Monterey-Now that Ihave finished the formal part of my language training, I intend to write more frequently in this forum. Although Arabic is a tough language to learn as an adult, I appreciate the opportunity to represent the U.S. and I appreciate the efforts of my instructors at the Defense Language Institute (DLI).  16 months of 8-10 hour days plus homework and I have the ability to understand most of the newspaper and maneuver around in an Arabic speaking country.  The end came quickly and it is not really the end at all, but a beginning of my new "Warrior Task" which I have to work at every day.  Even though the Holidays are approaching, I'll still take a full load of self-induced homework with me and continue waking up earlier than most consider sane.  I spend several hours a day reading in both languages about what's going on in the Middle East, U.S. Policies and how they're changing because of the Arab Spring, and what life in Jordan is like because that is where I'm going for my Individual Regional Training (IRT).  I've spent some time going through all my belongings purging and deciding what goes into storage and what goes to Jordan knowing that the living space may be smaller than what I have now.  I was fortunate to meet two Jordanian instructors who will introduce me to their personal networks there and the entire teaching team was very supportive of my future adventures in their homelands.   

The Army is updating their guidance about what FAO do on their IRT.  Experiencing the culture and using the language as a tourist is one intent of the year, but the bigger objective is to understand U.S. Policies and how our government implements them through the perspective of the Department of Defense.  There are a number of offices in each embassy which I'll spend some time working in as well as opportunities to work and train with the Jordanian Armed Forces (JAF).  There are designated priority countries which I'll travel to as well and I am thankful for that.  22 countries in the region is too many to get a good understanding of and I'm intimidated with the planning that goes into each of the 10 I intend to get to.  The other consideration I'm taking into account are unfinished issues I studied in graduate school which will be the focus for my visits and hopefully in future education opportunities as well.  Lots of things to do.

More later after the movers come, I'm off to finish "Emerging Arab Voices: Nadwa I a Bilingual Reader," ed. by Peter Clark.