This title has nothing to do with these photos...

View from main campus square

Administration Building

The Clock Tower

The walk towards the main gate

University Mosque

PS: Here's my mailing address for:

LETTERS:

Student name

C/O CIEE

P.O. Box. 13434,

Amman, 11942, Jordan

PACKAGES:

Student Name

C/O CIEE

#1 Rifa’ Al-Ansari St.

Kahlifeh Plaza #302

Tel: +962-6-5331258

Thanks to some unwarranted bickering, the photos are as follows:

1) View Over the Dead Sea

2) Patio of the resort we met at, near the dead sea

3) Ridgeline over the Dead Sea

4) Sheep....on a mountain....near the Dead Sea

5) Me....on a ridge.....overlooking the dead sea

6) A pillar of light illumination the dead sea and palestine

7) A video....filmed on a mountain....overlooking the dead sea

(there you go mike!)

Mystery of the Ominous Usra, Part 2

Mystery of the Ominous Usra, Part 2- 28 January 2010

Nothing too exciting has happened yet today, at least not yet. However, I did find out a really interesting story about my family that I thought was worth mentioning. If you recall, the most recent terrorist attack in Jordan was the bombing of a wedding at a hotel in Amman in 2005. It was at a hotel called the “Landmark.” The Landmark Hotel is actually relatively close to where I am living. MOM AND BRIDGET STOP! I know exactly what you’re thinking. According to the locals here, security has been extremely tight and thorough here because of this. Everyone is always on high alert and there is a noticeable police presence. (i.e. everyone is packing major heat) My brother Zaki and his wife were actually at that wedding and survived the attack. Two of their friends didn’t. Al-Hamdullah they arrived late to the wedding ceremony and were outside the building when the bombs went off. When they heard the sound, they started running.

FUN FACT(S):

The National Pastime in Jordan is tied between TV and Gossip.

Jordan is the 2^nd most water-poor nation on Earth. There is always a shortage and rain makes national headlines.

I saw a sign on a car similar to the “baby on board” signs in the US, only this one said “wife in trunk.” (That’s for you, Mike)

Mystery of the Ominous Usra

Mystery of the Ominous Usra- 28 January 2010

By the way, “Usra” means family. Today was the day I met my host family. The build up to this moment had a lot of ups and downs. Ups, because I was excited talking to every Jordanian I met and finding out how nice everyone has been! Downs, because of hearing horror stories about controlling families and wondering if I would become one of those stories. I had an interview at our organization’s office essentially going over all the info about my host family. Because this is actually a very public blog (more so than I thought), I won’t give away too much here. It is a Palestinian family, the main family I live with is a 70ish ear old father named Andre (Baba, as they say in Arabic). The mother is in her 60’s, we call her Um Zaki, or Mama. There is a daughter who lives in the house named Rasha. (40’s) She is really nice and took me on a guided tour of her neighborhood! They live in a very old, very famous neighborhood in Amman. There is a son who is married and lives nearby named Zaki. I met his wife and son today. They are all very nice. The son is 1 yr 4 mnths old and he is very outgoing! My first impression is that I really lucked out with my host family!! J They don’t smoke, they don’t drink, the only catch is that the cab ride to campus is a little longer than most other students, but I can manage. Colin, as you very well know soccer is very big here and my host dad really loves it! He is actually watching the Egypt-Algeria soccer game right now! Also, I have my own, very nice room, and there is internet! So when I can connect, I will be sure to keep the blogs coming!

I also took my first successful cab ride today! For a majority of orientation, they bussed us around in these large tour busses. However, today we got our travel stipend and were essentially told we’re on our own. Smart, because we have to know how to use cabs to get to campus. We were given a big lecture on how/where to sit in the cab, how to make sure its licensed, how to make sure the meter is running, and when to be able to tell that the cabbie is trying to rip you off. I was very happy how successful it went! One down, many, many more to go!

On a weirder note, I did have a good conversation with a man in a campus computer lab near campus who wanted to practice his English. He was a very nice guy and we were told that simply asking someone how they were could lead to hearing their life story and being invited to dinner! Well guess what! That’s exactly what happened! The only thing that was odd about it was that he kept asking for my email, phone #, US college, etc. I am sure he was just trying to keep in touch, but nevertheless I just “wasn’t ready for a relationship” yet.

FUN FACT: We were told the other day that the Muhabarat monitor a majority, if not all of the blogs. The intelligence system here is one of the best in the region. A girls blogged about being scared to death by one of the Prince’s bodyguards. The next day she got a phone call on her personal cell phone asking her to meet the Prince for a formal apology and photo. So on that note, good evening Muhabarat!

Bish-ta-ghal Al-Adad min fadlek: Turn on the Meter Please

Oh by the way, they don’t flush toilet paper here…..so yeah……

PS: Mom and Dad

Remember those emergency numbers I gave you? NEVER EVER CALL THEM! In the event of Armageddon or something lesser (regional war, car bomb, etc) ONLY call the US # or the Embassy! Heres why:

Phone systems and internet servers are already overloaded. In the event of an emergency, which will cause that overloadedness to SPIKE 100 fold, the staff here will barely be able to make a call here. They want the one and only call they make to be to emergency services, they dont want it interupted by parents.

First trip to campus

Hola All!

Today was our first trip to the UJ campus (University of Jordan). Compared to St. Thomas, this place is HUGE! Lots of palm trees, streets weaving through campus (no cars allowed though), limestone brick buildings, and theres a huge clock tower in the center of campus. We took a tour of a campus archeological museum that has artifacts from areas all over Jordan from every era! We also signed up for our excursions. I couldn't sign up for both Petra AND Wadi Rum, so I took Wadi Rum but am planning on seeing Petra on my own! I will also be exploring some biblical sites around the region.
Took our language placement test today for Arabic. I feel like I did pretty well. I am hoping to get into the Advaced 1 Level and based on how much I knew, I think I got it. I was especially happy about the 10 min private oral interview I had. I have gotten so comfortable speaking Arabic and I didn't stumble at all during my interview! It was actually really fun! All this hard work is starting to pay off! Im sure when Im speaking nothing BUT arabic, I will improve exponentially!
Tomorrow we'll be moving in with our host families, I am nervous but excited! I still dont know anything about them, but I have a meeting with a faculty advisor tomorrow who will be briefing my on them! :) We'll be checking out tomorrow morning and will be meeting out host families in the evening! You'll get plenty of details when they come! (Hope they have internet)
Got a huge safety briefing today. Used to it, but its always really important, although a friend of mine put it very well today: All the kids who are too good to do anything stupid were freaked out and those who are stupid are still going to ignore the advice. But at least they have no excuse not to be stupid. We'll see how it goes! We were also told basic Jordanian security tips like what to do when approached by the Muhabarat (Intelligence Agents, plain clothed officers). i.e., ask for identification, comply. If they fail to show identification (which they are legally required to do), run like hell because they're lying! Mom, don't freak out either. Our program director had a good quote about Jordan today. "Jordan is a fundamentally safe and stable country, its just located in a rough neighborhood." Security wise, everything here seems to be VERY well though out. Text messaging emergency warning systems, evacuations plans, sub plans incase of different scenarios, etc. Our program director is even a Warden for the embassy, so you know she knows what shes talking about.
We register for classes Sunday so over the weekend I'll try to keep you guys updated on whats going on here. Hopefully Ill have more time soon to post photos and type more.

Fun Fact: Traffic Accidents are the 2nd leading cause of death in Jordan next to heart disease. (i.e. why we're not allowed to operate anything motorized) Our bus actually got into an accident today, slowly backing up into another car, so hopefully that was the 1:1000 odds at work!

Alive in the Dead Sea - 26 January 2010

Hello All! I have no internet, so I am blogging in Microsoft Word until then. Hope everyone is doing well! The trip over was overall uneventful. No ale at Heathrow, but I did stop by a restaurant and get some breakfast. Found my gate easily. It was a struggle staying awake though. I think the only reason I stayed awake was the competing desire not to get robbed. Arrived safely in Jordan around 8:30 pm. No troubles through customs or with finding the CIEE guy. Got to our hotel, got my cell phone (called Colin and got cut-off, left lazy Mike a message.) Hotel room is nice (well not really, but I’m comfortable). We got an initial welcome briefing today, language placement test tomorrow, and I should be moving in with my host family Thursday. (No mom, as of this exact moment I still know nothing about them.) Surprisingly, our initial orientation took place at a resort overlooking the Dead Sea! When I can upload them, the pictures will not do any justice to the landscape! I can also say I got to see Palestine! I have a great photo that I think is a good representation of the “Holy Land.” With the mountains in the background and the Dead Sea in the foreground, a pillar of light was poking out of the clouds and illuminating a spot on the sea. Following our briefing, we went down to the shore of the Dead Sea. Although it was the “coldest day of the year” in Jordan (warm enough for us), we did a little “floating” as they say. We definitely have to come back when its hot out! Its true what they say. When I got out past the first few feet of water, you just float on the top of the surface! If you lay completely flat, the top layer of your body pokes out of the water. I also did the cliché “rub dead sea mud all over your body.” Apparently its known for its healing properties (lotions, soaps, spa treatments made from Dead Sea mud extract), so imagine me as a mud ninja! Only my eyes were poking out! Its this thick, nearly black mud that sticks to your body! Tomorrow we will tour the University and get access to the university network. Hopefully an email will be sent soon.

Love you all!

FUN FACT: Families in Jordan put on their best outfits when going out to eat at McDonalds, Burger King, Pizza Hut, etc. It is a luxury not many people here can afford. Kind of puts the world in a different perspective.