Photos by Annette Honey Hochstadt, (American University), Student Correspondent for CET Jordan, Spring 2025
Saheel Riding Center
CET took us on a lovely trip to Saheel riding center, where we cooked a traditional Jordanian meal (Galayet Banadora and Chicken Sajiyeh), rode horses, and played volleyball!
We also had the wonderful opportunity to learn about what makes Arabian horses unique and world-renowned. Known for their small stature and endurance, Arabian horses are often worth upwards of $10,000! This was a lovely opportunity to bond with my fellow students and teachers as well as brush up on my Equestrian Arabic vocabulary.
Ceramics Activity
After a long day of studying, we had the fun opportunity to create and design some ceramics! Most of us made mugs, but some chose to make vases or bowls. I can’t wait to see how my mug turns out once it is done in the kiln!
Visiting Aqaba
After a busy week of tests and presentations, I decided to go to the beach city of Aqaba with a few other CET students. Only a cheap bus ticket away, we got to explore this coastal paradise and relax! Once there, we went snorkeling and saw beautiful schools of fish and complex coral reef systems after a boat ride where we could see Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, and Israel/Palestine.
Charity Iftar Event
Because generosity is especially important during the month of Ramadan, our local neighbors invited us to participate in a charity Iftar event for over 50 orphans. Before dinner we played many fun games with them and learned Jordanian children’s songs.
We then broke fast together and learned about their interests while they made fun of our Arabic. I am so grateful for this experience and happy my Jordanian neighbors invited me to an activity I otherwise wouldn’t have known about.
Manara Café
At the end of the day, CET Jordan is still very academically rigorous and so I spend many evenings with friends working at coffee shops around the city. In this picture, my friends and I are working on a presentation about the novel we read in class, Men in the Sun by Ghassan Kanafani, at one of our favorite cafes, Manara.