Day 6

Hala!! Today we went to the Royal Society of the Conservation of Nature and had a lecture about how Jordan is the first Middle Eastern countries to have any sort of conservation movement. Thus far, 4% of Jordan is under conservation. These areas include all 4 types of enviroments (dessert, mountain, forrest, and the only Jordanian wetland).

I want to write more about my trip but it's difficult to decide what to write about, therefore, I want to share some questions that Matt emailed me and my answers.
1. What's your favorite food over there?
2. What is the infrastructure like? Is it all pretty old and falling apart or do they actually put effort into it.
3. Have you heard any gunshots yet? Haha jk. What are the people like? What are their priorities? When you meet someone what is the first thing they ask you besides your name?
4. Have you learned any Arabic? If so what? Oh and do you still hate hookah?
5. What's the biggest difference between Jordan and America?
1) My favorite food is called manakesh. It is like pizza but not! It is shaped and cut like a pizza but it is usually small and personal-sized. It is just really fluffy bread with olive oil and thyme, not sauce and often no cheese. Super delicious! Also, I love all the vegitable rice and pepers and pita bread!
2) The infastructure varies a lot! It really depends on the neighborhood. In our area, Swafia, it is in between. There is a lot of construction going on-tons of new buildings being put up! But there are still some rough patches, like dirt lots filled with trash. Other parts are really run down but have tons of character! They are seriously a couple hundred years old! And then there are really nice neighborhoods. But EVERYTHING is apartment buildings. Not one house ANYWHERE! It is cool to stand on a hill. When you look out there are miles and miles on the mountains of apartments (which are all white). This is why it is called "The White City".
3) No, no gunshots :) But the people are awesome and SOOO friendly! Like ridiculous! It is very a part of their culture to be hospitable. People's priorities are family and Allah. But always family!! And often education! The first thing they ask is often "where are you from?" which gets really boring to say, so sometimes we start saying other things. Like my readhead friend McKenzie today told a bunch of little boys she was from Africa! :) So great!
4) Yes, I know the whole language! :D No, but we have had language lessons and I have picked up some stuff. Marhaba (hello), Alhain or Hala (Hello in response), Saba'elkhair and Saba'elnoor (Good morning), Masa'elkhair and Masa'elnoor (Good evening), Assalam alaikum and Alailum assalam (Peace be with you), OR Salam (peace), forsisiede (It's a pleasure), Ana ismi (My name is), Shuu ismik OR ismak (What is your name?), Shukran (Thank you), Afwan (You are welcome), Inta hamar (You are a donkey, or, ass :D), etc. etc.
5) Biggest difference is the night life-mornings are dead until around 10 or so but stores are open until midnight! Another difference is the respect for women-no PDA in public EVER! We hardly even touch our guy friends here and we never touch a taxi or waiter's hand. Also, some men won't shake hands with women because it is disrespecting the woman.
Please feel free to ask me more questions in an email or comment. I will try to uplaod pictures later today!