الاول LVNنهاية ال

Now, I realized I never really explained what LVN is--so I figure I'll quickly go through that.

LVN is the 'Language Village at Nebul' and basically about 300 Tunisian college students who are all English majors come for two weeks so that they can chat in English and work on their English speaking skills and meet some native speakers.

Things to note:

Some how, MOST of these 21/22 year olds have NEVER been away from home for more than a day or two let alone 2 weeks so nearly ALL OF THEM have been homesick most of the time here.

The food is decent. There is always bread and water, but all else is questionable. Typically there is some sort of spicy salad or a tuna/cucumber/tomato salad but when there's not, and instead they give you mushy fries or potato chips to go along with your 'meat' or 'fish' that is really just a bundle of bones and only G-d knows what else---its kind of a downer.

But, overall LVN's been fun. Each night we have programs that basically turn into a night outdoor dance fiesta. Where somehow the Tunisians manage not to sweat at all in the 80 degree weather while all of the americans/scotts are drentched by the end. I just dont get it. Some of the girls are in the full pants/long sleeves/dress over outfit/head scarf attire, and out dancing and no sweating. Its crazy.

Biweekly beach trips are fun... and arabic class isnt too bad. Thus far I've only been sunburned twice so I call it a success.

Tonights the fairwell party so that should be fun--and then after the party a bunch of the fellows and a few of the Tunisian guides [or people who are helping run the program with all of the americans/scotts] are going out to calypso [its like the top club in tunisia] so that should be fun.

Pictures will come later.

B'slema!

LVNانا لا نحب القطط في ال

This morning. I awoke to a cat in my face.

1st. I do not have a pet cat here in Tunisia.

2nd. I do not keep my door open.

3rd. I have BARS on my windows.

BUT. Despite all of this. One of the many stray cats climbed through the bars and into my room through my window. Why was my window open you may ask? and the answer is easy. you try living with shut windows and no ac when its 104 degrees during the day.

نمشت إلى الصحراء

So hate to backtrack... but I felt I should fill in some blanks about my desert/south excursion.

First we went south to Kairouane

[the 4th holiest city in islam---here's the main mosque we visited]

Next we went to go see a camel that pumps water from a well that is completely safe to drink--and yes I actually drank it and it didnt taste any different than other Tunisian tap water [which is 100% not up to american standards--but not tooo terrible]

Next we visited some roman ruins... heres a part of a village and such

and here are some Byzantine ruins as Sbeitla [they were HUGE]

And then that night was off to Tozer to stay in a beautiful hotel

and that was day one... the rest is a bit more condensed.

next was camel time...

then the next day we continued our trip south and went to a berber village, and went inside someones house.. [i felt awful invading, but the family offered to let us visit]

here's how they make their bread [still]

and here is all [well a good number of us] with the 'owner' of the house

next we went to visit more berber shops--i was dressed in traditional berber wedding garb... it felt like it was a thousand degrees while i was in it..

finally we went to the island of djerba

heres the temple we saw...

and finally the pool we swam in for most of the last day

B'slema--real post on the village to come soon.

quick update

I'm now at the language village, internet should be better from now on, so tomorrow I'll put a real update.

Miss everyone back in the states!

B'slema!

اسلاما ياهمامة

So I'm back from the south. For those who feel like checking out the background map I ventured to Kairouan, Touzer, Douz, Tatuine [the location for some starwars scenes], Matamata, and Djerba Island.

All was fun, minus it being EXTREMELY hot as we went south and not having air-conditioning in the land rover I was in on the way down. Listened to some awesome tunisian music when I got to ride in a different car. Rode a camel [جمل] which was fun, and visited lots of old roman ruins. Saw an OLD synagogue and some OLD mosques as well, and even met some berbers. Also managed to get my first sunburn of the trip but its barely noticeable and just on my face, so not too bad.

Anywho, off to go write another paper.

B'slema!

South

Todays our last day in Tunis for a bit. This afternoon I'll be visiting Carthidge, and then head out at lovely 6am tomorrow to Jerba and then keep going until we reach the Sahel for some desert camping.

*Hopefully* my new Tunisian arabic will help me ask for directions while im there.

B'slema!

المدينة

So the Medina [or basically downtown esk area] in Tunis was lots of fun! [pictures will come later]

We had our own personal guided tour by an ex-journalist who grew up there. So rather than just exploring the more touristy parts, or the souks we actually got to see what the area was like [and even go into a shop and onto the roof and have a view of the entire area. One thing that I've decided is amazing about Tunisia--everything is SO CHEAP.

هده المدينة

For example. Lunch/dinner costs typically 2 dinar MAYBE 2.500 dinar after a drink--which roughly translates into $1.40 to $1.75. And even better the program gives us 20 dinar/day to spend on food. Which means lots of money left over to shop. While I haven't made any real purchases yet, *hopefully* I'll be headed back to the Medina this afternoon to buy a purse or something. [Tunisias --surprisingly high quality fake purses, scarves, etc.--are [depending on how good of a haggler] are between 2 and 15 dinar, and at .7 dinar to a dollar thats pretty cheap] Basically, I now completly understand why tunisia has a pretty sizable jewish popluation for being in the middle east.

I've also enjoyed chatting with Tunisians in 'not english'. One shop we decided that we were hispanic. And only chatted with the shop keeper in spanish [which was actually a success despite our broken spanish] Another shop we decided to be french tourisits who knew a bit of arabic. Over all quite entertaining.

After the Medina a few of us took the TGM to the beach and went and had fresh fresh fresh fish that was delish; however we were pestered forever by this little kid who was probably 6 or 7 who wanted us to buy these jasmine flower things. But over all fun experience--minus not getting back to the hotel till 10:30ish and begining my paper for today, but all was done and *hopefully* it will be successful.

B'slema!