This is just the beginning...: The End

I will be leaving Jordan in exactly one week. I’m not quite sure how to feel; there are so many emotions running through me as I think about leaving. I’m sad; there are many people here I will miss. But something happened yesterday that really highlighted why I am looking forward to going home.

I was walking from the gym to the library to work on a paper. As I left the gym a taxi driver honked at me, rolled down his window and then whistled. I thought to myself, “Screw you! I just left the gym, I don’t even look good right now!” It made me feel a little better. Not ten minutes later I saw another man approaching me. This man however was clearly Western. Westerners are easier to spot here than the sun on a cloudy day. He was wearing khaki pants, some sort of hiking boot and the most obvious sign was a khaki safari-esque bucket hat. When we were about to pass each other, he looked me in the eyes, gave a small smile and nodded. I cannot remember the last time I felt respected like that from a stranger who was a man who was not doing it because it was his job like a waiter or taxi driver. It was incredible! Such a small thing but I was walking on air…for about five minutes until I walked past a car and the man in the passenger seat made a kissing noise as I walked by. But as I thought more about the incident with the Western man it made me realize how excited I am to get back to a place where that is an everyday occurrence.

That being said there are things I’m going to miss about Jordan. Here’s a few:

1. My Arabic professor Ghadeer: I’ve described her as ‘the most badass Muslim woman I’ve ever met.’ I had class with her everyday and every day I looked forward to it. She is married, has two children and is pregnant with the third (due in a couple months). She used to race rally cars, has a slight obsession with Range Rovers, has a gun collection and heads to the shooting range for fun. Oh, did I mention she’s working on her Ph.D? She’s awesome and I’m really going to miss her.

My Arabic class.
Soren, Hannah, Jordan, Jasmine, Ghadeer, Christian, Hannah, me.

Ghadeer and me.

2. Cheap falafel: Falafel Man. The man who owns a falafel restaurant across the street from campus where you can get pretty much everything for less than 1JD (basically equivalent to $1).

3. The Yemeni restaurant: This place is delicious. I’ve never had an interest in going to Yemen before but if this is the food I would eat while I’m there, put me on a plane.

3. My host parents: They haven’t been the ones who show me the nightlife in Amman (maybe because it hardly exists?) but they have been so kind and warm and welcoming that I know I could have been much more miserable had they been different.

Nasser, me, Nuha

4. And obviously, new friends. I’ve gotten to know some pretty wonderful people here that have taught me a lot and I am going to miss them all dearly.

Anna Mae, Becca, Hannah, me.

Olivia, me.

What am I looking forward to most about coming home?

1. Seeing my family!

2. Being able to call a friend when I think of them, rather than waiting until I’m by a computer that has internet so I can send them an email.

3. Flushing toilet paper down the toilet!!! I know it sounds minor, but trust me. And actually, I’m just excited to use toilets in general because I know they will always be accessible and always be clean.

4. My mom’s cooking.

5. Not being harassed when I walk down the street!!!

6. To wear shorts!

I leave Jordan on May 13, then I’m heading to Israel with two friends until May 17. On the 17^th I’ll be flying from Tel Aviv to Munich and on the 18^th I’ll fly from Munich to Chicago. I can’t believe this adventure is almost over; the time has flown. But before ya know it, they’ll be a new adventure.

Here are a few pictures from around campus: