Expanding the Depth and Breadth of Understanding C1C Naomi Ballard USAFA

 Before Immersion  CSLIP Jordan 2009  CSLIP Egypt 2010  Goals of Immersion  Results of Immersion  What Happens Now?

 Misconceptions about Arabs  Being Arab and being Muslim are not the same  Many Americans use these terms interchangeably  Muslim=Terrorist  Uncomfortable  Differences in dress and appearance  Mannerisms  Am I going to offend someone?

 6 weeks of school in Amman at MALIC

 Cultural trips every weekend  Madaba, Mt. Nebo  Aum Qais, Ajloun, Jerash  River Jordan, Dead Sea  Jerusalem  Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba

 General Impressions  Once people realize you are American, they want to practice their English with you  Never met a nation more passionate about their leader  Beginning to Westernize  Very gentle introduction to the Middle East

 6 weeks of school in Cairo at Arab Academy  Focus on Vocab, Reading, Speaking, Grammar, and Colloquial

 Cultural homework  Interviews with locals  Buying ingredients for a classic dish at the market  Bartering at Khan al-Khalili  Cultural trips every weekend  Pyramids at Giza  Alexandria  Islamic Cairo vs. Coptic Cairo  Aswan to Luxor  Mount Sinai, Dahab

 General Impressions  Caught between two times  Everywhere we went, we were connected to our President  They take nothing for granted  Immense range of lifestyles in the Middle East

 Use the language  Not just in class, but on the street  Improve listening ability  Engage in conversation  Broaden my cultural horizons  Food: Universal Language  Markets  Public Transportation

 Opportunities to deepen my understanding of their worldview  US involvement in the Middle East  Marriage vs. divorce  Religion  Opportunities to broaden and deepen their understanding of Americans  Hollywood  “Stupid American”  When in Rome…

 Stay in touch with friends I made  Continue my Middle East education  Teach those around me  Off-color jokes  Disparaging terms  Generalizations  Motivate others to go expand and deepen their understanding  Move outside your comfort zone  USE THE LANGUAGE