Today was a national holiday. I’m not quite sure what its called, but its the day that Muhammad ascended to Jerusalem – so no school, but we still had a lecture to attend. The speaker talked about the national identity in Jordan, and the conflicts that have arisen due to identities.

Being here gives a new perspective on the Middle Eastern problems. Mostly in the U.S. people discuss the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but that is just one among many. Theres the Jordanian-Palestinian conflict, the Egyptian-Syrian, the Syrian-Saudi, and then theres all the different Arab conflicts with the Israelis.

In the States its easy to say one country should be more supported for any number of reasons – but its just not that simple; especially when you’re looking into the face of someone who was forced out of their land and living as an exile. Its just so complicated.

Last night I got to talk with my mom (Nisreen) and make sure that she knew that I really cared for her family and am very happy to live with them. I was afraid that since they saw me crying that they would think I didn’t want to be with them – but she totally understood that its just a matter of time and readjusting to life here.

I haven’t really said much about my family… but despite all the obvious differences they’re just like me deep inside. The 6yr old Lojain loves me, and I love her. Some people are just so captivating and you can’t help but love them – and thats exactly how Lojain is. Every morning she comes and lays on my back and gives me lots of hugs and kisses. Every day I walk in the door she greets me with lots of love – shes my habibi (my beloved girl).  The two yr old is just as sweet but much more rowdy. Like any toddler, she can not sit still or concentrate. The baby Ayes loves to laugh and hes teething right now, so he slobbers all over ya.

Its hard to get used to weekends being Friday and Saturday and having school on Sundays. Tonight is the Arab service I go to, and my friend Carrie (from uni) is coming as well. We’ve been meeting in the mornings to do the PDL and Romans. Its been really nice having that time and shes never been plugged in anywhere so kinda lost her way a bit, so I know its meant to be.

Yesterday while I was online Josh signed into MSN and got on webcam with Tom, Dan & Cory which seriously made my day. Just seeing friendly faces was really great. The internet really is amazing – the world is so small. I can’t imagine what it’d be like living overseas before technology when it took sailing months to get anywhere and there was no contact with the outside. Crazy!

Well I’m gonna get going – I think I’m gonna call the teachers since I haven’t seen them in awhile now. Oh – very exciting, I’m beginning to have basic conversations and people actually understand me!                  Ma-salaama.