some news from Amman

harma · Post by **harma** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:06 am

Hi Potty People, hope everybody is doing okay, I do read quite often here, but almost never respond. Maybe also because I have no internet at home. I had a bad couple of weeks. After my friend left, the house and my life felt very empty. Even more empty than before. I made me realize how much I miss having an active flowering social life. Also having an ear infection last week, didn't make it much better I have to admit. But since last weekend I am starting to feel a bit better, physically and mentally.

Yesterday I postponed my flight back, I am going to stay here for an extra two weeks. I fly back on December 17th. The weeks left I want to focus on my Arab, what I have been neglecting a bit the last three weeks, first my friend here, than we had a week of no class (Islamic holiday) and than last week I was ill. Soo, from today a restart. It is amazing how quick you lose something if you don't keep on practicing and studying it.

I have the feeling I made an important move forward last weekend in my stay here. Nothing in circumstances has changed (yet), but inside it did. The actual moment was, walking on a treadmill here in a local gym (a fancy gym with a pool). While walking I was thinking of how often back in Groningen on a similar treadmill in a similar gym had been dreaming about how it would be to do be in Jordan in a gym on a treadmill and exactly than, at the moment, I realized, but I AM JORDAN, I AM IN JORDAN NOW IN A GYM ON A TREADMIL. Everything else how I got here (prepared or not prepared) what I have reached so far and what I haven't reach so far, the things I have done right and have done wrong so far doesn't matter, what counts that I did it and that I am here.

Another shift I made in my head the same or next day is a focus on what I have and not on what I don't have (yet). Be happy with the view friends I made so far. I am learning Arabic.

It's amazing how much a mind-set can make a huge different in the same situation. It’s not like I have 10 more friends now, found a job, won the lottery. Hi Potty People, hope everybody is doing okay, I do read quite often here, but almost never respond. Maybe also because I have no internet at home. I had a bad couple of weeks. After my friend left, the house and my life felt very empty. Even more empty than before. I made me realize how much I miss having a active flowering social life. Also having an ear infection last week, didn't make it much better I have to admit. But since last weekend I am starting to feel a bit better, physically and metally.

Yesterday I postponed my fligt back, I am going to stay here for an extra two weeks. I fly back on december 17th. The weeks left I want to focus on my Arab, what I have been neglecting a bit the last three weeks, first my friend here, than we had a week of no class (islamitc holiday) and than last week I was ill. Soo, from today a restart. It is amazing how quick you loose something if you don't keep on practicing and studying it.

I have the feeling I made an important move forward last weekend in my stay here. Nothing in circumstances has changed (yet), but inside it did. The actual moment was, walking on a treadmil here in a local gym (a fancy gym with a pool). While walking I was thinking of how often back in Groningen on a similair tredmill in a similair gym had been dreaming about how it would be to do be in Jordan in a gym on a tredmill and exactly than, at the moment, I realized, but I AM JORDAN, I AM IN JORDAN NOW IN A GYM ON A TREADMIL. Everything else how I got here (prepared or not prepared) what I have reached so far and what I haven't reach so far, the things I have done right and have done wrong so far doesn't matter, what counts that I did it and that I am here.

Another shift I made in my head the same or next day is a focus on what I have and not on what I don't have (yet). Be happy with the view friends I made so far. I am learning Arabic.

It's amazing how much a mindset can make a huge different in the same situation. It’s not like I have 10 more friends now, found a job, won the lottery.

mbeezie · Post by **mbeezie** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:23 am

the things I have done right and have done wrong so far doesn't matter, what counts that I did it and that I am here.

focus on what I have and not on what I don't have

It's amazing how much a mindset can make a huge different in the same situation

That's some powerful stuff Harma. Jordan has been very therapeutic for you. I've enjoyed following your posts and admire you for the courage to embark on such an adventure.

Mary Beth

starfire · Post by **starfire** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:33 am

Sounds like you are making difficult adjustments and I'm sure you will continue to do so. Sorry you have been sick. That never helps our mindsets.

Amazing what you have been able to accomplish so far - allthough you feel you are moving at a snail's pace, I think you have made amazing progress.

Love your posts.

Love, Shirley

Linda in BC · Post by **Linda in BC** » Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:28 pm

Dear Harma,

It's nice to know that you are still reading our posts, although I miss your voice in them. Sorry to hear about the ear infection and your "not so good" frame of mind for the past few weeks.

Yes, it is amazing how a shift in how we look at things can make a situation seem totally different even though nothing actually has changed. But it's true, for me there is nothing worse than pain or poor health to colour my world gray. I hope your next two weeks in Jordan bring you lots of progress in your arabic and everything else you may wish from them.

Linda