Guess Who's Going to JORDAN!

Swarthmore Senior Portrait
Class of 2013

Ever since I can remember, I've known that I want, and feel called to, two things in my career: to travel and to help others. It's looks like I am on the right path to such a career. Almost two weeks ago I accepted an assignment for my first post-college job: I will be working as a Teacher Assistant at the Arab Episcopal School, in Irbid, Jordan, through Mennonite Central Committee's (MCC) Serving and Learning Together (SALT) program.

For the past year or so I have been researching organizations with whom I could potentially work for or serve with after I graduate from Swarthmore College this June (less than a month?? say what??). I'm a Peace and Conflict Studies major so the top two suggestions I've gotten over the year were the United Nations (UN),  and the Peace Corps. I decided early on that I want to spend some time doing on-the-ground service work, which took out the option of going directly to the UN or similar projects. And by the time I actually had enough time to work on job applications, I had missed all the deadlines for the Peace Corps if I wanted to leave soon after graduation. So, I spent the year researching humanitarian aid organizations and service programs.

Anti-Racism Audit Team, MC USA 2011 Pittsburgh Convention
Photo by Everett J. Thomas.

I decided on SALT partially because of my high opinion of MCC as an organization. In the summer of 2011, I interned in their Peace and Justice, US, Office with the Peace Education, Women's advocacy, and Anti-Racism Programs. That summer was amazing and transformative. MCC is one of the oldest humanitarian aid and peace advocacy organizations in the country, and the work that they have done and continue to do around the world is incredible. Looking at the amount of work MCC does, it is easily apparent that SALT is not the only work they do, which sets them apart from other young adult one year service programs. I am looking forward to the opportunity to be part of and contribute to MCC's work.

The moment I opened the email offering me the position in Jordan, I was so excited that I started crying. I called my mom and could barely form the words to tell her "I'm going to Jordan!" My crying was bad enough that even though I immediately knew I was going to accept I had to walk away and calm myself down before I could even write my acceptance email. I am still overjoyed with my plans for the next year, but I am also realistic. I know that life in Jordan is going to be different from anything I've experienced before, even though I've traveled abroad before. I mean almost as soon as I told Mom about it we started discussing the new wardrobe I'm going to need (I'll need trousers, long skirts, high cut blouses, and sweaters for both work and for when I have free time). I have never been to a country where are Christians are a minority. I don't speak Arabic. Moving to Jordan is going to be one of the most exciting and fear inducing things I have ever done.

Derry/Londonderry, Northern Ireland
Study Abroad, Fall 2011

I am glad that when I am a SALTer, I will not just be serving somewhere on my own but I will be part of a supportive, world wide community. There are not only young adults serving with SALT and MCC's other young adult programs (IVEP and YAMEN) internationally, but there are also MCC offices throughout the world. This means that while I am working in Jordan, I will have the support of both my co-workers at the Arab Episcopal School and the staff at the MCC Jordan office. This support, and the prayers and encouragement of my friends and family back in the States, are what I am counting on to help me through my transition to life in Jordan.