July 15, 2008

We were told to be up and ready to go at 9 am. Of course, we didn’t get going until 10. We walked to the gate where Petra began and started our journey. It was 3 km to Petra. Men offered all of us horses for 5 JD to take us to the main site. I refused, partly because I didn’t want to pay 5 JD, and partly because the horses looked like they would fall over and i felt soooo bad for them. We made it to Petra and the first thing I saw were camels! I really wanted to ride one, so I payed 3 JD and got to take a 30 second ride on a camel. They are just adorable! We stayed at Petra for about 2 hours. The walk back to the hotel was much worse than the walk down. I ended up getting sunburn on my back pretty badly. We got in the bus and went to a youth hostel for girls to eat lunch. I had a banana. After that, we got back on the bus and traveled to Aqaba. I fell asleep for an hour and when I got off the bus, I experienced the worse heat and humidity I have EVER felt. Noura and I received a pretty nice room on the first floor. Dana came and told us that she wanted to room with us. We changed rooms with Tamara (she had 2 double beds) and Tamara started getting really upset. I felt really bad. Once we were all moved in, Noura and I went up to see Rayden, Muhmoud, and Slayman. We went out for a walk and hung out with them until 12 or so.

July 16, 2008 (Wednesday)

The supervisors had planned to go to the beach around 9. Almost no one went. Dana, Noura and I slept until 1. They got ready to go out to eat lunch and I stayed at the hotel and rested.

I haven't had internet in SOOOO long. I HATE THIS HOTEL.

5 days ago:

We got up and headed to a sports center and had a "welcoming party". It was okay. The room was absolutely freezing and everyone was talking in Arabic. After that, we went to King Hussein’s Car museum. Basically, it was a tribute to all of his cars. The cars were cool, but I didn’t like that he had so many cars. He could have spent the money on something better…like new toilets…instead of making people pee in holes. After that we went to another mall and ate. I bought jeans there, which were kind of expensive but worth it. Everyone here wears jeans. I made a mistake not bringing jeans. Also, I could have brought more shirts that were short sleeved. Oh well. We came back to the hotel and Marwan and a bunch of us decided to go out. It was 2 Brazilians, Marsou and Alex, and 3 Americans = me, Tamir and Marwan. We left around 10. We found a sheesha café and smoked sheesha. Marwan and I really started to connect. We snuck back into the hotel around 12 and Marwan gave me one of his shirts that he made. We went downstairs and got more people to come up to Marwans room and just hung out and talked. Around 3 am Marwan walked me to my room and I went to bed.

4 days ago:

We went to see pillars today. Hot and kind of boring. Then we had our first REAL meal here in Jordan. We ate at an Arabic restaurant and the food was pretty decent. After that, we traveled somewhere to go see a castle. It was pretty interesting and I hung out with the English boys. We were supposed to go out that night. We had a meeting and were told that we were not allowed to go out past 11.30. Anyway, I got ready and we were ready to get going. Christina and I went downstairs and met up with Tafiq. I didn’t even realize that the rest of the group had started to walk. Christina and I had to run to catch up to them. I was really pissed that Marwan and the rest of the group had left us there. We went to the Sheesha café and smoked. I wasn’t really having a good time at all. I was in between Marwan and the Belgian girl. Kind of annoying. Around 11.30 I told everyone to go back. No one listened to me. At 11.45 I did the same thing…And at 12. We walked back around 12.15. The lady who is head of the program proceeded to yell at us the moment we walked into the hotel. We had a meeting and got new rules: NO GOING OUT. Then it was lowered to no going out in less you are in a group and before 10. Lovely.

3 days ago:

We woke up and were greeted by the Cairo lady. She apologized to Christina and I. She explained to us that she was just worried about us. I don’t know if I was more upset about her apologizing to us or not. I was upset because I didn’t even do anything. I was the one telling everyone that we should leave. Wrong place, wrong time I guess. Ugh. After that, we got on the bus to go to more Roman ruins. It was so hot and a bunch of us got separated from the rest of the group, so we just sat down and waited for them. Someone called them and they were apparently not far away from us. After that we went to a castle. It was okay.

2 days ago:


Yesterday:

We traveled to a museum that was famous for mosaic artwork. Then we walked around the town and looked at the shops. Then we went to some biblical place. It was where Moses parted the sea with his walking stick. We were on top of a mountain and the view was amazing. After that we went back to the town where the museum was and ate food. It was pretty bad. One girl got sick. It was buffet style. Then we headed to the Dead sea! I slept on the way there and when we got off of the bus, a wall of humidity hit me like a brick wall. We got changed and hung by the pool for about 15 minutes. Then Noura and I went into the dead sea. I learned how to swim in sea. It was really cool. You could just hang out and not do anything. Then I put mud on my body. It kind of stung a bit in the sun. After 10 minuets I washed it off. My skin was so soft! Around 7 pm Noura and I went swimming in the pool. We played chicken with the boys and had a pretty good time. I think I won once. Haha. We ate buffet Arabic again… This trip is getting better everyday…We arrived at the hotel around 10 pm and I couldn’t get on the internet AGAIN. UGHHHH. I went outside with 5 other boys and smoked sheesha. Marwan was acting funny. Whatever. I went to bed around 12. By far, this was the best day...except for the food.

Today:

We awoke to the front desk calling us at 8.15. They told us that we had to be out of the room by 9. We hadn’t even packed out stuff! I WAS SO PISSED. Everyone told us that we would have time this afternoon. I guess not! We were going to meet some important person. It was all in Arabic and I practically fell asleep. Then we came back to the hotel. We left for Petra. We got on the bus and I got the sickest I have gotten in probably a couple of years. It felt like I had knives in my stomach. The bus ride was 3 or 3.5 hours long…pretty bad. Once we got to the hotel, Dana realized that her suitcase was missing. They left it in Amman! I felt really bad. Noura and I went to our room and I continued writhe in pain on the bed. The hotel was pretty much horrible this time. The rooms were small and the AC was blowing warm air throughout the space. I called my dad and talked to him for a while and then finally fell asleep. I really want to go back to the states…

Yesterday:

I don't feel like embarassing myself, so I won't say anything about it except that I would have died without Jamie...

Today:

We arrived in Amman around 10 am. When we got off the plane, Dana and I got our Visa's stamped and we were wondering what to do next. There were 3 men from the Council of Youth to meet us there. They gave us flowers and we went through security. It took a while to get our bags, but we left the airport around 11.30 am. After that, we got into our van and headed to the airport. The first thing I noticed was how clean the air was. It was light. I don't know how else to explain it. It took us about 40 mintues to get from the airport to the hotel. From there, Dana, Christina and I went to our room. When we got downstairs, we had lunch and then a meeting. They gave us very strict rules. Most of us did not like that. Then we (the American group) went back to our rooms. Dana and I were talking and spotted Marwan and Tamir outside. They convinced us to come outside and take a walk with them to the Souk (market) up the street. At first, I was hesitant, but the others persuaded me. We walked a couple of blocks to the market and purchased jucies and dates. (The dates by the way..WERE AMAZING.) When we walked back into the hotel, our supervisors were standing near the doorway. We shuffled back in, trying not to be seen. We failed, but they did not say anything to us. As soon as we got into our room, the phone rang. The person said that we were going to go to Mecca Mall and shop. Dana said she was too tired and stayed. Christina and I made our way downstairs and into the lobby. Christina decided she wanted to stay, but I ended up going. Marwan, Tamir and I were the only ones representing the Americans. We drove to Mecca Mall, about 20 mintues away, and once I stepped out of the van, my jaw dropped. This mall was probably the biggest mall I have ever seen in my entire life. We walked around the mall and I ended up getting a necklace for myself and my sister. They had to be made. They will have each of our names on them. After that, the group split up and I went with Mahdi and Tamara. We had a good time in our small group. At 7 pm, we left and went back to our hotel. At 8, Tafiq visited us and brought us chocolate! That was very nice. Half an hour later, we went down to eat. The food was not bad. I was just asked to go out, but I am too tired. Today was interesting...

Less than 24 hours! I'm very thankful that Jamie drove me to Virginia.

I'm worried about the heat in Jordan. Ugh.

Less than a week...hard to believe.