For instance, even after nine months in Jordan, I sometimes still have difficulty communicating. My Arabic has gotten better, but there are still a lot of words I don't know, and I also need to learn the cultural context for different things. For example, in the nonprofit where I volunteer, I sometimes don't know how to say what I want to say. For that reason, I try to use words I know to keep the same meaning. I bet that you guys can relate to that.
Overall, though, I think I have learned a few things from living in Jordan. The first is that you can surprise yourself every day with how much you can do and how much you can learn. While I have been here, I got the chance to travel to Istanbul, Egypt, and more! Additionally, I took all of those photos you saw. There is a story for almost every photo--the only problem is that I don't have the space to talk about all these things! The second thing I learned is that Jordan is a really complex place, which some people in the United States don't always understand. I feel lucky that you all, as a class, have more knowledge about Jordan than I did at your age!
That leads me to the third lesson I have learned while I am in Jordan, which is that anyone can experience these things. Travel takes a lot of patience and leadership, but it also helps build those things along the way. The amazing places you can go when you set your mind to it have surprised me all the time. I hope that my experience in Jordan motivates you to think about the different experiences you can have, even in Virginia!
