Epic Arabian Escapades

Marhaba again from beautiful Amman, Jordan.

I can't believe I've been in Jordan for almost 3 weeks even though sometimes I feel like I've just stepped off the plane, and some days I feel Amman has been my home for the past few months. Even as I sit at a cafe writing this, I feel so comfortable with the streets, people and lifestyle here in Amman (and not even kidding you right now, on the radio at this cafe they are playing an Arabic remix of "My Heart Will Go On," with Arab instruments and it changed my life. Seriously. 10 points to the strand cafe)

Well things have been pretty similar week to week here in Jordan. My Arabic has been getting better in my brain bank, but I still sound like an incompetent toddler when I try to utter hello. I can't tell you how many times I have accidentally ran into people and have meant to say, "I'm sorry" or "Excuse me," but end up muttering "Thank-you," to them in Arabic. Rookie mistake. -5 points for Caleb. Since we're being overloaded with nouns, verbs and common sentences it can be very overwhelming, but we always get excited when we hear the radio or someone talk on the phone and we can understand 2+ words they used. It's the little things you know?

We also got the chance to go to PETRA, and if you don't know what that is type it into Google right now, or just look at my photos on Facebook. Either way, check it out, open up Expedia or Travelocity and book your tickets to Amman ASAP, because it is one of the most amazing things you will ever see. I honestly thought it was just the one famous monument and that was it. I was incredibly wrong. It was an ancient city that had been preserved, and now occupied by tourists and Bedouins who live in villages around Petra, or in their local caves near or around the area. I also got the chance to ride a donkey up to the Monastery which was equally exciting as it was terrifying. I did feel really bad for the donkey because it was really small and I think I weighed just as much as it. So the idea of trying to carry another me up a mountain just makes me tired thinking about it. Nevertheless he made it! And the view from the top was unlike anything I'd ever seen or heard. It was absolute serenity and pictures do not do it justice to the slightest. The second day in Petra was exploring more of the surrounding mountains and hiking up to the "Place of High Sacrifice," Where "Alhamdulillah" (praise be to God) everyone that walked up, walked down, and no one was sacrificed. I could go on and on about how beautiful it was, but I'm pretty sure you all get the picture. Long story short. Go to Petra. Just do it. It's worth it.

The Siq - Petra

On another more serious note I want to share something that i've really had to rely on God for in these past few weeks with circumstances beyond my control. About 2 weeks ago, I found out my mom back home in Canada had been diagnosed with breast cancer, and I didn't know how to react to the news. It wasn't the first time I had been away from home when family health concerns arise, but I am literally across the world this time, and I wasn't sure how to react or what to do. The unknown is scary, but I am so thankful to serve a God who is good, who goes before me, and who knows what I need before I tell him. Even though I'm physically separated from my family during these trials, I feel overwhelming support from family and friends comforting not only my mom, but me across the world, and I feel the peace that passes understanding from our heavenly father above. It's unexplainable, but it is the strongest and most reliable thing I can hold on to in this lifetime. My mom is having surgery today to hopefully beat cancer for the second time, and even though I await anxiously for the results, I rest knowing that in all my life, he is still God, and I can always trust him to keep my head above the waters. So if you could keep my family in your prayers, I would be overwhelmingly grateful as I continue this adventure across the world.

I'm not sure when my next update will be, because we will be travelling around the area in the next bit. But I hope to keep you updated on my adventures and studies! Also feel free to shoot me an email, or message about what's going on in your life! I'd love to be kept updated!

Final shameless plug. Go to Petra. Now.
Caleb G

New Beginnings and Amman Adventures

As-salamu alaykum from across the world!

For those of you that know me well, you're probably thinking, "Why in the world is Caleb on a blog," and it's true. If anyone knows me you'll know that I cannot process inward very well and this blog will most likely be slathered with poor word choices, poor grammatical sentences, and most likely the world record for the longest run on sentences. I was considering creating a vlog (video-blog), but this will have to do for now.

Introductions have concluded. I am in Jordan! I have been living in Amman for the past 10 days, and have loved every second of it. From getting lost in a city with the Arabic language as our map, attempting to flag down a taxi in the crazy busy roads, sitting in awe as said taxi driver attempts to create their own lane in the road, or attempting to eat the bounty of food placed in front of you constantly, Jordan has been an exciting escapade, with a new adventure around every corner.

The first week was orientation week, where 16 other students (10 Americans, 6 Canadians and 1 Brit) and myself have been learning the ins and outs of the city, the country, and the vast culture we have arrived in. Luckily for us, our program director and his wife have lived and raised kids in the Middle East for the past 30+ years, so we are in good hands! We have been to many different places within the city, including an ancient roman amphitheatre and citadel that sits on one of Amman's 7 mountains.

This week we have started some of our classes, including the most anticipated (and most daunting), Arabic. Arabic is a beautiful language spoken or written, and I came to the conclusion that I would pick it up easy. Yea no. That conclusion ended 2 minutes into our Arabic class, when I realized how challenging this language we began to learn. One thing I have learned through our program director and many other speakers and Jordanians (or other Arabs) is that Arabic is more than just a language, it's a culture. One cannot fully understand one without the other. Our classes are very differently structured then other language courses one would take in North America. It involves 6 students, one nurturer (or "teacher"), no English (she will only speak Arabic), 3.5 hours, 4 times a week. So as you can probably guess it is the most intensely saturated language learning session one could ever encounter, but it is SO effective. The goal of the first few stages of this program is to listen. Listen to your nurturer talk, say nouns, verbs etc. and have it repeated so that it goes to memory. Eventually you begin to respond if she asks you a question, or asks you to participate in some part of the class. However, even after 3 classes I am starting to retain many nouns, verbs, and greetings (don't ask me to talk yet though. It's a long way from my brain to my mouth).

Even though I have been here for less than 2 weeks, it feels like home. Jordanians are extremely hospitable and almost everyone I encounter in a mall, cafe, or on the side of the road greets me with a smile. Even though a toddler would know more Arabic than me, it is exciting to interact with the locals here, and of course with my amazingly hilarious classmates as we journey this semester together!

I hope to continually update everyone about my adventures here in Jordan every now and again! As of now I cannot think of much else that I have done here, but I know as soon as I hit "send" I'll forget 80,000 things I wanted to mention in this blog, so I think I'll finish it off here.

Inshallah
Caleb G

 Roman Amphitheatre - Amman

Overlooking Amman

 Citadel with my fellow MESP'ers