Time to Come Home

Yesterday was my last day in Amman and I feel so… weird. I’ve gotten so attached to Jordan but at the same time I want to go home and see my family. It all kind of evens out and makes me feel numb towards everything. I literally can’t believe my semester abroad is over and I’m going home- the reality really hasn’t set in. I’m going back to the world of iphones, having to dress fashionably, being under age- womppp, and always speaking English- boring??. I’m always going to be just another person, having to follow the rules instead of being “am American” being able to sweet talk my way into anything! I’m really excited to see my dog though, and to drink regular coffee, and to be able to take showers and wear clean clothes every day. Besides these trivial things, I’m really going to miss Jordan and I know I will always look back on this semester and cherish every second of it. I learned so much about myself and where I come from, and  I learned such an immense amount about America, the Middle East, and our relations-I am now confident in my ability to truly understand the world in ways I never could have dreamed of without this experience.

 

Yesterday I took my last final, packed-up, and went downtown with Alex to our favorite restaurant- Hashems. Our friends stopped by unexpectedly, and that was when I realized I was never going to see most of these people again, and that’s when reality sunk in. When I went to bed I felt so strange knowing today would be my last sunrise in Amman, but it was a beautiful one. As the plane took off from the airport, the sun was rising, and I caught my last glimpse of the city that has given me so much. I hope one day I can return, but, for now, this semester is the first step of my journey and I will never forget my time in Amman.

 

-Blonde Girl Out

Wait... I'm Leaving in a Week?

How is that even possible? It's such a bittersweet feeling.

Although the days range from sunny to rainy, and from cold to hot, everyday in Amman is beautiful. It still amazes me how peaceful I find this city- it's like an oasis in a region of chaos.

Lately I've been remembering the most random things about my life back in America, and it's become so weird how extremely foreign my own home seems to me. The other day, I couldn't remember the name of my subdivision, so I asked Stephen, and he said...COPPERFIELD.. I wouldn't have never come up with that! I also had an epitome and I remembered that tater tots exist,like really?- why does that make me so excited?, and I even remembered that once I get home I will have to actually re-learn the concept of charging my phone, cause I sware I've only charged my super-cool-nokia about five times this entire semester.

I'm going to miss the bread man at the end of the road, and the way-too-small cups of nescafe. I'm going to miss the call of prayer, and the seas of hijabs on campus. I'm also going to miss Amman's constant blue skies and rolling hills, and I'm going to miss the acquaintances I've made at the local stores. I'm going to miss zatar, and falafal- duh.I'm even going to miss the absurd and awkward conversations I have with the locals... mostly taxi drivers.

Last week I turned 20 and I entered the REAL WORLD... but not really. I just feel really accomplished! My friends and I went for happy hour at a local bar, and what a hoot... they brought me a birthday roll covered in chocolate.... they were out of cake (: Only in Jordan.

Last Thursday marked the end of Arabic classes... and boyyyyy am I not going to miss Arabic class, but I am going to miss my class-mates! We became a family, and it's going to be so weird next semester without them. After our last class we went to a Yemeni restaurant and feasted, sitting on the ground, on the most amazing food on the planet. I'm thinking I'm going to eat as much Arabic food as humanly possible before I leave?? cause it's SO good. Speaking of, last night was the official farewell dinner... khallas!!! It was actually really sad knowing it was the"Farewell Dinner." I'm starting to get emotional!

Today I took the Arabic post-test, which was the same test I took when I got to Amman to place me into my Arabic class. I breezed through it, and I literally couldn't believe how much easier it was the second time around, only four months later. Now that all of my Arabic is officially done, I have a weekend in the Holy Land (HALLLAA!), 2 exams, and a very limited amount of dinar and food I'm trying to stretch till the end- will I make it??..


The greatest source of happiness I have found through my experience here is being able to speak with total strangers in a foreign language- its a special kind of connection. Sometimes, I find it even more difficult to find English words than Arabic words because I am so used to speaking Arabic- so I'm pretty sure I'm going to be speaking a lot of Arabeezy once I get home. The other day a local woman stopped and asked me directions, and I had a full conversation with her without thinking twice about it. Once I walked away I had realized I just given her directions and hadn''t translated anything in my head from English to Arabic- the Arabic just came naturally. That.... is a successful semester abroad.

-Blonde Girl Out

Change is in the Air!

Last week, protests consumed the city. It was a scary time- not knowing what was going to happen next, and of course, constantly getting emails from CIEE. Luckily, this week things calmed down a considerable amount, and my colleagues and I are safe and sound- it would have been fun to get evacuated though??. BUT... these protests and Gaza nonsense ruined my trip to Israel! And for that, I'm very mad. It looks like I won't be visiting Israel this semester, but hopefully I can get there some time in the future.

On Thanksgiving CIEE had a big Thanksgiving potluck for all of the students, and it was a good effort, but it was nothing like home, obviously. However, my friends and I had our own Thanksgiving potluck and it was fab-fab-fabulous!  Four Americans, two Jordanians, a German, and a Swede- the perfect combo!? Complete with mounds of stuffing, chicken (# dontknowhowtocookturkey?) and pumpkin pie, it was the perfect pick-me-up and start to my holiday season. From now on, anytime I'm awake, Christmas music WILL be on, and I am so incredibly excited about going home for Christmas. Is it bad I'm already thinking about all of the things I want to eat when I get home?? Christmas cookies are literally calling my name from across the ocean.

Yesterday I realized I haven't taken pictures for basically two months! I'm gonna get on that...Hopefully.

-Blonde Girl Out

Life's Little Pleasures

In honor of Thanksgiving, I am finally publishing a post I drafted a couple weeks ago! Being in Amman for Thanksgiving is a much stranger feeling than I expected, and while I am very thankful for this opportunity,  and for everyone that has been supporting me, a part of me still wishes I was at home. However, CIEE is having a Thanksgiving luncheon today... and I heard stuffing is not on the menu. THAT, is a big problem... because besides being with family, the point of Thanksgiving is to eat your body weight in stuffing. Right?? I will see how it goes though; I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

A few weeks ago I moved into an adorable apartment in an area of town called Jabbal Amman- I couldn't be more happy! Ever since Alex and I moved into our cozy new apartment, I have been able to start enjoying the little things, and I have come to realize I have fallen in love with Amman ( finally! ). Here's just a few of the the things I love about my life in Amman:

-The warm weather and cool breeze. Being able to open all of the windows in the apartment and breath the fresh air.
-Sitting on the balcony and reading a novel.
-Eating a chocolate bar for dinner.
-Waking up, reading the news, and having a big homemade brunch on a Friday morning.
- Being able to simply use a fridge and do my own dishes!- I hate maids!
-Riding in the taxi with the windows down and observing everyone and everything around me
-Hearing the call to prayer emanate throughout the city and feeling the rush of peacefulness that comes with it
- The quietness of afternoons in Amman.
- Going to the bread stand and buying breakfast for 40 cents from a local, and just being able to say good morning to someone.
- Listening to my favorite music as loud as I want, even country music (:
- Seeing my sheets hanging on the balcony- not having a dryer isn't so bad after all.
- Teaching myself how to make coffee without a coffee maker, camper style!
-The feeling of Fall finally coming, and staying for good.
- Feeling confident in myself, my Arabic skills,  and my ability to thrive in a new city.
- Looking back, and realizing how much I've grown as a person and learned about myself during my short time in Amman.
- Also realizing how much Arabic I've learned,  and seeing how I've assimilated into a new culture
- On a daily basis I get hear new opinions and ideas that have helped me better understand the world and form new opinions

As I said in my last post, I am learning to live a simpler live, and I am loving it. Being removed from DC has allowed me to find clarity in my life, and I have been able to put my "real" American life into perspective. I have realized how truly lucky I am to have my family and friends, and even to be able to attend George Washington to pursue my dreams.

Most importantly, as I have evaluated my life, I have decided that maybe I'm not going to save the WHOLE world, but I am sure as hell determined to do my part!

-Blonde girl out.

City of Lights and Love!

Where to begin... Paris is the most beautiful city I've ever seen in my life. Honestly, what people see in movies wasn't even close to my six days in Paris that's how amazing it was.

The people were all so welcoming, and even though they didn't speak much English, they were still polite and helpful despite many common beliefs lol.

Everything in Paris is just so beautifully presented. First your food looks like it belongs in a magazine, and then when you taste it you nearly pass out. How does the whole world not want to take over France??

I keep convincing myself it's a good thing I didn't study in Paris because I'd be broke as a jokeee! How is a can of coke possibly 5 euros?? is it lined with gold? I mean, it was fine with me because we just got beer for the same price, but it's the principle that counts!

Anyways, Stephen and I visited Versailles, the Army Museum, Museum D'Orsaay, the Louvre, the Sacre Coeur, Notre Dame, Saint Chapelle, the Arch de Triumph, the Bastille, the Pantheon,and some other places too!

Honestly, the best part of Paris was just walking around and surrounding ourselves in the breathtaking architecture. Ok, I HAVE to own a balcony with flower pots hanging off of it when I grow up.. because everyone in Paris has them, and I'm super jealous.

I loved getting fresh bread and cheese and wine and crepes and yatayata .. the list goes on, and WOW. There are these things called croque madames- LIFE CHANGING. It's basically a hot ham and cheese with cheese on the outside and an egg on the top- it literally melts in your mouth.

I loved the fact that every other store was a bakery, meat store,cheese store, of flower store. Is that even real life?? Like where do they get furniture and stuff?? It's a mystery.

We did see where they get their pets though!! I fell in love with a fluffy yellow duck in a pet store... and really, I could see myself living in Paris in a few years and having a little yellow duck to take on walks. How glamorous.

Obviously the Eiffel Tower was a highlight of Paris. No matter where we were in the city, we could see it, and it was so beautiful. I always thought it was stupid, but once you get there it takes your breath away.

My hotel was located on Rue Cler- and it was the most adorable road in Paris... and needless to say, the most precious hotel in Paris too. Obviously.

Stephen and I also made it to every neighborhood in Paris, and for that I am quite proud... I also stopped to look at every single pastry in every single bakery along the way (:  Is it possible to gain ten pounds in six days?.. if it is, I did it. My favorite bakery "item" ( what should it be called, piece of heaven? ) was a croissant with butter and sugar in the middle and almonds on top... I'm starting to consider the idea of becoming a baker and moving the Paris. Good idea??

The only let down from the trip was the fact that the catacombs were closed for "AC problems" and no one bothered to tell me! I walked honestly like 12 miles to get there... Stephen would probably say it was closer to 2, but, it took like an hour and that's a long time. I just wanted to see the bones, I really didn't need AC to see them..

However, little things, such as unexpected dinner companions, are what really made the trip memorable. One night Stephen and I were eating in a tiny local restaurant and as we were getting up to leave, two old men, probably in their 80's, sat down next to us. The man that sat next to me began rambling in French and I told him, with one of my 4 French phrases, that I do not speak French. After a few minutes and a very puzzled and uncomfortable look on my face, he finally starting laughing and switched to the most proper British English I've ever heard in my life. We wound up talking and sharing multiple bottles of wine with the men for about three hours, and it was quite interesting, but very enjoyable. The man sitting next to me kept telling me I need to improve my diction because I do not speak proper English- after a couple hours of practicing I saw no improvement obviously. Anyways, it was an unexpected treat to get to sit and have dinner with locals in a tiny Parisian restaurant, and it's definitely something I will never forget. Moments like these make me reevaluate my own life, and after this trip I can honestly say I am going to strive to life a more Parisian lifestyle. Taking a trip to the bakery and having fresh flowers in your house, or taking the time to enjoy a long dinner with friends, are things that are irreplaceable in life. My "always-on-the move" DC lifestyle is not the way life is supposed to be lived. When I return home, and even now in Amman, I am striving to slow down the pace of my life and to learn to fully enjoy life's small pleasures and enjoy my time with the people I love.

The famous madelines-  the only thing in Paris that's not as good as its cracked up to be

 

On one of Paris's many bridges

We light a candle in Notre Dame with a prayer (:

View from the top of Notre Dame

 

Also, I think it is important to mention I should probablyyyy receive a Guinness World Record award for the amount of chocolate I consumed in those six days, and I'm damn proud of it (:

 

-Blonde Girl Out

 

Happiness is Paris

Notre Dame

 

Happy Hour every hourr!

Petit Trainon- Marie Antionette's House

Inside the Louvre

Under the Arch

Naploeon's Tomb

Finally Getting Around to Blogging Again

It's been a long two weeks! Nothing has changed here, and nothing important has really happened. I've had a few dinner party with friends, met a few Americans from other programs, and of course had lots of rude taxi drivers.

Last weekend I took a marvelous day trip to Biblical sites in northern Jordan. I went to the River Jordan where Jesus was Baptized. Now adays people still get Baptized in the River of course, but it's a pretty big deal- the river is super narrow and if you go too far and cross the border, I'm pretty sure the guard with the machine gun is supposed to shoot you. Therefore, I was very careful to just remain on the steps of the Jordanian side! After that I went to Mt.Nebo, where Abraham surveyed the Holy Land, and then to St. George's Church in Madaba which is famous for its mosaics and it's floor mosaic map of the Biblical land. That day was one of the few times I spent last semester reading the Old Testament- and speaking of, I gave up on the Koran, but that's ok. In Madaba we ate the "the best restaurant in Jordan," and wow, I sure thought it was the best because I ate literally four meals.

After that, I was full and tired, so obviously I needed coffee. As I was walking down marble stairs with my hot coffee.. I slipped, perfect timing? I slid down the stairs, got two massive bruises, and spilled coffee all over my pink pants.I've come to learn everything big happens in those pants, so I should have expected something momentous! Despite it being super embarrassing, I have decided I was very fortunate. First of all, because the coffee came out of my favorite pants- thank god, and second of all because it was my first major mishap in Jordan, and I made it out alive!

After that, with my coffee pants, I went to this ambiguous mountain where you could see the Dead Sea and the sunset. Half way up the Mountain I was kind of curious why were were climbing, and when I got to the top I was told its where John the Baptist was beheaded. Fun times!

Me in the river- I didn't feel very holy actually

People getting baptised in Israel

A Mosaic in the St.George's Church

A view from the" be-heading site"?

Obviously I've been making good grades, and obviously I'm excited for Eid- everyone has "Eid Fever" right now. I can't wait for my midterm and paper to be over-with so I can have a break! I'm very glad I'm leaving the Arab world during the break actually, because during Eid is when they slaughter sheep, and I just really don't need to be here to see it. Thanks, but no thanks. The holiday commemorates when Abraham was willing to sacrifice Isaac for God, and then God promised him land and descendants for being so obedient, and he wound up not sacrificing his son, but a Ram instead. I know the three monotheistic religious are all Abrahamic, butttttt, that was a very Jewish story because Abraham was given a bunch of land- land that the Palestinians now try to claim obviously. SO, I'm not overly clear why the Muslims celebrate it, but hey, a holiday is a holiday. They claim it was his son Ishmael he was trying to sacrifice, not Isaac, but, I guess we will never know. I will do my celebrating by eating 5 French pastries a day!

-Blond Girl Out