- This summer I participated in an immersive international studies and Arabic language education abroad experience: The Conflict and the Struggle for Peace: Explorations in Ireland and the Middle East with Arabic Language. This program was a two-month long program that examined two of the most well-known ethnic conflicts of the modern world: the Troubles in Northern Ireland, and the Arab-Israeli wars, along with a 4-week Arabic Language intensive program.
- When I look back to my arrival in Jordan, I can picture myself—eyes wide with excitement, in awe of the size and the dense traffic of Amman, eager to read the Arabic letters written on street signs, and simply happy to have been given the opportunity to travel to the Arab world. I remember taking pictures of everything, even a random advertisement, simply because I had not seen Arabic written commercially before; even after studying the language for two years, it was still so new. I spent the firsts month in Amman studying Peace and Conflict Management with former Jordanian Ambassador to Israel, Dr. Omar Rifai. As an aspiring diplomat, I highly value Dr. Rifai’s instruction, insight into the ongoing conflict between the Arab World and Israel, and especially his stories of his time as the Ambassador. Although brief, the time spent with Dr. Rifai has further sparked my interest in the politics of the region, and inspired me to pay more attention to my country’s (USA) policy choices here in Jordan—and then the Jordanian public’s reaction to these decisions.
- Following Dr. Rifai’s course on Conflict Management, I dove into my Arabic classes head first. When I decided to participate in the program back in the spring, I’m not sure I truly understood what “Intensive Arabic” meant. Now, with only three days left in the program, after 3 full weeks of Arabic, 5-hours a day, 5-days a week, I can say that the program—although draining—has been worth every second of exhaustion. My professors, Ustad Osama, Dr. Ali, and Ustada Salam have taught me more in three weeks than I learned the past year in a classroom in the states. The days have truly flown by. Outside of class, I have been blessed with the opportunity to travel to the Dead Sea, Madaba, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum (twice), Mount Nebo, and Aqaba. These trips, but especially the people that I have traveled with, have shaped my experience here in Jordan–my host family for their hospitality, my local friends for their willingness to include us foreigners, and my American friends for their (our) vulnerability. I strongly believe that the local people and the experiences you have with them, not the physical geography, is what makes a country special. For me, it’s what makes me want to return. As my time in Jordan comes to an end, I am finding it difficult to say good-bye. Inshallah, I will be able to return to Amman to continue my Arabic and regional studies. This time however, I plan to spend more than 6 months in-country. So, when I take off from Princess Alia airport in less than a week, it will not be goodbye (as I doubt I will be able to muster that anyways), but rather a goodbye-for-now.
- As I stated in the previous paragraphs, my STEP project has inspired me to return to Amman in the next few years to perfect my Arabic language skills. The connections I made in Jordan will, hopefully, remain for the rest of my life. Following graduation from Ohio State, I plan on either returning to the region or staying here in the US to work as an Arabic Linguist until I gain enough work experience to apply to be a Foreign Service Officer for the US Department of State. abroad_me-pfvseh
