SO I've been wanting to compile some info about the Middle East, because I feel like Westerns are really confused. Obviously, we view the world from the American Standpoint, but there are some interesting things that often people dont know about Arabs and Arab society in General. So, with that being said.... I just thought I'd give you all some facts.
Basics:
1.Arabs are part of an ethnic group, not a religion. Arabs were around long before Islam, and there have been (and still are) Arab Christians and Arab Jews. In general, you’re an Arab if you 1) are of Arab descent (blood), or 2) speak the main Arab language (Arabic).
2.Not all Arabs are Muslim. There are significant populations of Arab Christians throughout the world, including in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Northern Africa and Palestine/Israel.
Islam is a religion. A Muslim (roughly pronounced MOOSE-lihm) is someone who follows the religion. So you wouldn’t say someone follows Muslim or is an Islam, just as you wouldn’t say someone follows Christian or is a Christianity.
3.Shia Muslims are similar to Roman Catholics in Christianity. They have a strong clerical presence via Imams and promote the idea of going through them to practice the religion correctly. Sunni Muslims are more like Protestant Christians. They don’t really focus on Imams and believe in maintaining a more direct line to God than the Shia.
4.People from Iran are known as Persians, and they are not Arabs. Iran is NOT considered the Middle East.
5.Arabs are Semites. We’ve all heard the term anti-Semitism being used — often to describe Arabs. While antisemitism does specifically indicate hatred for Jews, the word “Semite” comes from the Bible and referred originally to anyone who spoke one of the Semitic Languages.
According to the Bible, Jews and Arabs are related [Genesis 25]. Jews descended from Abraham’s son Isaac, and Arabs descended from Abraham’s son Ishmael. So not only are both groups Semitic, but they’re also family.
6.Sunni Muslims make up most of the Muslim world (roughly 90%).
7. The country with the world’s largest Muslim population is Indonesia. WOW thats not part of the middle east?!?!?!
8.The rift between the Shia and Sunni started right after Muhammad’s death and originally reduced to a power struggle regarding who was going to become the authoritative group for continuing the faith.
9. The "middle east" is not equal to the "arab world" -Afghanistan, Iran, Israel and Turkey, to name just four countries, are in the Middle East, but except for Israel’s Palestinian-Arabs, the majority of their populations are not Arabs.
10. Not all arabs are oil billionaires, bombers or bellydancers. haha
I found this great article that I hope people will read if they have some free time.... Please, please, please, realize not everything you see on TV or read is the exact truth, often times stuff is fabricated or left out to spin something a certain way.... http://www.arabamericannews.com/news/index.php?mod=article&cat=Artamp;Culture&article=1188
Thursday, October 29, 2009
An unexpected break sent from Allah!
So things here have been absolutely crazy for me the past week. Im sorry I havent been as diligent about posting, my life's been a ball of stress.
I guess Ill start with school. My normal arabic prof is still out, Im guessing most likely for the rest of the semester. We havent been told exactly what the deal is, but we know the baby is okay and she is currently on bed rest. So the past week has been filled with different subs, with different styles and teaching methods.... in arabic its been frustrating. Every day feels like square one again.
Yesterday, our program recieved some great news. Well not great for everyone. Apparently one student in my program has come down with swine flu. There are really strict rules about H1n1 here so he's currently quarantined in the hospital for the next two weeks. Of course there is mass panic, and everyone adds to the rumors, which makes life here even more interesting. Anyways, our program director decided to give us all a 4 day weekend, in hopes that we would rest and not sprend the swine flu which is now evident in our group. Funny thing is, people are going crazy (because of the unexpected break) and leaving the country and traveling for the weekend. I dont think anyone plans on resting, and if anything people will probably bring more sicknesses back to Amman after the long weekend.... oh well, the break is well needed and appreciated by me. My friends and I are going to relax and hang out here. Theres no point in last min travel, esp around these parts because visas are hard to obtain. We are thinking about doing a day trip or two, either way Ill keep you posted.
I was really thankful for the extra time, mainly because this week was super hard for me. I've been really annoyed with my classes and a lot of the kids in my program, my internship has me bogged down in work and Ive just missed a lot about home.
Last night, well actually this morning, I woke up at 2 30 am to register for classes at Villanova next semester. My registration time was 7 30 in the states and so it was great waking up mid sleep to get my courses settled for next semester. Im actually really happy with my schedule and all the stressing this past week and emails to school have been worth it. With that being said, I have a huge hole in my heart for NOVA right now. Pre- season basketball is starting, its halloween so my sorority is having our annual halloween formal ( MY FAVORITE ) and choosing my classes has gotten me pretty excited for the spring. I just keep telling myself, I am so lucky to be here, experiencing this because so many other people cant. I guess the little things here that are so hard are just getting to me. Although I know I am so frustrated now, when I get home I will be so frustrated and shocked that life is so easy. Its hard having this experience, but it's humbling and it makes you realize that you can survive without being in America's bubble of security.
Over the past few weeks my love hate relationship with Amman has continued. Life really is a rollercoaster. All I know is I am ready for this weekend and a nice break. Ill post again soon haha miss you all!
ma'salama
I guess Ill start with school. My normal arabic prof is still out, Im guessing most likely for the rest of the semester. We havent been told exactly what the deal is, but we know the baby is okay and she is currently on bed rest. So the past week has been filled with different subs, with different styles and teaching methods.... in arabic its been frustrating. Every day feels like square one again.
Yesterday, our program recieved some great news. Well not great for everyone. Apparently one student in my program has come down with swine flu. There are really strict rules about H1n1 here so he's currently quarantined in the hospital for the next two weeks. Of course there is mass panic, and everyone adds to the rumors, which makes life here even more interesting. Anyways, our program director decided to give us all a 4 day weekend, in hopes that we would rest and not sprend the swine flu which is now evident in our group. Funny thing is, people are going crazy (because of the unexpected break) and leaving the country and traveling for the weekend. I dont think anyone plans on resting, and if anything people will probably bring more sicknesses back to Amman after the long weekend.... oh well, the break is well needed and appreciated by me. My friends and I are going to relax and hang out here. Theres no point in last min travel, esp around these parts because visas are hard to obtain. We are thinking about doing a day trip or two, either way Ill keep you posted.
I was really thankful for the extra time, mainly because this week was super hard for me. I've been really annoyed with my classes and a lot of the kids in my program, my internship has me bogged down in work and Ive just missed a lot about home.
Last night, well actually this morning, I woke up at 2 30 am to register for classes at Villanova next semester. My registration time was 7 30 in the states and so it was great waking up mid sleep to get my courses settled for next semester. Im actually really happy with my schedule and all the stressing this past week and emails to school have been worth it. With that being said, I have a huge hole in my heart for NOVA right now. Pre- season basketball is starting, its halloween so my sorority is having our annual halloween formal ( MY FAVORITE ) and choosing my classes has gotten me pretty excited for the spring. I just keep telling myself, I am so lucky to be here, experiencing this because so many other people cant. I guess the little things here that are so hard are just getting to me. Although I know I am so frustrated now, when I get home I will be so frustrated and shocked that life is so easy. Its hard having this experience, but it's humbling and it makes you realize that you can survive without being in America's bubble of security.
Over the past few weeks my love hate relationship with Amman has continued. Life really is a rollercoaster. All I know is I am ready for this weekend and a nice break. Ill post again soon haha miss you all!
ma'salama
Thursday, October 22, 2009
MY BABIES!!!!
SO basically a few weeks ago I broke down and started feeding this really sweet cat that was hanging around our apartment, little did I know she had 5 kittens. So long story short, I've been buying food and feeding these sweet kittens and their mother for the past week. They are really cute and always, always around. Just wanted to put some pictures up for everyone to see!!! Beka and Forrest be really jealous haha they are so much fun to play with :)
Sunday, October 18, 2009
MID TERMS
Well true to Arabic culture, I was shocked to find out that this week is mid terms. Without any prior warning I showed up to class today to find out the rest of this week is Midterms and I have some type of test everyday. Haha kids were literally freaking out and complaining to the study abroad office, and all they had to say was, "You are not in America" and "Things here are different, just go with it". SO thats what Im doing, going to try to study as much as possible, but not stress too much.
There are HUGE differences between University here and in America. In America, students are given a solid plan at the start of a semester, they know what they will be studying, when they will be tested and what is expected of them. Here, you go with the flow. Grades are not emphasized as heavily, learning and internalizing the material is. It really is amazing at how freaked out us America students get when there is no "formal" grading system. To think, our wholes lives we have been working so hard for A's and B's, and here you are given a grade based on what the teacher thinks you deserve, not how well you do on a test. It really makes sense. At least I think so. Needless to say, it will be a stressful week none the less. LOTS and LOTS of Arabic. I must say I am impressed and disappointed in my language skills. I am impressed because I can recognize a lot of what people say, I can pick up words, phrases during conversations and follow along very well in class. However, Im disappointed because this language is SO hard. Col Jordanian Arabic is so different from Formal, so its like two languages. Everyday, I struggle to keep the two separate. I get frustrated because I know how to say things formally, but not in the daily dialect. I know its a long process, but I dont think I will ever become fluent. I've lowered my standards, I just want to become proficient haha. I just want to know enough to get by. I really have improved, but still everyday is a struggle. Its even more frustrating to know that I will lose a lot of my skill once I return home. I wont be hearing it nearly as much, and I def wont be using it as much. Mom and Dad better start taking lessons, I want to keep my skills up haha
As for my weekend, it was pretty chill. Thursday night Alison's Father took us out for another wonderful dinner. This time we went to Le Royal, a gorgeous hotel with a breath-taking view of the whole city! About half way up there is a restaurant and bar with a view that goes all the way around the hotel exterior. It was really awesome. Not to mention the food and wine were delicious. Thanks again Mr Kumro!!!
Friday I actually made some money, a few girlfriends and I helped an elderly women pack up her home to move. She was very traditional so she requested all women to help. We never saw her, instead we dealt with her son, who honestly was just looking for some young American girls. He showed up with moving boxes, tape and a ton of beer. Haha just what we all were expecting right? Traditional mother, of course the son is going to be a raging alcoholic. Nah Im just kidding. He was nice and realized soon on that his drink choice was not really " culturally appropriate or appreciated" so we all stuck with soda. Anyways we spent about 4 hours packing up tons of books, dishes and trinkets and made 83 JD each. Which is the equivalent to about 130 American Dollars, it was nice :)
Yesterday we hit up the souk again, I did some more X-mas shopping. I broke down and bought a hookah for myself, its really pretty and handpainted. Im super excited! Again my sense of season is very messed up, its like over 90 degrees here so I cant really believe its almost November.
I guess thats all for now. This week will be busy, filled with lots of studying. Im half way through my program, can you guys believe it? I know I cant. The weeks seem to fly by here. Mom better start the countdown til Im home :) Miss everyone! Ma'salaama!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Please say a little prayer....
Hello all, I am currently sitting at work, taking a small break, so I thought I would write a quick blog.
Last night I met my friend Andrew for Dinner. I went with another friend Caitlin, who is currently studying in my program. We had a lovely time, we went to a popular spot in a nice part of the city called "Jabal Amman". We ate at a small cafe called Books@Cafe. It was really great, its basically a bookshop with a funky stairway that leads to a magnificent patio with lots of levels overlooking the city. The atmosphere is fun, there are lights everywhere, tons of hookahs and lots of great food. This is a popular spot for Americans because they serve alcohol, we all skipped the alcohol last night and went straight for the lemon and mint, which is a traditional Arab drink that is very refreshing. Its basically like fresh lemonade with ground mint leaves, very zaki! (delicious) After that we crossed the famous Abdoun Bridge (which is nothing to American bridges, but Jordanians love to brag) to Abdoun which is the "hollywood of Amman". Its very wealthy and has tons of great spots to eat, drink and dance. We settled for some Ice cream at Gerads, which is equivalent to ben and jerrys in the states, again very zaki!!!
On Monday night I was able to eat dinner with Alison, her Father and my roommates. We went to a traditional restaurant called "Tawaheen al- Hawa" which literally translated means "the windmill". It was WONDERFUL, very traditional, comfortable and the best part was the menu was in both Arabic and English! We ordered a bunch of traditional items; hummus, fattoush (arab salad), chicken and lamb kabobs, pita bread, rice and tons of fresh fruit. It was really nice to meet Alison's Dad, he was so sweet to take us all out and treat us to such a nice meal. It was also really great to tell him all about Jordan and our experiences. He's here until Sunday and has been traveling around Jordan having his own adventures, what a brave guy! Thanks Mr Kumro for treating us all like your daughters and taking us out for such a nice meal!
Now on to the title of my post. My formal Arabic teacher Ghadeer was rushed to the hospital yesterday with labor pains, she is only 4 months pregnant. She cancelled class today and will be absent all next week. Ghadeer is honestly the reason I get up in the mornings sometimes. Getting frustrated with Arabic is a daily thing here, and she is the best professor to have. I have class with her everyday and she is the most wonderful woman ever. She has the best personality, is extremely supportive, and truly wants us all to learn the language. She never gets frustrated when we butcher our arabic vocabulary and is very understanding when we cant understand her Arabic. She seriously was made to teach and inspire students, and I have been totally blessed to recieve her as my main teacher here. With that being said, I ask everyone to keep her, her husband and her 3 year old son in their prayers. I hope nothing is seriously wrong, but missing the whole next week of class is not promising. She is the type of person who makes you love the language and actually learn the language. She really, really, really is the most amazing professor I have had since entering college, even in the states.
With that being said, today is the weekend. After work, Im heading to the gym and then will probably meet Alison and her Dad for dinner. I hope the rest of the week goes well for everyone at home. Ma'salaama!
Monday, October 12, 2009
PICTURES!!
So a ton of my friends have taken some awesome pictures of Amman, I just wanted to share some nice ones of the city. These pictures are from my friend Andrew, who is a Villanova Grad Student, THANKS ANDREW for capturing some of the city's personality!
Amman is breath-taking at night!
Typical Mosque all lit up at night!
You find some nice English around town... makes me feel at home haha
looks like Ramadan, everythings closed!
A nice street :) and cab
I LOVE this picture :) Enjoy
Ke-fek?
Just wanted to post a quick blog before my week got too busy. My weekend was very nice, pretty calm, I didn't do too much.
Thursday night, my roommate Alison and I met some friends at a local bar. It was crawling with Americans so it was like a taste of home, although alcohol is taxed 200 percent here, so its very expensive. Friday there was a big parade, but we ended up not going, there were no cabs and the parade was in a part of the city that wasn't super close to my apartment. Instead we made a nice home cooked meal and relaxed in the apartment. I did a bunch of homework so it was very productive. Saturday, Alison and I hit up "City Mall" and I've decided its the place to go if I ever need a pick me up. It was extremely Western with tons of great stores and a movie theater. It was nice to relax and just not think too much. Plus lots of people spoke English, so I didnt have to attempt to shop in Arabic haha.
Yesterday, I didnt have work, so I hit the gym and got a good amount of homework done. I was suppose to meet my peer tutor today, but she's sick, so I have some extra time to myself. The past few days have been really hot, almost reaching 90 degrees. It's strange because it technically is Fall, but the day time temps are usually in the 80's. I miss all the colors and the changing of the weather in the states. The sun here is great, but I really am tired of the heat, especially since I'm covering my whole body all of the time.
I've had a few people contact me about not being able to post on my blog. I am currently "moderating" some aspects of my life because I am applying for some summer govt internships. It's not a big deal, but I didn't want to delete my blog all together. If you would like you contact me, please send me an email- alicia.petty@villanova.edu and I would love to hear from anyone and everyone!
I dont have any big plans this week, Alison's Dad is in town which is wonderful, so a nice dinner is most likely in my future. I am also meeting a friend from Villanova later this week. He took Arabic with me in the states a year ago. He's here for Grad school and is extremely intelligent and very successful. It will be nice to see a familiar face from home.
Hope everyone has a nice week! Ma'salaama
Thursday night, my roommate Alison and I met some friends at a local bar. It was crawling with Americans so it was like a taste of home, although alcohol is taxed 200 percent here, so its very expensive. Friday there was a big parade, but we ended up not going, there were no cabs and the parade was in a part of the city that wasn't super close to my apartment. Instead we made a nice home cooked meal and relaxed in the apartment. I did a bunch of homework so it was very productive. Saturday, Alison and I hit up "City Mall" and I've decided its the place to go if I ever need a pick me up. It was extremely Western with tons of great stores and a movie theater. It was nice to relax and just not think too much. Plus lots of people spoke English, so I didnt have to attempt to shop in Arabic haha.
Yesterday, I didnt have work, so I hit the gym and got a good amount of homework done. I was suppose to meet my peer tutor today, but she's sick, so I have some extra time to myself. The past few days have been really hot, almost reaching 90 degrees. It's strange because it technically is Fall, but the day time temps are usually in the 80's. I miss all the colors and the changing of the weather in the states. The sun here is great, but I really am tired of the heat, especially since I'm covering my whole body all of the time.
I've had a few people contact me about not being able to post on my blog. I am currently "moderating" some aspects of my life because I am applying for some summer govt internships. It's not a big deal, but I didn't want to delete my blog all together. If you would like you contact me, please send me an email- alicia.petty@villanova.edu and I would love to hear from anyone and everyone!
I dont have any big plans this week, Alison's Dad is in town which is wonderful, so a nice dinner is most likely in my future. I am also meeting a friend from Villanova later this week. He took Arabic with me in the states a year ago. He's here for Grad school and is extremely intelligent and very successful. It will be nice to see a familiar face from home.
Hope everyone has a nice week! Ma'salaama
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Work? It's just a piece of cake :)
Today is the last day of the Arabic week, so it's basically like Friday. I woke up and went to class then headed off to my internship. I was pleasantly surprised once I arrived because Majed told me we werent working today and that today was a day to celebrate. Our boss turned 55 today, so the whole team went out for his birthday. We ended up going to a restaurant called Fire of Brazil,(http://www.fireofbrazil.com/) which basically is the same as Fogo de Chao (the restuarant I went to in DC before I left).
Needless to say, it was the BEST meal Ive had since Ive been in Amman. Another excellent extravaganza of meat, salad and cake. The only difference was the company only spoke Arabic and I was completely lost for most of the conversation. I didnt mind at all because I was shoving my face with food that is probably the closest thing to home I will see all semester! It was a wonderful experience overall, I learned some great new arabic vocab, and was asked all about home! My internship is really beginning to become more and more of a family, the people I work with all want to go out and meet my roommates. And not to mention, I'm everyone's daughter from the states! It really was a nice pick me up. To top it all off, I dont have to go into the office on Sunday because Monday is an American holiday. Because I work for USAID, an American company, I get all the American holidays off! Which means, I get Thursday the 26th of November off, for Thanksgiving and my 21st birthday! I'm really excited! Just wanted to blog about how full and content I am right now haha. Tonight my roommates and I may hit the mall or go out, depends on how everyone is feeling. Hope the end of the week is good for everyone back home! Ma'salaama!
Needless to say, it was the BEST meal Ive had since Ive been in Amman. Another excellent extravaganza of meat, salad and cake. The only difference was the company only spoke Arabic and I was completely lost for most of the conversation. I didnt mind at all because I was shoving my face with food that is probably the closest thing to home I will see all semester! It was a wonderful experience overall, I learned some great new arabic vocab, and was asked all about home! My internship is really beginning to become more and more of a family, the people I work with all want to go out and meet my roommates. And not to mention, I'm everyone's daughter from the states! It really was a nice pick me up. To top it all off, I dont have to go into the office on Sunday because Monday is an American holiday. Because I work for USAID, an American company, I get all the American holidays off! Which means, I get Thursday the 26th of November off, for Thanksgiving and my 21st birthday! I'm really excited! Just wanted to blog about how full and content I am right now haha. Tonight my roommates and I may hit the mall or go out, depends on how everyone is feeling. Hope the end of the week is good for everyone back home! Ma'salaama!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Deeper Issues Part 2
While my earlier post proved to be rather serious and depressing, the emotional roller coaster once again does not stop there! After I blogged this morning, I had a pretty interesting and rewarding day.
I met my peer tutor, a 20 year old Jordanian who is very traditional and from Pakistan. Her name is Doa'a and she is a French and Italian Major. She was very sweet, and a traditional Muslim. She immediately welcomed me and promised my Arabic would improve. She also invited me to her Engagement Party next week, and urged me to come, no questions asked. I found her refreshing and very kind. She was encouraging and is my first official Jordanian girl friend.
After my meeting with Doa'a I had a nice afternoon class and headed home to my apartment. Two of my roommates and I went down the street and grabbed some dinner at a popular Arab Restaurant, which was similar to the American Chuckie Cheese, they had a huge play place and moonbounce, with a big candy and ice cream counter. It was very good, we all ate a ton and grabbed some ice cream to go.
I got home and my roommates and I all vented. We talked about a ton. The annoying kids in the program, how hard it is sometimes here, how the weather is beginning to change, how nice some Jordanian college kids are and rude some others are... the list goes on and on. It was a relief to actually have people understand how I felt, we all seemed to just get it. After venting with my roommates, I began thinking about everything a litte more.
I first want to reiterate the fact that obviously no culture is perfect... my thoughts are not set in stone, they change all the time, in fact, the only thing that is constant here is knowing my emotions are going to be great one minute and hard the next. Just because I've been struggling with some things here doesnt mean I dont love Jordan. If I didnt love the culture, I wouldnt be here, I seriously wouldnt have left America.
The truth is, life here is hard. It's hard being a young independent female in a collective society. It's also hard to be American, I'm use to cultural norms and a lifestyle that is different from any other country in the world. With that being said, yes I am homesick sometimes, who wouldnt be? But other times, I feel like I am suppose to be here, like everything seems to fall into place. I think that this experience is suppose to do that. I think studying abroad is suppose to break you down and make you realize what you have. I think your suppose to miss home and be critical of the new place and culture you've decided to live in. I also think you are suppose to have moments that make everything worth it, that make you love the country you are in, that make you want to stay and meet as many people as you can. Being here, alone has made me feel so lonely, but has also fulfilled me in ways I never thought were possible. The emotional roller coaster has forced me to take the good with the bad, and laugh when I've wanted to cry. This culture is what I am passionate about, and I know, good or bad, its something I really want to pursue in life.
Do I agree with everything here? Of course not... Do I think things are wrong? Yes. But at the end of the day, can I look at America and honestly agree with everything there? No, who can? That's the beauty of America, you're free to believe what you want and find faults in the system. The Middle East is filled with a huge group of people, many of which have been conquered, liberated, displaced, replaced, defended, attacked, used for thousands of years. America is young, so young, compared to this region. Sometimes it's hard to remember that. In America we have so much, here I sometimes feel like Ive been thrown back in time. But, in the long run, Jordan has been around much longer, and so have the people.
I need to remember that while I dont understand Islam, who am I to judge? Until I've talked to women personally about the hijab/head covering, I dont really know the reasons for wearing one. I've done a good amount of reading and observing but I shouldnt just make assumptions. Girls often choose to cover, I shouldnt assume they are all being oppressed. Before I make any judgements, I should ask. In terms of the extremists, well, that again is everywhere, not just here. Just because a fraction of the people are rude doesnt mean it represents the whole society. People in America are rude, and its NOT because you are speaking to them in horribly arabic haha. I should also mention, horrible things have been done in the name of God all over the world and for many different religions, Christianity is no exception. I dont want anyone to think because people do "honor killings" in the name of Islam, that its a normal thing. And so what if people stare, or walk around like they own the country, when Im walking around in public. Even though it may seem wrong by Ameican standards and rude to me, again, who am I to judge. It's the norm here, people must think Im nuts walking really fast to class and trying to get by everyone.
I guess earlier today I felt stuck in a rut. It's frustrating being here sometimes. Arabic is such a hard language and committing to it is a big deal. Getting back to my apartment tonight, I really felt like I was going home... my home farrrr away from home, but still home nevertheless. The experiences I have here are suppose to be hard, they are suppose to make me think and question this culture and my home culture. While I do miss things from home, I am no where near ready to come home. This is a challenge for me, a challenge I welcome with open arms, an open mind and an open heart. I hope everyone reading my blog will keep that same open mind too, because while this culture and it's people are no where near perfect, neither is our culture... and at the end of it all, who has the right to judge who?
I'm looking forward to a nice weekend in Amman.... there's a big parade and festival in the city that we all are thinking about going to, Im sure I will have stories.... until then goodnight!
I met my peer tutor, a 20 year old Jordanian who is very traditional and from Pakistan. Her name is Doa'a and she is a French and Italian Major. She was very sweet, and a traditional Muslim. She immediately welcomed me and promised my Arabic would improve. She also invited me to her Engagement Party next week, and urged me to come, no questions asked. I found her refreshing and very kind. She was encouraging and is my first official Jordanian girl friend.
After my meeting with Doa'a I had a nice afternoon class and headed home to my apartment. Two of my roommates and I went down the street and grabbed some dinner at a popular Arab Restaurant, which was similar to the American Chuckie Cheese, they had a huge play place and moonbounce, with a big candy and ice cream counter. It was very good, we all ate a ton and grabbed some ice cream to go.
I got home and my roommates and I all vented. We talked about a ton. The annoying kids in the program, how hard it is sometimes here, how the weather is beginning to change, how nice some Jordanian college kids are and rude some others are... the list goes on and on. It was a relief to actually have people understand how I felt, we all seemed to just get it. After venting with my roommates, I began thinking about everything a litte more.
I first want to reiterate the fact that obviously no culture is perfect... my thoughts are not set in stone, they change all the time, in fact, the only thing that is constant here is knowing my emotions are going to be great one minute and hard the next. Just because I've been struggling with some things here doesnt mean I dont love Jordan. If I didnt love the culture, I wouldnt be here, I seriously wouldnt have left America.
The truth is, life here is hard. It's hard being a young independent female in a collective society. It's also hard to be American, I'm use to cultural norms and a lifestyle that is different from any other country in the world. With that being said, yes I am homesick sometimes, who wouldnt be? But other times, I feel like I am suppose to be here, like everything seems to fall into place. I think that this experience is suppose to do that. I think studying abroad is suppose to break you down and make you realize what you have. I think your suppose to miss home and be critical of the new place and culture you've decided to live in. I also think you are suppose to have moments that make everything worth it, that make you love the country you are in, that make you want to stay and meet as many people as you can. Being here, alone has made me feel so lonely, but has also fulfilled me in ways I never thought were possible. The emotional roller coaster has forced me to take the good with the bad, and laugh when I've wanted to cry. This culture is what I am passionate about, and I know, good or bad, its something I really want to pursue in life.
Do I agree with everything here? Of course not... Do I think things are wrong? Yes. But at the end of the day, can I look at America and honestly agree with everything there? No, who can? That's the beauty of America, you're free to believe what you want and find faults in the system. The Middle East is filled with a huge group of people, many of which have been conquered, liberated, displaced, replaced, defended, attacked, used for thousands of years. America is young, so young, compared to this region. Sometimes it's hard to remember that. In America we have so much, here I sometimes feel like Ive been thrown back in time. But, in the long run, Jordan has been around much longer, and so have the people.
I need to remember that while I dont understand Islam, who am I to judge? Until I've talked to women personally about the hijab/head covering, I dont really know the reasons for wearing one. I've done a good amount of reading and observing but I shouldnt just make assumptions. Girls often choose to cover, I shouldnt assume they are all being oppressed. Before I make any judgements, I should ask. In terms of the extremists, well, that again is everywhere, not just here. Just because a fraction of the people are rude doesnt mean it represents the whole society. People in America are rude, and its NOT because you are speaking to them in horribly arabic haha. I should also mention, horrible things have been done in the name of God all over the world and for many different religions, Christianity is no exception. I dont want anyone to think because people do "honor killings" in the name of Islam, that its a normal thing. And so what if people stare, or walk around like they own the country, when Im walking around in public. Even though it may seem wrong by Ameican standards and rude to me, again, who am I to judge. It's the norm here, people must think Im nuts walking really fast to class and trying to get by everyone.
I guess earlier today I felt stuck in a rut. It's frustrating being here sometimes. Arabic is such a hard language and committing to it is a big deal. Getting back to my apartment tonight, I really felt like I was going home... my home farrrr away from home, but still home nevertheless. The experiences I have here are suppose to be hard, they are suppose to make me think and question this culture and my home culture. While I do miss things from home, I am no where near ready to come home. This is a challenge for me, a challenge I welcome with open arms, an open mind and an open heart. I hope everyone reading my blog will keep that same open mind too, because while this culture and it's people are no where near perfect, neither is our culture... and at the end of it all, who has the right to judge who?
I'm looking forward to a nice weekend in Amman.... there's a big parade and festival in the city that we all are thinking about going to, Im sure I will have stories.... until then goodnight!
MOM this one's for you
The other day I was trying so hard to explain the public toilets here for my Mom. I kept complaining and she just could not seem to picture what I was saying. So, Mom this ones for you :) be thankful your in America.
Confronting Deeper Issues
So I guess I am experiencing the "lull" of my study abroad experience. Before I left, I was shown a graph of how emotionally people experience being abroad. Basically you start out really excited and the first few weeks are amazing so you're not homesick and you have all these new experiences so things are great. Then... you hit rock bottom. You realize you've been here a good amount of time and you've done a lot, but you still have a while to go. Residents in my program call it "culture shock" or "confronting deeper issues". During this point, you feel confused, annoyed, homesick and tired. Maybe it's because you realize "hey this is ACTUALLY my life right now, I'm in a foreign country, this is not a vacation" or because you feel like you've been away from home for a lot longer than you actually have, either way, it's hard to realize that you're struggling.
Maybe it's because I STILL feel sick, so I am not 100 percent. Or because other kids in my program are starting to verbally acknowledge the fact that we still have a little over 2 months to go. Maybe it's because classes are getting hard, the work is increasing and my internship is intense, but whatever it is, I am currently stressed out with Amman and missing the comforts of America.
So I guess I thought I would confront my deeper issues through my blog (haha sorry this is a more serious post):
- I feel like Arabs have three views of Americans: One, they want to marry you and think you are a moviestar or they just really want a visa into the states. Two, they are hospitable and pleased that you are in Amman learning the language and culture, this is of course the best group of people because they are genuine and very supportive. Three, they dont like the fact you are here, they believe American's are ignorant and want to "westernize" this culture. These people make fun of the fact that you speak arabic horribly and are often rude when you try to immerse yourself in the culture, I really dislike these types of people and am tired of running into them. By no means are Americans perfect, but Ive found that sterotypes are an issue here, and blantant hatred for no real reason is a trend with some Arabs who dont want to give foreigners the time of day.
- Going off on the types of Arabs here who really wish you werent around, I've found people in public here are rude. They lack "common manners" that I figured were a part of every society. Basically no one gets out of the way when you walk, people stare ( I am SO tired of the staring, really its gotten so old), people stop and congregate in the the middle of sidewalks and dont move if you say "excuse me" in Arabic or English. Basically, everyone only thinks about themselves and what they want at the time. People will walk up to cabs that you hail for yourself and just get in, no questions asked. I know I am typically on a college campus, and there are a ton of people, but I guess I've always experienced a "give and take" when dealing with public courtesy. Here, I am so annoyed because I feel like Im always walking through mazes of people, that dont move and instead give me intense stare downs...its really a "my way" type of thinking with most people here. They dont care at all what you need or where you are going, they just look out for themselves. The other day for example I was lost on campus and calling a friend for help, a group of arab girls were sitting there laughing at me and mimicking my voice. They all could have easily said, "hey are you lost? let me help you" but no. I just feel like public courtesy is nonexistent.
- I have a number of HUGE issues with the way women are treated over here. Why is it that a man can date, go out, hit on girls (rudely and openly), have pre-martial sex (which is encouraged) but girls are suppose to be covered, quiet, look at the ground, not socialize with boys, and if, IF they have any interaction that is viewed as negative, they can be shamed from the family or killed. I am taking a feminist class here, and honestly, I leave each day sick to my stomach about how poorly women are treated here. No religion is perfect, and people practice Islam very differently here, there are of course extremeists, but how can you justify a father or brother killing a daughter simply because she talks to a man.... these are known as "honor killings" and they happen when the family thinks the daughter has "shamed" the family's name. I just dont understand why men are encouraged to have sex, and women are killed for simple actions like speaking, or going out with a member of the opposite sex. The range of women you see here doesnt help. Some are totally covered, from head to toe in black veils, others veil their head and dress modestly, some veil their head but dress sexy, in high heels, full make up, tight jeans and fitted tops, and then of course you see girls dressing very western. The problem is you have girls and families that are very modern, and others that are so traditional. I just cant get over the range and all the different "interpretations" of Islam... to me it seems more like 5 or 6 religions than 1.... thats where a huge problem lies, things are done in the name of Islam ( ex sept 11) and the whole muslim society is lumped together. The range of muslims is wide and extremists often give bad names for the whole. The whole range of women is crazy too, some are totally covered and dont speak in public, while others are flirting and very social, both may call themselves muslim, so why is one girl totally oppressed? Anyways, I really miss being able to walk around looking where ever I please, without being called at and not looking at the ground. Women here are objects, and its not fair. Arab guys tend to think the Western looking girls are "fast and loose" with no morals, I honestly cant blame them with all the junk they see on TV. But it makes it hard for us here, the men are rude because they believe we ALL act like the girls they see on TV and the women dont like us, because we steal the attention of the men. Its such a vicious cycle.
- As for the food... well its good, but after the first 3 weeks you get so tired of it. I would give anything for some American food... I really miss it.
- Some of the kids in my program are really great, but others, I can not stand. This program is competitive and the kids here come from some BIG name schools, however many are ignorant and seem to think that "Jordan is lucky to have them here". When really WE are lucky to be here studying. Im tired of listening to political conversations, economic conversations and conversations about how "the middle east would be so much better if x,y and z". I really came here to live the culture and learn the language, not to Westernize the people or to force my American ideas or opinions on them. Its hard when some of my peers try to do so, and prove to be very ethnocentric. I just wish people would stop trying to impose Western standards. I guess I am frustrated with a lot of the people around me, and sometimes am embarrassed to be "an American".
While I know I will remember this experience my whole life, it's hard right now. It's hard because I miss home and living the American Dream. I'm having a hard time with this culture but also the american culture Im currently surrounded by. I really am just ready for the weekend and I just really want to feel better. Good news is my roommate's Dad is coming to visit next week, so it will be nice to interact with someone from home (that isnt in my program) and he's taking us all out to dinner (hopefully somewhere expensive haha). On that note, I got to go get lunch before the rest of my classes. Ma'salaama
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Theres no place like home...
The past few days have proven to be the hardest since I arrived here. Before I left I figured I would struggle with culture shock and dealing with differences in daily life, or have a hard time adjusting to Amman, my roommates, or the Arab society. While those things were difficult, they thankfully managed to sort themselves out. But here I am, alone with a bout of homesickness, wishing so badly I could come home. Why? Because I got dreadfully sick... not as dramatic as you may have hoped for :) sorry.
I unfortunately came down with some type of flu virus that has been going around our program. Us Americans seem to not be immune to some things here in the Middle East. Kids in my program have been calling it "mummy tummy" claiming it was going around in Egypt, and others say they picked it up in Lebanon, but either way, it was awful and extremely unpleasant, and of course I caught it head on.
I hope I am stringing a chord with some of you (I'm sure others are kindly thinking I'm a HUGE baby) but there is nothing worse than being really sick when you are away from the comforts of your own home. I started feeling ill last Wed, my longest day of the week, I have class from 8 am until 5, which makes for an awfully long day when your feeling 100 percent. Anyways, Thursday I woke up a wreck, missing class here is pretty much a no no, so of course I went, then I had work, which thankfully was low key, but I literally was sneezing, coughing, and blowing my nose every 30 seconds. Not to mention I felt like I had been run over by a Mack truck and my "mummy tummy" was not helping the situation.
Let me just paint a few picture for you.... you're really sick and all you want is a nice clean bathroom, some over the counter medicine, and a comfortable bed to rest in. Well, here in Amman the typical bathroom is basically a stall with a hole in the ground... the western toilet is not usually present in public places, so most people in my program avoid the bathroom unless it is a life or death situation. If you do decide to challenge the restroom, you have to bring your own toilet paper and stretch very well before hand, because your quads get a major workout. So please, if YOU think you've seen bad restrooms, go ahead and google a Pakistani style toilet, and then you'll understand. Bad is a total understatement. My next issue was finding some medicine that wasnt written fully in microscopic Arabic. I did bring a bunch of stuff from home, but little things that in America are easy to find (cough drops, vitamin C tablets, thermaflu) took me a LONG time to find over here. After venturing out alone, my roommate Lina had to accompany me to the phramacy so she could ask the person working where to find things (shes fluent in Arabic, thank GOD) I ended up finally finding some flu stuff, which is nothing like what's offered in America. Everything here just tastes alittle off, slightly different. I can't really explain it, but it's not quite the same. Now for the bed, your best friend during times of sickness.... well lets just say my bed here is not a "sleep number", it's not even on par with a college dorm bed. My bed here is typical, it's a small matress thats about 6 inches thick, no bedspring or anything else, it just rests on the wooden bedframe, which honestly looks like something an American 3 year old would sleep in. Boy, I know I'm complaining, but Western comforts have indeed spoiled me! Needless to say, my summer camp cot has provided me the experience to wake up and feel like a 70 year old woman, horribly sore and stiff.
With all that being said, my flu-like self became extremely homesick for American comforts and my Mom. All I wanted was someone to take care of me, but I was faced with the harsh reality of being an adult. An adult in a foreign country, wow let me say, being an Adult sucks. All my roommates went out for the weekend, shopping, dinner, bars... while I sat in our apartment, forcing fluids and attempting to make "sick" food for myself. It was miserable and I was so incredibly homesick. Mom, thank you so much for taking care of me when I was sick, I know I wasnt grateful at the time, but being sick here totally made me feel like a 4 year old again, all I wanted was you.
The only good part of my weekend at home was I made a new friend. Stray cats are all around Amman, and Thursday night a small, orange cat was crying outside our door. I got some old meat and water and fed her, she was really cute, and ate all our leftovers ( we didnt waste!!). I havent seen her since, but maybe she'll come back :) I know, it was probably a really bad idea, but it made me smile.
Today, I started to come out of the whole flu thing. Im beginning to feel semi-normal again. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be feeling better. Classes and work start up again tomorrow. The week schedule is busy, but classes and my internship are going well. All the activities make the time go fast. I'll post soon. Until next time, Ma'salaama!
I unfortunately came down with some type of flu virus that has been going around our program. Us Americans seem to not be immune to some things here in the Middle East. Kids in my program have been calling it "mummy tummy" claiming it was going around in Egypt, and others say they picked it up in Lebanon, but either way, it was awful and extremely unpleasant, and of course I caught it head on.
I hope I am stringing a chord with some of you (I'm sure others are kindly thinking I'm a HUGE baby) but there is nothing worse than being really sick when you are away from the comforts of your own home. I started feeling ill last Wed, my longest day of the week, I have class from 8 am until 5, which makes for an awfully long day when your feeling 100 percent. Anyways, Thursday I woke up a wreck, missing class here is pretty much a no no, so of course I went, then I had work, which thankfully was low key, but I literally was sneezing, coughing, and blowing my nose every 30 seconds. Not to mention I felt like I had been run over by a Mack truck and my "mummy tummy" was not helping the situation.
Let me just paint a few picture for you.... you're really sick and all you want is a nice clean bathroom, some over the counter medicine, and a comfortable bed to rest in. Well, here in Amman the typical bathroom is basically a stall with a hole in the ground... the western toilet is not usually present in public places, so most people in my program avoid the bathroom unless it is a life or death situation. If you do decide to challenge the restroom, you have to bring your own toilet paper and stretch very well before hand, because your quads get a major workout. So please, if YOU think you've seen bad restrooms, go ahead and google a Pakistani style toilet, and then you'll understand. Bad is a total understatement. My next issue was finding some medicine that wasnt written fully in microscopic Arabic. I did bring a bunch of stuff from home, but little things that in America are easy to find (cough drops, vitamin C tablets, thermaflu) took me a LONG time to find over here. After venturing out alone, my roommate Lina had to accompany me to the phramacy so she could ask the person working where to find things (shes fluent in Arabic, thank GOD) I ended up finally finding some flu stuff, which is nothing like what's offered in America. Everything here just tastes alittle off, slightly different. I can't really explain it, but it's not quite the same. Now for the bed, your best friend during times of sickness.... well lets just say my bed here is not a "sleep number", it's not even on par with a college dorm bed. My bed here is typical, it's a small matress thats about 6 inches thick, no bedspring or anything else, it just rests on the wooden bedframe, which honestly looks like something an American 3 year old would sleep in. Boy, I know I'm complaining, but Western comforts have indeed spoiled me! Needless to say, my summer camp cot has provided me the experience to wake up and feel like a 70 year old woman, horribly sore and stiff.
With all that being said, my flu-like self became extremely homesick for American comforts and my Mom. All I wanted was someone to take care of me, but I was faced with the harsh reality of being an adult. An adult in a foreign country, wow let me say, being an Adult sucks. All my roommates went out for the weekend, shopping, dinner, bars... while I sat in our apartment, forcing fluids and attempting to make "sick" food for myself. It was miserable and I was so incredibly homesick. Mom, thank you so much for taking care of me when I was sick, I know I wasnt grateful at the time, but being sick here totally made me feel like a 4 year old again, all I wanted was you.
The only good part of my weekend at home was I made a new friend. Stray cats are all around Amman, and Thursday night a small, orange cat was crying outside our door. I got some old meat and water and fed her, she was really cute, and ate all our leftovers ( we didnt waste!!). I havent seen her since, but maybe she'll come back :) I know, it was probably a really bad idea, but it made me smile.
Today, I started to come out of the whole flu thing. Im beginning to feel semi-normal again. Hopefully by tomorrow I'll be feeling better. Classes and work start up again tomorrow. The week schedule is busy, but classes and my internship are going well. All the activities make the time go fast. I'll post soon. Until next time, Ma'salaama!
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