An incredibly eye-opening experience

I had an awesome time in Amman and would highly recommend CIEE's Diplomacy and Policy Studies program to anyone with a strong motivation to learn Arabic, have meaningful personal and professional experiences abroad, and begin to understand a region so deeply misunderstood by many Americans.

My favorite aspect of the Diplomacy and Policy studies program was the ability to complete high-level coursework in Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies while also working a part-time internship in Amman. Being able to supplement my coursework with work experience was a great way to make meaningful connections with Jordanians and lay the foundation for a professional network which may allow me to return to Jordan after I graduate from college.

I think CIEE struck a good balance between providing students with the support they need to adapt to life in Amman, which is wildly different from life in the US, while also giving us freedom to explore life on our own. The staff was highly competent and truly caring, addressing any issues I had quickly and professionally. Unlike some other programs, we were also given quite a lot of freedom to travel during the program: I was able to visit Lebanon, Israel/Palestine, and Morocco during my study abroad semester, in addition to travelling extensively within Jordan. Instead of forbidding students from travelling outside of Amman independently, as many other study abroad organizations do, CIEE gave us honest and realistic guidance in making our travel plans.

My study abroad semester has been a highlight of my undergraduate years, and I am so glad to have chosen to come to Jordan, a fascinating country that currently faces many economic, social, and political challenges, over a more common study abroad country. CIEE's Diplomacy and Policy Studies program really allowed me to thrive during my time there, and left me with a strong foundation of language skills, cultural competency, and a professional network which I can use to return to the Middle East in the near future.