Ma'Salam Jordan

Well. This is it. I leave tonight. 

It is time to say Ma'Salam to Jordan and Guten Tag to Germany! 

This is seriously the most bitter sweet moment I've ever had. I love it here in Jordan and I do not want to leave. I have packed nothing which is very bad and i need to start. We are also going to one of the street fair things which is going to be close to the last time they do it. So I really won't have time to pack after that. 

I'm pretty sure I'm going to be a hot mess at the end of this tonight. I might cry even. I cannot believe it has been five weeks. Honestly, my mind is blown at how quickly this trip went. It feels like just yesterday i was just getting here, unpacking, and having issues with water. Alas, it will be nice to not have issues with water and plumbing. Fingers crossed at least. 

It will also be nice to go to Germany and enjoy my time there. It shouldn't be as hectic as it is in Jordan and i can probably relax more. 

But i'll leave it at that, and say that Jordan was a wonderful experience and I'm glad I came here. And since i have to pack, yuck, I've got to get started on that.

Halaas.

It's over. I took my Arabic final and I'm forever done with Arabic 201. 

After realizing that I have indeed, learned a lot, even though the others are ahead of me, I still feel pretty accomplished. I mean, that is if I end up passing the class. Happy thoughts guys! 

I think I'll be fine. 

My teacher is absolutely adorable. She got us all these necklaces that have our names written on a grain of rice that floats in this blue stuff. It is so cute. I love her, she is precious. I took my oral test today too and did a lot better at that than I did at the written test. She told all of us after our tests she would miss us and we took pictures with her as a class. 

Man, I'm really sad guys. Like I might cry. I absolutely love here, which I'm so thankful for because otherwise this trip would suck. And everyone here has been supportive and such great friends. I can't believe I'm leaving this beautiful, kind country in just three days. Wow. Time has really flown by. 

So tomorrow I've got my last final and we are all going out to dinner Thursday as one group. The ten of us troopers throughout this trip. 

I couldn't have imagined this to go any better than it has. I'm so grateful I've been able to have this experience. There is no way I could have done this without the support of my family. So thank you guys for helping me get where I am today. This has been one of the most eye opening things that has ever happened to me. 

On another note, as sad as I am to be leaving, I'm going to Germany for a week after this to see my exchange student and her family. I'm excited to see Lisa after over a year! Plus, Germany, come on, it's beautiful. So it'll be not as bad to leave Jordan to go on another adventure to another gorgeous country. Look me go guys, explorer Melea. Has a nice ring to it. 

It'll be so crazy to be home after that. I'm a little surprised by it all. What am I going to do to have my boring, old normal life back? 

I guess I'll see when I get home! 

Ancient Wonders of the World

I am thoroughly amazed. 

After about three hours to Petra and not feeling good about walking a few miles to see one of the ancient wonders of the world in extremely hot weather I was definitely caught by surprise. After going to Greece and seeing such amazing things I didn't think it would be possible to see anything better than what I saw in my favorite place in the world. 

We walked forever, in hot weather, through rocks that could get pretty narrow we rounded a corner and what I saw was so indescribable. My pictures will do no good for this beautiful sight of Petra. The first thing i ran across was the Treasury. The top half is actually Roman style, but the top is not. A slier showed through the rocks and then you could see the whole thing. It was huge and beautiful. As I said, it'll be hard for me to even describe. But it was so amazing. 

We continued further and then we were at a tomb and a Colosseum. Obviously those weren't as exciting. And since we added the Wadi Rum trip in we didn't have as much time in Petra as we normally would. That meant I wasn't going to try to do a 40 minute hike up stairs and get back down in an hour. That would take you to the Monastery, which I would have done, but with it being hot and after already wandering around for a few hours I wasn't up for it. Half the group went and I hung out with one other guy and our ISA director and we walked back to the Treasury and sat there and watched it. I was so exhausted by the time we left and was too hot to be happy. But I made it another hour and a half to Wadi Rum. Thank God. Inshalla. 

Although because we left late because people climbed up to the Monastery we didn't get to ride camels into the sunset. My romantic dream of bonding with a camel as the sun set low in the sky was shattered. Alas, Ill hamdi lila the camels were awaiting for me in the morning, thanks to our lovely ISA director who has his connections. 

Sadly, I had a grumpy camel and didn't bond too much with it, since it kept trying to bite the guys leg on the camel in front of me. I mean, yeah, that was hilarious because he was afraid of my camel. Also, I wanted a picture with my camel just us after I got off, but he (or she, no idea) wasn't having it. But I did bond with the camel behind me that someone else was on. He kept putting his head up by my camel and I pet him. It was great. There was also a baby camel there. Did you hear that!? A BABY! 2. months. old. WhhhaaattT??? It was awesome! It was even tied to the other camels, it just wandered around by its mom and stuff making the cutest noises ever. It was for sure the best weekend here. 

Because the night before we hung out at the camp at a fire and looked at stars and just talked with the group. We all laughed and it was just a really chill, casual time. I wouldn't have wanted it to go any other way. 

Plus, dinner was delicious! They cooked it in this thing under the sand and covered it up with sand. So we watched them take it out and it was super cool. And out of all the food, I could eat everything there except one thing. It was heaven, especially for a vegetarian who has only been living off two foods. 

And after the camel ride we had breakfast and then we got in the back of trucks and drove around the desert. We stopped and all but three people climbed up this HUGE sand hill. I refused, it looked too treacherous for the hot weather. (Just a reminder, for people who forget, I hate hot weather and don't feel good in it. That's why I missed out on some of the stuff, but I'm honestly okay with it). So while they did that we drank some tea at this little place and looked around at the shop. I got an incredible deal on this one item there. I bought two of them because they're SO cool! I can' tell you, because I bought one for my roommate because it totally looked her style. So yeah, you're welcome Marina. You are seriously going to love it, and we'll be continuous matching roommates. And like, I'm sad now because I haven't seen you in what feels like years. Waaa.

And then we went to a few other places where there were tribal things for hunting on some rocks. And the last stop was somewhere that Lawrence of Arabia had been. That was kind of cool, but we didn't stay long. And then we went back to the camp and packed up. But yeah, it was really the best weekend here ever. Hot and busy, but so cool. I was in love. And I'm so sad that I only have like five days left. I hate it, I do not want to leave. Like at all. Not joking. I'd live here. 

And sorry for late posts, I have finals in a day. So yeah, I should probably be doing that instead. Great huh? 

So I'm checking out. 

Ma'salam

First sight of the Treasury

The tomb 

Sunset on the rock we climbed up onto

 Dinner

Cute little camel(:

I'M ON A CAMEL!

Hipping it up in Amman

I know, cheesy title. 

But we headed to the artsy part of Amman where the kind of hipsters hangout and there is are everywhere. We walked around and I finally bought something for myself! Two shirts. So exciting, I know, you guys will have to contain yourselves over that. 

There also was a looking delicious crepe place and chocolate place, but we didn't have time to stop. We went to this coffee shop called Graffiti very briefly and we get a discount for being students and then we get to write on the wall before we leave. I thought that was pretty exciting so I'll definitely have to go back. I thought it was a really cool idea. 

We eventually ended up in an art gallery area and there were some pretty sweet paintings. While we walked  to the location there were painting on the ground or the walls of building saying "We Claim the Sea" which apparently was an art place that was showing you the way to other art places along with their own. It was really exciting to see that kind of promotion. And while we walked around we ended up seeing all these houses who were portraying art and things like that. It was just a really exciting part of Amman. We stopped at this house that was turned into this huge art place. It was huge and there were ruins in the backyard with a church (cave like thing) and we wandered around for a while. There was a cafe there and everything. It was really fancy and cool. It was a shame we couldn't stay long since we had a time crunch and had to leave. 

But I am definitely looking to head back. We'll just have to find out because I have no time. And everyone wish my luck on Wednesday (or mid/late Tuesday for you guys) because my Arabic midterm is that day. Which is why this is so short since I have to go study. 

This is the outfits from the Salt since I just got around to it

Happy Father's Day

Just wanted to say a shout out of  Happy Father's day to all the wonderful dads out there. I hope you all are having a fantastic day, including my own dad. I hope everyone is enjoying a beautiful day wherever you are with family and friends, or whatever is going on. 

So here is to a celebration of fathers. 

So happy father's day Dad and my Opa!

Oh hey, it's Spain!

Well this week has been interesting. Our internet has been ka-pootzy for the past week. It would turn off and on all the time and wouldn't work. until Thursday night we lost it for good. We seriously just got it back today, Saturday in the afternoon. On another note, our bathroom has been flooding and we couldn't use the toilet and then another one of our bathrooms the maintenance people took the toilet seat to fix it. So... We only had one bathroom. And since our toilet wasn't working and leaking when we flushed we just decided not to use it but use the shower. But alas, the shower has been leaking when we get in it. So fingers grossed its all good now since they came and fixed it today. 

On a completely unrelated topic, I went to a Salsa Club at the Regency Hotel and it was pretty cool. It was in their restaurant and there was live band. There were dances like Salsa, Meringue, Cha-Cha, and Barchada? It's new to me. It's like a slow salsa. We went there Thursday and Friday night. It was definitely packed on Thursday but not Friday so we danced a lot more on Thursday. But Friday was fun because three of us went and just hung out. But we are definitely planning on going another day. It is going to be awesome. 

I am officially out of money now. All that is left in my wallet is all I have left. And I still have to pay for Wadi Rum which is stupid that we have to pay for it out of pocket but oh well. It's casual. So tomorrow at school I'll go to the ATM and figure out what to withdraw. It's a little unnerving to know I only have like 40 dinar in my wallet, but I'll make do. 

I missed the Souk yesterday but we went to a city called Salt where we learned about traditional Arab wedding. We got to dress up in what they'd wear and learn to do some of the dance. It was really fun and two Arab guys there rapped for us. It sounded really awesome even though I didn't know what they were saying. They were the ones that taught us to dance. We were supposed to go to this museum but I guess since Friday is the Holy day for them they wouldn't open it up. So that sucks, but we got to eat really delicious food there. Overall it was really fun and I almost skipped on it because I was feeling really lazy this weekend. But overall, this weekend was great. I wouldn't trade this trip and this experience for anything. People ask me if I miss home, but I really don't... I love it here so much. The culture, the people, the food, everything around us. I love Greece too, and I'd say I like Greece more, because I just really am into that kind of building and things like that too. Plus I also was allowed not to die of heat stroke and wear shorts. But I'd have to say, I am really said that I only have two weeks left. I wish I could have done 8 weeks here, but that's okay. 

And I'll leave it at that. 

Everybody have a wonderful day

xoxox

Palestine

So this might get a little sentimental here, but it's happening either way. 

Yesterday we went to a Palestinian Refugee camp for my Arab-Israeli Politics class. I didn't think I'd like that class but I really enjoy it. I'm learning so much and I find it so fascinating. I'm going to go into the whole details, and you can be mad for saying this, but I'm Pro-Palestinian. It's whatever, again, not going into the details. 

The Palestinians must hate America. All America does is support Israel and all Israel does is like kill people and take more land from the Palestinian people. So the guy we went to told us a story of his grandfather. The Israeli military came in and there was a massacre and everyone left because they were so scared. And now they live in Jordan and his family have been living in a refugee camp ever since. They make enough money to have a fairly nice house (for a refugee camp mind you) but a lot of people don't. In some places ambulances can't get there if there is an emergency. Kids run around and they're so sweet. A boy shook my hand then got so excited because I had blonde hair and I'm the only girl in our group with blonde hair. It was so cute and precious. Girls waved to us and then when we'd turn a corner the kids would follow us. I wish I could have stayed longer and talked to other people. It would have been so cool. But at Ali's house they served us juice, coffee, and a dessert. 

There isn't too much to say, but like it was just an eye-opening experience. And I have to say I'm so blessed to be able to be in Jordan. I'm also so blessed to be able to go to school where I go and live the life I have. I've worked hard to be where I am but I was the one who got put in the family I have and where I live. Of course, I've been thinking about things, and with this class and many other things, I've grown to believe that I might want to move somewhere else to work. Maybe Canada? Or Europe? Heck, Jordan even. I absolutely love it here and I'm so sad its already half way over. 

So that's it for now, I just thought that I would share. 

Aqaba

So we've moved from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea. We drove 4 1/2 hours to Aqaba and it was SO hot there. It was awful. But grand at the same time. We had lunch and then went to this dive shop before heading to the beach. To scuba dive. So. Cool.

So we went in two groups. I was in the second group so had to wait a little bit. Scuba diving is not easy. Well it is once you get the hang of it. And of course, as I am, I had a panic attack in the water and couldn't breath and had to hang out at the surface forever. I thought about swimming back and not doing it. But then I decided I needed to suck it up because I was going to do this. One of the two guys helping us had to come help me, obviously. The problem was that I was taking too short of breaths, making it feel like i wasn't getting enough oxygen. And its really weird to be breathing under water. It's so unnatural and you have to think about breathing which is odd too. I finally figured it out and the guy held my hand for half the time under water. 

So first off, the tanks are REALLY heavy and mine was like crooked so I was swimming slanted the whole time. But that was fine. And my goggles kept filling up with water and that sucked so I had to keep clearing them. The pressure on my ears wasn't fun, but it was only really bad one time. And I survived the fish. I didn't even freak out being so close to them which is really awesome. The coral was really cool too. It was just so weird to be under water like that, but also one of the best things I have ever done. It was a great experience. We saw lion fish, Nemo (clown fish), angel fish, Dory (the blue whatever they're called), puffer fish, and a bunch of small fish everywhere. It was only about thirty minutes in the water and I'd totally go again, now that I understand how breathing under the water works. 

After that we went home and showered and then we all went out to dinner. Our director took us to this great seafood place and i was ecstatic. I'm glad to not be living off hummus and filaffel. I got a fish (yes and in Middle East, like Greece, it has the head and everything) and my roommate god shrimp and we split it. It was so tasty, the fish was awesome! It was tender and so delicious. not as good as the fish I had in Greece, but it's probably second best. 

When we went back to our room we hung out for a little longer. 

The next day (day 2 in Aqaba) we got up and had breakfast at the hotel and then once again got in our suits and went to the beach. We got on a glass bottom boat and got to see the coral reefs again. There were eel everywhere on the bottom sticking up from the ground. It was weird, but cool. We jumped off the boat and snorkeled for a bit. I don't know why, but the fish freaked me out more when I was snorkeling than when I was scuba diving. Who would have thought? Ridiculous. And then after twenty minutes of that we got into the boat again. We drove over a sunken ship. It was a huge ship. And when I say huge, I mean tremendously large and really sketchy looking. And we snorkeled over it. We got in the water and SNORKELED OVER THE SUNKEN SHIP! It was so freaky. Not even funny, I couldn't handle it. I just hung out by the boat and swam around in the water. I looked at the boat for a while but it was still really freaking. It was probably only like 20 feet below us too. Ahhh.
ALSO where we were at in the water we could see four different countries. It was so wonderful. So obviously, we could see Jordan. Duh. But we could also see Israel/Palestine, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. It was so amazing. I mean obviously I couldn't just be like oh that's Egypt but they showed us and I thought that was really interesting. So I feel like a part of me has been in each of those places since the Red Sea touches them and I was in it so. I mean its my cool way of looking at it.

And then we went back to our room and showered and then like had lunch and came home. Sorry this isn't super detailed, but I'm pooped. It was so tiring. 

So I'll leave it at that. 

xoxoxo

On the way to Aqaba

THE BEACH

 Getting ready to go before the panic attack

 How gross I look after snorkeling. I was a hot mess

Glass bottom boat

 THE SHIP

 Super Sketchy ship down below

What's Jordan?

Okay, seriously, so many people I've been talking to have been really stupid. No offense. But every time I explain that I'm in Jordan (which I've been doing forever) they go, "Where's Jordan?" 

What? Seriously? That is not real life. I can't even believe that! And sometimes I'll just say, "Uh Amman, Jordan?" They STILL don't know! 

And then I have to explain it's in the Middle East. Like by Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Turkey. Although I doubt they know where that is either if they asked me in the first place. 

But yeah, I find it so hilarious that no one knows where it is. I mean, I might not even be on this planet guys! 

So I thought I'd just share that and hopefully somebody will find it amusing too.

As It Gets Hotter

Ah, now that Carsen has told me to update my blog, I shall do it. It must be done! And quickly! So since the Dead Sea nothing exciting has really been happening. We went out a few nights, but nothing special. School has been, well you know, school. The really long over two hour classes really suck. And I thought I would hate the Arab-Israeli Conflicts class but I actually really like it. Did I mention my teacher is from Canada? (Marina you better be reading this! CANADA!) So every time I get into class and he says a word and I hear his accent I just want to start singing "Ohhhh Caannnaaadddaaa, oh Caanndadddaaaa!" But then I realize that is really not the best idea... But yeah, it's pretty sweet. 

And since I have nothing better to mention, let me tell you guys something that I think is just adorable. So for the frist day there was this like 'ice cream truck' music playing in the streets and moving away and then closer to us. We didn't know what the heck was going on but we finally spotted the truck! Guess what is inside the truck? Propane. That's right, gas. It's WONDERFUL! I seriously LOVE it! Not even joking. I think it is so precious. It cracks me up so much. Like I just want to see the children running out to buy propane, but I mean that's not happening. 

So last night when a few of us were still out we get this call. And one of the guys is like we have to go home. And I was like oh okay, why? Apparently there were some 'sketchy things' going on around our apartments (mother, please don't worry. I know you really won't, but Dad if you're reading this cool your jets, because everything here is really safe. I've NEVER felt threatened or unsafe). Anyway, we get in a taxi to come back and we were like okay whatever. So two of the guys walk us home because first, they're gentlemen and second, they wouldn't let anything happen to any of us. I love that about our group. We all get along so well and take care of one another and have each others back. So there was nothing weird going on and we got in our apartments and the guys go off on their way to get back to their apartment. We get inside and the girls tell us apparently some guy was cat calling them and being all gross when they were hanging laundry on he balcony. And before that when they were walking back they passed some guys and when they turned around the guys had turned and started to walk after them. Nothing happened at all, but its still a little weird. Of course it was pretty late and nothing like that ever happens in the daylight. But now that we reported it we know what to do if it happens again. I doubt it will and they guys probably wouldn't have done anything, but better safe than sorry. Obviously I felt fine, I wasn't there when it was happening. 

But anyway, guess what is happening this weekend? What? What is that I hear? AQABA! I'm so excited! Apparently we are going to go scuba diving. I'm PUMPED! And its a weekend trip so we stay there. It's like a dream come true! Beyond excited. Like I'm dying. And I mean, yes, I will probably have to get over my irrational fear of fish bigger than like a Beta (hey Giraffe, hows it going? Hope you're still alive) but it'll be fun even if I don't. But oh well. 

So pretty much that's it. I've just been doing homework and walking around the city for the most part. Oh and tonight one of the girls rooming with us made us this dinner with chicken and rice. Don't worry, I was all good. I just had rice potatoes and carrots. Like some of my favorite three things! It was so tasty. It has this weird 7 spices in it, I don't really know, nor do I care. Because it was delicious. 

So yeah, life in Jordan is awesome and I love it. 

xoxoxo