Amman

UPDATE: pictures below!

Greetings from Amman! I have landed safely after some serious layovers and J-15 bonding time. There are 38 total in my training group; 22 TEFL (teaching English), 9 SPED (special ed), and 9YD (youth Development). Most volunteers are from California or the East coast, but there are a few representing the Midwest; there is even another volunteer from KC! We have all been getting along amazingly well, which I think is rare for this many people. We are all similar in the right ways, but all have different strengths, it seems like Peace Corps definitely knows what it takes to be successful as a volunteer.

So far I haven’t seen much of Amman because of the training schedule. We spend most of the day in the hotel learning about Jordan, setting up bank accounts, getting phones (you should call me!), and safety issue briefings. It is exhausting! Part of that may be due to the extreme jet lag we are all experiencing. It is horrible. Going through that many time zones, on that little sleep is rough. It also doesn’t help that we are all too excited to sleep!

Tomorrow we leave to stay at the university in Mafraq to have a few more days of intensive training (including language). On the 27^th we meet our host families. That is actually what I am most nervous about. I realize they are nice and patient, or else they wouldn’t volunteer to open their homes, but it is incredibly intimidating! I know I won’t be able to communicate with my family, which scares me! Hopefully by end of the 3 months (well, more like 2 months, 1week) of total language and cultural immersion, I will be able to hold my own in a conversation with Jordanians, Inshallah (God willing). So far people have been incredibly patient with us and seem to enjoy helping us try to learn. I think they appreciate the effort to try and interact, albeit very minimal (we are talking about saying “hello, how much, thank you”…it will undoubtedly improve when I am in the village and have no choice.

I am in a coffee shop (Gloria Jean’s…just like America) and my battery is dying.

Until next time,

Ma’assalama (goodbye)

also... I will need to password protect my blog soon...updates to come later.

                                           part of Amman...maybe a 10th of the whole city

The Final Hours

So... I guess this whole Peace Corps Jordan thing is really happening. For so many months it just seemed like a hypothetical, distant possibility in the future, but it has quickly become a glaring fact of my present. I leave Tuesday morning for the next "dare to be great situation" (if you get that movie reference, you have made it to my favorites list!). I have too many thoughts, lists, packing notes, and Arabic phrases running through my head to really stop and think about actualizing my goal of joining the Peace Corps. Maybe after 27months I will be able to reflect on the whole experience.

Let me take a step back and tell you some logistics of my first three months in Jordan, because frankly, if I talk too much about how I am feeling about leaving, I may go into an intense existential crisis and I just don't have time for that in the next two days. After the Peace Corps gives me a nice tour of the most round-about way (via Philadelphia, NYC, Germany, and finally Jordan) to reach Amman, where a few more days of training will continue. We will all then be transported to Al Bayt University in Mafraq to, you guessed it, train! On October 27th I will move in with my host family for my three months of intensive language and cultural training. During this time I will be with my fellow Special Education trainees enduring 4hrs a day/ 5 days a week of Arabic lessons, as well as intensive trainings on the Special Education system, programs, and centers in Jordan. I will have limited access to computers during this time, so I do not anticipate updating until after I am sworn in as a Peace Corps Volunteer in January 2012. I can only imagine this period of time will involve being exhausted, confused, excited, and nervous on a daily basis. It sounds incredibly overwhelming, and yet I can't wait.

I'll try not to weigh this post down with the mundane aspects involved with trying to get around in a Muslim country (especially since I have yet to do so), but I have realized the dress part is a hassle when trying to shop for things in the United States. Turns out we are not fans of thigh-length, long sleeved, high collar shirts and floor length skirts. I know we will have time to grab the necessary pieces missing, but it makes me feel less prepared while packing. Speaking of packing, I feel I should give a big shout-out to all the amazing organizations and stores that give enormous discounts for Peace Corps volunteers. They truly made it possible for me to really be ready for anything that could happen in Jordan. There is a comprehensive list of stores that do give discounts, as well as a list of those that are not so friendly to PCVs on the PeaceCorpsWiki page if you are curious.

On to the sad part, saying goodbye. I hate it. I have always hated it and have employed the habit of not saying in instead of being sad and seeing sadness in others. This is a tricky situation because I am equally sad as I am excited about my new phase in life. I also know that with the amazing advances in technology (I'm lookin' at you Skype), it will be a little less lonely during my service. I will miss you all dearly and I hope I am able to stay in touch through letters, Facebook, Skype, emails, and any other creative way you choose! I know it will be the little things that will get me through the difficult days. I am a mess of emotions and just want it all to start already!

I'll update when I can!