University

I have this brilliant idea that I will color code my blog to make things more readable.  Especially since I know this will be a looooong post. 

Oh by the way, even if I don't respond to your comments on my blog, I really appreciate them!  I love when you comment. 

I'm really sorry there aren't as many pictures as we all hoped... I left my camera chords at Aqaba and have to ask my unbiological Uncle to retrieve them for me when he goes back. 

Ahh there's so much to talk about, and it's especially difficult to fit everything in one blog when I can only update every week or so.  I should be updating more because there is a computer lab on campus, which I'm using right now. 

Ok outline:
College
Language
Touching
Bugs
Bathrooms
Random


College:  The campus is beautiful.  It doesn't actually feel that big when I'm walking on campus but to actually drive around it takes forever.  It's pretty much a city inside of a city.  You need an ID to get in, or you talk to the guard, but either way it's secured. 

The sun is SO BRIGHT! I can get away with not having sunglasses in the US, but here I can hardly open my eyes so I had to buy some.  The first few days of school was so hot, I almost passed out walking to class and walking back home.  I actually started to see all white.. not good.  Luckily these past few days have been cooler and the weather is extremely enjoyable :) 

I took a placement test last week for Arabic.  Level 1 here is equivalent to 4 semesters of Arabic back in the states.  I knew I was going to be placed into Level 1 but I took the test anyway.  The whoooole test was in Arabic, the directions, the questions, the paragraphs, the stories.. so what did I do?  I circled B, B, B, B, B, B.. then C, C, C, C, C, C... then on the essay part, I didn't know what the question was so I just put "Hi, my name is Charisse and I like languages.  In the US my Arabic professor is pretty."  Then for the other essay, I THINK I had to describe the picture, so I put "There is 2 boy.  I don't speak Arabic." 

They posted the names for each level and said that if you didn't have an ID yet, your name might not be up.  I didn't have an ID yet, so that made sense when I couldn't find my name on level 1.  Then I looked on level 2.  Nothing.  Then I happened to see on level THREE that my name was on it.  ....that's like Arabic 9 in the US.  Either I'm a really good guesser, or I'm a really good guesser. 

I switched to Level 2 and it's still hard, but I plan on studying a lot.  One of my teachers doesn't speak in English at all. This leads me to my next point. 



Language.  *sigh*  I can't make sentences. I can't conjugate verbs. I don't even know any verbs. Oh and by the way, there's technically 3 different Arabics to learn. 1. Classical, what I learn in school. 2. Colloquial Jordanian 3. Media (news, etc.) I don't know anything. Nothing. I'm actually really discouraged because I've been here for 2 weeks and can't remember any new words.  It's soooooooooooooo HARD for me to be out with Jordanians.  I don't understand their jokes, considering they're in Arabic and have to do with Arabic culture most of the time.  I don't understand anything.  I'm sitting with them, but it's like I'm not even there.  I feel alone and then I feel guilty for not talking.  It's a bad feeling.  I need a hug :(  It's not about the people, it's about the language barrier.  The people are awesome.  Seriously, God bless Tamara and her dad and her sister and cousins tenfold because they try to put themselves in my shoes.  They try so hard and I appreciate it so much. 



Touching.. I'm pretty sure I mentioned that men NEVER touch women, and women NEVER touch men.  There was actually a lady on campus who fell down a few stairs and nobody could help her up because they can't touch her.  It was really sad.  

Another story,

I took a taxi from the mall to the apartment.  Tamara was on my left, her sister on my right.  I was paying attention to the driver's smoke (everyone smokes by the way.. I think I inhaled about 3 or 4 cigarettes) because the smoke was blowing right in my face.  For some reason, I love the smell of smoke.  Just not when it's blown in my face.  What I didn't notice was that the driver's right elbow was nudged between my shins.  NOT appropriate.  Tamara's sister said "Uh, sir.. can you please move your arm? It's touching the girl."  I expected "Oh, sorry!"  but got "No it's ok.  I drive like this all the time."   It caused some drama in the car, and I had to change the way I sat.  He didn't move his arm.  I'm actually really really flattered that Tamara and her sister got offended enough on my part to yell at him. 



Bugs.  There aren't that many bugs, but there are some.  I saw a cockroach and a few spiders.  There are ants.  There are ants in all things.  In the kitchen, bathroom, on my bed... but there's not that many so I can't complain.  There's more cats than anything though.  I'm used to seeing dogs on the streets like in South America but there are no dogs, there are cats.  And they scream "ooohhhhhhhhhh" with a British accent during all hours of the night. 


Bathrooms... oh my goodness.  Listen to me.  Always put toilet paper in your pocket and your purse.  Do you hear?  ALWAYS.  Sometimes?  No. Always.  People tend not to replace the toilet paper in their bathrooms.  There is no toilet paper in restaurants, and there is no toilet paper in the University.  My back left pocket is reserved solely for toilet paper.  Plus it's a 50/50 chance that the toilet will flush.  Kleenex is used for everything.  Kleenex will be your napkin.  It will be your paper towel, and sometimes it will be the rare toilet paper.  Kleenex will also be your kleenex. 


Random:  Hmm.  The University has trips every weekend so this weekend I should be going on one!  This weekend is Madaba and Mount something.  I'm sure it will be really nice!  And I haven't talked about food that much.. I also haven't tried very many different things yet.  When Tamara's aunt cooks, it's delicious.  She made this chicken and rice dish once, so great.  She made me a falafel sandwich, awesome.  Everything here is eaten with pita bread.  Shawarma is still my all-time favorite... spiced (not spicy), juicy meat, tenderly cooked, mixed with light-tasting pickles and prepared on crispy pita bread wrapped to perfection.  So delicious.   


I hope the color-coding helped.  Aside from the language barrier, I'm adjusting much much better.  The buildings are normal to me now.  So are the sounds and smells of the neighborhood.  I'm really really liking it here.. I don't know how I'll feel when I have to come home!  The culture is so beautiful.  So is the music. 

If you guys want me to write about anything, just let me know!

In the Mall

I am currently sitting in an Amman internet cafe and actually have enough time to check all my mail, respond to it, AND make a post!  :)  I don't have personal pictures on this computer though.. sorry!

I think I failed to mention earlier that I am currently (though getting better) am going through really tough culture shock.  It's even harder because I don't think anyone understands.  Don't get me wrong, everything is BEAUTIFUL and soooo exciting and new and wonderful.  It's just overwhelming. 

So among the numerous American mistakes I've made, let me tell you 2. 

          First, I wanted to ask a waiter where the bathroom was but they were all crowded around something not paying attention, so I poked one on the shoulder and said "bathroom?"  That's bad.  Never touch a man no matter what you're doing.  I should have yelled something. 

          Second, someone came up to me and I shook his hand.   Problem is, I didn't stand to shake his hand.  I got in trouble for that too.  I'm learning what to do and what not to do so that's good.

I will start the university this coming week and am sooooooooooooooooooo excited.  It makes me nervous, but I can't wait.  I can't understand ANYONE when they talk so the classes will definitely help me out.  They told me that level 1 Arabic here is equivalent to 4 semesters of Arabic back in the US.  I got to tour the university and it's huge.. it's literally like a city within the city.  There are gates surrounding the whole thing, and you need your school ID to get in.

Oh, I wanted to talk about the prayer call too.  5 times a day the mosques will sing a prayer on a loud speaker so it sounds throughout the whole city.. sometimes other mosques will overlap.  It lasts for about 2 or 3 minutes and it's really beautiful. 

My stomach finally caught up with me... I'm better now but I was in horrible discomfort before.  Thank you, pills!  I am still drinking tea and coffee and it's wonderful :) 

When everyone around me talks in Arabic, my face is like this: 

When people ask why I'm being so quiet, my face is like this:

And when people make me laugh, my face is like this:

Those are pretty much all my faces. 

I have to go because it's getting expensive so I'll update later.  I don't have time to put my blogs in Spanish anymore :(

Aqaba

I am currently in Aqaba, which is right by the Red Sea.  I can see Israel's border and Egypt's border and in the distance is Saudi Arabia's border :)  Yesterday I went on a glass boat, so we could see everything underneath of it.  We were able to snorkel and it was literally like a dream I once had.. strange, but cool.  Then we had lunch (I ate 3 kebabs, hummos, 2 pieces of fish, salad, and something else that looked like hummos.)  I have eaten so many different things here I can't remember their names.  Chicken shawarma... SO GOOD!!

Today I rode a banana boat, went tubing, and jet skied - I went tubing before but not the other ones.  Jet skiing was INTENSE .. I was sooo scared but it was soo fun.  Then I fell and choked a little and ended it, and I'm still coughing a little now but I'm so glad I got the chance to do these things.  and in the middle east!?!?   

Then later tonight we went on a wooden boat and sailed on the sea... *siiiiiiiiigh*  so magical.  It's actually kind of hard to take in because so many good things are happening at once.  I'm in Aqaba with Tamara and her cousins and her uncle and his driver... all of whom have a great sense of humor and are really genuine people with lots of passion.  I'm still working on letting go and being as passionate as everyone.

As far as my Arabic is concerned.. I learned some new words and phrases.  I'm still at level 1 but I love hearing it everywhere even if I don't understand it :) :) :) PLUS I like when everyone's ringtone is an Arabic song and cars with their windows down have Arabic music blasting out of it. <3  Love.

Tomorrow we'll head back to Amman.  I start classes next week so this week we'll tour it.  That's all for now I guess :)

I'm here!!!!!!!!

AAHHHHHHHHH I'M HERE :) :) :) :) and there's soooooooooo much to talk about, I don't even know how I'm going to fit in into one blog entry.  First I can talk about France I guess.

I was in the France airport for 8 hours, which was a lot smaller than I expected and so so hard to get around.  I don't know what I would have done if I didn't know any French because only 2% of the people there spoke English.  There were some people there in uniform and big guns walking around in groups.  Some nice French guy from the plane gave me his number.

To make things short, I'll just talk about some interesting cultural things in Jordan.
 License plates define social status. 
Ladies' salons' windows are covered so that women with hijabs can take them off without anyone outside seeing what's underneath.
 I saw probably 4 different wedding ceremonies where people are clapping and honking their car horns.
 I had Arabic coffee atleast once-twice a day, same with tea.
 If you're full, you still have to keep eating.  It's not acceptable until you're about to burst.
 I got to ride a horse :)
When passing people on the stairs, men will cut through men but will stand aside for ladies.
Speaking of ladies, I hardly see any outside.  Hardly any.  They're all men.. who drive slowly by me and Tamara and stare and make comments.  Not even because I'm American but because we're both women.

And I have finally realized how much I desperately miss my guitar.  So badly.  I miss making music in general, I don't have anything here yet.  No piano, no guitar, nada.  I also miss my phone because I can't just randomly text anyone.  And when people have Arabic conversations, I can't even pretend to understand so I just sit there, almost like I don't exist.  And when they laugh, I didn't catch the joke so I don't laugh and everyone says "what's wrong?  why aren't you laughing?"  ....  I'm still adjusting.  But everyone has been really great so far and they're all very easy to get along with.  I couldn't have asked for better people :)

I'll have to translate this in Spanish later. 

Departure Eve

Well this picture's kind of small but I'm in the middle and everyone else are my coworkers!  I'm going to miss everyone -- my parents, my dog, my brother *cough*, my coworkers of course, my friends... ah.  Adelaida, my guitar, wow.  I will miss her also.  And my uncle and grandma are visiting this weekend and I won't be here to see them. 

I'm not done packing.  Some of my clothes are still drying and I don't know where my luggage tags are :/   I don't even have time to write this post right now lol 

So sometimes I get 2-second glimpses of what it may be like over there and I get so happy.  The music... the food (OH MAN THE FOOD.) the people... it will be a great experience. 

So that's all for today.  Thanks Lynn for a great lunch, thanks Mom and Dad for the rest of the day, and I'll talk to everyone after I get to Jordan!

Oh to leave me a comment, click on the button at the bottom that says "# comments."  

Some music for your enjoyment:  see below.

Esta foto es bastante pequeña pero yo estoy en el centro y las otras personas son mis compañeros de trabajo!  Los voy a extrañar a todos -- a mis padres, a mi perro, a mi hermano, a mis compañeros de trabajo por supuesto, a mis amigos... ah.  Adelaida, mi guitarra, wow.  La voy a extrañar tambien.  y mi tio y abuela van a viajar a visitar este finde y yo no voy a estar. 


No terminé de hacer las valijas todavia.  Unas ropas estan secando y no se donde estan mis etiquetas para equipaje :/  Ni tengo el tiempo para escribir este post ahora jaja.  


A veces puedo imaginar brevemente (como 2 segundos) cómo podria ser por ahi y me pongo re feliz.  La musica... la comida (AYY LA COMIDA.) la gente.. sera una gran experiencia.  


No hay nada mas para hoy.  Gracias Lynn por un buen almuerzo, gracias mama y papa por el resto del dia, y voy a hablar con todos despues de llegar a Jordania! 


Para escribirme por aqui, hacé click en el boton abajo que dice "# comments"


Y musica para su placer:  

Getting Ready

I'm not much of a blogger but I'll do my best. I leave for Jordan in 5 days :o It doesn't even seem real yet ..I'm still wondering when my 10-day countdown will start and apparently I missed it. I started packing, I'm about 10% done. I made a list of things I have to do before I leave, and I have successfully completed 4 out of 17 things.

There's not much else to write, so I'll update this thing later :)

Yo no "blogueo" mucho pero voy a intentar. Me voy a Jordania en 5 días :o todavía no me parece real... me pregunto cuando comenzará mi cuenta regresiva desde 10 pero supongo que me la perdí. Empecé a hacer las valijas y terminé aproximadamente 10%. También hice una lista de cosas que tengo que hacer y yo he completado 4 de 17 con éxito.

No hay nada más que escribir así que voy a actualizar esta cosa más tarde :)