It's hard to believe Christmas is next week. :) In some ways it seems like that time of the year, and in some ways hardly at all. However, I do have plans for Christmas (rest assured, Mom) both on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I'll even get to "join" my family when they open presents there, thanks to the wonderful technology of skype. :)
This weekend is pretty a nice chance to relax, and in about half an hour I'm headed out to go see the new Narnia movie with another American woman and then we'll go to services this evening. Tomorrow I'll spend time getting ready for the surprise celebration on Sunday a couple other women and I are throwing for my roommate's birthday, who actually has the same birthday as Kerri. :)
And then the next week brings a guest in the form of Jeremy Pickard, who is coming on business but is also a friend and willingly a courier of items from home. :) Humdillallah!
12.17.2010
12.14.2010
Pictures
Some pictures from last week.
With Roa'a and my friend who visited
Discussing political and spiritual implications in this region
With our hosts and another American after a meal together
The mosque in the balad
12.11.2010
O The Weather Outside Is Frightful...
....And a fire would be delightful. :)
Today the wind has raged outside, stirring up the dust and making the temps drop, both outside and inside. I have been wrapped in my blanket most of the day, trying to keep warm. This morning as I was waking up I could almost believe I was back in Iowa with the wind whistling against the windows, but then I opened my eyes and I was still here. :) I'm grateful that I didn't have to go out today, and I'm hoping the wind will die down in the night before I have to venture out for class. I've heard rumors that there might be snow tomorrow or Monday, but the temperatures aren't quite low enough, so it'll probably just be rain. If it snows I'll be sure to take pictures. :)
The past few days I've had visitors! We had a wonderful time exploring some of the balad and I got to show them the university. It was such a blessing. I have some pictures from the past few days, but I'll upload them later.
I hope you all stay warm back home...I hear most of you will be getting a white Christmas. :)
Today the wind has raged outside, stirring up the dust and making the temps drop, both outside and inside. I have been wrapped in my blanket most of the day, trying to keep warm. This morning as I was waking up I could almost believe I was back in Iowa with the wind whistling against the windows, but then I opened my eyes and I was still here. :) I'm grateful that I didn't have to go out today, and I'm hoping the wind will die down in the night before I have to venture out for class. I've heard rumors that there might be snow tomorrow or Monday, but the temperatures aren't quite low enough, so it'll probably just be rain. If it snows I'll be sure to take pictures. :)
The past few days I've had visitors! We had a wonderful time exploring some of the balad and I got to show them the university. It was such a blessing. I have some pictures from the past few days, but I'll upload them later.
I hope you all stay warm back home...I hear most of you will be getting a white Christmas. :)
12.07.2010
The University
I got an email yesterday asking for more information about the university, which I am happy to share. :) If any of the rest of you have questions send them my way...I am always happy to know what you are interested in hearing about.
Anyway, the university is probably one of the largest in the country, and I was told by an Arab friend that there are around 42,000 students altogether, this semester. They have buildings for all the programs and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen half of the campus yet, because it probably is half a mile or more from one end to the other. Connected to the campus is the university hospital where the medical students study, similar to the U of Iowa I guess. However, unlike the U of I, I don't think this hospital would be considered the go-to place for procedures. They tend to have smaller hospitals (more like clinics really) that are in about every neighborhood. My little part of the university is called the Language Center. Not only does it house the classrooms for us foreigners, it also holds classes in other languages for Arab students. I'm not sure how many foreign students there are in the Language Center program...but there are 7 levels and probably 4 of those levels have two classes. There is also an exchange program operating out of the university that has probably close to 100 American students, but they are not just taking language, they are taking other classes about the culture and history of this region.
Demographics...I'd say from my observations (don't depend on these to be totally accurate) that there are at least equal numbers of guys and girls, and possibly a majority of girls. At least around the capital here probably 9 out of 10 high school graduates go on to university of some kind. I think you will find women in about every program, or faculty as they call them. I'd say the vast majority of the students are Muslim, and most of the girls at least are pretty conservative in the way they dress, wearing either just the hijab or also the veil. There are some Christians (I've met at least one, and had several others pointed out by Roa'a) and I don't think they would be discriminated against in entering the university. I don't think there are any Arabs who are not from this country or Palestine...it doesn't appear to me that they travel great distances to attend university, since family is so integral to their lives.
My roommate told me after she came to the university one day that it seems pretty chill compared to some parts of the city. She didn't feel like the guys were staring or making noises at her.
The campus itself has a lot of trees and is pretty green (as in, there's more vegetation) compared to most of the city, which is nice.
Umm...and that's all I can think of to describe about the university at the moment. :)
Today is the Islamic New Year so we didn't have school, and Roa'a came over and we made snickerdoodles and hung out for a few hours. Tonight I'm going to the airport to pick up some friends who are visiting for the rest of the week. :)
Anyway, the university is probably one of the largest in the country, and I was told by an Arab friend that there are around 42,000 students altogether, this semester. They have buildings for all the programs and I'm pretty sure I haven't seen half of the campus yet, because it probably is half a mile or more from one end to the other. Connected to the campus is the university hospital where the medical students study, similar to the U of Iowa I guess. However, unlike the U of I, I don't think this hospital would be considered the go-to place for procedures. They tend to have smaller hospitals (more like clinics really) that are in about every neighborhood. My little part of the university is called the Language Center. Not only does it house the classrooms for us foreigners, it also holds classes in other languages for Arab students. I'm not sure how many foreign students there are in the Language Center program...but there are 7 levels and probably 4 of those levels have two classes. There is also an exchange program operating out of the university that has probably close to 100 American students, but they are not just taking language, they are taking other classes about the culture and history of this region.
Demographics...I'd say from my observations (don't depend on these to be totally accurate) that there are at least equal numbers of guys and girls, and possibly a majority of girls. At least around the capital here probably 9 out of 10 high school graduates go on to university of some kind. I think you will find women in about every program, or faculty as they call them. I'd say the vast majority of the students are Muslim, and most of the girls at least are pretty conservative in the way they dress, wearing either just the hijab or also the veil. There are some Christians (I've met at least one, and had several others pointed out by Roa'a) and I don't think they would be discriminated against in entering the university. I don't think there are any Arabs who are not from this country or Palestine...it doesn't appear to me that they travel great distances to attend university, since family is so integral to their lives.
My roommate told me after she came to the university one day that it seems pretty chill compared to some parts of the city. She didn't feel like the guys were staring or making noises at her.
The campus itself has a lot of trees and is pretty green (as in, there's more vegetation) compared to most of the city, which is nice.
Umm...and that's all I can think of to describe about the university at the moment. :)
Today is the Islamic New Year so we didn't have school, and Roa'a came over and we made snickerdoodles and hung out for a few hours. Tonight I'm going to the airport to pick up some friends who are visiting for the rest of the week. :)
12.06.2010
Winter Has Officially Arrived
I wish I could add to the title by saying it snowed, but instead I'll have to be content with lower temperatures and rain. Actually, it's a really good thing it rained, even though it makes it a bit miserable to be out and about. Apparently it was supposed to have rained awhile ago, and the lack of rain has been a huge concern for farmers, since they were in danger of losing their crops. Last week they held a time of prayer for rain here in the city, if not in the rest of the country as well. I have a feeling the lack of rain contributed to the wildfire that raged this past week near Haifa too.
The coming of the rain means that from now until maybe March the temperatures will be a lot colder. I even pulled out my winter coat today. Now, granted, it's not nearly as cold as it is back home...I saw the temp listed at 11 degrees Celsius, which is right around 50 degrees Fahrenheit...but still. :)
The rain has stopped for the moment now, and it looks like the sun is trying to break through.
Another way I'm marking the transition to winter is with Christmas decorations! Last night my roommate pulled out her decorations and we put them up. It isn't much, but it does help me feel like Christmas is around the corner, rather than months away. I guess the presents I got in the package from my family helped that feeling too. :)
Anyway, here are some pictures of the decorations
The coming of the rain means that from now until maybe March the temperatures will be a lot colder. I even pulled out my winter coat today. Now, granted, it's not nearly as cold as it is back home...I saw the temp listed at 11 degrees Celsius, which is right around 50 degrees Fahrenheit...but still. :)
The rain has stopped for the moment now, and it looks like the sun is trying to break through.
Another way I'm marking the transition to winter is with Christmas decorations! Last night my roommate pulled out her decorations and we put them up. It isn't much, but it does help me feel like Christmas is around the corner, rather than months away. I guess the presents I got in the package from my family helped that feeling too. :)
Anyway, here are some pictures of the decorations
The stocking from my Mom, hanging in my room
The door leading to the bedrooms
Our tree :)
12.04.2010
Yay for packages!
Today I went to the post office to pick up the package Mom sent for Christmas. :) I have been anticipating it for awhile now, and so it was great to finally have it arrive.
I didn't realize the process for picking up a package was so complicated here. I had to go to this office and then that office, and then get a signature and then back again for another paper and then upstairs to pay customs then back down again, then.... you get the picture. :) But it was worth it to open it up and find some new clothes, lotion, Stringtown gummies (my favorite!), a stocking and several wrapped packages (it's going to be hard to wait to open them) and Reggie's school picture and Katie's newest picture. :) I'm excited to wear the new clothes and now Christmas seems even closer with presents wrapped and waiting.
Thanks Mom!!!
I didn't realize the process for picking up a package was so complicated here. I had to go to this office and then that office, and then get a signature and then back again for another paper and then upstairs to pay customs then back down again, then.... you get the picture. :) But it was worth it to open it up and find some new clothes, lotion, Stringtown gummies (my favorite!), a stocking and several wrapped packages (it's going to be hard to wait to open them) and Reggie's school picture and Katie's newest picture. :) I'm excited to wear the new clothes and now Christmas seems even closer with presents wrapped and waiting.
Thanks Mom!!!
12.01.2010
Speaking Arabic
Well, I finally made a movie, but I must admit I'm not sure about it. :) Hopefully you enjoy it though. Audrey, I hope you're happy.
Tomorrow we are having breakfast together as a class, since my teacher wanted to make sure that we experience all the different food that they eat here. Also, on Tuesday next week we have yet another holiday, this time for the New Year according to the Islamic calendar. It is now the year 1431 according to their calendar. I've enjoyed the random breaks throughout the semester so I really hope we have some next semester, even though there aren't any Islamic holidays in the spring.
Ma Salaam!
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