Mid-PST Check-In

This week marks the mid-way point of Pre-Service Training (PST) for my cohort of Trainees, collectively known as the J15’s as we are the 15th group of Peace Corps Volunteers (PCV’s) in Jordan. By now most of the J15’s have settled into our PST routine, which I will describe in detail below.

We all typically spend every Sunday and Monday together at the university where we have training sessions in Arabic Language, Safety and Security, Health and Wellness, Diversity, and Jordanian Culture, as well Technical and Job-Specific training related to our particular assignment as a PCV in Jordan.

The middle of the week, Tuesday through Thursday, is spent in our particular training villages. In my training village there is one other male Trainee (John), who is my roommate in my home-stay family, as well as three female Trainees. In the mornings, John and I go to the boys’ school while the women head off to the girls’ school. At the school we spend time observing English classes, drinking tea with other teachers and the principal, staving off throngs of children who apparently only know how to say “Whass yer naame?” in English, and co-teaching about one lesson per day with a Jordanian English teacher.

After school on Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s, and Thursday’s we come together with the girls to have Arabic class which is taught by our Language and Culture Facilitator (LCF). We typically have 4-6 hours of Arabic Language and Jordanian Culture instruction and practice on each of these three days as well as on Saturday’s.

Friday is considered to be the holiest day of the week when most shops are closed, public transportation is quite limited, and everyone spends time with their family. For the Trainees this means that we get a relaxing day with our family, really good food, and lots of tea with friends and extended family members. Saturday is also considered to be part of the weekend, but more services are open and available and our LCF comes back to the village for a full day of language and culture class.

This will continue to be my schedule for the next three weeks or so at which point final preparations for my transfer from being a Peace Corps Trainee (PCT) to becoming a Peace Corps Volunteer (PCV) will begin. PST officially ends on January 3rd, 2012 with the Swearing-In Ceremony for all J15’s; January 4th, 2012 marks my first official day as a PCV when I will move to new my village where I will spend the next two years.