THIS WAS STARTED ON TUESDAY. SO JUST PRETEND IT WAS TUESDAY.
Hello All!
Hello All!
My OH My! It has been quite a while hasn’t it? There is way too much to tell you, and so I am being an efficient person and blogging while I am at my internship and responsibly waiting for an assignment! I don’t know how to begin this sort of thing, I left out the last two days of Jordan and so I am going to write about that, but I also have to write about days 3-8 in Egypt, and am a wee bit confounded on where to start. You know when you are overwhelmed and just want to curl up in a ball and have whatever you were working on be magically complete? That’s how I want this to be. I want to implant my brain on this blog so that you can know what I have experienced. But alas, woe is me, I do not have the luxury nor real want of a writing person. But anyway.
I wish you could see my internship desk. I am in the bowels of the League office in the corner with my ancient computer with 5 other computers (three on each side) and it is uber hot. I splurged at the dollar section of CVS today and bought Honey Roasted peanuts and Raspberry Shortbread cookies, microwave Chow Mein, and some chocolate frosted donuts. I got into the office and made myself some cinnamon tea and started working on those shortbread cookies. Let me just say that those cookies with hot tea is phenomenal. I have turned into this tea drinking freakazoid who dreams of finding the superb tea from Egypt. Seriously, I am so into tea, it’s kinda sad. I drank more tea in the Middle East than I did milk, which is ginormous. But if you think about what I am eating, I am dipping cookies into water. WATER. Strange. Its mildly flavored, but it’s still water. I’m soaking my cookies in water before I put the sopping concoction into my mouth. I would never have thought it could be so good. Anyway. Oh mY. I just realized that my saying I like tea could be a subtle way of saying that I like the Tea Party. THAT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. If that is what you got from my little tea loving ditty, then the Tea Party has compromised the good name of tea everywhere. I do not like the tea party. Phew. Just had to get that out of my system…! I have been stuffing my face with cookies and donuts for 44 minutes. This needs to stop. Especially since I have, of late, been complaining about my weight. HAHA, I just put ‘wait’ there instead of ‘weight’. Speaking of, I just clicked on ‘health and fitness’ on the MSN browser…that’s a new one….and not because I don’t have to worry about weight (I do) but if there is one thing I have learned living at home is that I have an aversion to worrying about my body. Okay, I am successfully rambling and while I am most positive that you want to read about my philosophy on body weight, you want to read about this broad abroad just a weeeee bit more.
I wish you could see my internship desk. I am in the bowels of the League office in the corner with my ancient computer with 5 other computers (three on each side) and it is uber hot. I splurged at the dollar section of CVS today and bought Honey Roasted peanuts and Raspberry Shortbread cookies, microwave Chow Mein, and some chocolate frosted donuts. I got into the office and made myself some cinnamon tea and started working on those shortbread cookies. Let me just say that those cookies with hot tea is phenomenal. I have turned into this tea drinking freakazoid who dreams of finding the superb tea from Egypt. Seriously, I am so into tea, it’s kinda sad. I drank more tea in the Middle East than I did milk, which is ginormous. But if you think about what I am eating, I am dipping cookies into water. WATER. Strange. Its mildly flavored, but it’s still water. I’m soaking my cookies in water before I put the sopping concoction into my mouth. I would never have thought it could be so good. Anyway. Oh mY. I just realized that my saying I like tea could be a subtle way of saying that I like the Tea Party. THAT COULD NOT BE FURTHER FROM THE TRUTH. If that is what you got from my little tea loving ditty, then the Tea Party has compromised the good name of tea everywhere. I do not like the tea party. Phew. Just had to get that out of my system…! I have been stuffing my face with cookies and donuts for 44 minutes. This needs to stop. Especially since I have, of late, been complaining about my weight. HAHA, I just put ‘wait’ there instead of ‘weight’. Speaking of, I just clicked on ‘health and fitness’ on the MSN browser…that’s a new one….and not because I don’t have to worry about weight (I do) but if there is one thing I have learned living at home is that I have an aversion to worrying about my body. Okay, I am successfully rambling and while I am most positive that you want to read about my philosophy on body weight, you want to read about this broad abroad just a weeeee bit more.
ENTER THE TIME TRAVELING MACHINE.
Monday Nov. 1
Today we went to Al-Albayt, a college where Islamic art is taught. The college focused on the mathematics of the art and the beauty and value of the religion in different mediums: wood, calligraphy, and metal. It was really really cool to see what the university produced. Some of the artwork can go for over $4,000! Crazy! But when you see what went into making it the hours and the labor, ect., it makes sense. It was interesting because I had never been to a specialty art school and the president guy boasted that they could take someone like me with no skill and have me produce something absolutely beautiful in two years! That was a comforting thought!
After that, a hop, skip and a jump away was Jordan University and a panel of scholars from the Center for Women Studies at Jordan University discussing women's issues. That was a great talk because the panel was 1) all women 2) they were all intellectuals and 3) they said that their department was attempting to tackle many current issues facing women today including the women in the refugee camps that have very little opportunities for higher education and precious few options after they receive higher education. One panelist said that it was up to women create awareness on educational and labor schisms and that through the stagnation of Islamic thought, men and women lost their rights. I think women got the shorter end of the stick especially since they are the ones who have to have these panel discussions in the first place. The panelists also said that feminism deals with ideology not gender and I had to think about that for a bit, and so should you. Can a feminist lens be strictly ideological? Doesn't feminism imply a gender orientated framework to begin with? If you eliminate the female lens from feminism what are you left with? I don't have the answer to these questions, but I think that a feminist ideology must include a uniquely female perspective, but that's just me.
Following this panel discussion, we had a dinner-class, meaning we dined and then discussed the last week and the reading (bad internet connection did not allow for me to read [I swear mom!] but I still participated.) And then I think I packed up my stuff because I know I did pack a day early and I can't remember what else I would have done. This is the bad thing with writing after the fact. But you can't really blame me can you?!
Monday Nov. 2
Today we went to Al-Albayt, a college where Islamic art is taught. The college focused on the mathematics of the art and the beauty and value of the religion in different mediums: wood, calligraphy, and metal. It was really really cool to see what the university produced. Some of the artwork can go for over $4,000! Crazy! But when you see what went into making it the hours and the labor, ect., it makes sense. It was interesting because I had never been to a specialty art school and the president guy boasted that they could take someone like me with no skill and have me produce something absolutely beautiful in two years! That was a comforting thought!
After that, a hop, skip and a jump away was Jordan University and a panel of scholars from the Center for Women Studies at Jordan University discussing women's issues. That was a great talk because the panel was 1) all women 2) they were all intellectuals and 3) they said that their department was attempting to tackle many current issues facing women today including the women in the refugee camps that have very little opportunities for higher education and precious few options after they receive higher education. One panelist said that it was up to women create awareness on educational and labor schisms and that through the stagnation of Islamic thought, men and women lost their rights. I think women got the shorter end of the stick especially since they are the ones who have to have these panel discussions in the first place. The panelists also said that feminism deals with ideology not gender and I had to think about that for a bit, and so should you. Can a feminist lens be strictly ideological? Doesn't feminism imply a gender orientated framework to begin with? If you eliminate the female lens from feminism what are you left with? I don't have the answer to these questions, but I think that a feminist ideology must include a uniquely female perspective, but that's just me.
Following this panel discussion, we had a dinner-class, meaning we dined and then discussed the last week and the reading (bad internet connection did not allow for me to read [I swear mom!] but I still participated.) And then I think I packed up my stuff because I know I did pack a day early and I can't remember what else I would have done. This is the bad thing with writing after the fact. But you can't really blame me can you?!
Monday Nov. 2
There were elections going on in Jordan when we visited and we spoke to the Islamic Action Front. The representatives were really cool, especially since they were boycotting the elections and once again, as in ’93, ’97 and ’03 held rallies that called for election reform and accused the government of rigging the election. The man we spoke to said that IAF Party used to participate under the banner of the Muslim Brotherhood, but it changed in ’92. The role of parliament has been receding since ’93 (just prior to the agreement with Israel) and tribalism has thus increased. The boycott they were operating was “a protest to force a dialogue to bring about a democratic formula for Jordan.” I don’t know how the whole forcing thing will turn out, but I am realizing that unless you force certain people to realize an issue, most times the issue is largely ignored and people start getting complacent. I was going to write that I didn’t like that this group is forcing a reform, but I realized that if several prominent Human and Civil rights people (Harvey Milk, MLK, etc) did not, in essence, force the topic on the world, nothing would have changed and no one would have challenged the status quo. That was an informative session. Then we were walking out and I said thank you and stuck out my hand to shake his, and he didn’t move towards my hand. I did not understand and for a few more heartbeats, I had my hand outstretched smiling before my professor rushes forward and says: “He doesn’t shake women’s hands.” I turn red, keep the smile plastered on my face and walk out. I was so embarrassed! I felt like a fool and was instantly indignant. Fortunately I was not the only female in my class to try to shake this guy’s hand, but still, humiliating. I need to find out the real reason why he wouldn’t shake my hand; the answer my chaperone gave seemed a bit unreliable. Anywho, we leave and then go to another meeting with different candidate.
Where the last candidate was not opposed to having Islam influence his 'platform', the next candidate was reluctant to have Islam influence his politics. We didn't actually talk to the next candidate (he was to attend the funeral of a constituent in his home town) but we talked to his campaign manager. The main guy talking said that the candidate was representing a variety of constituents in his district including christians, drus, chechens, ect. I thought that was cool because usually in American politics, we don't have politicians who try to cater to more than at the most 2 demographics (just cuz I can't spell I didn't put the other groups in!) I'd like to see more local politicians trying to cater to a wider range of constituents.
After that, we made our merry way to lunch and that was good, even though I just got rice and some hummus. It was our last lunch/eating adventure in Jordan. Good overall!
SO after that, a few of us wanted to go buy souvenirs. Easy peasy right? WRONG! We ask the hotel people where a cool souvenir shop place is, and we are given a name. We go to the main street for a cab, one of us (NOT ME!) hails a friggin mercedes cab and we give him the name. We find out he used to live in SoCal and we start chatting it up and then ask him what he thinks of the place we are going to for souvenirs, and he goes "No don't go there, I know a better place! Its a warehouse! Do you want me to take you there?" And we delegate for some time because we don't have that much money, and say "Well sure, if its CHEAP then we would like to go, since WE ARE STUDENTS AND DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY!" and so he takes us and says its ten minutes away. It takes us fortyfive minutes to get there and its out of Amman and its ridiculously far and ITS $25 DOLLARS! 25....UGH and he offers to wait for us while we shop bc there are no cabs out there. How convenient for him! Less than halfway through the trip, we change out minds about going there but are helplessly watching the price go up. And the jerk is stuck in traffic but still has the gall to say, "next time you shouldn't go when its traffic time". Shut up! So anyway we get there and we are all fuming and don't want him with us, and our chaperone starts talking to the guy and yells at him and then he gets mad, but then she talks to the manager and they are from the same place so we get a 40% off discount and thats nice and we shop with more ease. And I got a lot of stuff, but not for you. Unless your last name is Gonzalez because really, I did not have THAT much money. We drive back, barely make it to pay him, don't give him a tip and then the door is shut on my shin and then I go get ice cream. I pack, go to sleep and then I wake up the next day to write a little blog post about traveling to Egypt!
[As I write, I find cool websites and I am going to share them!]
After that, we made our merry way to lunch and that was good, even though I just got rice and some hummus. It was our last lunch/eating adventure in Jordan. Good overall!
SO after that, a few of us wanted to go buy souvenirs. Easy peasy right? WRONG! We ask the hotel people where a cool souvenir shop place is, and we are given a name. We go to the main street for a cab, one of us (NOT ME!) hails a friggin mercedes cab and we give him the name. We find out he used to live in SoCal and we start chatting it up and then ask him what he thinks of the place we are going to for souvenirs, and he goes "No don't go there, I know a better place! Its a warehouse! Do you want me to take you there?" And we delegate for some time because we don't have that much money, and say "Well sure, if its CHEAP then we would like to go, since WE ARE STUDENTS AND DON'T HAVE MUCH MONEY!" and so he takes us and says its ten minutes away. It takes us fortyfive minutes to get there and its out of Amman and its ridiculously far and ITS $25 DOLLARS! 25....UGH and he offers to wait for us while we shop bc there are no cabs out there. How convenient for him! Less than halfway through the trip, we change out minds about going there but are helplessly watching the price go up. And the jerk is stuck in traffic but still has the gall to say, "next time you shouldn't go when its traffic time". Shut up! So anyway we get there and we are all fuming and don't want him with us, and our chaperone starts talking to the guy and yells at him and then he gets mad, but then she talks to the manager and they are from the same place so we get a 40% off discount and thats nice and we shop with more ease. And I got a lot of stuff, but not for you. Unless your last name is Gonzalez because really, I did not have THAT much money. We drive back, barely make it to pay him, don't give him a tip and then the door is shut on my shin and then I go get ice cream. I pack, go to sleep and then I wake up the next day to write a little blog post about traveling to Egypt!
[As I write, I find cool websites and I am going to share them!]
http://www.npr.org/2010/11/15/131336737/supernova-shines-light-on-black-hole-formation
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2010/11/16/131355189/happiness-is-a-digital-download-at-long-last-the-beatles-come-to-itunes
Fun HUH!???
SO then we get to Egypt and unless I am very much mistaken, I wrote about the first two days! So now I have to write about the other days.
BUT I REALIZE THAT IT IS THURSDAY. And last friday I promised an update. And I have failed in that regard. Quite miserably. And I realize that writing a LONG post describing my adventures is just not going to happen. So i will have to do it in snippets. So here is the rest of Jordan and I now have the rest of Egypt. And who know how long that's going to take me? I will strive for a daily post, like I used to, with traveling bits in it. Hows that sound? Because there have been SO many things I wanted to blog about but just didn't because I said: Nope! Can't do it! Havent finished writing about the Middle East. and well, I am getting no where real fast. So, just so you know, I am going to write every day and try to keep up the writing of Egypt! Hows that sound? Great. You don't have a choice anyway.
Peace!
http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2010/11/16/131355189/happiness-is-a-digital-download-at-long-last-the-beatles-come-to-itunes
SO then we get to Egypt and unless I am very much mistaken, I wrote about the first two days! So now I have to write about the other days.
BUT I REALIZE THAT IT IS THURSDAY. And last friday I promised an update. And I have failed in that regard. Quite miserably. And I realize that writing a LONG post describing my adventures is just not going to happen. So i will have to do it in snippets. So here is the rest of Jordan and I now have the rest of Egypt. And who know how long that's going to take me? I will strive for a daily post, like I used to, with traveling bits in it. Hows that sound? Because there have been SO many things I wanted to blog about but just didn't because I said: Nope! Can't do it! Havent finished writing about the Middle East. and well, I am getting no where real fast. So, just so you know, I am going to write every day and try to keep up the writing of Egypt! Hows that sound? Great. You don't have a choice anyway.
Peace!
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