in Amman

Well, I guess I should write and let everyone know that I am still alive and kicking. I made it to Amman without any real problems, got moved into my apartment (which doesn’t take very long when your whole consists of one duffel bag, a backpack, and your laptop.) Anyway, the apartment is really quite nice…way better than any thing you could ever find in the states for 280$ a month. Plus I get to live with a really nice Jordanian guy. He has been a big help so far, just getting stuff figured out. We decided that we are going to speak Arabic only in the apartment (he speaks fluent English), and so far we’ve held up to it.
Ramadan (the holy month for Muslims) started last week, which makes trying to get situated kinda difficult because everything closes early, really early. Also, most places are closed on Friday and Saturday, but I think that is common year round. It also makes it difficult to eat and drink, since most people here are muslims it is considered rude to eat or drink in front of people that are fasting, so on average I go from about 7:30 am until about 5 pm without food or water, unless I can sneak away and get something to drink. The food part is pretty easy, but not drinking water is pretty difficult.
My classes started this week. I have class for three hours a day, in the morning. But again, this is the Ramadan schedule…so all the classes at the University finish by 2 pm. After Ramadan the schedule will change. My job at the physics department has been kind of postponed. The class I was going to teach is at the same time as one of my language classes (again partially due to Ramadan). But also, the person who was the department head when I came in the spring is no longer department head. So right now I am working on a nanotechnology research project with one of the professors, which helps get my foot in the door for next semester. However, it doesn’t really help me meet students, so I am working on other approaches to try and make Jordanian friends.
I would try to explain what it is like here, but I don’t know where to start. There are so many things that are different, and amazing, and strange…I never thought crossing the street was something I’d have to learn over again. So far I have only met one Jordanian that wasn’t nice (she worked in the Registrars office). Most of them have been incredibly friendly.
Sorry I’ve not sent more emails…I am still trying to get a schedule down, plus I don’t have internet at the apartment. To make up for it I will post a couple pictures of Amman taken from the roof of my apartment, where my roommate and I have dinner each night. The forested area is where the University is at.

Bon Voyage

Well, this has been the fastest four months in my life. It really seems like yesterday that I left Alaska to go to North Dakota. Everything is still kind of a blur. It feels like I did so much in so little time that I can’t remember any of it with any precision. Even the language school is kinda fuzzy. If you have every traveled for long periods of time then you probably know exactly what I am talking about, and if not you probably think I am a lunatic (which may be true nonetheless).

This will most likely be my last post from the US. I leave Friday morning to head over to Israel, where I’ll stay with the Shakkours for a couple days before heading over to Jordan. Lots of people ask me if I am nervous, or scared…no, not really. Considering I am about to move to a completely foreign country I am actually pretty calm. It definitely helps that I have been there before. I am planning on moving into my apartment by next Tuesday, as long as I can find it. I asked my future roommate if he could give me the physical address of the place and he reaffirmed to me that they really don’t use physical address in Jordan, but that he’d give me the best directions he could. I am to take a placement exam on the 13^th and then classes begin on the 16^th. I am looking forward to it.

My time in Oregon has been very nice; pretty busy trying to get around and see all the different people, as well as making the various speaking appointments. The other day I got to see my great grandmother. She is 92 I believe. I have seen most of my aunts and uncles, and even a few of my cousins, which has been very nice. Yesterday my mom, my sister, my niece, and I spent the day with my grandmother and my two aunts (on my dad’s side). It was very special. My grandma is 75, and is still just as sharp as ever; I think her memory is better than mine.

Here are a few pictures of my family (they even have me in them…)

Good bye America,

Me, Hannah, and DevynnMy Moms side of the family (some)

My dad's side (some)

Yes, I am out of school...briefly

Man, eight weeks goes by really fast. I had a lot of fun at the language school in La Crosse, and learned a lot as well, although I'm sure I've already started to forget what I was learning. If you have never learned a foreign langauge you have no idea how fast it begins to fade. I have been trying to keep up some of it by reading childrens books (that is the highest level I can read without serious problems), but lately I've had about zero time. It was possibly the hardest school I've been to, but that is probably because I am not remembering my junior and senior years in the Physics department. It was the equivalent of taking 10 credits in eight weeks, so like taking over 20 credits in a semester. five hours of class a day, and at least an equal time dedicated to study and homework, plus having to use Arabic all the time (which I learned to actually enjoy quite a bit). I also made some friends while I was there, one of which I am actually going to go see today. He lives in northwestern washington...pretty cool I think. It is strange the connection you gain from being with the same group of people and sharing everything together for 8 weeks.

When I finished the school in La Crosee I went over to eastern Wisconsin to be with a church in Kaukauna, then flew to Seattle. After a few delays I finally got into Seattle, waited 5 hours for the bus to take me to the amtrak station, hopped on the train to Portland where my grandfather met me and went to his place, about 45 minuets away. There I picked up my uncles spare car (which is much cheaper than the 330$/week the rental car companies wanted!). After talking for a couple hours I headed out for Washington, made it about 12 miles then broke down...which is about par for my experience with cars. As it turns out it was just the alternator, so I was able to limp it back into town and buy a new one and replace it at my grandpa's place. It actually felt really good to do some mechanic work after being stuck behind a desk for so long. Anyway, every is working out well, and I have made all my appointments and had a wonderful time meeting new people.

My mom and sister are scheduled to come into Portland in a few days. I can't wait. It will be good to see them one last time before heading over seas. I leave for Israel on the 7th of September. I'll spend a couple days with the Shakkours then catch a taxi over to Amman and move into my apartment, which I found online about a month ago. Hopefully everything will go well with that and then registration for the University in Amman.

I am sorry I didn't take very many pictures while I was at language school. Here are a couple though: one from the last night of the program and one from a trip we took on the Mississippi.

Take care and ma'a salaama

catch ya on the flip side

As promised, I am making one last update before I go into silent mode. I actually sign the language contract today, so what I am doing is semi-legal, but I feel I ought to make one more post.

I finished up the first part of my deputation with brother Harbin in Dubuque. I had a great time with him. I also wish I could spend more time with the pastors and churches that I visit, but I only get the time that God gives me. At least I got to see brother Harbin play some softball; that was pretty fun – just watching I mean.

As of yet I do not know how much support I have acquired, as there are some churches that I am still waiting to hear from. However, I am confident that I will have no trouble going back to the Middle East in September as planned – the Lord always provides. I have decided for sure to go over to Washington before heading over seas. My mother is coming for sure, and possibly my sister. I talked to my grandmother and she is going to set up a date for my dad’s side of the family to get together so I can see them all (some for the first time, others for the first time in 17 years). I will arrive in Seattle the 14^th of August and spend two full weeks visiting churches there before my mom arrives and we head down to Oregon. I have not purchased my ticket for overseas, and am debating whether I should go see the Shakkours on my way over or go straight to school.

I am looking forward to all of it, but right now I am thoroughly engulfed in language study. I found out I did make it into the advanced level at the school here. I was complimented by two of the teachers on my speaking ability (largely because of my pronunciation)…God receives all the credit for any abilities I have. I am so blessed to have Him as my Helper and my Strength.

Before I started school I talked to all of my family; mom, dad, sister, and brother. I think I cherish the time I talk to Monk the most. Tomorrow is his birthday. I can’t call him then, so I took care of it already.

I don’t have much else to share except a kind of funny story about arriving in La Crosse: Brother Harbin dropped me off on Thursday, and insisted I have a hotel for the days before I could check into school (Saturday). I told him I would not stay in a hotel for more than a day (I had already been in a hotel the last two nights and could feel my Alaskan identity wearing off), so he agreed and I was able to spend that night finishing up all my emails and checking out the city briefly. However, Friday I took my pack and grabbed a bus to within 2 miles of a nearby park. After walking a while I finally got to the park, but I couldn’t find any camp site, so I stashed my stuff in the woods and went to find a place to get water and some food. The park was nice, situated right on the bank of the Mississippi. I found a small store across the road, that also happened to offer campsites…for a price, which was 20$. Well being the stubborn, cheap person I am there was no way I was going to pay 20 bucks to sleep in my own tent. So I took my stuff a little deeper (about 70 feet) into the woods and set up my tent. There happened to be a Frisbee golf course in the park, and since I still had my disk from when I was playing with James Norberg in Grand Forks I found some other guys and decided to play a round. Well I didn’t even finish because at hole 16 some juvenile delinquent stole my Frisbee. How low and pathetic is that! I wasn’t gonna use it anyway, so I hope he does as well with it as I did (I was at 7 under at the time of ‘the incident’). Once it started to get dark I decided to go back to my hide out. It was the first time in my new Cabelas tent with my new Cabelas mattress (both which I got an awesome deal on). The tent and mat were great…the humidity was not, but I am not that picky so I was asleep without much problem. All went great until I awoke at about seven to the sound of thunder followed quickly by a torrential downpour. The tent held up well, and even stayed dry inside (thankfully since I had 3,000$ worth of electronics inside), but the rain didn’t stop. Once it slowed down a bit I decided I better just go for it, so I wrapped up all the electronics in plastic bags (part of my survival kit) and headed for the University. I made it in about two hours, only half way wet.

So the question is: would I have taken the offer of the second night in the hotel if offered? Well everyone who knows me a little already knows that answer to that…Attached is a picture of the Mississippi as well as my portable home.

Talk to everyone in two months,

With Love,

Noah

Near the end

Looking at my blog makes me miss my niece. In fact it makes me miss all of my family...my brother the most.
I am currently sitting in a motel room taking a break from studying Arabic, trying to get ready for the language school that starts in five days. Sunday morning I was with the Sickmeyers in Worthington, MN (of which I had a incredibly good time with them, and with the church). Brother Sickmeyer asked what I did in my leisure time...I told him I'll figure it out when I get some haha. All my church visits have been wonderful. I so much enjoy meeting new people. My only regret is that I don't get to spend more time with them, but the lost, unreached world cries out and I dare not linger.
Tomorrow brother Martin and I are going down to Dubuqe, or rather he is taking me down there (I am such a mouche). Actually he was planning on going down some times soon anyway, and this gave me convenient reason to go down. I am excited to meet brother Harbin.
I am now almost positive I will be going over to Washington and Oregon after my language school in La Crosse for about three weeks before I leave for the Middle East. I am almost positive that my mom is going to come down at the end of August, and maybe my sister and Devynn as well. That would be really neat. I am trying to line up meetings for the whole time I will be there. I am confident things will work out...they always do with God.

I will post again before I start the school, since I will out of contact for those two months due to the nature of the language school. I will try to post some pictures next time. Until then,
مع سلامة

نوح