Written by Harper Schrader, (Kalamazoo College), Student Correspondent for CET Jordan, Fall 2024
What do you do in Jordan besides attend classes? Excursions, of course!
One of the best parts of studying abroad in Jordan is the excursions! These trips are not only fun but also designed to enhance your learning experience. Often, professors assign tasks during these outings, such as describing what you see to build your vocabulary for travel and cultural topics. The trips are perfectly timed to give you a break from the intensity of classes, and the professors even join in on the fun! A highlight is when they play music during the bus rides, turning the journey into a dance party.
Mount Nebo and Madaba
All CET students spent a day exploring Mount Nebo and the city of Madaba, just an hour away from Amman. Mount Nebo holds religious significance as the place where Moses saw the Promised Land before his death. From the mountaintop, you can enjoy stunning views of Palestine and visit the Memorial Church of Moses.
Next, we toured the Hakaya Museum, packed with fascinating insights into Jordanian culture. The museum also includes an art gallery, where we witnessed a demonstration on traditional mosaic-making.
Afterward, we headed to Madaba, known as the City of Mosaics. The walking tour took us to the Shrine of St. John the Baptist, who baptized Jesus, where we learned about the city’s ties to his life and death. We wrapped up the day with a delicious meal at a local restaurant.
Ajlun Nature Reserve
The Ajlun Nature Reserve trip was a refreshing retreat and orientation refresher! The reserve, surrounded by lush greenery and forests, offers a striking contrast to Amman’s urban landscape. It was wonderful to breathe in the fresh air and enjoy the peaceful environment.
We stayed overnight in charming cabins perched in the mountains—perfect for those who prefer “glamping” over traditional camping. It was an unforgettable experience filled with laughter, games, exploring trails and some lizards in rooms! We bonded over volleyball matches, card games at a nearby café, and staying up late to watch the sunrise together.
The next morning, we visited the historic Ajlun Castle, an important site along the ancient trade route between Damascus and Cairo. The castle’s strategic location allowed it to defend against invaders in the 12th century, offering breathtaking views of the Jordan Valley. On our way back, we enjoyed a scenic drive through olive groves and stopped for lunch with a view in Jerash.
Wadi Rum and Petra
This is the excursion everyone looks forward to—and it doesn’t disappoint! Wadi Rum’s natural beauty is beyond words. We stayed with the Bedouin people in the heart of the desert where they gave us a tour of the area, ending with a mesmerizing sunset view. In the evening, they cooked a traditional meal underground, and we spent the night singing and dancing to Arabic music under a sky full of stars.
The next day, we visited Petra, one of the new Seven Wonders of the World. The ancient city is awe-inspiring, and CET provided a guided tour to explain its historical significance. If you’ve ever dreamed of riding a camel, this is your chance! We saw wild camels at our campsite and rode them through Petra. This trip is purely for enjoyment—no homework or assignments—which makes it even more magical.
Class-Specific Excursions
In addition to group excursions, CET organizes trips tied to your coursework, bringing the material to life. In the class “Modern History of Conflict in the Middle East: Influences on the Arab Spring”, students visit the Martyr’s Memorial Museum in Amman, where they learn about Jordan’s military history and the Arab Spring. It also includes a memorial section for martyrs of the Jordanian military forces. In the class “Islamic Shar’ia: Qur’an, Hadith, and the ‘Ulama,” you discuss a wide range of Islamic topics. This class includes a trip to the Cave of the Seven Sleepers, an important Quranic site in Amman, and its adjacent mosque.
In the class “Culture, Politics, and Religion in Arab Theater,” students explore different aspects of Arab theatre and performance. Because of this, they were able to attend a live concert to experience this firsthand. In the class “Refugees, Forced Migration, and Integration,” students visit the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) West Asia Region office in Amman. Students were able to learn how the environmental agency provides aid to refugees to get jobs in agricultural sectors, while at the same time benefit the Jordanian workforce and help the economy. In the class “Current Issues in Arabic Media,” students were able to visit The Jordan Times to have a tour of their facility, as well as ask questions about how social media has impacted print journalism.
Optional Extracurricular Activities
CET also offers optional activities like dabke (traditional dance) classes, Arabic calligraphy workshops, pottery classes, and more. These activities are a fantastic way to immerse yourself in Jordanian culture while building connections in Amman.