In fact, it’s been a pretty eventful couple of weeks, as I
celebrated my first international birthday when I turned 20 on the 11th. I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms
of a celebration, but between the thoughtful gestures and wishes from friends
and family both here and at home, it was a joyful day!
Since my
birthday falls in the middle of the summer, I’ve always had the privilege of
relaxing on that day. I’ve spent
birthdays at the beach, the pool, and around Atlanta, but I had never been in
class until this year.
Fortunately, we’ve been doing some fun review games to prepare for our
upcoming midterm exam, so it was a relatively positive experience. My afternoon was true to my everyday
routine here—gym, homework, and rest—but what followed made for one of the most
memorable birthdays to date.
Getting ready to eat with host brother Andrew (age 7)
When I arrived home, the sweet smell of cake immediately
brought a smile to my face. My
host mom, Muneira, had baked me a delicious marble pound cake. This was beyond anything I had expected,
and I was very grateful for her thoughtfulness. Together with my Davidson friends and my extended host
family, I enjoyed a great birthday dinner, listened to the birthday song in
both English and Arabic, and blew out my candle (I guess I’m getting too old to
have one for each year now—wouldn’t want to burn down the house!).
Slicing the first piece with friend Devin and host brothers Danny (age 28) and Matthew (age 1 1/2)
Later that night, my host brother took Devin, Sawyer, and me
to one of his favorite restaurants in town. As we were talking, everyone in the place suddenly erupted
in a “Happy Birthday” chorus. I
was happy but confused, until I realized that it was also the bartender’s
birthday. Oh well! Happy birthday to us!
Mama Muneira and Matthew. He's clearly the favorite grandchild.
Thanks to Skype, I was also fortunate enough to talk to both
of my parents on my birthday and reflect on my experiences here so far. July 11th also marked the
halfway point between my departure from Atlanta and my departure from Amman in
another 5 weeks, meaning that I’m now over the hill in my time here.
I intentionally came into this experience with as few
expectations as possible, not wanting to feel too anxious or expectant. Still, I think that if I had recorded
some of my predictions, they would have closely resembled the reality of my
experience so far. I am always
learning here, as much on the street as I am in class. Not every day is extraordinary, but I’m
experiencing a typical (although privileged) lifestyle in the Middle East,
which I believe is more valuable than any action-packed stint of sightseeing. I have had some exceptional
opportunities to see new things and engage in conversations with those who call
Jordan home. The role of religion
in society, the bustling yet intentional pace of life, and the complex nature
of the Arabic language continue to strike me as some of the most central
influences on my life here. I know
that my experience has broadened my understanding of this region and has given
me a new sense of confidence. To
have adjusted and be navigating my way around this region has been challenging,
but I know that it will prepare me for a range of future tests.
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