So, I know I haven’t blogged since before I left for Egypt. And while I would love to write pages and pages about both my week in Cairo and Alexandria, and the week since I’ve been back, I’ll just have to incorporate those amusing anectodes into other blogposts, because I have news. Big news. And it can’t wait.
Drumroll?
I’m COLD. Yes. Cold. As in freezing, bone chilled, nose will never be warm again until I return to Florida cold. I had no idea the Middle East could be so inhospitable! It must be why they more than make up for it culturally. The thing is, I would be completely okay with this if Mother Nature had only eased me into it…instead, I return from Cairo, it rains for four days straight, and the temperature drops about forty degrees. Yay. I do have one upside to this story, however: I bought a coat. My first coat! I figured any winter clothes bought here would be a long term investment, since I am moving to Atlanta in February…
Yesterday I attended my first Rotary meeting, which was both good and frustrating. I was able to give my first presentation, and meet Rotarians who up until that point I had only been able to contact in spurts of e-mails. We met at a fancy Hyatt in Jebel Amman, had lunch, and talked it up. I was there with three other Rotary scholars, two of whom are here for the year and another cultural scholar.
It was great to meet Jordanian Rotarians, and yet I still left feeling a bit frustrated. No matter how hard I try to contact local clubs here to seek out opportunities, I feel like I’m knocking my head against a brick wall. And I’m not alone; all four of the other scholars here have been unable to get involved. One of the Rotarians, responding to our request for available service projects, suggested we contact the local Rotaract for ideas. I’ve been here almost 7 weeks, and am still struggling to even get a response. But I’m still holding out hope, and still trying! And at least I’ve got company in frustration with the other scholars situated here…
