Ringing in the New Year...

This past year I have visited/livedthe most places. I have experienced the good and bad, but very thankful for evert experience. I have become humbled and appreciative for every minute of my life. 2009 was very eventful, I pushed myself to accomplish COLLEGE and now looking forward to new things in store for my future. Thank you all for supporting me through this research project, called life. I will continue to embrace uncertainty with open arms and travel whenever I get the opportunity. Cheers to 2010!

Reflection on living in another country

So after a day and a half of rest from the jet lag and the broken storytelling to friends and family. I am now able to reflect on my last two months in Jordan. First off there are little things that are difficult adjusting back to in America, variety of food restaurants, the toilets aren't just a whole in the middle of the floor, and women around (I can actually talk to women and see their faces).
Now everyone has heard the good and the bad from my trip, because I don't want to give the wrong idea. It was difficult and not just the pretty pictures I post all the time. We compare it to bootcamp. The last night at camp, we had a bonfire and everyone at camp asked each other, would you do it again? Most of the answers were the same, "HELL NO",followed by a "if it was less time" or "better food" or "I've grown alot, so maybe". I agree with all of these statements, I learned alot of history, the Middle Eastern culture, Arabic and most importantly about myself.
I feel like Jordan was a counseling experience, it made all my thoughts, fears, desires surface and I tackled them head on. I have some new goals and organized my priorities. I know my limits from this trip, which seemed alot like Survivor, it tested me and I made it through. I read about 5 books on this trip. One has circulated in my closet since High School, I never read but a few pages. I contemplated giving it away or selling it. But I am so glad I threw it in my suitcase and gave it another try on this trip. I base alot of my positive outlook, due to this book. Wild at Heart, it gave me direction and made me see everything around me differently. There is a quote in the book "Don't ask yourself what the world needs . Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who come alive." Living in the desert, in what seems like solitude, without interuptions has surfaced the questions I have neglected to address. I have reached a new spiritual level, through this mental/physical challenge. I feel alive and will now tackle my uncertainty with a smile, because it should no longer be wired as a negative word in my vocabulary. It will now be welcomed with breathless expectation. Live Today.
I got bit by the travel bug years ago and now I Thank You to all those who supported me. I will try my best to make this blog a frequent travel entry, not only as a personal journal for me, but an escape reading for you as well. I'll share my sights and stories. It's one of the only things I am good at sharing. Ma'salama

It's the little things...

i'll miss. The camel crossing as we return to camp after a long work day. The once a week shai tea and arbut meetings with the Azasme tribe when we sneak away during siesta. Now it is time to pack up and head home. I will continue to blog my travels on here as frequently as I can. In 24 hours I will be stopping in New York, where I will be reintroduced to American culture/lifestyle. This should be interesting. Thank you to everyone who has supported me through this experience. It has been rewarding and has given me a new perspective on life as a whole. I will leave one last blog, when I return to California and reflect on my last two months in the desert. Ma'salama

Mice, Rainstorms and Special finds

This week was very eventful/stressful. After returning from Amman we had a small uninvited visitor who was roaming in our tent. I wouldn't stop standing on my cot in horror. We found another scarab at site W (Tuesday), which equals Awesome. We experienced our first flash flood in the Wadi and had to leave site early to finish our work day at the lab. And I learned how to make site top plans all week. Anyways, Wednesday I was screening in the a.m. at site and found an oval shaped copper earing, it was so delicate. Nat Geo came the last two days and filmed although I don't think I was in it, booo. I am still learning my Arabic from my bff Ouda, who told me this week that 'Ali America Jordan sad'. I thought it was adorable. Okay so finishing off our last weekend trip here in Aqaba, our home away from home. Partied at an apartment suite in the Movenpick and karaoked with everyone at the Golden Tullip. We now prep for a 9 day work week, which involves completing a newly started excavation of a building and packing up everything at camp/lab. I might need a couple Red Bulls. Bye Everyone. I will finish up one last blog before my departure from Amman. Ma'salama

We Saw, We Ate, We Shopped

Today we woke up early and got started on our new adventure, conquering downtown Amman. Last night we gorged ourselves with nachos, margaritas and fries, oh American style cooking. So we worked some of it off by visiting the Citadel and seeing the Dead Sea Scrolls. Pretty cool. We shopped downtown, very good deals, and now made our way back to ACOR prepping for departure soon. My body is exhausted, but I am loading up on city goodies to get me through another week. Next week Aqaba, for the Scorpio's birthday. This should be interesting. Until then, Ma'salama

Thank you!!!

Jorge and Tu for the package, I just received it my first day in Amman and I was sooo happy I ate half the candy goods already. They starve me here :(. Thank you two for thinking about me and I am sending out a postcard tomorrow. Miss you guys.

Idiom mafi shogal- today no work

So this last week we got hit with food poisoning from our cooks, 9 people were absent from site, it was rough. I fought with it and was out for half day, but recovered thank God. 'Cause no food intake in the desert is deadly.

We got the figurine dated that we found the previous week, it is from 3rd intermediate period. It is one of the Egyptian gods, Pytykos(sp?), similar to Bes.

I made good friends with the bedouin from the Azasme tribe at site, mostly Ouda- we have choppy convos in Arabic and sand picture drawings. I found I have a sense of humor even with the language barrier. I've been learning animals names this week. By the end of the trip I hope to advance to a child's level of Arabic, inshallah.

Oh! Also, there were two helicopters that went over site this week freaked me out, but I guess that's King Abdullah, so I waved like all the bedouin did. The Israeli army also decided to do some artillery practice in the Wadi I forgot how close we were to Israel until I heard the loud booms, scary. I think that is about it, two more weeks left. I wish I could tell you they are going to fly, but chances are I will be drained, because the pressure is on to finish excavation. This is gonna be rough. Miss you. Ma'salama