I've Reached the Halfway Point

Well I'm a little over halfway through my time in Jordan and I'm seriously going to miss this place so much. I didn't think I was going to love it here as much as I do. I can't wait to come back inshallah.

On a lighter note this past week has been pretty fun and exciting despite having to go to class everyday and some unexpected events. This week I went downtown twice! Once to pick out a fancy abaya, but it was too big so I had to get it altered. So the second time, which was today, I picked it up! It is so beautiful!! I love it and can't wait to wear it! I also went with some of the ISA members to smoke shisha on Wednesday. We now call Wednesday "Shisha Wednesday", I'm definitely going to have to bring that back to the states! Also this week we had our first optional lecture about Palestine. The man who taught the lecture, Levi, is from a very small island in Canada and has lived and worked in Jordan for a few years. He is very knowledgeable about the situation. I'm hoping I can learn some new information to bring back to SJP at SDSU.

Finally after a long week of class and other adventures a friend that I met at the East West Forum, Michael, had his birthday party tonight! It was a surprise party in a park by Duwar Al-Paris. So many people from the East West Forum came! It was so awesome to see everyone again and to celebrate the birthday of a new friend. After the party Leah, Anndrea and I went to Ghadeer's house to see her family again and to eat! Her mom made kusa and batinjaan! It was so delicious! Ghadeer's mother is an amazing cook mashallah. We also went for a nice walk around the neighborhood and relaxed on the patio...the perfect way to end a long week.
Here are a few pictures from this week...

 Downtown at the fruit and vegetable market

 Knafeh from the best place in Jordan, Habibah! 

 Our view for Shisha Wednesday!

Arabic ice cream :D

 Yes, I went to Habibah twice in one week. I love knafeh!!

 Well when we were going to Michael's party tonight there was not enough seats in the car so Ryan and I ended up sitting in the trunk...

 We had to duck multiple times to make sure the police didn't see us and the armed guards on streets. It was quite the adventure!

 

 Kusa and Batinjaan!!!

 The kusa was amazing! I haven't had it this good in a very long time!

 The beautiful pattern on my new abaya :)

Another week over and start to the weekend. Tomorrow most of the ISA group will be going to Wadi Rum where we will ride camels, watch the sunset, and sleep in tents in the middle of the desert! Everyone says it is one of the best places to visit in Jordan! Then on Saturday we will be going to Petra for the day! I'm so excited for this weekend, its going to be amazing inshallah. I won't have internet access for a couple of days, so I'll be posting when I get back!