I got here last Nov. 1. The time has really flown by. I’ve actually been in this country for about 9 2/3 months, the rest of the time I was home, in China, Malta, or Greece. I’ve done a little over 6 months of class, 2 hours a day, 5 days a week. I didn’t have any class during Ramadan or Eid, and I’ve done various little trips around the place. There were also a considerable number of sick days early on and maybe an equal number of days that I just didn’t feel like going to class. My Arabic is decent, I’m pretty happy with how far I’ve come. I can say what I need to say, and I’m starting to read the newspapers. My weakest skill is in listening. I can tune in on a person, but it takes me several minutes. In the meantime, I have no idea what they are saying. Even then, dialect is totally foreign to me, and unless people are talking proper fusa I have a lot of difficulty. That doesn’t bother me much really. As long as I can get my ideas across, read and write, I’m happy.
I should find out about the hours I can work at the school this coming week. If all goes well, I’ll be able to stay another year and get my Arabic to the point that I want. I’ve found an apartment that I can move into in January, it’s quite nice… well by old city Sana’a it is. And it’s only $100 a month! If the school thing doesn’t work out (and I’ve got back ups in case this particular school doesn’t pan out) I guess I’ll be back in the states before too long. I’ve got enough money to stay for a couple of months in the new year. that’ll give me enough time to use up the hours I’ve paid for at the school. Inshalla, I’ll be able to stay the entire next year and then come back with a real marketable skill:-)