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.
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 27th 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.
How exciting and fast paced. I can't wait to hear about your host family.
ReplyDeleteMoz,
ReplyDeleteI had a dream last week that I came to visit you in Jordan. For some reason, I brought you a dog and you had an old record player rigged up in your room like the one from E.T. Then, you and the rest of your volunteers did a traditional dance that looked like Tai Chi. It was weird, but what I'm taking away from it is that my subconscious is thinking of you. : )
Megan: I lived with a non-English speaking family in France right after I graduated from college. I also was worried about communicating with them at first, but it did work out ok. I'm sure that most people will speak slowly to you, and that will help a lot also.
ReplyDeleteI love your telling us some of the words you're learning, so we can learn them also!