So, it is 2:15am and I am wide awake because we drank the tea and we talked about the life and now my brain won't stop firing the neurons and stimulating the action potentials and this is unhealthy. I really need sleep. Alas. Here we are. In my head. With the neurons. It's 2:16 now.
I wrote that last night and figured I'd let you experience my insanity first hand. I fell asleep soon (ish) after though so do not be concerned! I apologize for my lack of blogging. As our wajib really piles up, it's becoming more difficult to scribe for both you readers and myself the details of each day as they happen. We are extremely exhausted all of the time, just to toss out that overhanging detail. However, it is exhaustion in its greatest of forms. Because we could not be happier. Classes are challenging in all of the right ways and every day is pure adventure. Even when we are just sitting in our common room doing homework with the lovely sounds of the family of pigeons outside our screen door (that was sarcasm for those of who have never heard what a pigeon sounds like), we are honestly so incredibly content. It might very well have something to do with the fact that, no matter how long we are here for, it is never not true that we have each made it here to the Middle East. For one reason or another, we were all vying for this for a long time and it still makes me smile just as widely to realize that I'm sitting with Middle Eastern pigeons. Also, I'm not sure if people actually enjoy reading these things, but I must say that I love being able to write down and share these thoughts. So, shukran audience.
Anywho! Yesterday, we had our 4th day of classes, which were of course wonderful and then quite literally came back to our apartment and did wajibna for three hours without blinking. I'm just kidding, we blinked. Our eyes are well moisturized. However, this intense homework dedication led to us being free to dress up in our finest of clothes and attend a dinner put on by the president of JUST entirely for the American students studying here. Before departing, we headed up to the roof with Michael and experienced the perfection of the Middle East. Pictures to follow. I cannot even describe in words how fantastic it felt to look out and be able to see before our own eyes the expanse of this country. The roof is a good place.
The JUST dinner was incredibly fun and absolutely beautiful, with tables set up in an arc surrounding one of the many fountains scattered around campus. With the stars overhead, it was only a little perfect. We were able to mingle with the other American groups studying here as well as meet many of the Jordanian students that also go here. Everyone was genuinely kind and welcoming and this was only the beginning. All were asked to be seated and we were treated to a small show of students of JUST dancing the dabke! Adorned in traditional attire, both the dances and the music were absolutely spectacular. And after the professionals were finished, they led a dance line which everyone joined in on and we all danced around the area encircling the fountain. Incredible fun. After all of this happy time consisting of endless laughter as well, we were served a dinner of everything from vegetable mixes to grape-leaves to several things I could not tell you the name of. Everything was delicious as was the dessert of watermelon, other fruits and some Jordanian delicacies. Sachtein! There was more dancing after dessert and once the festivities finally came to a close, we were all sad to have to leave. We rode the bus back to our dorms because there are apparently wild dogs which roam the area after dark (should've walked...sounded like an intriguing experience) and made it back in time to finish the large amount of previously mentioned homework we were assigned. However, out of the pure love and kindness in their hearts, Waed and Muhammad proposed that we all work on it together back in their apartment. They are the absolute greatest, w'Allah. This was yet another great time as we worked and laughed, tea in hand, and just enjoyed a happy night of our lives together. :) But of course, when we finally returned to our rooms, we could not sleep and stayed up without a care in the world until the call of prayer (this morning was rough). ((But oh so worth it.))
Despite being zombie-level tired, we woke up to the shining sun and hopped out of bed with a flooring gusto. No. We hit the snooze button a lot though and somehow managed to eat bananas and make it to the bus. It was still yet another great day of classes with lots of learning and lots of homework to follow. Kaitlyn, Christine and I ate our adorable peanut butter and pita sandwiches out in the shining sun (tan lines are being acquired) and then we (very much) enjoyed a long nap once we returned. Other exciting news? Our toilet is officially broken. It's been pretty temperamental this entire time, but it finally kicked it. The handle of the flushing device popped off and the connecting tube just kind of...disappeared. Needless to say...more laughs were had. Now, we are cooking dinner and lounging as we do homework and snack on fresh pineapple, which I must get back to.
Love to you all from Irbid! Assalamu Alaykum!
I wrote that last night and figured I'd let you experience my insanity first hand. I fell asleep soon (ish) after though so do not be concerned! I apologize for my lack of blogging. As our wajib really piles up, it's becoming more difficult to scribe for both you readers and myself the details of each day as they happen. We are extremely exhausted all of the time, just to toss out that overhanging detail. However, it is exhaustion in its greatest of forms. Because we could not be happier. Classes are challenging in all of the right ways and every day is pure adventure. Even when we are just sitting in our common room doing homework with the lovely sounds of the family of pigeons outside our screen door (that was sarcasm for those of who have never heard what a pigeon sounds like), we are honestly so incredibly content. It might very well have something to do with the fact that, no matter how long we are here for, it is never not true that we have each made it here to the Middle East. For one reason or another, we were all vying for this for a long time and it still makes me smile just as widely to realize that I'm sitting with Middle Eastern pigeons. Also, I'm not sure if people actually enjoy reading these things, but I must say that I love being able to write down and share these thoughts. So, shukran audience.
Anywho! Yesterday, we had our 4th day of classes, which were of course wonderful and then quite literally came back to our apartment and did wajibna for three hours without blinking. I'm just kidding, we blinked. Our eyes are well moisturized. However, this intense homework dedication led to us being free to dress up in our finest of clothes and attend a dinner put on by the president of JUST entirely for the American students studying here. Before departing, we headed up to the roof with Michael and experienced the perfection of the Middle East. Pictures to follow. I cannot even describe in words how fantastic it felt to look out and be able to see before our own eyes the expanse of this country. The roof is a good place.
The JUST dinner was incredibly fun and absolutely beautiful, with tables set up in an arc surrounding one of the many fountains scattered around campus. With the stars overhead, it was only a little perfect. We were able to mingle with the other American groups studying here as well as meet many of the Jordanian students that also go here. Everyone was genuinely kind and welcoming and this was only the beginning. All were asked to be seated and we were treated to a small show of students of JUST dancing the dabke! Adorned in traditional attire, both the dances and the music were absolutely spectacular. And after the professionals were finished, they led a dance line which everyone joined in on and we all danced around the area encircling the fountain. Incredible fun. After all of this happy time consisting of endless laughter as well, we were served a dinner of everything from vegetable mixes to grape-leaves to several things I could not tell you the name of. Everything was delicious as was the dessert of watermelon, other fruits and some Jordanian delicacies. Sachtein! There was more dancing after dessert and once the festivities finally came to a close, we were all sad to have to leave. We rode the bus back to our dorms because there are apparently wild dogs which roam the area after dark (should've walked...sounded like an intriguing experience) and made it back in time to finish the large amount of previously mentioned homework we were assigned. However, out of the pure love and kindness in their hearts, Waed and Muhammad proposed that we all work on it together back in their apartment. They are the absolute greatest, w'Allah. This was yet another great time as we worked and laughed, tea in hand, and just enjoyed a happy night of our lives together. :) But of course, when we finally returned to our rooms, we could not sleep and stayed up without a care in the world until the call of prayer (this morning was rough). ((But oh so worth it.))
Despite being zombie-level tired, we woke up to the shining sun and hopped out of bed with a flooring gusto. No. We hit the snooze button a lot though and somehow managed to eat bananas and make it to the bus. It was still yet another great day of classes with lots of learning and lots of homework to follow. Kaitlyn, Christine and I ate our adorable peanut butter and pita sandwiches out in the shining sun (tan lines are being acquired) and then we (very much) enjoyed a long nap once we returned. Other exciting news? Our toilet is officially broken. It's been pretty temperamental this entire time, but it finally kicked it. The handle of the flushing device popped off and the connecting tube just kind of...disappeared. Needless to say...more laughs were had. Now, we are cooking dinner and lounging as we do homework and snack on fresh pineapple, which I must get back to.
Love to you all from Irbid! Assalamu Alaykum!
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