Arriving in Amman

Hey everyone! It's been five days since I flew out and arrived in Amman. I flew out Saturday the 19th at 11 a.m., flew to Washington, then Austria and finally arrived in Amman 19 hours after my departure.  The trip was very long and tiring since I hardly got any sleep on the plane. Thankfully, there was a group of CIEE staff (CIEE is the program in charge of my study abroad) waiting for me at the airport and I did not have to think about how to get to the hotel. 

My first impressions of Amman as we drove through the city are as follows: It is very white -- every building is made out of limestone. Grass is nonexistent -- makes sense being it's the desert. Owning a bike is useless in Amman -- I wouldn't ride one if they paid me. The city is nothing but hills. Drivers do not follow driving rules and are big fans of their horns -- I've been told that in Jordan your biggest enemy is a Jordanian behind a wheel. Lastly, their definition of freezing is my definition of a nice day. 

Upon my arrival at the hotel I received an entire Itinerary for orientation (ends tomorrow with a trip to the Dead Sea!). Orientation has been great but very packed and tiring. So busy with information sessions and tours that I just now got to write my first blog post. Despite the tiring amount of information orientation has provided me with, it's been great because I have met lots of new people and I have learned how to get around the city with my poor Arabic. Back at the CIEE office today, we had our big placement test that will determine if we can take the level of Arabic classes we signed up for. It was quite stressful but hopefully I knew just enough to place into the class I need. I will find out on Sunday, when classes begin and will keep you posted. 

I began to miss everyone as soon as I boarded the plane but I've done pretty well with my new environment so far. Seeing new things, eating new food and meeting new people has always been a fun experience for me. However, getting all settled into my new home and adapted to the new culture will be a process that will continue for a few more weeks. I have tried my best to stay positive about the very obvious cultural differences and I appreciate everyone's support back home. I know the time will come when I really start missing home but I am excited to see how this experience will help me grow as a person and as an Arabic speaker. 

A few tips for anyone planning a trip to Jordan: Come with an open mind; life here is structured differently. It's not about being an independent individual with privacy. Privacy in Jordan is non-existent (I will elaborate a little more on this in my next post). People tend to be a little more passive aggressive here. The don't TELL you how they feel, they SHOW you through body language so be attentive and pay attention to people's reactions. Make sure the cab driver sets the meter when you get in so he doesn't try to over charge you when you arrive at your destination. If you are a female, only sit in the backseat and if you are a male always sit in the front unless there's more than one of you. Do not use the wifi at a cafe unless you buy coffee. If you are a girl, cover-up and ignore all guys (sorry about that! Just the smartest move). And don't forget, your worst enemy is a Jordanian behind the wheel so look both ways. Especially on a one-way street!

Arabic word of the day: Hookah -> Hubblybubbly.