Transition

Hello, everyone! I know it's been a while since my last post, but I'm back! I've been trying to get accustomed to Irbid, and to be quite honest, it's been a hard transition. I mentioned some culture shocks in my last post, but the past week and half I have been dealing with transitioning to speaking entirely in Arabic. I've only taken formal Arabic classes at Syracuse University, so when I came here, I knew no spoken Arabic and it is hard for the people here in the restaurants and stores to understand me.  Here at Yarmouk University in Irbid, I have Arabic class for three hours a day, Sunday-Thursday.  Last week, the classes were all in the spoken Arabic, so I feel as though I have learned an entirely new language. Now, when I go into a store or restaurant here, I can at least get across what I want. The language barrier has been hard, but my Arabic is getting better and better everyday, and will continue to improve as the semester goes on.

Although the transition has been hard, I am beginning to see the good and the beauty in this city, which is key to over-coming the differences between here and back home in the United States. First of all, Arabic food is great and is cheap, cheap, cheap. Every day during my break between Arabic classes, I get a falafel sandwich with either a bottled water or soda, and it costs under a Jordanian dollar, and when converted to the American dollar, it's still under a dollar! If I bought something like that in the US, it would costs probably around $4, or more. But just wait... that's not the extent of it. When we go to a restaurant, we are able to get literally a feast, food just covering our table, for around 5 US dollars per person. It's crazy awesome! And the food is delicious :)

Arabic feast for 5 US dollars per person.

This past week, I began my other classes here which will be taught in English.  My first class is called Jordan and the Modern Middle East. It's a political class that goes into the politics of this Islamic country and also its relations with surrounding countries. My other class is the class that I am most excited for this semester. It's called the Archaeological History of Jordan.  First off, the professor is awesome. On the first day of class, the four of us who are in the class sat in her office, drank tea, and just talked. We, of course, went over what we would be doing for the semester, and that just made me even more excited. We will be going some place new, whether its the museum that's right on campus or to a near-by town, for every class.  On the weekends, we will travel to cities farther away, like Amman and Kerak and cities that boast ancient Islamic castles.  Needless to say, this class has made me feel better knowing that I will have the opportunity to travel around this country that has thousands of years of history.

Today for my archaeology class, our professor took us downtown to eat the 'best falafel in Irbid' and do some shopping at the markets.  The falafel sandwiches that our professor bought for us were definitely delicious, however, I feel as though all falafel tastes the same... but that's just me, haha.  Our professor's friend then took us around downtown to the markets and helped us barter with the men in the shops.

Here's some pictures I took today of downtown and the markets:

Sign outside the place with the 'best falafel in Irbid'

Downtown Irbid

Market in downtown Irbid

Streets of downtown Irbid

My classes have definitely made me feel better about being here, however, I have to say that it is the people here that make me see the good in Irbid.  From my professors who are patient and eager to teach us to the people that we just meet on the streets, every where you go in this city you meet a kind and happy person who wants to make you feel like you're home.  The guy at the falafel sandwich stand where I buy my lunch everyday recognizes me and knows my order.  The guy at the fruit and vegetable stand knows me and my friends when we come in and teaches us the Arabic words to all the fruits and vegetables.  The waiter at the chicken tikka restaurant who wanted to practice English with me passed by me on the street, recognized me and said hi and asked how I was.  I truly believe that I have not met a single rude or ignorant person here, and during a tough transition, that means the world.

Although Irbid, Jordan does not have much history and is not aesthetically pleasing, the people of this city is what makes Irbid beautiful.  I could have very easily gone abroad to a city that has beautiful scenery, history, and a vibrant nightlife, but I would not be getting the same experiences as I am here.  I am getting a true cultural experience. I am seeing the real Middle East.