Update
Well, I know people stateside have been worried about me. I have recieved several emails and calls from close friends and i do appreciate the thought.
At the beginning of last week, when Israel declared war on Hezbollah and began destroying Beirut, I did think there was a chance we would be evacuated and sent home. However, like many events in the region, Jordan continues to remain the calm in the eye of the storm.
Remember, we do not boarder northern israel or lebanon and therefore, the majority of the fighting and missiles are not in a region that is threatening to us. However, we have still been kept on our toes. Peace Corps, ever vigilent to where the volunteers are, has recently become even more involved. Sad to say, kind of like a lockdown. Not in that we can't travel, but in that we must inform Peace Corps of our ever step. While a bit annoying, I understand the necessity. My thoughts are as long as Syria does not get directly involved in the fighting, it will stay calm where we are. However, if Jordan does get involved, I can see the peace corps considering evacuating us as many of the volunteers live in villages close to the syrian boarder (I think the closest volunteer is only like 5km south).
So, for now, life goes on as normal. However, i am going to have one unmet goal over here directly as a cause of this turmoil. One of the things i had wanted to do was go to the famed jerash music festival this summer. It is held every year, is internationally known, and brings many of the best performers from the middle east to perform. I saved vacation days and was planning to go at the end of this month. However, because so many of the performers are Lebanese, the music festival has been postponed indefinitely/cancelled in the wake of the fighting. this is the first time this has happened since 1982 when the israel/lebanon conflict occured last time.
I am sad i wont be able to see it, but that is life in this part of the world.
Oh, and on a happier note... for those of you who have not gotten the news... I officially recieved my tickets home. I will be flying from Amman, to Paris, to Atlanta and then to Oakland arriving in Oakland (providing I make all my connections) at 11:36pm on the night of Aug 16th! Can't wait to see you all
At the beginning of last week, when Israel declared war on Hezbollah and began destroying Beirut, I did think there was a chance we would be evacuated and sent home. However, like many events in the region, Jordan continues to remain the calm in the eye of the storm.
Remember, we do not boarder northern israel or lebanon and therefore, the majority of the fighting and missiles are not in a region that is threatening to us. However, we have still been kept on our toes. Peace Corps, ever vigilent to where the volunteers are, has recently become even more involved. Sad to say, kind of like a lockdown. Not in that we can't travel, but in that we must inform Peace Corps of our ever step. While a bit annoying, I understand the necessity. My thoughts are as long as Syria does not get directly involved in the fighting, it will stay calm where we are. However, if Jordan does get involved, I can see the peace corps considering evacuating us as many of the volunteers live in villages close to the syrian boarder (I think the closest volunteer is only like 5km south).
So, for now, life goes on as normal. However, i am going to have one unmet goal over here directly as a cause of this turmoil. One of the things i had wanted to do was go to the famed jerash music festival this summer. It is held every year, is internationally known, and brings many of the best performers from the middle east to perform. I saved vacation days and was planning to go at the end of this month. However, because so many of the performers are Lebanese, the music festival has been postponed indefinitely/cancelled in the wake of the fighting. this is the first time this has happened since 1982 when the israel/lebanon conflict occured last time.
I am sad i wont be able to see it, but that is life in this part of the world.
Oh, and on a happier note... for those of you who have not gotten the news... I officially recieved my tickets home. I will be flying from Amman, to Paris, to Atlanta and then to Oakland arriving in Oakland (providing I make all my connections) at 11:36pm on the night of Aug 16th! Can't wait to see you all
posted by Ryan at 3:15 AM
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