Not quite settled

We've been here 2 months now and I still don't feel quite settled. How long does it take in a new place before you feel "settled." All I know is there are still a couple of things I think I need to feel like we're really here to stay for any length of time.

One is a decent usable internet--specifically wireless internet. Our internet has been spotty, slow, and downright annoying. We are in the process of changing ISPs. Hopefully that will solve some of the problem. We recently lost our internet for about a week. After changing some wires and cords around though, we got it back. Unfortunately now though when our house phone rings it disconnects us from the internet. Annoying. Fortunately cell phones are the method of choice so the house phone doesn't ring that often. Enough though that I'm annoyed by it.

Second is a second car. We have been too spoiled having two cars and now that we only have one it is starting to wear on me. We plan on getting another one but we were waiting for two things. One, a family car to rent and two, residency so we could by a second car. Those two things are now taken care of. We just need to take some time now and look for an affordable second car.

Getting the family car was an interesting story. We had gone to Mt. Nebo with some friends from Kuwait a couple weeks ago and saw a van type car. As I walked by it I tried to discreetly peek in to see how many seats it had and I counted room for 11. I didn't know it but the van's owner was watching me check it out. I called over to Todd and told him to come look at it. I told him this was the kind of van we needed. Then the owner walked over and said "You like? You like?" He and Todd started talking in Arabic. I just assumed the van would be way out of budget because it was a newer model of the van we've been driving. Turns out this guy is a tourist operator. The van is used to take groups of tourists around Jordan. He offered to rent it to us for less than what we were paying for the van we had which only had just enough seats for our family, some of the seatbelts didn't work, and it was the van that broke down on me a couple weeks ago so we didn't really trust it anyway. Todd and the guy exchanged numbers and off we went.

That's not the funny part of the story--obviously. The funny parts came after. We weren't sure if the guy really understood we wanted it for several months, not just a one time tourist trip. Todd had to be out of town but we kept in contact with the guy until he and Todd were finally able to arrange a time to meet and discuss. I happened to be gone when the guy came but Todd had other company here at the house. When the guy came Todd courteously invited him in and the guy took him up on the offer. Todd said he made himself right at home and finally the company that was already here left but this guy stayed even longer, drinking juice and just making small talk.

A deal was worked out and a date for getting the van was set. On the arranged day, the guy came to Todd's work to drop off the van. Little did Todd know he'd have to practically take a drivers test to get the van. Todd had to drive the guy somewhere and the guy kept telling him how he was using the clutch wrong, keep both hands on the wheel, stay in a certain lane, don't go too fast, press the gas pedal slowly . . . Todd said the guy made him so nervous it was like he was back in drivers training. Then Todd also got a lesson in using the heating and airconditioning as though this was a new feature not familiar to most drivers. He also pointed out the cassette player (yes--I typed it correctly). He was so proud to be giving us a new van in such good condition and it even had a cassette player. Todd then got a lesson in properly turning off the car. The heating/airconditioning and the radio must be completely turned off before turning off the car. Todd assured the man he would take good care of the car. We think the guy was a bit concerned because he'd never rented one of his tourist vans before.

So you'd think that would be the end. But a couple days later the guy shows up at our house again. Todd wasn't home. The guy had left some papers in the van that he needed. So I got the keys to unlock it (oh yeah, Todd also got a lesson in how to use the remote keyless entry). Then the guy asked me to go around to the passenger side and look in so he could show me a few things. Then I got the workshop on how to use the airconditioning and heating, how to properly insert and eject the cassettes, how to turn off everything before turning off the car. I was getting so nervous that he was going to make me drive it for him to show him I could use the clutch properly. Thank goodness I got out of that one because I'm sure I would've failed the driving test.

We have a reliable car though with room for all of us and a couple extra if needed. Even the seatbelts work which is a luxury here in Jordan.

As an update on what's been happening in other areas--we now have an official teenager in the house although it seems we've had some of the teenage drama and angst for quite some time already. I'm anxiously awaiting the next 6 or 7 years to see if it's really as bad as some people say. She's pretty level headed though so far so I think it will be a fun few years. Her friends at school are organizing a surprise party for her tomorrow night. However, her friends also being in the 13 year old age range are not very good at keeping secrets and she knows all about it and is in fact helping to plan it. We'll have fun even if it is no longer a surprise.

We have spent about the last 5 or 6 weeks on quest to find a trampoline and finally found one about 2 days ago. Well, we were able to find trampolines but they were small barely bigger than the jogging exercise tramps or they were the blow up kind for 2 year olds. Trampolines are not easy to find here and in most stores when we would ask we had to explain what a trampoline was, what you would do with it, and then we'd get a weird look like "you want to buy something you jump on and that would be fun?" The kids are loving it so far.

We're going to a fireside tonight given by Elder Holland and we're looking forward to that. It is for our branch and the branch in Irbid. Before the fireside is a "BYU Alumni" meet and greet thing. Todd's debating whether or not to wear his suit or his BYU paraphernalia (did I spell that right?) And he's got several hats to choose from, several t-shirts, sweatshirts . . . He's downright giddy over the possibility of being up close and personal with his favorite apostle. Is having a favorite apostle ok?

Post is already too long. I should blog shorter and more frequently. I'll work on that. Oh yeah--we have a maid now too so maybe I can spend more time on the blog. Hmmm. Or maybe I'll just take more naps. We'll see.