CET Jordan: Intensive Language

Why did you decide to study abroad with CET?

Samira: Study abroad is mandatory for my major, so I knew since my freshman year that I would have to study for a semester abroad at some point during my undergraduate. I discovered CET at a study abroad fair at my university and saw that they had a program in Jordan for students taking Arabic.

Jordan had been my primary choice for where I wanted to study abroad because I have been studying Arabic since freshman year and I have family in the country. What convinced me to study with CET was the program's dedication to language. Despite studying Arabic for three years, my language skills were poor, so my primary goal for my semester abroad was to improve my language skills. With the CET program's language pledge, Arab roommates, and location away from the capital of Amman, I believed that I could excel in Arabic after studying with this program.

What was the best place you visited outside of your study abroad city?

Samira: In the south of Jordan, there is a desert called Wadi Rum. It is a vast space of red sand and mountains where the weather is tolerable no matter if you visited in the summer or the fall. I visited the place twice with the CET program, and both times I was amazed by the place's beauty. I felt as if I was on another planet.

The night sky was so clear that I saw the Milky Way and every star possible. The sky in Mississippi had never appeared as beautiful as it did during those nights in Wadi Rum. We visited the desert with a group of Bedouins which made the experience more than a simple sightseeing trip. During the day, we raced across the desert in old Jeeps, and during the night, we ate traditional Bedouin food, danced to Bedouin music, and slept in tents.

Describe your favorite must-have food that you tried abroad.

Samira: It isn't exactly a food, but I have been missing lemonade with mint since I've returned from Jordan. It is a drink that a lot of American students over there loved, myself included. The mint gives the sweet lemonade a tanginess that makes the drink delicious.

I have not seen this drink in the United States, but it is always available at the supermarkets or local drink shops in Jordan. If you are buying it from a supermarket, I recommend getting the Tropicana version of the drink. It is the only commercial type I tried, but I loved it. The restaurant "Domiri" has a really good version of the drink as well.

Tell us about any interesting cultural tidbits you noticed about your country:

Samira: I was surprised by the variety in women's fashion in Jordan. Women in Jordan did dress more modestly than women in the United States, and a majority of them did wear the hijab. However, the women did not all wear the same thing because of this.

Some women wore hijabs with skinny jeans and either a long-sleeve shirt over a long sleeve shirt, and some women wore long jackets that covered whatever they wore along with the hijabs. Other women wore abayas that varied in style, and only a small minority wore the niqab. Even the hijabs themselves varied in elaborateness and style. There were solid colored hijabs, and embroidered hijabs, and even a hijab with Angry Birds characters.

Describe your program socially and academically:

Samira: Socially, there wasn't much to do in Irbid. The only exciting things in the city were Movie Box and the bowling alley, but people still found ways to have fun. We all lived in the same apartment building, so we thought of each other as family.

The CET program had a rigorous academic program. I had to speak Arabic both during and outside of class, and there was always homework. Homework was generally reading either an article about three pages long or a chapter of a novel, but the readings had so many new vocabulary that they would take up my free time.

Added to that, we would watch videos, have weekly vocabulary tests, and a final ten page research paper. I was studying Arabic all the time, but it paid off. I jumped from a novice to an advanced level on my OPI thanks to the academic program.

Did YOU study abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Jennifer: I was always interested in studying abroad, and decided to go to Davidson in large part because of the emphasis on international experiences. I spent a semester in Arequipa, Peru on a Davidson program that focused on Spanish, History and offered internship opportunities. I was mostly intrigued by the Peru program because it was off the beaten path - I hadn't even heard of Arequipa until I applied!

After seeing how my Spanish skills increased exponentially on the program, I became inspired to start a new and completely different language. When I returned to campus, I started taking Arabic in addition to Spanish, and later spent a summer in Amman, Jordan doing an intensive Arabic program.

This was another non traditional study abroad location where I could really focus on language acquisition, which was my goal. I'm very grateful for my study abroad experiences at Davidson!

What position do you hold at CET? What has been your career path so far?

Jennifer: I am the Programs Coordinator for CET's programs in Brazil, Italy, Jordan and Tunisia. While these countries seem like an odd mix, they fit my interests perfectly. I have studied abroad in South America and the Middle East, and worked in Southern Europe. Each region is of particular interest to me, and it is exciting to come to work every day to help students study in places that are also exciting to me.

I came to CET after working as a college counselor at a high school in Thessaloniki, Greece, where I advised students interested in studying the US. Wanting to continue my work in international education, I returned to the US to work for the international education and development non-profit, AMIDEAST, managing contracts.

During my time working there, I was inspired by the incredible education and development programs that the organization provided, but I missed working directly with students. The desire to interact with students on a daily basis and to help personally contribute to their international journeys is what brought me to CET. I look forward to continuing to grow in my career in international education working at CET.

What was your favorite traveling experience?

Jennifer: My favorite travel experience was when I spent two weeks in Lebanon on vacation in 2013. I went by myself, and was lucky enough to have friends put me in touch with various people that they knew living in Lebanon at the time.

It was my first time traveling extensively on my own, and it was an incredible experience. I loved being able to travel at my own pace and see the country on my terms. It was empowering to know that I could navigate an entirely new place on my own.

Going to Lebanon alone was also a way to get to see a new country as a local - I connected with friends of friends who welcomed me to Lebanon and took me to their favorite places, restaurants and towns.

Instead of seeing the country with whoever I might have been traveling with, or whoever I met at a hostel, I was able to make new friends that actually lived there and were excited to share their country with me. Apart from that, Lebanon is an amazing country and I enjoyed every place I visited!

Describe a time when you felt especially proud to be part of the CET team.

Jennifer: Working in study abroad, I often reflect on my own experiences as a student. I think about ways that I could have gained more academically and personally while studying abroad. I am often amazed at the maturity and dedication of the students I work with when I hear about ways they go above and beyond to maximize their language learning and cultural immersion.

This summer, we had multiple students who opted to sign a full language pledge for their term in Jordan when their program only required a part-time language pledge. Other students decided to fast during Ramadan in solidarity with their Muslim roommates and language partners in Tunisia.

When hearing about the students taking advantage of their short time abroad during the summer, and really challenging themselves, I was especially proud to be a part of the CET team.

Without our incredible staff overseas, students would not have felt empowered or comfortable taking on such challenges. It is inspiring to hear about students really thriving on our programs, and I am proud to be a small part of the team that makes these opportunities possible.