So, two days ago I moved in with my host family: a mother and two daughters, both older than me--one studies and one works at a hotel. Oh, and a parrot and a cat (who doesn't yet trust me but she only really trusts the younger sister, so we'll see). The oldest son is married with a wonderfully sweet 2-year-old girl who brightens up the whole house when they visit. I have the son's old room, which is slightly embarrassing because it's the nicest bedroom and the only one that's not shared and has its own bathroom.
Most of them speak at least a little English--the daughters the best--though I try to use my Arabic when I can. I ended up in some long conversations I barely understood when the mother's two brothers visited, though. Other than language differences, it's probably family rhythms that I'll most have to adjust to. Namely and in no particular order: the TV and the maid (I know, she should've been included up there with the other denizens of the house, but for the sake of surprising everyone I waited until here, at which point you'll have to wait because I'm going to discuss the TV first).
Anyone who doesn't already know won't be surprised that I don't watch much TV. Partly because of that, the TV always distracts me when it's on, because the only times I have the TV on, that's what I intend to concentrate on. Well, here I'm not sure I've seen a time it hasn't been on, though if I get up early enough maybe. My host mother has bad knees, so she's in the living room (also a connector between the hall and the kitchen) almost all day. I've been trying to be in there to be sociable, but it's hard to concentrate on that sometimes, or the articles I need to read for class, even when the tube's on mute. So dealing with that'll be interesting.
The other strange thing is the maid, a Sri Lankan who speaks neither Arabic nor English and has apparently been here only 4-5 days now to help out because the oldest daughter has to work. The closest things I've ever had to maids before are janitors and Mom. Janitors you can't really boss around, and their job only goes so far. Mom I can't boss around at all--I have to ask--and she can boss me around as much as she likes. (Love you, Mom!) So, having a maid in the first place is interesting--and it got more interesting yesterday.
Yesterday, our maid fainted while picking something up, and when we got her onto a couch and she woke up, she was crying and her stomach hurt. So Mama called the... I think person whose business is 'importing' maids and finding them jobs, and his translator. They came by a few hours later and when the whole thing was mostly sorted out (I barely understood more than something about 25 maybe days and 3500 maybe dinars), I think it turns out she wasn't sick at all, but wanted more calls to her husband in Sri Lanka. It had originally been once a month; she wanted once a day (but that costs enough it wasn't an option as Mama pays the phone bill); and it was settled on once a week.
I'm not entirely sure how I feel about the whole thing. I'm really unused to having someone non-family non-friend in the house 24/7, and I'm still not entirely sure how much of that was real and how much was faking. If it's real I'm worried; if it's fake I feel used. Even so... I understand a bit of what it's like being so far from home in a place where people speak a different language (though most speak a bit of English here). And I can't help but wonder how a family like that survives....
On a lighter note, some friends at home alerted me to a good friend here and we met for lunch today and ended up having tea, making a short shopping trip (I got a fan for when it gets warm), and going out with our family after. It was wonderful to get out a bit after being cooped up with schoolwork and the TV, awesome to have a good friend already, and refreshing to spend time with family. We sang a few songs as a family, and while I didn't know more than a few words or phrases, I knew two of the tunes. Biggest smiles I've had since I got here, and of course I plan to go back. I think, too, they've been needing more older sisters for the younger girls.
I've heard a few hints on places to teach English during the summer, so I'm excited that could lead to something. Also, I start school tomorrow! In other words, I'm aiming for 15 minutes email/facebook/goofing off, and bed afterwards. I've actually been sleeping pretty well and for decent hours. I'm not sure what effect my pillows have in that; they remind me of Jacob's pillow in Genesis 28:11.
Ma'asalaama!
Edit: 7 minutes email/etc. now... taking bets on when I actually get to bed.
February 4, 2012
February 1, 2012
Taxis, Rain, and Culture
Yet another busy day of orientation! Today's main activity was a scavenger hunt; we divided into groups of 3-4 and headed out with a list of 3 places to go and information to get about each. My group had to got Al-Pasha, the Shoban(sp?) Library, and Reem Shawarmas.
We started out looking for the first--took a taxi to second circle (I think there are seven main roundabouts in the area). We asked around, but nobody knew where it was, or even what it was. (We didn't have a street address; while they have street names etc here, nobody really finds places that way. Landmarks are the way to go.) Finally we moved on to the library, a really beautiful place. We had to ask for a film/event schedule, and between my little Arabic and what English the librarians knew, we got that, somewhat explained why we needed it, and asked again about Al-Pasha. Pasha was a social station in the Ottoman Empire, and is the nickname for the Intelligence Director, but that could help us find it. Or him. We didn't know.
We did get directions to Reem Shawarmas, though, and headed back up the hill through the rain to find it. Yup, rain. I think it's an unusual amount even for winter here; the streets and drains weren't equipped to handle it, and neither were we. By that time all four of us were drenched.
Reem Shawarmas is a little booth of a restaurant--a kitchen and a counter, basically--and the oldest shawarma place in Jordan. "Kem sena hoona?" "Arbaeen yowm." "How many years here?" "40 years." Shawarmas are pita filled with shredded lamb with veggies, and the meat is zaki--delicious. And the roasting haunch was bigger than Jason! We took it to a small internet cafe, ordered tea, and ate.
While we were eating, one of the SIT directors called to see how we were doing, and helped us out by telling us to ask for Hamam Al-Pasha, not just Al-Pasha. With that, we got there fairly quickly; our most helpful guide left the store he was in to walk down the street a bit and give directions in Arabic. Hamam Al-Pasha is a Turkish Bath, and a beautiful building, with a fountain with fish, stone pillars, and a vaulted ceiling. Spa and massage stuff is in the morning and early afternoon for women and late afternoon to evening for men, and reasonably priced, too. After that we headed back.
Traffic here makes me glad I'm not driving. There are very few lights or marked lanes, and many roundabouts and U-turns (you're more likely to go left by making a U-turn and then turning right, I think). Spaces that American drivers would consider frighteningly close Jordanian drivers call plenty of room, and cobbled sidewalks double as parking. The taxi rides we took were fun, almost like roller coasters, and the thought of driving myself in this makes me extra glad taxi fares are cheap; we've yet to pay more than 3JD for a ride.
There are two different cultures that have made today interesting. The first, of course, is local. I'm sure I stick out like a sore thumb, but the scavenger hunt gave us a chance to explore it a bit in groups and get a feel for communicating. The second is American college culture. Sometimes it's a relief to have other students around me, like on the trip--we understand each other and are comfortable with each other. On the other hand... I'm, ah, somewhat conservative and a teetotaler, too, which is a bit abnormal for students my age.
We meet out homestay families tomorrow! I'm looking forward to it.
We started out looking for the first--took a taxi to second circle (I think there are seven main roundabouts in the area). We asked around, but nobody knew where it was, or even what it was. (We didn't have a street address; while they have street names etc here, nobody really finds places that way. Landmarks are the way to go.) Finally we moved on to the library, a really beautiful place. We had to ask for a film/event schedule, and between my little Arabic and what English the librarians knew, we got that, somewhat explained why we needed it, and asked again about Al-Pasha. Pasha was a social station in the Ottoman Empire, and is the nickname for the Intelligence Director, but that could help us find it. Or him. We didn't know.
We did get directions to Reem Shawarmas, though, and headed back up the hill through the rain to find it. Yup, rain. I think it's an unusual amount even for winter here; the streets and drains weren't equipped to handle it, and neither were we. By that time all four of us were drenched.
Reem Shawarmas is a little booth of a restaurant--a kitchen and a counter, basically--and the oldest shawarma place in Jordan. "Kem sena hoona?" "Arbaeen yowm." "How many years here?" "40 years." Shawarmas are pita filled with shredded lamb with veggies, and the meat is zaki--delicious. And the roasting haunch was bigger than Jason! We took it to a small internet cafe, ordered tea, and ate.
While we were eating, one of the SIT directors called to see how we were doing, and helped us out by telling us to ask for Hamam Al-Pasha, not just Al-Pasha. With that, we got there fairly quickly; our most helpful guide left the store he was in to walk down the street a bit and give directions in Arabic. Hamam Al-Pasha is a Turkish Bath, and a beautiful building, with a fountain with fish, stone pillars, and a vaulted ceiling. Spa and massage stuff is in the morning and early afternoon for women and late afternoon to evening for men, and reasonably priced, too. After that we headed back.
Traffic here makes me glad I'm not driving. There are very few lights or marked lanes, and many roundabouts and U-turns (you're more likely to go left by making a U-turn and then turning right, I think). Spaces that American drivers would consider frighteningly close Jordanian drivers call plenty of room, and cobbled sidewalks double as parking. The taxi rides we took were fun, almost like roller coasters, and the thought of driving myself in this makes me extra glad taxi fares are cheap; we've yet to pay more than 3JD for a ride.
There are two different cultures that have made today interesting. The first, of course, is local. I'm sure I stick out like a sore thumb, but the scavenger hunt gave us a chance to explore it a bit in groups and get a feel for communicating. The second is American college culture. Sometimes it's a relief to have other students around me, like on the trip--we understand each other and are comfortable with each other. On the other hand... I'm, ah, somewhat conservative and a teetotaler, too, which is a bit abnormal for students my age.
We meet out homestay families tomorrow! I'm looking forward to it.
January 31, 2012
First Full Day in Jordan
I made it safely to Jordan! My flight from Indy was running late—enough so that I didn’t get to my flight in Atlanta until it started boarding. I sat near the wings on each flight, but was always able to catch a glimpse of something or other out the window, and looking was was well worth it. On my way in and out of Atlanta I could see the night lights of the cities we passed over, and as we crossed the East Coast I looked out just in time to see it; the lights cut off abruptly.
My seatmate on the Atlanta-Paris flight was a Ukranian man who'd had business in Ohio. His 3 and 6-year-old kids have been in 7 countries already! Also, I'm pretty sure they spoiled us on the flights; the food was yummy (though not as good as the food I just got back from eating).
I got into Paris fine, and while the organization of the airport was just plain weird, following the directions on the walls got me to my gate in plenty of time. The flight to Amman was chock-full (it stopped in Damascus afterwards). Also, turns out when planes fly over Israel, nobody's allowed to get out of their seats. I found other SIT students in the Jordanian airport and we all got through just fine, minus one student who got stuck in London. By the time we got to the hotel and ate, I was exhausted, and slept for something like 10 hours, though jet lag made today a little slow, too.
Today we had a good breakfast at the hotel (there are veggies and hummus with every meal, and I'm sure not arguing) and then went to the SIT building. It's in a really nice section of town, right next to the Venezuelan embassy and down the street from the British embassy. The British embassy's pretty big--I hear the US embassy is bigger--and a number of the embassies and palaces have armed guards outside them. There's a roundabout not too far away where we went for lunch where falafel places are side-by-side with McDonald's. Oh, and when you say "falafel," you have to use the tip of your tongue to pronounce the L, not the back. And falafel is delicious.
Most of the day was spent in lecture activities at SIT, mostly on safety. Main points: dress modestly, don't walk alone especially later at night, and tell SIT staff if there's anything at all that makes you uncomfortable. Also, taxis, culture shock, and a bit about homestay--we meet our families the day after tomorrow.
One of my roommates in the hotel is getting calls to her new Jordanian phone. No idea who or why, but they've called about 7 times, and can apparently speak both Arabic and English. We suspect a prankster.
Also, unless further searching produces it, I lost my hairbrush. As I'm fairly sure I packed it (Mom and Dad, check for two hairbrushes floating around my room; a second one means I forgot to pack it), I'm guessing it fell out on one of the flights.
Hope everyone's doing well!
One last note, this to my more redneck friends: I'm not censored, but it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on what you say.
Edit: According to those at dinner, lemon mint hookah is better than the orange flavor. Also, we sang happy birthday to a woman who was there; they brought out a cake with five sparklers in it. And there was live music; I could tell at least one was a love song by the "ya habeebi."
My seatmate on the Atlanta-Paris flight was a Ukranian man who'd had business in Ohio. His 3 and 6-year-old kids have been in 7 countries already! Also, I'm pretty sure they spoiled us on the flights; the food was yummy (though not as good as the food I just got back from eating).
I got into Paris fine, and while the organization of the airport was just plain weird, following the directions on the walls got me to my gate in plenty of time. The flight to Amman was chock-full (it stopped in Damascus afterwards). Also, turns out when planes fly over Israel, nobody's allowed to get out of their seats. I found other SIT students in the Jordanian airport and we all got through just fine, minus one student who got stuck in London. By the time we got to the hotel and ate, I was exhausted, and slept for something like 10 hours, though jet lag made today a little slow, too.
Today we had a good breakfast at the hotel (there are veggies and hummus with every meal, and I'm sure not arguing) and then went to the SIT building. It's in a really nice section of town, right next to the Venezuelan embassy and down the street from the British embassy. The British embassy's pretty big--I hear the US embassy is bigger--and a number of the embassies and palaces have armed guards outside them. There's a roundabout not too far away where we went for lunch where falafel places are side-by-side with McDonald's. Oh, and when you say "falafel," you have to use the tip of your tongue to pronounce the L, not the back. And falafel is delicious.
Most of the day was spent in lecture activities at SIT, mostly on safety. Main points: dress modestly, don't walk alone especially later at night, and tell SIT staff if there's anything at all that makes you uncomfortable. Also, taxis, culture shock, and a bit about homestay--we meet our families the day after tomorrow.
One of my roommates in the hotel is getting calls to her new Jordanian phone. No idea who or why, but they've called about 7 times, and can apparently speak both Arabic and English. We suspect a prankster.
Also, unless further searching produces it, I lost my hairbrush. As I'm fairly sure I packed it (Mom and Dad, check for two hairbrushes floating around my room; a second one means I forgot to pack it), I'm guessing it fell out on one of the flights.
Hope everyone's doing well!
One last note, this to my more redneck friends: I'm not censored, but it wouldn't hurt to keep an eye on what you say.
Edit: According to those at dinner, lemon mint hookah is better than the orange flavor. Also, we sang happy birthday to a woman who was there; they brought out a cake with five sparklers in it. And there was live music; I could tell at least one was a love song by the "ya habeebi."
January 27, 2012
Off to Jordan!
I know, I know, I haven't posted in here since 2010. Also, I have a report to do and a ton of packing. I do NOT promise to post here much, either.
That said... if I blog, it'll be here, and I might as well make myself. Everyone wants pictures and stories, right? And I really should keep some sort of scrapbook or diary and I'm more likely to do it virtually.
So... welcome to the blog!
General info: I leave Sunday the 29th late afternoon and arrive in Amman the next day. I'll meet the family I'm staying with February 2, and start classes around the same time. The main subjects will be Modernization and Social Change in Jordan, and Arabic, and we'll be gearing up for an independent study project at the end of the semester; I'd like to study linguistic changes related to modernization (loan words, slang, etc.). The program will include three week-long field trips to stay with a rural family, explore Egypt (conditions permitting), and explore Jordan.
I'll return mid-May, though I hope to find a place to teach EFL (English as a Foreign Language) for the summer.
Oh, and if I post pictures of food? They WILL make you hungry, just fyi.
That said... if I blog, it'll be here, and I might as well make myself. Everyone wants pictures and stories, right? And I really should keep some sort of scrapbook or diary and I'm more likely to do it virtually.
So... welcome to the blog!
General info: I leave Sunday the 29th late afternoon and arrive in Amman the next day. I'll meet the family I'm staying with February 2, and start classes around the same time. The main subjects will be Modernization and Social Change in Jordan, and Arabic, and we'll be gearing up for an independent study project at the end of the semester; I'd like to study linguistic changes related to modernization (loan words, slang, etc.). The program will include three week-long field trips to stay with a rural family, explore Egypt (conditions permitting), and explore Jordan.
I'll return mid-May, though I hope to find a place to teach EFL (English as a Foreign Language) for the summer.
Oh, and if I post pictures of food? They WILL make you hungry, just fyi.
October 31, 2010
Tools of Language Learning: the Bible
There are more than six thousand languages in use. Over 400 of those languages have full translations of the Bible; over 1000 have the New Testament, and many more have at least some portion of the Bible.
In terms of language learning: if you're learning a language, you can probably find a copy of the Bible in both it and your native language. It'll help if you're familiar with the Bible, but even if you aren't it's a good reading exercise.
When I started French, I found my mom's copy of the French Bible; I made it my goal to read a bit every night, whether I understood it or not. And you know what? It really helped my reading comprehension, and quite possibly my pronunciation, too. I've been doing the same thing with Arabic, and while it's been slow going (even with pronunciation help), I know it's been good for me.
And if there isn't a translation? Wycliffe Bible Translators plans to have a project in every language that needs it by 2025. And yes, there are translations in Klingon and Esperanto.
Main source: http://www.wycliffe.org/about/statistics.aspx
In terms of language learning: if you're learning a language, you can probably find a copy of the Bible in both it and your native language. It'll help if you're familiar with the Bible, but even if you aren't it's a good reading exercise.
When I started French, I found my mom's copy of the French Bible; I made it my goal to read a bit every night, whether I understood it or not. And you know what? It really helped my reading comprehension, and quite possibly my pronunciation, too. I've been doing the same thing with Arabic, and while it's been slow going (even with pronunciation help), I know it's been good for me.
And if there isn't a translation? Wycliffe Bible Translators plans to have a project in every language that needs it by 2025. And yes, there are translations in Klingon and Esperanto.
Main source: http://www.wycliffe.org/about/statistics.aspx
October 13, 2010
Languages
Jude brought up an interesting point in a previous comment section--languages we'd like to know. So, if you had the time/money/magical genie wish to learn any language, what would you choose? And what do you already know?
I'll be fair and answer my own questions:
English is my native language, and despite how much of a pain it is, I love it.
I took French in high school (it was as geographically close to Arabic as I could get) and had a very good time; I'm now a French minor. I love the literature, especially the poetry of Victor Hugo and Paul Eluard.
I ruled out colleges because of their (lack of) Arabic programs. I'm in my second year, and I like to tell people that I know enough to find an English speaker. As of this last week, I also know enough to find the bathroom.
If I could learn any other languages... Farsi and Hebrew. If I could learn any in an instant, I'd probably choose to learn them all, but if I had to choose runners-up to Farsi and Hebrew, I might go for Russian or Chinese.
Now it's your turn.
I'll be fair and answer my own questions:
English is my native language, and despite how much of a pain it is, I love it.
I took French in high school (it was as geographically close to Arabic as I could get) and had a very good time; I'm now a French minor. I love the literature, especially the poetry of Victor Hugo and Paul Eluard.
I ruled out colleges because of their (lack of) Arabic programs. I'm in my second year, and I like to tell people that I know enough to find an English speaker. As of this last week, I also know enough to find the bathroom.
If I could learn any other languages... Farsi and Hebrew. If I could learn any in an instant, I'd probably choose to learn them all, but if I had to choose runners-up to Farsi and Hebrew, I might go for Russian or Chinese.
Now it's your turn.
October 4, 2010
Tools of Language Learning: the Dictionary
It may seem obvious, but it's worth a mention: a dictionary can be quite important when learning another language, especially for higher-level and more motivated learners.
Many textbooks have rudimentary dictionaries in the back; other times you'll have to buy your own. If you're serious about a language, you should probably get one. Using one helped my French in high school, helps my comprehension of French literature now, and helps me in everything in Arabic.
There are several different types of dictionaries, each with different uses:
English-Arabic*: Look up a word in your native language, find it in the language you want to use it in. This type of dictionary is particularly useful when you don't know how to say something in your target language. Some have phrases and expressions, and most should have pronunciation guides. Be careful, though--knowing the word is not the same as knowing how to use it. You might also get the wrong word; I've heard of some amusing confusions of "public" and "pubic."
Arabic-English: This comes in handy for reading or listening comprehension, but be aware: languages are not the same. English, and European languages in general, are in alphabetical order. Arabic is, too, but it alphabetizes by roots so, for example, "kitaab" and "maktaba" are in the same entry (their root is k-t-b). The Chinese dictionary--well, my sources (Wikipedia) claim some have been organized by subject, others by stroke numbers, and others by phonetics. If you're in a language class, they'll teach you how to use a dictionary, usually about the same time you have to pay $40 for it.
Arabic-Arabic: The words and definitions are in the target language. This won't be much help to a beginner, but an advanced learner may find it helpful to learn a word's meaning in its original language. It's harder, but can definitely be worth it. But just because it builds character/comprehension doesn't always make it fun--
(with all due credit to Bill Watterson)
*I use this as the example because it's the one on the shelf above my desk. Assume English as the native language, Arabic as the language being learned.
Many textbooks have rudimentary dictionaries in the back; other times you'll have to buy your own. If you're serious about a language, you should probably get one. Using one helped my French in high school, helps my comprehension of French literature now, and helps me in everything in Arabic.
There are several different types of dictionaries, each with different uses:
English-Arabic*: Look up a word in your native language, find it in the language you want to use it in. This type of dictionary is particularly useful when you don't know how to say something in your target language. Some have phrases and expressions, and most should have pronunciation guides. Be careful, though--knowing the word is not the same as knowing how to use it. You might also get the wrong word; I've heard of some amusing confusions of "public" and "pubic."
Arabic-English: This comes in handy for reading or listening comprehension, but be aware: languages are not the same. English, and European languages in general, are in alphabetical order. Arabic is, too, but it alphabetizes by roots so, for example, "kitaab" and "maktaba" are in the same entry (their root is k-t-b). The Chinese dictionary--well, my sources (Wikipedia) claim some have been organized by subject, others by stroke numbers, and others by phonetics. If you're in a language class, they'll teach you how to use a dictionary, usually about the same time you have to pay $40 for it.
Arabic-Arabic: The words and definitions are in the target language. This won't be much help to a beginner, but an advanced learner may find it helpful to learn a word's meaning in its original language. It's harder, but can definitely be worth it. But just because it builds character/comprehension doesn't always make it fun--
(with all due credit to Bill Watterson)
*I use this as the example because it's the one on the shelf above my desk. Assume English as the native language, Arabic as the language being learned.
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