a week in review

With everything that has been going on (see last several entries), I actually feel like I have been quite negligent in writing to everyone about the mundanities of life here (I may have just made up that word, but it seems appropriate, and my English language skills aren't so hot right now, so we'll all just have to make due). In that spirit, here are a couple of my recent musings on Amman that have yet to make it into a typed version. In no particular order, I present:

1) Outside of my host family's house, there is a row of trees and plants. One fig, three almond, about six olive, and three massive grape vines. All of which are currently covered in their respective products. Deserts do grow stuff.

2) Two days ago, Chris and I were talking to Nawwal (our host mother) who kind of opened up to us for the first time, assisted no doubt by the fact that 'Issa's medical condition has stabilized and that he is back at home looking better. She informed us that we're really good students because we're clean. Coming from a Jordanian woman, this compliment is pretty amazing. Jordanian houses are completely cleaned from top to bottom everyday (like, moving furniture to scrub the floors, removing all the pictures to wash the walls, etc.). She also showed us the information on the previous students they've hosted, including the discovery of the host family briefing on "So an American is going to be living with you..." Highlights: "If your American student wants to be alone in a room periodically, it is not because they are angry or sad. Americans are used to occupying space alone." Or, "Many Americans are not used to be touched often, especially males, so find a manner of greeting your student that both of you are comfortable with."

3) New program. The new program is actually going really well for me (aside from the fact that I had to redo most of the same orientation activities, just in formal Arabic this time). I feel like I have a lot more in common with the majority of the group, which is also much smaller (9 students), and Chris has switched programs as well, so even if I have to move, we'll still see each other plenty. Also, as we got back our new placement exams yesterday (much more difficult than the previous), it was a nice symbolic confirmation of the fact that I'm in the right place. Through whatever act of higher power, I got the highest placement score on this exam, and will not only be taking the History of Jordan and Arabic Literature in Arabic this semester, but Dr. Najeh (our program's coordinator, and an amazing person) said he wanted to do a special class with me, which, per my previous request, will probably be religious/Qur'anic Arabic. So yeah, good decision, even if I don't get concentration credit for it.