Mawiage

This past short time has been a whirlwind. First, on the title, I was supposed to go to a marriage party tomorrow night but it got canceled. The bride's cousin died so she's having the ceremony (signing the paper) but only the groom is celebrating with his family. It's good for me because I have a midterm Monday, Tuesday (at 8:00am), and Thursday, but it's still really sad. And I really wanted to go to a wedding! Maybe later in the semester. And may our thoughts be with the mourners.

Also on the title, for those of you who don't know, I am "married" for the semester. I have had 3 run-ins so far:

1. I was praying at the Mosque with Amal during Ramadan, and afterwards this lady started talking to me about if I was a convert ("I'm learning"), and going on and on about how Islam is such a wonderful religion and it's the only way to reach God etc etc. Amal finally came over, and the lady turned to her and in Arabic said she wished I was a Muslim because she would marry me to her son. After that I moved around my rings so I'm wearing one on my ring finger.

2. I got into a taxi one night to go home; he offered me a cigarette and after I refused asked permission to smoke. (Most taxi drivers don't ask.) Then he started asking me questions--what's my name, where am I from, what's my age ("What? What? Sorry, I don't know Arabic."); then he said "I love America. I want to learn English. Where?" He didn't like my answer of University or College and kept asking. FInally he came out and asked me if I was married. After I said yes and showed him I had a ring on, he didn't speak to me for the rest of the ride.

3. Today, my taxi driver home was talking to me and also asking questions, but started with "Are you studying Arabic at the university?" (Because I needed him to ask me his questions twice because it took me a bit to understand. I'm getting better, he was only speaking in Arabic, but it still takes me a while to comprehend.) He actually asked me early on if I was married; and when I said yes the questions were "Is your husband here or there?" (there) "Do you have children?" (No) "Why not?" (After I return) "What's your age?" [usually I get this BEFORE he asks me if i'm married!] (the age to go to University) "What's your age? Like I'm 24." (Not young not old) "You don't understand?" [Seriously? You can't get that I just don't want to answer your question? Ok, then yeah I just dont' understand.] "You're cute/pretty. You're cute/pretty." Luckily at that point we got to where I get off. OH MY GOD THICK ONE!!

Thank you Jeffrey and whoever else suggested to me that I should be "married" for the semester. For most people it's a wonderful deterrent. Though it IS amusing when after living with me for a month, I was sitting next to Maher and he just noticed the ring. I'm of course telling my family and people close to me it's just a deterrent; but not some others!

As for the rest of my life, these past two weeks have been the hell that go along with midterms. I've had 2 so far, which went relatively well. I got one exam back today and it was REALLY good; now I'm just hoping I did acceptable on the oral exam because those 2 grades are averaged together. And since the other half of the class is being tested tomorrow, I won't know till at least wednesday. Tomorrow is my enviro class, which will either be great or terrible. Our instructions were to memorize as much information as we can; which is AWFUL for me; but at the same time if I don't need to give numbers it's easy--it's all environmental water and pollution stuff I've learned before, and "Israel is evil and destroying the lives of all Arabs around it." As long as I remember that it'll be easy. (I've gotten SO mad while reading over the powerpoints you have no idea!) Tuesday's exam is in listening, which I hate the class so I don't really care about the midterm. Terrible way to think about it I know. I'll do the best I can, it just won't be that good and I don't mind. Wednesday I'm taking a field trip with my Waterways class to one of the major dams in Jordan, and Thursday I'll take my Islam exam. I actually did well on the last part of the Islam midterm! And we don't have that much new material so I think I'll actually do well in this class! :D

Also on Thursday will be the long-awaited trip to Dana Nature Reserve. My friend Joanna and I are going to go after my exam is done on Thursday and go hiking Friday. I've heard really good things about Dana, and this is the last weekend it's open. REALLY looking forward to this. It's gonna be a GREAT way to unwind after midterms, and we'll still be able to work on our paper together on Saturday. (Our paper in Islam is due next Wednesday.)

As for other news, I've been dancing up a storm the past few days. Culture club last Thursday was on bellydancing so I learned the basics; then in preparation for the wedding I asked Suher and Diana to teach me how to dance, so Suher invited me to her friend's birthday party on Thurs night. That was mainly me being draged onto the dance floor, copying them, and getting laughed at because I looked RIDICULOUS. But I learned, and it was a lot of fun. Then Friday night there was a huge party of a host brother and host mother, and all the students in my "family" and their families were there. There were 10 of us I believe. It was a BLAST!!! And of course, when there's music playing, you can't get me off the dance floor. There was both American music (actually popular music; one of the Abroad students put that together) and Arabic music. It was a mixed crowd, very relaxed, all-around craziness, and in general a wonderful time. Oh, and ps--EVERYONE WAS SOBER! A few people smoked cigarettes but that's it. It IS possible to go crazy and have a good time on no substances. I love this country!

Friday and Saturday during the day I basically locked myself in my room to study. But Saturday afternoon/night Amal, Tala and I went shopping for some new shirts and shoes for the wedding. A minor difference between here and America: Amal told me to tell people that we went to the mall and these shirts cost...oh 35 Dinar and these name-brand stores, but I'm a college student so I got them on sale for 15 or 20 JD (1 JD is about $1.4). Of course they're not even close to that; we went to thrift stores. And in the US that's much better then going to fancy stores. I love going places with Amal! I'm really bonding with her more than anyone else here, though I love all the members of my family. It's just easier to do stuff with her, and unlike Shireen she likes going out and shopping/looking at stores and seeing movies etc. It is just a constant reminder she's really not that much older than me, even though she has 2 kids. I see the age closeness in Maher too, but I barely spend time with him simply because he's a guy and there's a huge gender sparation in this country.

This is long enough and I'm done with my Water notes. On to the next subject!