on the road again...

Well, that was a much-appreciated short break, but, equally thankfully, I am back to the traveling game.  Now, Jordan.  But first, I'd like to just put one post-Morocco thought in here.  After finishing up with my Critical Language Scholarship, I have to say that while the program was a rather odd experience to go through, I really got a lot out of it.  I feel that my Arabic skills are vastly improved, and all for free.  So if anyone out there from the program is reading this, expect to see my application again for next summer.  To anyone interested, apply, it's great.  Just don't steal my spot.  Now, seriously, Jordan.

Stories about getting here.

1) In the Toronto airport, the news was playing a story about a new crime epidemic to hit our north-of-the-border neighbors: someone keeps stealing exotic animals from zoos and returning them several weeks later.  Currently a snake is missing.

2) Frankfurt airport is obsessed with the Finnish air guitar olympics.  I am sick of seeing that clip repeated at me for 8 hours.

3) Customs are oddly semi-optional in the Amman international airport.

Stories about being here:

1) After really not sleeping for the night (I got here at 2 in the morning, in bed by about 3:30, asleep by about 5, then up at 8), went to the center of the city this afternoon.  Amman is very-modern city wrapped around Roman ruins (everywhere) and is horribly hilly.  I have to say that the hardest thing about getting around, other than not being on the top of my game, is that I kept beginning to speak in Moroccan colloquial whenever I opened my mouth.  However, despite this slight hesitation whenever I started speaking, after a conversation or two I significantly improved at reverting entirely to speaking in formal Arabic.  So, I may have sounded like a dubbed cartoon or Mexican soap-opera, but at least I figured out the language.  I can't wait until I can get some Jordanian colloquial down and speak like a foreigner, but at least not a television personality.

P.S.  For any of those concerned/ out of the know, my sister, Krystyna, is about to start her first triathlon.  Just a reminder to anyone interested to make a donation that goes towards curing cancer (what a good cause) as well as helping her out.  Check it out: http://pages.teamintraining.org/nca/nattri08/kwamboldt.