A Second Tour of Duty

 Having the chance to volunteer as part of the Jordan Project at the Amman Baccalaureate School in Jordan for one year was amazing, but being able to come back for a second year is a privilege. There have been many volunteers serve as part of the Jordan Project however there have been very few stay for two years. I have had many wonderful experiences, amazing adventures, and phenomenal growth opportunities.

This year I'm the Creativity, Action, & Service (CAS) Coordinator for the Diploma College and the Yearbook Manager. The CAS program is a part of the curriculum where students have to participate in activities in each of the three areas mentioned above and meet specific learning outcomes. As the CAS Coordinator I am responsible to make sure the students in grades 11 and 12 are meeting the requirements. To help the students meet the requirements I arrange service activities outside of school hours for them to participate in. The activities that have been organized so far are painting a public school outside Amman, ushering at a local bazaar, and working with Save the Children's anemia campaign. Additionally, we offer a selection of classes for students to participate in during the school day, once a week. As the Yearbook Manager I am responsible for creating a masterpiece of memories from the year for each student. A team of students from grades 8-11 works with me to help select photos, designs, and

provide input. 

Life during my second year here has been an ongoing voyage and I’m looking forward to the months to come. Since my return from my visit home this summer I’ve traveled around Jordan some more, went back to the States, and visited friends in Doha with a day tour of Dubai. We had a visit from Mr. & Mrs. Horchak last week and explored some amazing places in Jordan. In February I will be visiting London with Jessica, March will bring friends from the US for a visit, April brings more visitors and hopefully a visit to Turkey, and then the home stretch with a trip to Africa before heading home in July! Many more experience to come at school, in Jordan, and with the project over the next 6 months or so.

~ Until Next Time

Stella

My first months in Jordan

It’s hard to believe that four and half months have already past since we’ve been living in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. At first I thought it would take forever to get to January. When I first came to the YMWA Center I was nerves but filled with excitement. I still love going to work and seeing  everyone, being with those children makes me feel like I have even greater purpose in life, which I’m sure makes anyone feel great. Living here in Jordan has really been life changing experience and working with everyone at the YMWA Center, by getting to know the people here and their culture, which I still have tons to learn about.

Their life style is different compared to what I’m use to back in the States, almost opposite in the sense of everyone is always in a hurry in the USA while most people here seem laid back which makes them look like their not stressed out. One example is almost everyone at the school has morning tea when they get to work for fifteen minutes or so. This culture change has helped me to become more patient and flexible, in life in general and working with the mentally handicap students. This has been such a unique opportunity to serve them, I completely appreciate this and everyone who supported me to come here! Being able to see all the positive differences in their culture, for example everywhere Joshua and I go we are welcomed, we seem to be well looked after/ cared for, the people are very hospitable.

I love being at the school and seeing the children so eager to learn and do things because I can remember when I was in school only few of us we’re like this. In the very beginning I didn’t really know what section of the school I would be put in. I am very pleased with being the teachers assistant, and yes I don’t speak very much Arabic so the language barrier is difficult but I can still do many things at the school and I hear that speaking is only 20% of a language but body language and tone are the 80% which I use all the time. Being a teachers assistant allows me to get to know all of the students and interact with each one on a even more personal level in the school section and with the teachers. I love knowing the people here, everyone seems to have strong friendships, the staff with staff and the students with students.The staff and students have been very pleasant and patient with me because of the language barrier and the lack of knowledge of their culture, which I highly appreciate them being this way toward me. I am so glad to be apart of something so wonderful and rewarding.

Places I’ve gone while Joshua and I have been here are the Roman Amphitheater with Jessica, I also went to the Souk in down town Amman with Stella, Jessica and our neighbor Kathy. I had a great time at both of the places seeing the Roman Amphitheater and their museum next to it was awesome and at the Souk three out of four of us ended up buying paintings, that were absolutely beautiful. Joshua, Jessica, Stella and I also went to the Royal Automobile Museum which has many cars that the Kings have used. I’ve been there twice, once was on a field trip with group #4 in the school section the kids loved it. Also Joshua, Jessica and I went to Hyderabad, India for the Feast of Tabernacles while Stella went back to the U.S. for the Feast. The nature in India was beautiful, and our brethren in India are inspiring people, I loved getting to know them. We had a total of 18 people for the first half of the Feast then 17 people for the second half because Mr. Baker and his family switched with Mr. Evans and his family where they started the Feast in Sri Lanka. We saw many things there that has made me even more grateful for what God has given me and personally see why the kingdom needs to come soon. The way people live there is amazing and while driving everyone looks crunched for space in their vehicles and on the road. While we were there I have learned that authentic India food that isn’t sooo spicy is amazingly tasty with buttered naan!

Right now it’s winter break for Joshua and I, we are excited to go see places! We are on our third day of the break and surprisingly so far it’s been raining pretty much everyday which makes it difficult for us to go to see the ancient ruins. I am looking forward to the many more adventures we’ll have while we are here and the visits that are soon to come from brethren in America.

~Eva Messerly