Features
Where in the world is: Annel Monsalvo ’17
By Annel Monsalvo ’17
October 8, 2015
Academics:
I am currently studying abroad in Amman, Jordan through the Amideast Area and Arabic Language Studies program. I took all four terms of formal Arabic while at Hamilton, but coming here was a bit challenging because I had to enroll in formal Arabic and colloquial Jordanian Arabic. At first, I was very nervous about speaking with Jordanians because I never really had to use Arabic outside of the classroom. It is the native language of Jordan and it is necessary that I practice it in order to communicate with locals. Having been taught formal Arabic for two years, I came here and had to learn “Amia,” or colloquial Arabic, which is a dialect more commonly used. In the first two weeks, I would get funny looks from people whenever I spoke in Arabic because I would use formal rather than colloquial Arabic. It has been a learning process, and after being here six weeks, I have noticed an improvement in my pronunciation and vocabulary use. Aside from the two Arabic courses, I also take a history course, a food course and a community-based learning course. I really enjoy the food course because I get to learn about Middle-Eastern cuisine with an emphasis on Jordanian food culture. Two weeks ago, our class was able to go to “Beit Sitti,” one of Amman’s top restaurants, and learn how to cook a traditional Jordanian dish. It was a fun experience because it was interactive, and we also got to eat delicious food.
One thing that I enjoy about the program is the option to take the community-based learning (CBL) course. In this class, students volunteer for an organization in an effort to enhance their critical and analytical intercultural communication skills. For my organization, I chose Amman’s largest non-governmental organization called “Tkiyet Um Ali” (TUA), which provides food and services to the less privileged sectors of Jordanian society. It is an organization that fights hunger and poverty in Jordan through its feeding, external food supply and rehabilitation and employment programs. Every Monday and Thursday I go to TUA and help serve food to anyone in need of a meal. We usually feed about 300-400 people in a couple hours. Additionally, I help prepare and deliver food parcels to families living below the poverty line. The food parcels include 22 different items that fulfill all of a person’s nutritional requirements. I enjoy volunteering at TUA because I have the opportunity to interact with Jordanians and feel not like a foreigner but a member of the community.
Homestay Family:
For the Amideast program, students have the option to live with a homestay family or in an apartment with other American students. I chose to live with a Jordanian family because I wanted to live like a local and not a tourist. I also wanted the familial environment because I wanted to be around people who reminded me of my own family back in Los Angeles. I was fortunate enough to be placed with an amazing host family that includes my host mom, her 17-year-old son and 15-year-old daughter. Back home, I would always help my mom with cooking and house chores, and I find myself maintaining those habits here with my host mom. I feel close to her and her family when I engage in family gatherings, especially when we share meals. Living with a Jordanian family has helped me feel integrated in this culture, which is something I really wanted in my study abroad experience.
It’s also awesome to come home and eat home-cooked meals; it reminds me of my own mom and culture. Coming from a Mexican background, I was very surprised by the similarities I found between Jordanian and Mexican cuisine. One day, I was studying in my room and I thought I smelled arroz con leche (rice pudding). I walked into the kitchen and sure enough my host mom was making “arruz wa haleeb” with cinnamon, raisins and nuts, just like Mexican arroz con leche. I was so excited because I missed rice pudding and it made me feel at home. There is also a fast food dish called “shawarma” which is very similar to the way real Mexican tacos are made. It is meat (either lamb, chicken or turkey) that is placed on a vertical spit and grilled for as long as a day. Shavings are cut off the block of meat for serving, and the remainder of the block is kept heated on the rotating spit. If you go to a “taqueria,” you will also find that they prepare the meat the same way, placing it on a vertical rotisserie where it is cooked and flame-broiled as it spins.
Culture/Everyday life:
Every day is a new experience and I feel proud of myself for being able to adjust quickly to a new environment and lifestyle. I have learned how to take the taxi and bus, which may seem easy, but the transportation system in Amman is nothing like that of New York. You have to be alert and go with the flow as things are not as time-oriented or organized as they are back in the States. As a woman, I’ve also learned a lot about the Jordanian culture and how gender expectations differ from that in the U.S. I must admit that the first few weeks I would get upset whenever I would get honked at or catcalled and I could not say anything. Now, I’ve learned to ignore street harassment because it is the norm in Jordan and it is not intended to be malicious, it is just part of their culture. Overall, my experience in Amman has been exciting and full of surprises. I’ve been able to visit great landmarks such as Jerash, the Ajloun Castle, and I’ve even visited the city of Aqaba, a great place to go to the beach. I look forward to seeing what the rest of the semester has in store for me.