesn’t work. I have a phone provided for me, and it works perfect, but I was hoping to be able to use my own. Not too bad though, definitely not worth complaining about at all.  Everything is going well, and I can’t wait to start uploading videos and pictures!!  

Diva alert.

I must be more of a diva than I thought… I’ve got two large suitcases, and I’m struggling to decide what I need to pack, and what I want to need to pack. I’m just wanting to be as prepared as possible, and have as many options as I would at home. I do not need to buy any clothes for myself while I’m there, but watch me eat my words. I want to have enough room to bring back things for friends and family. It’s not like I’m bringing a ton of stuff… just things I think are important. Like a blow dryer, straightener, curling iron, long sleeves, short sleeves, and tanks (for layering too) 6 pants…and nice tops too, workout clothes, 6 pairs of shoes, and other toiletries…

Is this too much?! I DON’T KNOOOOW