Well, it's over. This past weekend nine crazy people and I ran from the Dead Sea to the Red Sea as part of the Dead2Red Ultra Marathon. It was 242 kilometers along the Dead Sea Highway, finishing in Tala Bay, just outside of the city of Aqaba. Our team finished 16th out of 26, in a time of 19 hours, 31 minutes, 43 seconds. Beginning at 4pm on Thursday, we finally crossed the finish at just after 11:30 on Friday morning.
It was an awesome experience, often quite surreal as we ran through the night passing and repassing the same teams multiple times. I was often locked in a epic struggle with 'The Bus' (literally a bus...a team rented a huge tour bus for the run) and 'Bandana Guy', having to overtake them over and over each leg that I ran. (We did eventually pass them for good sometime in the wee hours of the morning).
Now I'm home, sore, achy, and just feeling that my entire system is a bit 'off'. Totally glad that I did it, though.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Thoughts on Six Months in Jordan
Well, I am officially past the halfway point of my tour here in Jordan. Six months isn't long enough to really get to know a place, especially when you live with one foot in the American Bubble of the Embassy community, but I thought that I'd reflect on some things that have struck me while I'm here:
Food - all very delicious, all very similar. No matter what you call it, it's really just variations on rice and chicken. Maybe it's a chicken leg on the rice, maybe it's chicken pieces in the rice, maybe it's chicken and rice with yogurt on the side...any way you slice it, it's chicken and rice.
Weather - Amman has unexpectedly cold weather, and the houses are not insulated. Now, this would make sense if there was a very short duration of winter, but it's been cold here since sometime in November, and it's not supposed to really warm up again until April. Call me crazy, but when that much of your year is cold, a little insulation might make sense.
Language - I was really proud of my Arabic at the end of DLI, but after living in the Middle East, my language skills have gotten worse. It's a symptom of self-inflicted choices, I know, but it's disheartening when you can come to a foreign country and actually lose your language. I can understand how illegal immigrants in the US can never learn English. On a daily basis, I use little to no Arabic. Without the structure and pressure of DLI, I find it hard to maintain my language through self study. Also, after studying the local dialect with a private tutor for about four months, I still feel like I'm unable to speak at even a childish level
People - Almost to a man, Jordanians have been friendly and welcoming, wherever we meet them. They are always astounded that they have met an American who speaks Arabic (no matter how badly), even more so that we speak even a little dialect. They are always very complementary of our language and genuinely pleased that we find Jordan so agreeable. Truly, if there is ever going to be understanding between America and the Middle East, it has to start on the individual level.
Services - We live in one of, if not the, wealthiest section of Amman, and by extension, the entire country. I often forget that Jordan is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Two things that I never give a second thought to in America - water and Internet - have recently become huge headaches for me.
For over two months we have been battling spotty, inconsistent internet service. We had nearly six months without issues before now. Multiple phone calls with the company, both from myself and our housing office at the Embassy, yielded a single service rep who 'repaired the lines'. Of course, this didn't solve the problem on a permanent basis, and I find myself plugging and unplugging the modem many times over the course of the day, just to get it working for five minutes.
Water-wise, the past two mornings we have awoken to empty faucets in the house. Since our office receives our utility bills as part of a greater Embassy roll up, I can quickly compare our water usage to the American community at large - and we are one of the lightest water users. This means that we can't be draining the tank on our house, therefore the problem lies with the water pump, despite it being 'repaired' two months ago.
These things certainly aren't showstoppers for us, but if these are the conditions in the wealthiest area of town, I can only imagine how much worse the poor areas have it.
Food - all very delicious, all very similar. No matter what you call it, it's really just variations on rice and chicken. Maybe it's a chicken leg on the rice, maybe it's chicken pieces in the rice, maybe it's chicken and rice with yogurt on the side...any way you slice it, it's chicken and rice.
Weather - Amman has unexpectedly cold weather, and the houses are not insulated. Now, this would make sense if there was a very short duration of winter, but it's been cold here since sometime in November, and it's not supposed to really warm up again until April. Call me crazy, but when that much of your year is cold, a little insulation might make sense.
Language - I was really proud of my Arabic at the end of DLI, but after living in the Middle East, my language skills have gotten worse. It's a symptom of self-inflicted choices, I know, but it's disheartening when you can come to a foreign country and actually lose your language. I can understand how illegal immigrants in the US can never learn English. On a daily basis, I use little to no Arabic. Without the structure and pressure of DLI, I find it hard to maintain my language through self study. Also, after studying the local dialect with a private tutor for about four months, I still feel like I'm unable to speak at even a childish level
People - Almost to a man, Jordanians have been friendly and welcoming, wherever we meet them. They are always astounded that they have met an American who speaks Arabic (no matter how badly), even more so that we speak even a little dialect. They are always very complementary of our language and genuinely pleased that we find Jordan so agreeable. Truly, if there is ever going to be understanding between America and the Middle East, it has to start on the individual level.
Services - We live in one of, if not the, wealthiest section of Amman, and by extension, the entire country. I often forget that Jordan is still one of the poorest countries in the world. Two things that I never give a second thought to in America - water and Internet - have recently become huge headaches for me.
For over two months we have been battling spotty, inconsistent internet service. We had nearly six months without issues before now. Multiple phone calls with the company, both from myself and our housing office at the Embassy, yielded a single service rep who 'repaired the lines'. Of course, this didn't solve the problem on a permanent basis, and I find myself plugging and unplugging the modem many times over the course of the day, just to get it working for five minutes.
Water-wise, the past two mornings we have awoken to empty faucets in the house. Since our office receives our utility bills as part of a greater Embassy roll up, I can quickly compare our water usage to the American community at large - and we are one of the lightest water users. This means that we can't be draining the tank on our house, therefore the problem lies with the water pump, despite it being 'repaired' two months ago.
These things certainly aren't showstoppers for us, but if these are the conditions in the wealthiest area of town, I can only imagine how much worse the poor areas have it.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Arrival to Jordan
Susan and I are finally in Jordan for my one year of ICT. We've been talking about it for so long that it's a bit surreal that it's finally here. We are very glad to be nearly done traveling and living out of suitcases, and Susan is especially excited to get to decorate our new home.
I'll write more about Jordan and our first few days in a later post, but I did want to get out two quick thoughts:
First, EVERYONE in Jordan smokes, and they smoke everywhere. Even in the 'non-smoking' airport. Smoking was very prevalent in Korea, much more so than the US, but nothing like it is here in Jordan. I realize that I've been taking the lack of smoke in the US for granted, and the fact that smokers actually follow the posted rules and use the designated smoking areas.
Second, I've noticed a distinct lack of culture shock here. Maybe it's because I've already been to Iraq, and I know what a Middle Eastern country looks and feels like. Maybe it's because I've been around the language and culture for a year at DLI, and so it doesn't really feel 'foreign'. Either way, it adds up to an underwhelming arrival here, which isn't nessecarly a bad thing. Instead of being surprised or awed by the fact I'm in the Middle East, I can get right down to improving my language and engaging with the culture and issues here in Jordan...and learn how to do my job.
I'll write more about Jordan and our first few days in a later post, but I did want to get out two quick thoughts:
First, EVERYONE in Jordan smokes, and they smoke everywhere. Even in the 'non-smoking' airport. Smoking was very prevalent in Korea, much more so than the US, but nothing like it is here in Jordan. I realize that I've been taking the lack of smoke in the US for granted, and the fact that smokers actually follow the posted rules and use the designated smoking areas.
Second, I've noticed a distinct lack of culture shock here. Maybe it's because I've already been to Iraq, and I know what a Middle Eastern country looks and feels like. Maybe it's because I've been around the language and culture for a year at DLI, and so it doesn't really feel 'foreign'. Either way, it adds up to an underwhelming arrival here, which isn't nessecarly a bad thing. Instead of being surprised or awed by the fact I'm in the Middle East, I can get right down to improving my language and engaging with the culture and issues here in Jordan...and learn how to do my job.
Sunday, June 28, 2009
How Did This Happen...It's Over!
Well, that's it. I have finished everything here at DLI. The DLPT is over and done, and I successfully navigated it with a L2+/R2/S2 - very respectable scores, if I may say. Even more when I think that I did it in a 50-week short course. Now I just have to outprocess and attend the graduation. Susan and I have a long cross-country vacation planned (again!), but this time we're taking it a bit slower. We'll actually get to stop in the Grand Canyon this time, as well as take the opportunity to ride Amtrak from Texas to Pennsylvania. I'm really looking forward to the slower pace of travel on the train.
All in all, my DLI experience was a positive one. Despite the down days that felt like the program would never improve and never end, it is pretty cool to be able to say 'I speak Arabic'. I am looking forward to putting my language to use overseas. I just hope I don't lose it all while I'm on leave!
All in all, my DLI experience was a positive one. Despite the down days that felt like the program would never improve and never end, it is pretty cool to be able to say 'I speak Arabic'. I am looking forward to putting my language to use overseas. I just hope I don't lose it all while I'm on leave!
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Listening Down...Reading To Go
Well, today was the listening portion of my DLPT. It was a huge departure from the first time I took it, as I felt good afterward. I didn't feel that the test was the same test of Arabic endurance which characterized my practice attempt. Maybe I'm just that much more comfortable with Arabic, but I finished it in just over two hours, and did not feel the slightest bit fatigued.
Tomorrow's the reading test, and I just have to trust that I've prepared sufficiently for it. I hedged my studying to favor the reading, eschewing any listening practice. I hope that it pays off with some speed and fluency to my reading tomorrow.
Tomorrow's the reading test, and I just have to trust that I've prepared sufficiently for it. I hedged my studying to favor the reading, eschewing any listening practice. I hope that it pays off with some speed and fluency to my reading tomorrow.
Monday, June 22, 2009
The End is Nigh
Unbelievably, tomorrow, I take the first half of my final Defense Language Aptitude Test (DLPT). The long year of study at DLI is nearly over. Last week I took my Oral Proficiency Interview (OPI), which determines my skill at speaking Arabic. I was nervous, but overall confident, going in. I was very pleased with how I did, and no matter what the grade, I feel that I can speak Arabic at a good level - certainly good enough for day to day interactions, and probably good enough to hold my own in educated company.
This past week, and all throughout the weekend, I have been prepping for actual DLPT tests this week. I have been concentrating on my reading skill, as I read excruciatingly slowly, and the reading test is an exercise in stamina and reading speed. The passages are so long, and there are so many of them, that you have to have a good tempo to your reading, or else you won't finish all of the passages. I don't have the same anxiety for tomorrow's listening test - you hit play, listen to the passage, pick an answer and move on. Reading, however, is entirely dependent on how fast you can read, thus more difficult for me. Hopefully it's been enough.
I'm heading to be early tonight - a good night's sleep is the last weapon I can add to my arsenal.
This past week, and all throughout the weekend, I have been prepping for actual DLPT tests this week. I have been concentrating on my reading skill, as I read excruciatingly slowly, and the reading test is an exercise in stamina and reading speed. The passages are so long, and there are so many of them, that you have to have a good tempo to your reading, or else you won't finish all of the passages. I don't have the same anxiety for tomorrow's listening test - you hit play, listen to the passage, pick an answer and move on. Reading, however, is entirely dependent on how fast you can read, thus more difficult for me. Hopefully it's been enough.
I'm heading to be early tonight - a good night's sleep is the last weapon I can add to my arsenal.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Fertility Closure
Today Susan and I received final closure to the question of our fertility or infertility. We drove up to Salinas so that she could undergo a hysterosalpingogram, which is a really long word that means a doctor used dye and an x-ray to check her fallopian tubes for blockages. It was a very fast procedure, taking just a few minutes, and everything checked out fine. Her tubes are as open as can be.
This was both a huge relief for me as well as a slight disappointment. It was a relief to have the procedure done, as it was the final thing that we were comfortable doing in order to investigate our infertility. I am glad to have the confirmation that there's nothing physically wrong with either of us, but the lack of a clear cut answer frustrates my analytical, problem-solving mind. After the test I realized that I had been unconsciously hoping that there would have been a slight blockage, and that the force of the dye would have cleaned it out, thus leaving her tube open. At least that scenario would have given a logical (albeit, human) explanation to why we are childless. Now we're in the frustratingly named category of "unexplained infertility".
Of course, this doesn't really affect anything that we've already decided to pursue, namely adoption. It just puts our minds at ease that we're okay physically and it really forces us to trust that God has something else in store for us, and we'll find out what that is when He's ready to show us. Now I need to live up to my commitment to Susan to read up on the adoption procedure so that we are actually making progress toward that end. She's felt constricted and limited in what she can read and research without a reciprocal effort from me. I don't intentionally hold her back, it's just that with everything else going on this year, I haven't prioritized our self-imposed weekly reading assignments. As we wind down the Arabic course and the homework requirements decrease, I need to ensure I take care of Susan's heart and fulfill my promises.
This was both a huge relief for me as well as a slight disappointment. It was a relief to have the procedure done, as it was the final thing that we were comfortable doing in order to investigate our infertility. I am glad to have the confirmation that there's nothing physically wrong with either of us, but the lack of a clear cut answer frustrates my analytical, problem-solving mind. After the test I realized that I had been unconsciously hoping that there would have been a slight blockage, and that the force of the dye would have cleaned it out, thus leaving her tube open. At least that scenario would have given a logical (albeit, human) explanation to why we are childless. Now we're in the frustratingly named category of "unexplained infertility".
Of course, this doesn't really affect anything that we've already decided to pursue, namely adoption. It just puts our minds at ease that we're okay physically and it really forces us to trust that God has something else in store for us, and we'll find out what that is when He's ready to show us. Now I need to live up to my commitment to Susan to read up on the adoption procedure so that we are actually making progress toward that end. She's felt constricted and limited in what she can read and research without a reciprocal effort from me. I don't intentionally hold her back, it's just that with everything else going on this year, I haven't prioritized our self-imposed weekly reading assignments. As we wind down the Arabic course and the homework requirements decrease, I need to ensure I take care of Susan's heart and fulfill my promises.
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