SABEQ/USAID Report

How I affect others?
Speaking with the accountant whom I work most with. He said he is
happy to meet and work with me (as am I). I am the first American
that he has spent time with to get to know. This increases his
professional and personal experience with the American style and
culture. The accountant is also so helpful with anything in Jordan,
making phone calls for me, researching online, or reading the text
message in Arabic. We used to write down directions for the taxi
driver if they did not understand me. I am pleased that I am helping
him along with some others with their conversational English. Some
have studied the language but do not practice often, I tell them a
few months talking with me and they will be conversationally
fluent. I like showing them tricks such as the English thesaurus
in Word. I like seeing a smile when I use some Arabic, as some
do not even try.

In the beginning I never said as much as good morning with the
“office boy”. He heard me practicing the Arabic lessons with a
co-worker, then I start asking him questions to practice, “his name,
his age, where he lives, where he is from, how many children he
has…”. Now we say hello and I try to have basic communication
with him. I inquired to him and another co-worker why people
stare so much here in Jordan. The conversation in my broken
Arabic, many hand gestures (my American Sign Language is used
globally), and of course the co-worker filling in to better explain
my basic vocabulary. I told my boss I will learn more Arabic
speaking with the office boy than him.

How we affect each other?
I think our “water cooler” conversations have affected us both. I
asked some not to judge the USA by our television shows such
as MTV and I will not judge the Arab culture by the evening news.
Television is a business and not fair or accurate view of ones culture.
I also criticize many distasteful images on American television, so
that some hear we do not all agree with how we are being
portrayed. Every country likes to hear some praise about their
country, with some I feel they are not open to hearing anything
that I dislike, such as the dishonest taxi drivers or the frustrations
of figuring things out in a new country. Sometimes I am not sure if
it personal why someone doesn’t really converse with me, maybe
they are not in a mood, or its just easier/ preferable to be social in
Arabic. Anytime I feel I have to explain myself, I feel potential
judged. I try to encourage mutual understanding rather than
judgment among cultural discussions. Sometime I use an English
word that is not understood and we look up the definition and
find it is not how I meant to use it (great) .

Lastly, I feel how we carry ourselves in the world has an indirect
affect on others. I am young independent woman moving around
the city of Amman. I feel that all the woman that walk around fully
covered mostly escorted by a man – what do they think when they
see me. Honestly I don’t know? But I am giving them something to
look at and I am exposing them to something that they can like or
not? If people and children see strong, intelligent, groomed women
this may changes some views of what is possible (if they so wish).
I walk by the court house every workday and internally praise the
women lawyers I see. If we have no woman lawyers we can not
realistically dream of becoming one. If one dreams of traveling the
world or having a career in a non-traditional career, meeting
someone else makes this dream one step closer. I have no desire
to impose my views or lifestyle on others.

How the internship impacts me?
I feel it is much easier to describe how this internship has impacted
me. I consider myself a worldly and internationally conscious
person. I have found that I am my international understanding
comes from the point of reference in NYC. Here in Amman, Jordan
the international culture is begins from the point of reference from
Jordan. I have many Arab friends back home, but I also find they
are more western as they are Arabs in USA, which is really different
than Arabs in Middle East.

I find Jordan a 1000x more relaxed than NYC and this does affect the
work habits and environment. I can’t help but laugh when discussing
a project with the team, our boss gives a deadline and someone
response ”enshallah - god willing”. My personal motto as displayed
on my desk “where there’s a will there is a way – may you find yours”.
For me this “enshallah” does not work in the business world, my
belief system is based more on “force majeure”.

I find an internship a different focus than having a regular job in the
sense that - you get to have a lot more input on the projects that
you take. In most jobs you are paid a salary to fulfill certain
responsibilities, but in an internship its an exchange of time and
resources. The projects must be useful to the company and I must
be challenged and learning new skills. Never before the recession in
the USA would I have considered this. But I find this internship
keeping my career on track rather than settling just to make a living
to get by. Having been out of work for over one year, I find the
internship a nice transition back into a structured life again. I prefer
to be of use in life than sitting at home!

I intend seek work in the Middle East after the six months internship
has ended. I have always wanted to try living abroad. Looking for
full-time work overseas can take a lot of time and you have no idea
what you are committing to. This internship is servicing as a bridge
to the region. After spending several months here, I will be better
connected, thus know better how to seek work here. It also gives me
some time to know what I do and do not like, what I can and can not
live with in the next position or country. Currently I am studying
colloquial conversational Arabic in the evening which helps me in
my daily life, connecting with the people around me, and hopefully
will help some in seeking the next position. Some Arabic is better
than no Arabic!