One Month Anniversary

Wow! I can't believe it has already been one month since my plane touched down here in the sandbox. I am currently learning Arabic and can I say that I am being humbled each day. Each week I am required to put in 35 hours of language. For 5 day a week, I spend 2 hrs with a tutor, 2 hrs studying on my own and 3 hrs out in the community. This week I have been learning how to read it. There are a couple of the letters that have very simular sounds. If you change one sounds, it can mean a totally different word. Here is a picture of what the script looks like. Please remember as you read this you have to read from right to left. If you don't recognize this product, it is Coca Cola Light aka Diet Coke. That's for you sis. I have limited myself to one a day. The rest of the time I drink water or Crystal light.

Here are a few pictures from of my apartment (2nd Floor), front yard, and the street I live on. Our street does not actually have a name. It is funny: there are many a times that we walk out our gate and onto our street stepping over our trash from the day or two before which is not exactly where we put it.

Here is a picture the city during a small "haboob" aka sand storm. The sky is usually blue, but in this picture it is more of a haze of dust. Because of this, no matter if your windows are opened or not, there is always a film of dust on everything. Welcome to the desert!

This picture is for my dad. They do have beetles here. This one is to show where the car shop is. Also, today I was a volkswagen that had a car front and a delievery truck back. I'd never seen one like it before!

Thank you guys so much for lifting me up! It means alot to know that I have be blessed with so many awesome friends and family members! You guys are the best! Please keep me in your thoughts with language and to make awesome friendships here! Thanks again!

Lucy Strikes!!

As my mom would say: "Lucy (Ball) has struck again!" I am having to get used to not just being able to plug anything I need into the wall. So far, I have blown a surge protector and have burnt a portion of my hair. I have learnt that if you plug things into the wall without a voltage converter then the item gets too hot. The surge protector actually had black smoke coming out of it...I was a bit scared that I was going to burn down our apartment and smelt like smoke for awhile. The curling iron looked normal, but as soon as I put it to my hair I instantly smelt burning hair. Needless to say, when I pulled the curling iron away from my hair there was a chunk of my hair in it. Welp I now have bangs, which I was not necessarily wanting. I thought you guys might enjoy hearing about this and laughing with me. Yes, I am laughing and thinking that I am such a blonde sometimes. Besides this, I am doing well! I am in language and enjoying it. I am finally feeling like I can get around with my language. This is a blessing! Thanks for all your thoughts. They are greatly appreciated!