Update

I have been thinking about what to write in the blogs.  Most the stuff going on is school related, no hiking adventures or Bedou stories as in the other blog.  So the dilemma is what to write that is interesting and valuable to the readers.  I have decided that I will focus on three areas: 1) how I am going about acclimating my self to being in a new city, 2) something about the school and how I am handling it after so many years, interaction with college age students, etc.  3) any interesting things that happen along the way.  So here it goes - things that I have done so far to get to know the place.

The first few days were kind of tough not knowing anything.  I even ended up eating at a chicken fast food place in the mall because I was hungry after a full day of placement tests.  I had coffee in the mall as well costing me one a quarter Jordanian Dinar (JD).  It did come with a bottle of water that I did not ask for and I got Arabic coffee instead of the coffee with milk that I asked for even though when I asked the waiter he said quite assuredly that they had coffee with milk.  I think they did have coffee with milk, but since I did not specifically ask for it I got the Arabic coffee.

With regards to coffee I have found a place next door to the school which has the same coffee, just stronger for 40 Quirch, 100 Quirsh in one JD.

Today I located a felafel joint across the street from the school.  They are not the best felafel but above average so it will do.  I am told there are a few restaurants in the area that I have not tried yet.

It's about a five minute walk to the mall here.  Not a big mall but it does have a super market in it, carefour (not sure of the spelling) so convenient.  Even more convenient is that you can cut through the mall to get to the school.  So on the way back I can pick up any groceries that I need.

Cooking is a challenge, time, kitchen, utensils etc.  and my roommates don't know how to cook.  Actually they know little besides studying which they do a lot.  They are all just out of college so, age 22, 23.

As usual I stand out at College and there is that thing about people wondering what I am doing here.  I hope the gold thing does not come up again (reference to my JordanTrip2014) blog.

I also located a bank across from the school to exchange money.

Although I can communicate in Arabic it is quite obvious to the locals that I am not a local.  Some of them immediately start speaking English to me or try to speak English, others do humor me and talk in Arabic or they don't know English and so stick with Arabic.  I am training myself to respond in Arabic even if they start speaking English.

OK.  Enough for tonight.  Maybe next time I will talk about the program.