Staging

The Staging Event started yesterday, and has been fun, but a lot of work. I am going to Jordan with 31 other PCT (Peace Corps Trainees), and we have two full days of orientation and training before we leave. Our flight tomorrow is at 4 or 5pm (they split us up on two flights), followed by a nice 11 hour layover in Frankfort, Germany, then arriving in Amman at 2am Sunday morning. I've met almost all of my fellow trainees. They are all very interesting and incredibly diverse--lots of people from the mid west (some Michiganders!), only a couple of us from the area, and one Georgetown student who I graduated with but just met yesterday. The oldest in the group is in her 70s, there are two married couples, and lots of recent college graduates. Our training has been moderately interesting--going over PC rules and policies, safety, etc. After lunch today (lunch break ends in 8 minutes), we are meeting with the Jordanian Ambassador to the US, which is exciting. The London bombings have scared some of us, since an increase in terrorism around the globe is not good news for our Middle Eastern post, but we have been assured that not only will everyone be safe, but evacuation is unlikely.

It's about time to get back to the training room, but I would just like to apologize to anyone that is in DC that I just don't have time to say goodbye to tonight. My next post will be from Jordan!!