hami

Well today was really hot, and I think you say that hami. That's also sexy, I believe, very taboo for a nice girl to be saying that to a boy here. The gender norms are definitely something to get used to here. A lot less for me to remember than for the ladies here. Some places are more Western, and you can tell just by looking around, but there are plenty of places that you can tell the local expectations apply.

The university is interesting because there are all kinds of cultural expressions--political t-shirts, ladies with hijabs, ladies in tank tops, men in traditional clothes, men in tight jeans. It's pretty cool, and a really nice campus. Helwe.

We had a scavenger hunt today, and I really liked my group. One girl was a rower, which was really fun. We found one of the only ergs in Jordan--it was crap, but it was an erg! It was a long, hot, and tiring day, as we walked forever in the wrong direction to find this random gym that anybody who makes less than a shitload of money would ever hear of. Well, between the heat and the walking and the hunger--we didn't eat lunch until later, as we wandered aimlessly--I became a bit blue.

It's not easy to feel Jewish here. I can talk to some of the participants about it. There are a few others as well--in fact, when I cut my hair a few people working with the program thought we were twins..you know..cause we all look the same. ;-) Well, there are so many things I am listening to that make a lot of things I have heard so much more human and understandable in a personal context. I have met dozens of Palestinians who live here, and some of them I am a bit close with but I still do not discuss my being Jewish. I discuss my travels to Israel with them, but I never speak too much about it. It's exactly what I've been looking for, this challenge to be a minority, against whom many prejudices exist here. It's not easy, it's sometimes really uncomfortable. Sometimes I think it would be easier to just cross the border and feel more comfortable, but that's a small voice which is completely drowned out by the desire and thirst to really endure and learn.

Learn what? Why am I here? I want to learn about this region from a truly different perspective, that is true. I want to see the looks on people's faces as they discuss these issues, hear the words that they use to retell history, and feel emotions with them as we go through it all. I want to learn Arabic. You know, I love learning languages, and this is a beautiful one with ancient roots. Speaking of roots, some of them are a bit easier to remember, thanks to my previously studying Greek... That's what we call it, you know, Greece, when we're discussing something in public. Some people get so confused, it's great.

Well, here's to a good night's sleep and finally learning tomorrow about where I'll be living for the next few months! L'chaim!

--Ibrahim