Intellectual Stimulation

One thing I heard about this program when I signed up for it was that I was going to learn "a lot". Though I suspected that it would be hard, I was still up for the challenge. Something that I feel like I have accomplished this past school year was to challenge myself physically. That showed itself by taking a weight lifting class, backpacking through Moab, hiking the Grand Canyon and other various activities. I wanted to prove to myself that I can do it. Taking this semester on, my goal was to experience Egypt but also to challenge myself not with my body but with my mind.

Sitting here in an internet cafe after a lecture tonight, I am realizing just how tough this semester is going to be. Besides learning Arabic, I feel like I am learning a whole other language as well. My days are filled with "big words" that often I don't know the meaning of. After just one week I was overwhelmed. I am optimistic though, just like where I had to slowly begin physical exercise to push myself, I must start slowly to expand my mind. I am just frustrated sometimes that I can't always contribute to the conversation because I have no prior context to the topic or words to articulate my thoughts.

One huge thing this semester is that we won't only be learning about Islam, but we will be learning about ourselves and our Christian identities. Why are we Christian? What cultural, social, political things have influenced our decisions? Our doctrine? What about muslims? What about their salvation when they are born into a tradition? One of our essays will be to write an essay about salvation and what we believe determines whether a person goes to heaven or hell. What a lofty topic.

Also another one of our classes is to learn about the Middle East. It is so humbling to realize I know nothing of world affairs and have to learn so much history. Politics can be just so hard to engage when I have never studied it before. Most people here have political studies or history majors so it can be rather intimidating to want to join in their conversations. I am realizing the political backgrounds of everything and why culture and social situations are structured the way they are. This will definitely be a challenging class.

Luckily I also have Arabic (which is just so fun though hard to get down) and learning about Islam which interests me greatly.

I am excited for what my thoughts will sound like at the end of this semester, what I have come away with, what my mind will push itself to do. Dr. Holt, our director, said that often people lose their faith this semester, but what they do leave with is Faith. I have seen the physical manifestations of God's power through physical healing, so I am unwavering in that. It is just so interesting to deconstruct other patterns I have adapted in this very different context and to start developing convictions of my own.

These are my feelings :] Classes are SO good.