Last night, I went to a potluck (or "dish party") hosted by the Couchsurfers of Jordan. If you're unfamiliar with Couchsurfing, it's an internet website where you can search for people around the world that offer up their couches to the itinerant traveler at no cost. So if you're broke and can't afford a hotel or would rather be more immersed in the local culture, Couchsurfing is a fantastic program. I've never actually tried it before seeing as I usually travel alone, and I don't feel completely comfortable crashing on a random stranger's couch. However, it seems like a fantastic program, and if I ever find someone to travel with me, I'd like to utilize it. Anyway, some of the guys I met on the trip I took to Aqaba are hosts here in Amman, and they invited me to come along to the gathering yesterday. Everyone was suppose to bring a dish native to their country. Since I don't really have great resources for cooking, I brought some fruit. Maybe I should have made jello . . . whatever, it was nice to have a bunch of dishes to choose from that weren't Middle Eastern. I think I'm developing a serious aversion to the food here. It's sad, but completely true. There is only so much heavy, oily food one can eat in my opinion. In my boredom, I find myself dreaming about food one can easily acquire in the States, like steak fajita quesadillas or tempura sushi. Need to stop.

The party was at a cafe next to the Roman Theatre downtown, with the citadel illuminated in the background, and as usual, Amman was gorgeous at night, both in sights and weather. Here in Amman, most cafes have cushioned, wicker chairs (pictured up top) that are incredibly comfortable. They're perfect for sitting back and relaxing, smoking sheesha, and chatting with friends. On nights like these, I never want to leave Amman. The sights, the sounds, the smells, are all so perfect . . . but then day comes and downtown Amman once again becomes a dirty, smelly, hectic place, with one too many car horns and ten too many catcalls. The differences in this city really are night and day. Oh well, you have to take the good with the bad.

I have to set up an internship for the fall, and I just got a phone call from a girl at this one youth development center. As most conversations go with strangers in this country, it was incredibly awkward. After formalities, she told me that I had an interview this Tuesday at 11am. August 8th, she continued. I looked at my calendar. August 8th was tomorrow, Monday. I tried to explain this to her. She seemed annoyed. "So you want me to come in on Monday or Tuesday?" I asked. "Yes," she replied. Damn you language barrier. We finally figured out that she did in fact mean Tuesday, and then she told me "at the office" and hung up rather abruptly. Wait a minute. This is Amman. Where the hell is this place? I swear she did it on purpose. I can just see her muttering under her breath at the end of that call, tsking about stupid Americans. I bet she thinks it's funny to not tell me where this place is. And the internet is barely any help. Nor are the people at the front desk. "How do you find places in this country?" I ask the receptionist. "We go in the general direction and just start asking people." Thanks, dude. I managed to find, after some serious googling, that this place is on the same street off which I used to live. Half the street I know really well, because I was always taking it to my friends' apartment. But of course, it's located in the other direction. Exactly where? I'm not sure. I guess the plan will be, to call their contact number Tuesday morning and see if maybe, just maybe someone can give me some landmark to which I can direct myself. However, even so, I'll more than likely still have to ask at least three people on the street for directions, so if my interview is at 11, should I leave at 9 or 9:30? I originally felt lucky that I was already in Amman and didn't have to do an interview over Skype, but now that option seems much more appealing . . . oh, well. What would study abroad be without these annoying inconveniences?