Salam Everyone,
So here I am, in Irbid, Jordan "blogging" from Burger King. Yes. Internet is slow as molasses, but some is better than none right? I haven't eaten the famed whopper yet, but I intend to, soon. Maybe not today. I walked here from my apartment at the university, and wasn't really expecting to be able to walk here. Apparently its closer than I thought! Which is very nice. I stopped at a little corner bakery and got myself a meat pie and a mini pizza for .35 jd. (Which is i guess equivalent to 50cents american? not bad for breakfast =) ). On the way I put money on my new cell phone (accidently told the guy my uncles number, so I gave my uncle 2 dinar's worth of phone credit as well haha).
I arrived here thursday evening after a pretty uneventful flight. I met up with the student group in New York City and everyone seems pretty decent. There are 10 girls and I believe 13 guys who are here to study. A lot of them come from Ivy League universities (stanford, harvard, princeton) but I will represent UNC-Charlotte with honor! Lets go niners lets go clap clap. haha. Classes start tomorrow (sunday) so I shall let you know how that goes.
Yesterday I met up with the family. Alhamdulilah everyone is doing alright, and it was good seeing them. They weren't expecting me until today so my arrival was a surprise which was great because i didn't have the whole village waiting for me haha. Met a few new cousins, had a nice dinner, took a nice little nap, hung out with my grandparents and a few aunts and uncles =). AND they have a new bathroom which I am glad to say has an american toilet that FLUSHES!!! woohoo. And they said my american friends are welcome anytime =) which will def come in handy.
So today I'm just kickin it at burger king catchin up on emails and stuff. Doing a little exploring. There is a grocery store near my place with all the necessities alhamdulilah. I may do some cooking here. My roommate is watching her calories ("is foul very fattening? is it good for you?" lol) and i definitely don't want to gain any weight! ah! so we may come up with some sort of arrangment. All of the girls in the program share an apartment building so maybe we will do some communal cooking =). My roommate is from Harvard and is studying government. She is 21 as well and wants to get a job in the FBI, NSA or State Department..hmm..haha. She seems nice enough. Laila kahlout if you are reading this maybe you and her should get together ;).
It is a little weird living with a complete stranger but its not bad. We share a bedroom but the apartment is large enough we can have our own space. There is a large common room with a tv that gets over 250 channels! lol. I do not intend on watching much TV though. Maybe arabic stuff so I can pick up on the language. I'm excited about classes and hope I improve greatly. I hope I am a good person to live with, I try to be considerate and hospitable and share everything that I have and humor her. Haha. I guess its good practice for marriage..lol. (NO HOMO)
I really don't mind spending some time alone though. Homesickness hasn't set in yet. I do miss everyone, but not too too much =). I am definitely more thankful for the friends that i have! I'm thankful for the colorful friends that I have (in personalities, ethnicities etc) and i look forward to seeing you all again in the fall. And hopefully, I will make some lasting relationships here and open my worldview even more. Even though learning arabic is my top top priority while here.
Until next time,
Kawthar
