Ana Kasula!

So I am getting into the swing of things. We get packets of words we are supposed to memorize every day, and I am trying hard to learn them all. Classes here are weird, because everyone was in a different level, its hard for the teachers to place us in appropriate classes. For example, I was in a class with two students who barely speak any Arabic, and one girl who was here last semester so knows a LOT more. That girl, Lindsay is now in a new class that is like mine but a little quicker. We learn the same vocab and read the same things, they just go a little faster. In my class, (not to toot my own horn) I am now the best because Lindsay left, so I have to push myself as opposed to letting the class push me, but it's okay. If I am tired or having a lazy day, its nice to not have to try too hard. (The title of this post is Ana kasula, meaning 'I am lazy', and it's true) I don't mind being lazy in the summer, though. I will learn as much as I can, but I need a 'break' of sorts. Meaning, come fall I will work my butt off, but right now I am okay with making friends and hanging out and going to Aqaba for the weekend (in two weeks! I am sooooo excited!!!!! More on that later!) stuff like that. I don't want to spend all my time studying. Just by living here, I am learning a ton. But I hate how many different languages Arabic really is. Some of the words in amiyya are similar to Fos-ha but some are really quite different!

As for my language partner, Bra'a, I believe I wrote about a few problems I had with her- that I was worried she didn't have time to spend with me- and I am happy to report that this is not the case and I love her! She is a great teacher, because she knows fos-ha as well as amiyya and a little English too. She is super nice, and has some great friends. One of her friends I met today, Mona, is very nice and very sassy (a word I taught them today). I feel bad, because today I forgot what culture I was in and told Mona I loved her ring (really just making conversation, it's not really my style) and she gave it to me. I tried to give it back, but I couldn't. In the Arab culture, if someone likes something you have, you give it to them. It is rude to refuse a gift, so now I have a new ring

It is a little gaudy, just like all the jewelry here-cheap, plastic, and sparkly, but whatever. I will wear it, and every time I do, I will think of Mona. This is why she gave it to me after all, to remember her.

This weekend will be a study weekend, but next weekend is a party weekend! Me and 8 of the girls are going to AQABA!!!!! It is on the Red Sea, and we are going snorkeling and hanging out on private beaches (meaning we can wear proper bathing suits, not burkinis) which makes me happy. It is a touristy place (the Jordanian version of Eilat for those of you who know Israel at all) so there are bars, and westerners, and all sorts of special things and western culture!!!!!! I don't mind the culture here, but it is nice to recognize my own every once in a while. We can get drunk, we can swim, we can tan on the beach and make our arms and legs the same color (my legs are white, my arms are pretty tan), we can eat something other than veggies and falafel or fuul, so many things could happen!!!!! I have been keeping track of all the money I have spent here, and I am going to spend over two weeks worth in Aqaba (about $200) but I don't care. This week, I only spent about $4 per day just cause I didn't need to buy anything, so I don't mind splurging every once in a while. A girl needs some fun in her life, no?

Its hard to believe I have been here for 3 weeks. I feel like I have been here forever already.

I sent an email to the Middle East study abroad advisor at my school. I gave him some suggestions on things to add to the orientations, some things I wish I had known. I told him I would have liked to have been told just how broken and terrible the living conditions are. He emailed me back, upset at the words 'broken' and 'terrible' and told me to journal about my understanding of the word 'broken'. This bothers me because when I say broken, I mean BROKEN. I mean the city is decaying in front of me. No one cares about the public spaces. The city is dirty and it is unhealthy to live here. Yes, 'terrible' might have been a little harsh and attached to my cultural expectations, but 'broken' is not. When door handles continuously fall off, they are BROKEN. When rooms flood a lot, the pipes are BROKEN (or at least clogged). when your pots have holes in them, they are BROKEN. When sidewalk tiles are broken in half, or when steps in the sidewalks are cracked, missing, or crumbling under your feet, the sidewalk is BROKEN. This is what I mean by 'broken'. I would have liked to know the true conditions of the city (especially from an American point of view because I am used to American standards of living) before I go to a place, just to prepare myself! That is my little rant of the day.

PS, after the program, I am traveling with my friend Jessie, and maybe some other people. We are going going for two weeks, before I have to fly to Amsterdam to vacation with my family. We are going to Israel for a bit, but are tossing around ideas of other places we could visit, maybe for a week. Any ideas? We were thinking maybe Berlin, or Rome. Any other great places to visit for cheap?