Hey anyone-out-there-still-reading-this-blog,
I decided to start a new blog called Life Outside the Bubble. It's an adventure log sort of blog, also useful for parents to keep track of me while I'm in DC for the summer interning, and then back in St. Louis for senior year in August, and then whatever adventures I have after I graduate. Good times.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Monday, May 9, 2011
Home Sweet Home
I'm baaack! Pretty uneventful travels, other than getting sick on the flight to Chicago from Frankfurt... fun. If I don't fly again for a year, I'll be happy. (Oh, but jk... flying to DC in a month. Curses!) I got a little teary-eyed when I saw the Jordanian flag among the others outside O'Hare's international terminal, but other than that I haven't been too terribly bent out of shape about not being in Jordan anymore. Maybe because I've been focusing my energy on not having a fever. Minor details.
What I'm going to miss most about Jordan:
The landscape and the people. Jordan is absolutely beautiful with hills, mountains, green, farms, desert, sand and stone. Amman itself is breathtaking. It took me a bit to warm up to it, but it definitely has a unique kind of charm.
What I'm going to miss most about Jordan:
The landscape and the people. Jordan is absolutely beautiful with hills, mountains, green, farms, desert, sand and stone. Amman itself is breathtaking. It took me a bit to warm up to it, but it definitely has a unique kind of charm.
But the people are what seals the deal for me. Jordanians, as I have mentioned somewhere earlier, are some of the nicest, most welcoming people in the world. I have formed some great friendships, and I will miss them dearly.
What I am NOT going to miss about Jordan:
Smoking everywhere. Shabab and their harassment. Wearing long clothes all the time. Having to take taxis everywhere. Not being able to drink tap water.
That's an uber short summary, but it gets my point across. No reverse culture shock as of yet, considering I haven't left my house at all. This may be the last post on this blog (unless I think of something pertaining to my experiences abroad that I want to share). It's been a good run. Thanks, family and friends (and a couple randos) for reading! Can't wait to see you all very soon!
Friday, May 6, 2011
Jordanian Women's Union
Just in case anyone wanted to see it (and because I never made a real post about the Jordanian Women's Union, where I intern, which I feel bad about), here is my final project for my Community-Based Learning (aka internship) class. Technically, we're supposed to submit it as an Op-Ed somewhere... but we'll see.
Walking up the stairs of the Jordanian Women’s Union (JWU) program building in Amman was like receiving an overview of all the different abuses women must endure. First floor: medical clinic. Second floor: children’s guest house, a place where divorced parents can visit their children in an environment less hostile than a police station. Third floor: crisis hotline that provides legal and psychological counseling. Fourth floor: shelter.
The shelter looked a lot like my dorm room from sophomore year. In the common room was a TV, couch, blankets, chairs, and a coffee table. Several bedrooms opened up into the common room, each with two occupants and a private bathroom. A young South Asian girl wearing a Hello Kitty t-shirt lounged on the couch watching TV as I walked in.
“Marhaban.” Hello, I said to her in Arabic. I was nervous because I felt as if I were intruding on her personal space.
“Hi. How are you doing?” she replied in perfectly accented American English, completely unphased at seeing me and cheerful to boot. I barely had time to be surprised before I was introduced to another resident of the shelter, an older Iraqi woman. It was dark in the room and her hijab was so voluminous I could barely see her face, but even that could not hide the scars. She greeted us and then continued on her way down to the kitchen.
“She’s one of the victims of the war,” Hala, a lawyer at the JWU, explained in a somber voice as we descended back down the staircase. “She’s been here for many months now, who knows how much longer she’ll need.”
Thirteen years ago, women in the Arab world had no such safe space to retreat to when they needed to be protected. In a society in which domestic matters are dealt with largely by traditional Islamic family law, and internal disputes are meant to be private and not public affairs, political and social space had to be created in the community before a women’s shelter could be established.
In 1999, the JWU opened the doors of the first women’s shelter in the Middle East. Other countries soon followed suit, and their appearance was a tangible sign of a change in society, slowly but surely. Another shelter opened in Jordan in 2007, but this time it was a governmental shelter. The event was significant, but more symbolic than helpful. For the first three years of its existence, the governmental shelter only accepted women of Jordanian nationality, thus excluding the millions of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, South Asian domestic workers, and other foreign women, many of whom especially need the services provided by a shelter. For them, the only option was to turn to the JWU.
Compared to the governmental shelter, the JWU provides more than just refuge, it aims for the long-term empowerment of the woman. Not only do they provide sanctuary, a free medical clinic, and legal and psychological counseling, but they also help the women become independent. Women at the shelter have the opportunity to cook in the JWU’s kitchen, work at their beauty salon, take computer lessons, attend jewelry making lessons, and learn other crafts and trades through workshops and classes. One aim is certainly to help these women become more economically independent, but what the JWU is really doing is instilling in these women a sense of worth and pride. With higher self-confidence and self-esteem, these women have a chance at a better life.
The model of survivor support through empowerment that the JWU embodies is now being spread throughout the Arab world. The JWU is currently heading an initiative to establish similar shelters in Lebanon and Egypt at this time when the political and social space in the region is being upended. It is becoming more and more critical, now more than ever, that quality survivor support be available to women in these countries. The effectiveness of the JWU’s approach can be seen in many places, including their kitchen. Almost every woman who works there has at some point sought out the services of the organization and desired to give back in some way. Though the Jordanian Women’s Union provides an entire spectrum of services and programs, its mission is the same regardless of what floor you find yourself on: empowering women to empower others.
More than Just a Shelter
Walking up the stairs of the Jordanian Women’s Union (JWU) program building in Amman was like receiving an overview of all the different abuses women must endure. First floor: medical clinic. Second floor: children’s guest house, a place where divorced parents can visit their children in an environment less hostile than a police station. Third floor: crisis hotline that provides legal and psychological counseling. Fourth floor: shelter.
The shelter looked a lot like my dorm room from sophomore year. In the common room was a TV, couch, blankets, chairs, and a coffee table. Several bedrooms opened up into the common room, each with two occupants and a private bathroom. A young South Asian girl wearing a Hello Kitty t-shirt lounged on the couch watching TV as I walked in.
“Marhaban.” Hello, I said to her in Arabic. I was nervous because I felt as if I were intruding on her personal space.
“Hi. How are you doing?” she replied in perfectly accented American English, completely unphased at seeing me and cheerful to boot. I barely had time to be surprised before I was introduced to another resident of the shelter, an older Iraqi woman. It was dark in the room and her hijab was so voluminous I could barely see her face, but even that could not hide the scars. She greeted us and then continued on her way down to the kitchen.
“She’s one of the victims of the war,” Hala, a lawyer at the JWU, explained in a somber voice as we descended back down the staircase. “She’s been here for many months now, who knows how much longer she’ll need.”
Thirteen years ago, women in the Arab world had no such safe space to retreat to when they needed to be protected. In a society in which domestic matters are dealt with largely by traditional Islamic family law, and internal disputes are meant to be private and not public affairs, political and social space had to be created in the community before a women’s shelter could be established.
In 1999, the JWU opened the doors of the first women’s shelter in the Middle East. Other countries soon followed suit, and their appearance was a tangible sign of a change in society, slowly but surely. Another shelter opened in Jordan in 2007, but this time it was a governmental shelter. The event was significant, but more symbolic than helpful. For the first three years of its existence, the governmental shelter only accepted women of Jordanian nationality, thus excluding the millions of Palestinian and Iraqi refugees, South Asian domestic workers, and other foreign women, many of whom especially need the services provided by a shelter. For them, the only option was to turn to the JWU.
Compared to the governmental shelter, the JWU provides more than just refuge, it aims for the long-term empowerment of the woman. Not only do they provide sanctuary, a free medical clinic, and legal and psychological counseling, but they also help the women become independent. Women at the shelter have the opportunity to cook in the JWU’s kitchen, work at their beauty salon, take computer lessons, attend jewelry making lessons, and learn other crafts and trades through workshops and classes. One aim is certainly to help these women become more economically independent, but what the JWU is really doing is instilling in these women a sense of worth and pride. With higher self-confidence and self-esteem, these women have a chance at a better life.
The model of survivor support through empowerment that the JWU embodies is now being spread throughout the Arab world. The JWU is currently heading an initiative to establish similar shelters in Lebanon and Egypt at this time when the political and social space in the region is being upended. It is becoming more and more critical, now more than ever, that quality survivor support be available to women in these countries. The effectiveness of the JWU’s approach can be seen in many places, including their kitchen. Almost every woman who works there has at some point sought out the services of the organization and desired to give back in some way. Though the Jordanian Women’s Union provides an entire spectrum of services and programs, its mission is the same regardless of what floor you find yourself on: empowering women to empower others.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
I'll be home for Sunday dinner
Wow, how weird is that... I feel like I spend about 25% of my day now just thinking about how weird it is to go home. Hala gave me a bunch of re-entry orientation materials to look through, I probably won't get a chance to get to them til right before I leave.
I'm currently in the middle of the final push through finals. Took my Modern Standard Arabic exam this morning (it was actually really hard!) and got my anthropology take-home final. I have three more pages for that to finish (seven total) for tomorrow and then reviewing vocab for my Jordanian Arabic and Media Arabic exams, tomorrow as well. And then I am freeeeee! I really have no idea what I'm going to do Friday and Saturday, other than pack.
Ma' salama, Amman... I wish I had the time or energy to make a really thoughtful post. Insha'allah I'll have time for that this weekend, once finals are over. Home stretch!
I'm currently in the middle of the final push through finals. Took my Modern Standard Arabic exam this morning (it was actually really hard!) and got my anthropology take-home final. I have three more pages for that to finish (seven total) for tomorrow and then reviewing vocab for my Jordanian Arabic and Media Arabic exams, tomorrow as well. And then I am freeeeee! I really have no idea what I'm going to do Friday and Saturday, other than pack.
Ma' salama, Amman... I wish I had the time or energy to make a really thoughtful post. Insha'allah I'll have time for that this weekend, once finals are over. Home stretch!
Monday, May 2, 2011
Pictures with Sheep
I promised pictures, here they are! Oh my gosh, I love sheep so much.
Random post, but you know what, it's my blog, I'll post as many pictures of sheep as I want... this much be why I love Hercs and Westies so much!
He could pass as a sheep.
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Beginning of the end.
A week from now, plus a few hours, I will be back in Chicago... I can't wait. Thinking about friends, family, the dog, food, my car, and anything American just gets me over excited. I actually almost started packing last night, but it's still a bit too early for that.
One month in Egypt. Three months in Jordan. People say that you don't really begin to enjoy study abroad until the end of the semester. And those people are right. For three months, whenever people asked me how I like Jordan, I would always hesitate before I could formulate an appropriate answer. I do like it, I'm just not terribly excited about it. [I usually don't say that last part.] But this past Friday was the first time someone asked me the question, "What do you think of Jordan?" and I answered truthfully, "I love it."
When it hit me that Jordan has finally grown on me, I got a knot in my stomach, sort of like when I graduated high school. For four years I had wanted to get out of there, and when it came time to leave, I all of a sudden felt attached. Yet at the same time, I was ready to move on. Pretty much the same way I feel about Jordan now. But it's ok, because I decided that after I graduate, I'm going to spend at least a month traveling around the Middle East and meeting up with all my friends here. :-)
T-7 days.
P.S. I HELD A BABY SHEEP ON FRIDAY. IT WAS SO FLUFFY. When Haneen puts pictures on facebook from the bbq at her house, I'll be sure to put it on here!
One month in Egypt. Three months in Jordan. People say that you don't really begin to enjoy study abroad until the end of the semester. And those people are right. For three months, whenever people asked me how I like Jordan, I would always hesitate before I could formulate an appropriate answer. I do like it, I'm just not terribly excited about it. [I usually don't say that last part.] But this past Friday was the first time someone asked me the question, "What do you think of Jordan?" and I answered truthfully, "I love it."
When it hit me that Jordan has finally grown on me, I got a knot in my stomach, sort of like when I graduated high school. For four years I had wanted to get out of there, and when it came time to leave, I all of a sudden felt attached. Yet at the same time, I was ready to move on. Pretty much the same way I feel about Jordan now. But it's ok, because I decided that after I graduate, I'm going to spend at least a month traveling around the Middle East and meeting up with all my friends here. :-)
T-7 days.
P.S. I HELD A BABY SHEEP ON FRIDAY. IT WAS SO FLUFFY. When Haneen puts pictures on facebook from the bbq at her house, I'll be sure to put it on here!
Thursday, April 28, 2011
It's everywhere!
You know how after you research something, or learn a new fact, or learn the definition of a new word, and all of a sudden you see that particular tidbit everywhere? That's what's happening to me right now. Yesterday I turned in my 3500 word paper about street harassment in Jordan. I got to interview a lot of people, read a lot of blogs, and heard a lot of stories about street harassment and sexual harassment in general.
Then today, I was perusing one of my favorite procrastinating news sites, Alter Net, and I found an article about street harassment. Which linked to another, and another. And I find out that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Huh. Who'd a thunk? Guess I chose the right topic. As always after writing a long research paper, I now cannot stop myself from researching more and more even after the fact... perhaps this will be an interest I carry with me back to the States.
Then today, I was perusing one of my favorite procrastinating news sites, Alter Net, and I found an article about street harassment. Which linked to another, and another. And I find out that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Huh. Who'd a thunk? Guess I chose the right topic. As always after writing a long research paper, I now cannot stop myself from researching more and more even after the fact... perhaps this will be an interest I carry with me back to the States.
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