Hey All, just wanted to write and tell everyone Happy New Years. I'm not sure why we celebrate that as a holiday, but we do. Some of the people here celebrate it as well, but it is not really a big deal.
كل عام و أنتم بخير
kul 'aam wa antum bikheer
(every year may you be blessed)
Monday, December 31, 2007
Monday, December 24, 2007
Merry Christmas
I hope this finds everybody having a wonderful Christmas and holiday season. It sure is different thinking about Christmas and the holidays in a foreign country, especially one with completely different traditions and enviornment. It seems wrong to even call it Christmas without snow, christmas carols, decorations, or spruce or pine trees...but that is the way the christmas cookie crumbles (or doesn't crumble as that case is here)
I told myself I was going to try and avoid thinking about the holidays too much, and so I wasn't going to listen to Christmas songs...but last night I gave in a listened to all my favorites, and as expected it made me cry. Not crying because I was sad to be away from friends and family, but because I was so happy remembering all those memories I have, and that I cherish so much. The part that is sad knowing that I have chosen to leave that behind in order to follow something greater than those joys. And though the memories bring joy, it carries a certain pain and sorrow with it. And while I listened to the words of these beloved songs God reminded me that 2000 years ago a baby was born who traveled much farther from home than I ever could, who gave up more than I can ever have, and who sacrificed more than I will ever be able to imagine. I feel priveleged to feel, in an infintesmally small way, what Christ must have felt when he left the glory of heaven and came to dwell with us lowly sinners...I will never understand how God could love me so much, but I thank him and praise him for it.
Merry Christmas, and "God Bless you with a 1000 blessings this year and every year" (thats a translated arabic holiday greeting)
I told myself I was going to try and avoid thinking about the holidays too much, and so I wasn't going to listen to Christmas songs...but last night I gave in a listened to all my favorites, and as expected it made me cry. Not crying because I was sad to be away from friends and family, but because I was so happy remembering all those memories I have, and that I cherish so much. The part that is sad knowing that I have chosen to leave that behind in order to follow something greater than those joys. And though the memories bring joy, it carries a certain pain and sorrow with it. And while I listened to the words of these beloved songs God reminded me that 2000 years ago a baby was born who traveled much farther from home than I ever could, who gave up more than I can ever have, and who sacrificed more than I will ever be able to imagine. I feel priveleged to feel, in an infintesmally small way, what Christ must have felt when he left the glory of heaven and came to dwell with us lowly sinners...I will never understand how God could love me so much, but I thank him and praise him for it.
Merry Christmas, and "God Bless you with a 1000 blessings this year and every year" (thats a translated arabic holiday greeting)
Monday, December 17, 2007
Another Holiday...
I started to feel guilty about not writing for almost two weeks, but then I checked the blogs of my friends, and realize that they update about as often as I do, so I don't feel so bad. Yes, that is a terrible excuse, but it seems to appease my conscience, so I am using it.
Things have been going really well here in Jordan. I am finally starting to feel like I know what I am doing. I know a fair amount of people that I can spend time with when I am not studying or running around the city trying to take care of retarded bureaucratic issues. I have also managed to finally figure out the bus system here, more or less. Of course part of figuring out involved realizing that there really is not much system at all...Wednesday is an Islamic holiday, so clssses are canceled Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Which means the University will also be closed from Tues. - Sat. Most of the time during these holidays families gather together and celebrate the holiday together. I am not sure what that means for me, but I think it means I will have lots of time to study alone at my house. I am still hoping to go to some friends house, but I don't think it is common to invite foreigners over to celebrate the holiday. Also, most of the stores and shops are also closed, or at least the small ones, so I need to make sure I buy plenty of humus, falafel, and bread (which has become my replacement for peanut butter).
I will try to write more later, but right now I have a meeting at the physics department. Hope every one is doing well.
Things have been going really well here in Jordan. I am finally starting to feel like I know what I am doing. I know a fair amount of people that I can spend time with when I am not studying or running around the city trying to take care of retarded bureaucratic issues. I have also managed to finally figure out the bus system here, more or less. Of course part of figuring out involved realizing that there really is not much system at all...Wednesday is an Islamic holiday, so clssses are canceled Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Which means the University will also be closed from Tues. - Sat. Most of the time during these holidays families gather together and celebrate the holiday together. I am not sure what that means for me, but I think it means I will have lots of time to study alone at my house. I am still hoping to go to some friends house, but I don't think it is common to invite foreigners over to celebrate the holiday. Also, most of the stores and shops are also closed, or at least the small ones, so I need to make sure I buy plenty of humus, falafel, and bread (which has become my replacement for peanut butter).
I will try to write more later, but right now I have a meeting at the physics department. Hope every one is doing well.
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