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!
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
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
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