Hello everyone,
a warm welcome to my first blog post from my time here in Jordan. I’ve been here for three months now and have already had the chance to experience so much and gain new insights, and I’m delighted to be able to tell you all about it.
On 1 September, I set off for Amman with three fellow volunteers, arriving at the Theodor Schneller School at 6 o’clock in the morning. There were a few complications, but that’s all part of the experience. During the drive in the dark, we could already see the sandstone houses and lots of lights, which was very impressive and exciting. My first impressions of Jordan. After a few hours’ sleep, I was warmly welcomed, shown around and introduced to everyone. Of course, no welcome meal here would be complete without maqluba and knafeh.
Over the next few days, I tried to find my feet, though I found it quite difficult at the time as I could barely speak a word of Arabic and hadn’t quite got to grips with the infrastructure yet. My fellow volunteer, Caro, didn’t arrive at the TSS until mid-October, as that was when she turned 18. So I had to find my way around on my own for the first few weeks. Everything works very differently here; for example, you simply wave the Coaster buses – which look like large vans – over by raising your hand and hop on. Sometimes people have to be moved around first, as here, if it can be avoided, a woman and a man who aren’t related don’t sit next to each other. To get off, you can shout or tap a coin against the window and pay as you get out. So it’s all very different from Germany, but it works! This was explained to me in the first few days, though, and so I was able to explore many lovely places in Amman early on, which made me feel a bit more at home in Jordan.
I also had to learn to deal with the attention you get here as a blonde woman. Especially in the neighbourhood where I live, it’s unusual to see foreigners there, so you can hardly walk around without being honked at or called out to. I was aware of this beforehand, but experiencing it so closely is a different feeling, especially when you’re out on your own. By now, though, I know how to handle it and people have got used to us, which makes it much more pleasant. They’re always happy to help and are very interested in our stay here in Jordan.
As well as my time in Amman, I’ve also visited my fellow volunteers Julia and Margarete in Salt quite often, where it’s also incredibly beautiful. It was great and important to chat with other volunteers and see a bit more of the country first-hand. The people here are very hospitable and do everything they can to make you feel at home, which I really appreciate about this culture.
But now to my work and my daily routine here at TSS. The week here runs from Sunday to Thursday, unlike in Germany, so my working day begins on Sunday at 1.30 pm when the children come home from school. The groups here are divided by gender and age, and I work with the 15 boys in Years 1 to 6. We have lunch together and then have an hour’s break, during which, if it’s warm enough, we go out to the playground. “Push me on the swing!” or “Catch me!” were the first important words I learnt here. Once the children have let off steam, we go back to the groups and start doing homework or revising for tests. I’m mainly responsible for English and German.
To be honest, I have to say that at first it was difficult to fit in with the boys, partly because of the significant language barrier, but also because I’m a girl. I was worried that things wouldn’t change, but fortunately I can’t say that’s the case now. Even though it’s often very chaotic, I have great fun with the boys and there’s always something going on. Thanks to them, I’ll probably come back with a much greater knowledge of footballers and FIFA cards.
We finish work at around 7.30 pm, after which Caro and I usually meet in the kitchen to look back on the day, which is always very good for us.
As well as work, Caro and I make a journey halfway round the world twice a week to language school, where we always learn Arabic in fun ways with our teacher. She likes to sing, draw and dance to help us get to grips with the language, which is always great fun. I had thought I’d get to grips with the language more quickly, but I can already see some progress and it’s always a real sense of achievement when I understand something new or can join in the conversation.
There’s also a German community here, which we visit once a month and where we meet other volunteers. We’ve also been invited twice by the German Embassy, where we can chat with others. On our free weekends, Caro, Julia, Margarete and I go on trips, such as to Madaba, the Dead Sea and Wadi Mujib. These weekends are always very exciting and refreshing. Getting away from the daily grind and exploring the country together always gives me great pleasure!
That was a long summary of my first three months here in Jordan. I’m really looking forward to the coming weeks and am curious to see what I’ll be able to tell you next time.
See you soon,
Your Julia
This text was automatically translated using an AI-powered translation system.
