Disbelief @ MindSay

So my dad bought Star Trek: The Original Series the other day and I was watching it with him, and there's a lot about Star Trek that can make you laugh without that being its intention, and here's the bit that made me laugh.

It was an episode where the Enterprise accidentally goes back in time and accidentally abducts an air force pilot who is trying to pursue them, thinking they're a UFO. One moment he's in the cockpit of his little plane, the next he's dematerialised and rematerialised into the transporter room of the enterprise, facing strange people in strange clothing. He thinks he's on an alien ship. He is told that they are from the future. Soon afterwards, he encounters Spock, a green man with pointed ears, imagine yourself in the place of this pilot: He must be very confused and everything he believes about the world is challenged. Still, he handles himself remarkably well, accepting what is in front of him, taking everything in with coolness and an open mind.

That is, of course, until the nurse walks past and greets the Captain and the pilot retorts with disbelief,

"A WOMAN?!?"

I couldn't help it, I burst out laughing. I know that in the time the pilot came from, it would have been highly unusual to have women serving in a military fashion, but I felt it amusing that he was more astonished at seeing a woman than he was at seeing an alien, or at rematerialising in a space ship from the future!

Maybe he had never seen a woman before? No, I know! He had never seen a woman in a mini-skirt before!

- tonight in class, I got to use a soldering iron, and let me tell you something, it was enjoyable (and scary!) and I would probably like to do that again.

- in NO WAY can I believe this story:  http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-liburg0329,0,5231200.story 
no way.  Not Anthony.  I've worked with several other people in my years who I can actually envision doing that, but not Anthony.  So if it's false, the damage it's doing to his reputation is irrepairable.  And if it's true, my soul is absolutely crushed.

There's no win in this situation.


((happy opening day, all!  too bad the Yanks didn't get to play))

Leaving Jordan today, I had two main feelings: disbelief and satisfaction. Disbelief that this semester flew by so quickly.  Disbelief that I actually made it through this study abroad period.  Having lived in Amman for three and a half months I am definitely ready to leave.  I have learned so much about this region and culture, but I feel that if I stayed here any longer I would not be gaining a lot in terms of learning new things about the culture or region.  To learn more I would have to move to either a neighborhood in the poorer section East Amman or to another Arab city such as Damascus for a more comparative analysis of the city.

 

Throughout most of the day I have also been expectedly reviewing the experiences that I have had over the past semester.  Thankfully, I really have no regrets.  Reading a letter I wrote to myself at the beginning of the semester, I realized that I had achieved all of the goals I set for this semester.  I have certainly improved my Arabic as I am now conversational and able to read the language.  I was able to see the “other” perspective.

 

By doing things such staying with a Bedouin and having interviews at the headquarters of the Muslim Brotherhood, I took chances and advantage of the various opportunities that being in this region can only offer.

 

For all going abroad next semester, this last weekend of your stay is what you all should have in mind.  There will be tough points; however, thinking about the amazing feeling of satisfaction that comes at the end of the year from realizing you have made the most your study abroad experience helps you get through the tough and trying times.  This was certainly the case for me, for as I leave Jordan, I feel completely satisfied.