Here are some of my thoughts from the past week and a half or so:
I am just finishing the second week of class and so far we are averaging over 200 words of vocabulary a week in my Arabic class. I do think this will slow down a bit when we start actual grammar, as right now we have to learn the alphabet. But for now, my flash cards are always with me.
This is one reason for my delay since my last post. Also, I really did have a visitor. I got busy meeting new people and experiencing new things.
Yesterday on my way to school I was riding in a taxi, like usual, but about halfway to campus the cab driver pulled over and politely asked if we would like some coffee.
This is a good example of Arab culture.
Hospitable, welcoming and genuinely kind hearted.
I am going to say, my host mom (Mama) is the embodiment off all these characteristics. A happy "Ahalan wa Sahlan" (Welcome) is waiting for me the second I walk in the door...along with a generous serving of the day's homemade meal.
Yesterday I was walking through campus and I was stopped by a student to inquire who I was and where I was from. The response to me has always been a genuine "Welcome to Jordan!"
Just today I was sitting outside the campus' library looking over some vocab when a UJ student came up to me to introduce himself and welcome me. He then took me to the cafeteria to get coffee and got my phone number so he could call me next Monday after class and help me with Arabic.
Last week on Monday when I got home from class, Mama handed me half a JD to go to the little street market right down the street to get libon. I quickly learned libon is not lemon (which is laymon).
I got to the market where a 14 year old boy was working and looked at me like I was crazy while I was desperately looking for a lemon. He of course kept insisting that I was supposed to get the yoghurt. Turns out libon is yoghurt.
I saw the 14 year old a couple of other times last week and the third time he greeted me as if we were best buds. I do have to say that I have tried to get home at the same times now so that I might run into him because he made my entire week; it is also fun to practice some Arabic with him.
And to add to my Arabic, I have gotten to know a couple of my “host cousins” who are in 6th and 8th grade. I don’t see them too often, but last Saturday as I was walking with them they were teaching me awesome words like crazy, donkey and monkey. Oh, the expanse of my Arabic!!
…if only I could remember every word I have been told…
One of the hardest things to get used to is the schedule of the week days. Sunday through Thursday are the weekdays with Friday and Saturday being the weekend. It is nice because it feels like the weekend comes a day earlier, but it is really confusing to think that after Tuesday I have made it over halfway through the week.
And now I must go to bed. The Turkish Soap Operas (dubbed in Syrian) have kept me up late. They are just so entertaining.
I will end with two pictures I took just yesterday. It is the view from a local art gallery where I can go to do some studying.
Citadel
East Amman
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