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Written by Madeleine Shaw, (Dartmouth School), Pupil Correspondent for CET Jordan, Fall 2023
I’ve eaten extra hummus this week alone than in my complete life. From the scrumptious meals to the welcoming folks, my semester with CET in Amman has been off to a terrific begin.
Within the days main as much as my departure for Jordan, I nervously ran via each worst-case state of affairs I may consider. Would I lose my passport, miss my flight, or neglect to pack one thing essential? Would I not get together with my roommates or make any associates, have crippling homesickness, or be unable to speak in Arabic? Fortunately, assembly up with two of my fellow CET Jordan college students on the airport alleviated most of my worries. We chatted about our experiences learning Arabic and hopes for Amman as scenic photographs of Jordan performed on the airplane TV. The hum of Arabic small-talk and Jordanian music as our aircraft from Chicago to Amman took off was sufficient to excite me about what lay forward.
Upon arrival at Amman’s Queen Alia Worldwide Airport the following day, we had been greeted by our jiran—Jordanian neighbors—who took us to the resort we’d be staying at on the primary evening. After transferring into our flats the following morning, CET organized a scavenger hunt round Amman’s Sweifieh district to familiarize us with the world. My group excitedly traversed across the bustling neighborhood, taking selfies, chatting with store house owners, and having fun with qahwa (espresso). The spotlight of my first actual day in Jordan might need been the magnificent sundown that showered the town in golden mild. That night, a gaggle of us spent a number of hours assembly one another and sharing tales at a neighborhood café . The environment, coupled with our nerves, made the day nothing wanting exhilarating.
Throughout our first week right here, our days have been busy with orientation at CET. Our administrators, employees, and lecturers have finished a tremendous job of offering us with every part we may presumably need to know concerning the place and program, which left me feeling extremely excited to start this journey. Within the afternoons and evenings, I’ve frolicked exploring the native space round Sweifieh.
A gaggle of us went to a stunning dinner at Tal Home, a neighborhood restaurant with stunning outside seating and scrumptious small plates. My roommates and I scouted out Sweifieh Village middle, a bustling procuring space with a plethora of cafes for chatting or learning. Upon stopping right into a bread retailer close by, we had been supplied pastries that we couldn’t refuse and got here out with breakfast for per week for lower than $5 USD.
After signing the language pledge on our final day of orientation, CET took all the scholars and employees to a neighborhood restaurant referred to as Tawaheen al-Hawa. Consuming tasty Jordanian dishes and conversing with my fellow college students in Arabic, I couldn’t assist however really feel immensely grateful for this program. As I sit right here scripting this weblog in a good looking café that I stumbled throughout on my stroll house from Safeway, I look ahead to the recollections to return.
My classmates and I take pleasure in a scrumptious meal at Tawaheen al-Hawa restaurant
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