The Elections
We got so hyped up about election night here, especially the chance to stay up ALL NIGHT at a rented-out local pub. Myself and a few others debated losing a night of sleep, but we made it out to the pub around 1am GMT, 7pm EST. It was all fun and games until around 4am, when some of us started to get very quiet. Many of us were upset and found it difficult to be away from our campuses and families. Jordanians have been fairly neutral in choosing sides before and after the elections, although many of us in homestays have reported host families favoring Trump. Many of us have had interesting conversations with our host families, Jordanian friends, and teachers. I’ll note one response that struck me the most: my beloved Arabic teacher asked us to imagine growing up and dying in a place where the same person has been in absolute power the entire time. You are lucky, she said.
New adventures around Jordan! Jerash and the Dana Reserve
A chance at an AcroYoga retreat brought me and thirty other yoga enthusiasts to the Dana Reserve near Wadi Rum in southern Jordan. The Dana Reserve is one of the government-designated protected areas in Jordan known for its beautiful red landscapes, water-filled valleys, and greenery. A night at Dana gave us a chance to become removed from noise and distraction. We stayed at an incredible ecolodge where electricity is used sparingly and only powered by solar energy. At night, the lodge lights up with paper candles and during the days and evenings the locally employed staff provide guided hikes, cooking classes, stargazing presentations, vegetarian meals, Bedouin experiences, and a great chance for conversation in Arabic and English. Our yoga instructors had games, exercises, and yoga classes for us throughout the two days and we went on a guided hike, learning about natural uses of plants in the valley, having tea with our awesome tour guide, and visiting a Bedouin family’s tent to learn about the culture of serving and drinking coffee. On the way back from the reserve, I received a phone call from my good friend and coworker inviting me to a Jordanian wedding that night. I was coming back from two days of yoga and hiking, dirty and tired, but went straight home to change and look as nice as I could for the wedding! We danced, met our friend’s family, and got to see Jordanian wedding traditions.
A city to the north of Amman, Jerash, was another great experience where we explored ancient Roman ruins. Two Jordanians and eight non-Jordanian friends and coworkers piled into two cars on a Friday morning. Together we represented Jordan, the US, the UK, Switzerland, Afghanistan, and Germany. It was great getting to know other foreigners living and working in Amman and we had a nice dinner right outside the ruins that night.
In and around Amman: Gender differences, Film festivals, and Community Service
It’s been interesting to learn about cultural differences here in Jordan in regards to gender. Conversations with my Jordanian friends have dispelled some of the misconceptions about relationships. I’ve learned a lot about intersections of culture and religion in Jordanian society. We’ve learned about how we are expected to act and interact with others. Some things have been quite different from our American culture and we try to think before acting or jumping to conclusions. CIEE organized a lecture with a professor at the University of Jordan on Women and Islam that was interesting for many of us and we also had a conversation with Jordanian students on the topic of dating.
Other great events in Amman have been film weeks, aimed at drawing attention to the art of film and filmmaking. We have been to German and Algerian film weeks, free and open to the public on Rainbow Street. Another cultural event was the Diplomatic Bazaar where embassies all over the city came together to share food, tradition, and gifts for sale from countries all over the world. Didn’t think I would find a pack of Kazakh postcards in Jordan!
CIEE organized a three-weekend community service project where we travelled to a school on the outskirts of Amman to help students paint and fix up their buildings and classrooms. We had a great time playing sports with the students, talking to them about school, and sharing lunch with them on three different Saturdays.
Some other events…
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Dina Chavez Band live in Amman, sponsored by the US Embassy
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Jordanian Orchestra playing with a group of musicians from Finland
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Playing “Bubble Soccer” for the first time – fun, but it may be my last time!
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Eating pecan chocolate and pumpkin pies at the CIEE study center for Thanksgiving
[if !supportLists]· [endif]Going to the Turkish bath with friends to celebrate my 22nd
Interning with Leaders of Tomorrow
A highlight of my time here has been my internship at a local NGO called Leaders of Tomorrow. Leaders of Tomorrow brings social projects to the community and encourages open debates, participation in voicing opinions, and youth-organized events. My job has been working on the organizations website, designing flyers and newsletters. Most of all, working with Leaders of Tomorrow has provided me with a wonderful and supportive family of coworkers and friends.