The 50 Yard Line

I'm not sure why I'm using an American Football reference for this post, but it somehow seemed to fit the occasion. Today marked the final day of my week long mid-term break and tomorrow we jump right back into classes until the end of the semester. I'm currently recovering from a pretty nasty cold that just wants to plague me a while longer (in sha'allah- hopefully). Although this put a slight damper on my week, I still had a lovely trip to the Red Sea and a relaxing recovery alone in my apartment.

While other students in my program took off for Tel-Aviv, Istanbul, and even New York City, I shared a lovely evening with another student, our RA, and our academic director, giving the latter tips on what brands of lotions and creams and other good smelling things she should buy on her upcoming trip to the US. We feasted on kanafeh (a delicious Middle Eastern dessert) and watched The Princess Bride (but don't tell anyone since English is forbidden!).

The following day I headed off to the city of Aqaba, in the south of Jordan, for an adventure to the Red Sea with the other three students who had stayed in the country. There isn't a whole lot to say about Aqaba-- the city is gorgeous, the seafood is excellent, and no one on the street cat called us even once. We spent a few days relaxing on the beach, just enjoying our break in a traditional Jordanian fashion. We also had the opportunity to snorkel the reefs in the Red Sea which are absolutely sublime. It's like another world under the sea with coral that has been transplanted from Saudi Arabia and biodiversity beyond belief (including eels and sea snakes which aren't exactly a few of my favorite things). Our hostel was beautiful and we met some fantastic Brits while sharing experiences on the terrace overlooking the sea. Fun Fact: Looking across the sea you can see both Israel and Egypt and glancing a little ways down the coast lies Saudi Arabia.

View from the hostel

Aqaba Fort

Sunset Swim

After my days on the beach, I was entirely ready for the days in my bed, recovering from illness and catching up on my American television. It was a much needed break after hectic midterm exams and I feel prepared to begin again tomorrow with classes from 10AM-6PM without much break. Ayyayaya. I can't believe I have less than two months left here and I am confident that many more exciting experiences lie in store!