That one time when the cab driver tried to sell me...

Although I didn't take this picture, I might as well have. I believe this taken at the exact mosque we were by...

Today, our first full day in Amman, we woke up and were told to be in the lobby by 10am. (Ellen, I used my be-on-time-to-call-time skills I learned from you for this one however they were not so needed.) By 10:30 everyone was downstairs and we were off for what we thought was an orientation that turned out to be a 20 minute bus ride and an hour at a cafe chatting. After a lovely morning at a coffee shop on the famous Rainbow Street getting to know my peers and professors, we walked around a traditional market and then made our way downhill to the 'old city.' Today is Friday which is the Holy day for Muslims. The call to prayer is projected over the loudspeaker from the mosques five times a day.  During times of prayer, most shops are closed and the city basically comes to a halt. People come outside with cardboard or rugs and line up in the middle of the typically busy street to pray.  It is quite a sight.
We visited the Roman ruins, walked around giant outdoor markets and settled down for a lunch of hummus, pita, and various meats. Today I walked around with about 10 peers so I was never then one having to communicate directly with anyone, which was good for now as I am very nervous when talking to locals in Arabic.  Imagine knowing basic French, and going to Spain and trying to communicate. That is about how different modern standard arabic (what I am learning) is from dialect (what is spoken.) Hopefully, tomorrow's crash course in Jordanian Arabic will serve me well for interactions to come :)
We walked around a bit more after lunch and around 4pm hailed taxis back to our inn on the west side of town.  In Jordan, there are no addresses so you describe everything based on what roundabout you are located closest to. When we get in the cab we have to tell the driver (in arabic) "Please go to the 7th roundabout by the University and the McDonalds" (seriously!)  and that is our "address." Four of us squeezed into a typical yellow cab and spoke in Arabinglish for the 4 dinar (like 7 dollar) 25 minute cab ride.  Between his English and our Arabic we were able to hold pretty good conversation. His name was Omar,  42, Palestinian, he loves America and hopes to die there, asked us if we could get him a visa, and and if we would have dinner with his family. Oh yeah, and that he wanted to sell me for marriage.  Well, I'm not really sure about how the transaction would have taken place but he offered to keep me to find me an Arab husband. After I politely rejected his offer he asked what I was afraid of.  I told him that I was just surprised and that I hope to let fate decided my future husband, rather than him. Luckily we arrived a few seconds later and that was that. The kids in my cab joked that they should have offered to trade me for camels.  Hopefully it won't ever come to that.
I have lots more to tell you all but I doubt anyone is still reading after three paragraphs anyways...
ليلة سعيدة, Sarah
(Good night)