!مرحبا (marhaba—hi!) I’ve been in Amman for almost a month now: wow, is time moving fast! (If only my Arabic skills were moving at the same rate—learning vocabulary is taking me forever.) My amazing host family has played a huge role in making my experience so far such a positive one. Their hospitality and kindness …
Tag Archives: Middle East/Jordan
Sidewalks
I prepared for the major cultural differences before coming to Jordan. I knew that I would have to dress more conservatively than I do in the U.S., and I expected to struggle to communicate in Arabic. There are bunches of little cultural differences that are impossible to prepare for, though. Jordanian beds usually don’t have …
Discovering Amman
“Time present and time past Are both perhaps present in time future, And time future contained in time past.” Eliot, T.S. “Burnt Norton.” Four Quartets, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, Publishers, 1971. The English major in me will always want to add poetry to my blog posts, but I chose this specific quote because I got to …
Optimum Culture Shock
Hi friends! I’m typing this from Amman, Jordan, and I’m finally starting to believe that I might actually be studying abroad this semester. It feels like a dream. Apologies in advance for the photo quality—I took tons of pictures, but I’m a horrible photographer so you’ll have to use your imagination to fill in the …
Plot Twist!
Three days ago, I received a call from my SIT admissions counselor. “AnnaLeah, I’m gonna ask you to sit down,” she instructed me over the phone. “I have some news that will shake your world.” This wasn’t the first time I had talked with my admissions counselor. She had been supportive in my application and …
Overcoming Isolation
During the pandemic the term ‘isolation’ took on an uncomfortable meaning, one that most of us became all too familiar with. While preparing for my time abroad, I spent time emotionally preparing myself for several aspects of the program. I mentally prepared myself for trying and eating new foods, for missing home, and for feeling …
Dunes & Deserts
During our excursion in the south of Jordan, we visited Wadi Rum, Jordan’s most famous desert. Wadi Rum is famous around the world, and chances are you have probably seen it on the big screen once or twice. The Martian, Transformers Revenge of the Fallen, Rogue One: Star Wars, Aladdin, The Rise of Skywalker, and …
Petra
If you have ever seen Indiana Jones, you’ve seen Petra. Located in Southern Jordan, Petra is known as one of the seven wonders of the world. Its history dates back to as early as 7000 BC, settled by the Nabateans around 3000 BC. Just a thousand years later it was developed as the main trading …
A Day at the Dead Sea
This week I floated in the Dead Sea and visited Jesus’ baptism site.
My First Jordanian Wedding
On Our Way My ears are still thumping from last night when I had the privilege of attending my first Jordanian and Muslim wedding. After a week of orientation, I was picked up from the Grand Hyatt in Jabal, Amman, and swept to Sweileh, a neighborhood in northwestern Amman. At 4:30, I rode with my …
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