Counting Down the Days...

Today marks the eleventh day before I move to the Middle East, and as each moment passes, I am getting more and more excited for what Jordan will bring! This summer I will be studying the Arabic language, taking a seminar on Jordanian culture, and will be interning with Partners - Jordan, a non-profit organization that works towards strengthening civil society in Jordan through conflict mediation and closing the gap between Jordanians and their government. I will also be conducting research for my senior thesis, which will be focused on how the different layers of influence in Jordanian society shape the relationship between the individual and the state, and how these influences affect legitimacy.

I want to use this blog to keep my family and friends updated on my experiences in Jordan and to simply have a record of my day to day life. I want to record and remember the small exchanges that get lost in the commotion of bigger trips and experiences. I want to remember the first time I shop in a market, the first time I sip tea or coffee in a cafe. As I become more and more entrenched in my language studies, I hope to write blog posts in Arabic. My ultimate goal is to come back to the United States and have forgotten how to speak english...

And the count down begins!