August 7, 2004 ~ 3:30 am

On the beach in Aqaba, Jordan



Looking out from Aqaba to Israel, Saudi Arabia and Egypt

Thinking about identity and belonging

Sitting with a group of high-brid kids who are trying to discover where
they belong.

I am the only thoroughbred American – and yet I am the one feeling like
my identity is imposed.

Imposed from afar – this superficial connection to a piece of land. To
the Diaspora wanting to return “home”.



All these people are near the homeland of their parents, yet I, the only
one with no connection, am the only one who can easily pass.



Hearing the music of the Israeli clubs in Eilat freely traveling through
the air across the border – without getting stopped and searched and
judged along the way. The fish swim freely from one side to the other –
they know no borders.



I can see the cars driving down the main midrachov. Can they see me? Are
they saying ‘Oh, those Jordanians, those Muslims, those Arabs…’ and
judging me? The same way I once judged the people I now sit with? My
friends? All these Palestinians – the children of children of
Palestine, trying to get back to their homeland. Passed through the
generations. How many more refugee children must wander the dreary
shores of Aqaba, looking to the fun filled city they are refused entry
to?



The same waters polluted by similar peoples, constantly blaming each
other. The same sand. The same waves. The same sky. The same shooting
stars. They can probably see the same fireworks displayed for weddings.



They are just trying to communicate with their families, am I just
intruding?

Still Here....

So, I haven't updated in a while. It has been a busy couple of weeks. People keep having birthdays; so I have been Salsa dancing, out at fancy restaurants, 'movie night' at friend's apartments, and multiple Argila (sheehsa) bars. I have come down with a bad cold so I am not too fun right now, but they FINALLY split my giant class into 2, so things are looking up. Stuff in the apartment is going well. If anyone has good 1 pot-stove top recipes, feel free to share them. I don't know how much longer I can eat pita pizza and vegetable+cheese sandwiches....
The October water conference is now being held in Turkey. And today (insha allah) I will be getting a Syrian visa, so I will come home with all kinds of interesting stamps.
Hope all of you in Boston are surviving convention-mania. I have been watching CNN world and Al-Jazeera to find out what's going on.
That's all for now. Will try to write more soon...
t

Another posting from the other side of the world. I don't know if these posts are coming up or not, so if you read something from after June 29, please let me know. Otherwise this whole thing was a big waste. Today I had my first little Imteehan (aka test). A dictation, which I didn't really spend too much time preparing for. So to make up for it, I will interject some Arabic words here and there.
We have the apartment- and it's pretty wonderful. 2 Choorfat noum (bedrooms), a Hamam (bathroom), Matbach (a kitchen), and a sitting porch area. It is totally furnished with dishes and pots and pans and a fan and ironing board. Now all we need is an Argilah (Hubble bubble) so we can have a big Hafla (party).
Tonight we are going back to the hotel we stayed at to hang out with the manager. He was really great about having us in his office for Ahwa (coffee) and Shay (tea) and making us speak in Arabic. He was also super helpful in getting us oriented and lent us a cell phone, but I finally bought my own so we need to return it.
Tomorrow morning we go to school at 7 am for a trip: Wadi Rum tomorrow, with an overnight in a Bedouin tent, then Saturday in Petra. One of my teachers is also the chaperone for all the trips, so he didn't give us any homework- good deal.
Ok- I am off to a cafe to do some work, then the grocery store.
Ma'salaama.

Salaam from jordan

I am attributing my lack of updating to a huge lack of Internet in this region of the world. And when it exists it’s VERY slow. Plus I am here to take classes and speak in Arabic, so I really have not done much reading or writing in Arabic. I’ve been here less than 2 weeks, but it kind of feels like forever. I am in level 2 at school, for people who can read and write, but not do much else. The program at the University of Jordan is about 100 people strong, and my class holds ¼ of it. Today, in shaalah, my sister and I will be moving into an apartment, in an area of Amman where there are a bunch of embassies, pharmacies, doctors, and plastic surgeons. So if you need anything done, you should come visit. It is still part of the city, but it’s a lot quieter. You can actually see stars, and walking around in the evening the air smells like night blowing Jasmine, instead of the dumpster/human excrement scent of downtown.
I will write more soon. Ori and I are sharing a cell phone, if you feel like calling. I am not sure of the country code (maybe 96?) but it is 079-667-6781
The best thing to do to be in touch is email me, but keep in mind that don’t check too often. Hope all is well. And vote Kerry/Edwards!!