Arabic class in the morning, more strange gammer. I'm becoming addicted to cappacino. Anyway, most of the time I was fretting over cooking dinner. I'd only followed recipes before, and never cooked for more than six people, and here I am in a foreign country, not guaranteed the necessary ingredients, with different measures of quantity and temperature, cooking for 13 people, including my host family and my professor. Needless to say, I was stressed. I also ran out of minutes on my cell phone in the midst of a conversation with my mom in NJ over how to cook the main [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today we left early for our first weekend trip. Its cramped on the bus but I survive with Asja and Samia cracking jokes and conversations with the others, whether I am actually involved or just listening. I'll need to remember my iPod for future trips, though. The scenery was amazing. Some parts of it remind me of NJ. I didn't expect Tunisia to have such vast stretches of green. We stopped to see ruins, including a theater and a temple, all extremely impressive. I was unaware of how many ruins were here. I'm surprised more people aren't aware of the sites. [View Full Entry]

---

---

We walked out near the hotel after breakfast, around the sea. It was rough, but beautiful. The stone walkway was interrupted by huge orangey stones that jutted up out of the water. Those that ventured out on the jetty got soaked by a huge wave. I purchased some jewelry. Later we explored Bulla Reggia, which was much more expansive than it appears from the road. It was amzing to go down into the mosaic-floored basements. Purple lilacs grew around the ruins, and sheep herds could be heard from the surrouding hills. It was pretty incredible. The drive home was REALLY long. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today we returned to the medina, this time with our history professor. Must say I didn't absorb much, until we entered some of the buildings and old houses. Those were brilliant. Lunch was strange. I was seated with a few others right next to the kitchen, where the cooks shouted to each other and to the waiters. We felt rushed. Kittens begged us for food. After lunch we were ushered into an all male cafe, or at least that was what it seemed like. I quickly finished my tea and left with Samia and Asja. We found a small shop where [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today we went to the American cemetery. The speaker was probably the best so far. He was very engaging. It was emotional for some of us, too. We then visited some Carthaginian sites. We saw the aquaducts, and some other ruins, and mosaics. Its a humbling experience to be in a country with thousands of years of history, coming from a country that's so young. There were tombs lined up near the museum, and it was depressing to see that visitors had thrown trash into some of them. There is a lot of trash in the countryside, too. While in the [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today we had classes for the first time. Half of us are taking Upper Intermediate Arabic, and half are taking Art History. All of us take Contemporary North Africa, which mostly consists of the trips, reading, and the experience in general. I'm taking the Arabic course. I hope I am not too far behind the students from Delaware, they finished a chapter ahead of my class last semester. After classes, I had luch at a fantastic Lebanese restaurant, Cafe Fayrouz, with Samia and Asja. I'm getting to know them very well. I probably hang out with them more than anyone else [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today we had classes for the second time. It was difficult, and I don't think everyone understood the grammatical concepts he was trying to teach us. Or at least I hope I wasn't the only one. We had lunch at Cafe Fayrouz again, excellent again. When Samia tries to speak Arabic to some locals, a lot of the time they only respond in French. Her parents are Lebanese but she never learned French, so it frustrates her. I'm trying to to use my French a lot but its difficult not to sometimes, especially because I don't have a huge Arabic vocabulary. [View Full Entry]

---

---

Today we had class again, nothing new. We had a lecture by Dr. Dhaouedi about his theory of the "other underdevelopment." While the article was interesting, I found the leture lacked substane and the speaker repetitive. It was like he didn't think we spoke English. I felt like most of the time he did nothing but talk about his professional accomplishments and talk down to us. Maybe that one should be left out next time around. Afterwards, we had a workshop on Arabic calligraphy. We tediously worked step by step to write our names in Kufic style calligraphy, which is very [View Full Entry]

---

---

the Jedi Mindtricks of: Sober-One Kenobi So, I Believe I left off with us stranded helplessly in the Sahara, sick with infections and horny camels... Oh wait-- Did I not mention that last little fun fact? Well, before I get started, that has to be addressed. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it is breeding season for Tunisian camels this winter. That means the womenfolk of the camel-kind are either pregnant or craftily avoiding getting knocked up, but that is not easy feat. I've watched Animal Planet with boarder-line obsession, and I have never once seen what male camels do to attract a [View Full Entry]

---

---

the amazing typing skills of: the now-freckled Robin Well, it's the sandy post you've all been waiting for, and I do believe my keyboard is hopelessly broken, so bear with me here. I'm having spacebar issues on top of the normal 'm' and 'a' changes. Crazy country! JAN 19th: the adventure begins! We ended today in the town of Kairouen. Known for it's famous cookies of condensed baklava-like douch, and filled with dates or almonds, we made a required stop at the best patisserie in town. Also, we saw the great mosque, which was beyond impressive with it's simplicity. Makes St [View Full Entry]

---

---