Posting

So I learned my posting today! I shall be working at the Youth Center in al-Jafar, a small town of around 8,000 in the extreme south of the country (which still only puts me 3 to 4 hours from the capital, Amman). It is in the middle of a mountainous desert, though it would be a misleading prevarication if I did not admit I am not exactly sure of the geography. The Youth Center in which I will be working is brand new, and the population consists of settled Bedouin. Evidently the people are known to be very friendly and it is supposed to be a nice place; all of the Language Coordinators and Jordanian staff told me I would be very much welcomed as Bedouins are supposedly known by their hospitality vis-a-vis sedentary folk . Also, my LCF, Ahmed, told me I will be like Lawrence of Arabia where I am going (which I link had the unintended effect of feeding my ego). On a side note, he told me Lawrence of Arabia is highly revered in Jordan for his - real or imagined- assistance to Arabs in the Great Arab Revolt of WWI, with Lawrence being a name of endearment of children by their parents. But I believe his statement to be correct of my living situation insofar as in a picture of the staff and related persons, aside from two members of the Jordanian military, all men were dressed in disdashes, which are the long flowing robes worn traditionally - and soon to be worn by yours truly. In a week and a half or so I will take a brief sojourn to visit the site, meet the Director of the center and my landlord, an event which is both causes me both trepidation and excitement.