Initiate community integration sequence

HOLY SHITTA! It's winter. I am now at my permanent site but I have a little bit of catching up to do. Bear with me...

Before I left my training village, there were a few stormy, cold days that ended in a lovely day of snow. This resulted in a village wide snowball fight:

The day before I left my host family for my permanent site, we took a trip to the Dead Sea. I can't even muster up the energy to express how just... great it was. So look at these pictures:

Same thing, last day of Arabic class...

I already miss having Arabic class and seeing my host family everyday. It sure was a nice time. My 8 year-old host brother told me before I left, "Alison, I will go to American and bring mansef (yogurt rice and chicken), fool (bean and garlic dip?), hummos, and falafel." So, you all can look forward to that.

Now to the present time.

I’m falling hard for my village. She’s a beauty of a site/sight! My apartment is huge and I’ve got more rooms than I need. I currently inhabit one of the three rooms. The best thing about my place, besides the neighbors I have met so far, is the view from the rooftop. When you go up there and look around it’s hard to imagine there is anything else more worthwhile to do than just sit there.

 

My bathroom:

(notice the pink turkish toilet, nice huh?)

Kitchen:

My bedroom:

And there you have it.
 

I just want to make a side note to talk about my feelings. I have been less anxious here and I can’t figure out why. I think I have found more peace, resignation, and a greater trust in life. I even have faith in rickety buses on narrow roads, horrible people who try to take advantage and rip me off, and hell, even myself. Maybe everything I’m saying is a bit too much for you, too barf-inducing, and that’s okay, but damn, I’m happy. For now. And that’s enough.

I also started school this week but that is for another post. Take care of yourselves now.