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Welcome to the Jordan

The Jordan Destination Guide will provide a historical overview, scholarship information, health and safety tips, plus identity-specific resources to ensure students feel prepared with insight and resources for their global experience in Jordan. The information shared below is a bird eye’s view and meant to provide some country-specific context. We encourage students to conduct further research and chat with relevant points of contact including advisors, program leaders, international student services at the host campus, internship coordinators or peers who have traveled to Jordan, to gain a greater understanding of their host country and/or city.

Overview

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a relatively small, Middle Eastern country known for its incredible culture, hospitality, and natural wonders. Jordan is a semi-arid land with hills, sand dunes, and a young, bustling capital city. It is home to Petra, one of the seven wonders of the world, and offers endless beauty through natural sites such as the Dead Sea, Mt. Nebo, and the desert of Wadi Rum. The juxtaposition of ancient historical sites and modern buildings in Amman, add to its unique look. It is easy to use taxis and public transportation to get around this vibrant, cosmopolitan city. Amman has various museums, art galleries, theaters, cultural centers, and cafés. Amman, is known as a popular study abroad destination, which can be seen through the capital’s diverse population. Amman and Madaba should be at the top of your list for study, intern, or volunteer abroad. No matter your field of study, Jordan provides an excellent atmosphere of opportunities.From Aqaba, the coastal city of beaches and resorts, to Madaba, a cozy, suburban city known for its mosaics and Christian history, to the hip, lively capital of Amman, you will be welcomed through Jordan’s warm people, traditions, and food.

Jordan has a reputation for excellent medical care, safety, and hospitality. While Americans may feel tentative to visit because of perceived safety risks, Jordan is actually known for its security. Americans are warmly welcomed by the host community, and people will often go out of their way to help make a visitor’s experience great. As a neighbor to surrounding conflict, Jordan has been a host to refugees from surrounding areas for decades. People from neighboring areas also travel to Jordan to receive their high quality medical care. As a home to a number of UNESCO World Heritage sites, it is clear that the list of must-see places in Jordan is long. Jordan is most definitely a land of adventure, history, and dynamic destinations.

In addition to the true Jordanian cultural experience and hospitality, there are many opportunities that draw students to study in Jordan. The highly social culture makes networking and communication a part of everyday life. If you’re looking for a country to immerse in Arabic or learn more about Islam, Jordan should definitely be on top of your list!

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdkAu1vRBXw

Cities & Education

As the region's go-to study abroad destination, there are a number of potential career opportunities for students interested in economics, public health, international relations, public administration, language studies, history, and anthropology in both Madaba and Amman. Amman is a young and bustling city with 14 universities and an increasing number of students studying abroad.

Many study abroad program providers have programs housed at the University of Jordan. Throughout your time researching programs, you will have likely come across a handful of diverse programs all taking place at the University of Jordan. What is unique about the University of Jordan is that it is home to Prince Al Hussein Bin Abdullah II School of International Studies, the only academic institution in Jordan that specializes in teaching politics and international affairs in English.

There are about 300 million Arabic speakers worldwide, and due to the growing demand of Arabic speakers in recent years, Jordan has become a key site for language study. Many students gravitate towards Amman’s energetic, upbeat atmosphere. While Amman has a dynamic population of travelers and students, Madaba is a smaller, more suburban town, with a strong sense of community. Both are good choices for those pursuing language study. Although English can be heard and spoken in both cities, it is not as commonly seen or used in Madaba, making the experience more language-immersive in certain aspects. However, Amman holds a larger number of centers for learning, giving students more flexibility when it comes to deciding on what institute to attend.

Debating on if you should learn Arabic before you go or if you should go to Jordan specifically to participate in an Arabic language program? Read this NAFSA article on the benefits of learning Arabic and why so many students are choosing to study in the Middle East.

In addition to exchange programs, where you can enroll directly at an institution like the University of Jordan, there are also short term programs in Jordan led by study abroad program providers and faculty-led programs affiliated with universities. Some study abroad program providers with programs to Jordan include:

Take a glimpse into experiences of students who have studied in Jordan:

I Will Leave Jordan But it Won’t Leave Me, Matthew D.

Events & Tourism

There are always opportunities to enjoy the day and nightlife of Jordan, especially in its capital Amman. The city is home to a spectacular assortment of rooftop cafés and bars. Sekrab is a popular, edgey rooftop bar on Rainbow street in Amman. It is catered toward a college-age crowd, and it has unique seating. Most cafés serve fresh fruit smoothies, foods, and “argeelay”, or hookah. Smoking is common in the culture for both men and women. The view from many of these hot spots overlook the vast hills and beautiful night lights. Cafe’s are a popular spot to go to during both the day and night. It is not uncommon to see families with young children out at restaurants or in the city late at night. Amman is also home to many museums, art galleries, and interesting stores.

Rainbow street is a long, vibrant street in Amman filled with bookstores, restaurants, shops, ice-cream parlors, and usually a bazaar on Fridays. If you are studying abroad during the summer, there are usually summer festivals, which include concerts of both Jordanian bands, and musicians from abroad. During the summer festival, concerts may be held in the breath-taking, ancient Roman amphitheatre in Jerash. Jerash is a Greco-Roman city known for its ruins, and is a great place to visit for excursions. There are concerts hosted in a smaller, but similar style Roman amphitheater in Amman. More great places to visit include spas and resorts at the Dead Sea, beaches in Aqaba, camping in the desert at Wadi Rum, and Hiking at Wadi Dana. Madaba is a 40 minute drive, or bus ride from Amman, and is a beautiful place to explore churches, museums, and mosaic sites.

Many say that if you haven’t been to Petra then you have not been to Jordan. Petra is a must see archaeological destination. Many travelers, tourists and students alike, have Petra on the top of their list of places to see. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Petra draws in tourists year round. In ancient times, Petra once was the capital of the Nabatean people’s trading empire. Many venture to Petra to witness its geological landscape and to learn the history of this magnificant archaeological city. Learn more about Petra by reading this article written in the Smithsomian Magazine.The best time to visit Petra is during spring and autumn months when the weather is more manageable in addition to crowds being smaller.

Additional resources:

The First Timer’s Guide to Visiting Petra, On The Luce

Diversity & Inclusion Climate

Jordan does not explicitly have laws that address issues of racial discrimination. There are varying perspectives on whether or not Jordan has a race issue. Some reason that due to the lack of laws addressing racial discrimination, Jordan is a color-blind society. Many Jordanians, regardless of their skin color will identify with their nationality (Jordanian) first and foremost before other identities, including ethnicity. One prominent identity that does unite Jordanians is that majority do follow the Islam religion.

There is a black community in Jordan but it is often assumed that black people within Jordan are non-Arab and even non-Jordanian. Majority of Afro-Jordanians come from two places: Al-Ghor (the Jordan River Valley) and the Afro-Palestinian community. Terms such as “abd” and “sawda” are words used to describe black people and similar to the “n” word in the US, these terms are insulting and derogatory. “Abd” is a common term used to describe black people, but the literal translation in English from Arabic is “slave” and “sawda” means black. Instead of “black” the term “brown” (samra) is preferred when describing black people in Jordan or when a black person describes themself.

Jordan welcomes the largest number of refugees in its region. Majority of refugees come from Syria and Iraq. There are also refugees from northern Africa, specifically refugees from Sudan, but they are often not recognized as being refugees even though they escaped from Darfur.

Additional resources:

After fleeing conflict at home, African refugees battle racism in Jordan, Equal Times

Staying Healthy & Safe in Jordan

Health

Visit the CDC’s website to learn more about the recommended vaccines you may need before traveling to Jordan.

Jordan has a hot and dry climate, as you probably can predict given its geographic location between the subtropical aridity of the Arabian desert areas and the subtropical humidity of the eastern Mediterranean area. Although the summer season there is long, hot, and dry, Jordan does experience cooler temperature during their winter season from December through February.

If your skin is sensitive to the sun, please ensure that you have sufficient sunblock for protection if you plan to be in Jordan during the hot summer months. Make sure to stay hydrated at all times especially if you are out traveling or exploring your host community. Annual temperatures in Jordan range from 38°F to 89°F. Check out this useful climate guide provided by the website, Step into Jordan.

Safety

Crime rates in Jordan are low and Jordan is considered one of the safer countries to travel to in the Middle East. Since the 2005 suicide bombing of hotels in Amman, there has been a large police and military presence throughout the country. They have been successful at stopping terrorist action but there is no guarantee of safety at all times.No matter where you are in the world, whether it is your hometown or a new city, it is important to be aware of your surroundings and be alert at all times.

For your safety, stay away from political and religious demonstrations. Such events can turn violent and you may be perceived by terrorist groups as a Western sympathizer. Tips on how to stay safe if you happen to be in an area of civil unrest are provided by World Nomads here.

As a foreigner you should always have a plan to get home safely and don’t venture out alone if you are unfamiliar with where you are going. There are a few precautions any traveler should take while navigating a new country. Be cautious in areas that are touristy and may have large crowds as pickpocketing and bag/purse snatching may take place.

Here are a few tips:

  • Be aware of your surroundings
  • Leave valuable items at home whenever possible and only travel with your necessities
  • Avoid being flashy or careless with valuable items
  • Ensure your bags and pockets are tight and completely zipped
  • Do not leave personal items unattended
  • Have a travel partner when possible

The local emergency number in Jordan is: 911.

In the case that you need to contact the U.S. Embassy in Jordan, you can refer to their website.

Additional resources:

8 Local Laws in Jordan: What Travelers Need to Know, World Nomads

Funding Study Abroad in Jordan

There are many scholarships to fund your study abroad experience. Here is a list of Diversity Abroad scholarships available for study in this country:

Diversity Abroad Overseas Ambassador Scholarship

Diversity Network Summer Scholarship

Diversity Abroad & CISI Planning Scholarship

Also, the Arabic Critical Language Scholarship program is a language and cultural immersion program for American undergraduate and graduate students, designed to increase the number of students mastering critical languages and building relationships with other cultures. The Arabic language program includes sites in Jordan as well as Morocco and Oman, however students apply for the language and not the country.

Arabic is considered a critical language by the US Department of State. If you plan to go to Jordan to study Arabic, make sure you thoroughly conduct independent research to identify scholarships and programs that may fund your language study. You can always connect with a study abroad adviser, your academic advisor or the Arabic language department on your campus to inquire about potential funding opportunities.

The Boren Awards fund intensive study of language and culture abroad by U.S. undergraduate or graduate students. Students accepted into Arabic language programs abroad in Jordan are eligible to apply. More information about program eligibility guidelines can be found here.

The Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship is a U.S. Department of State funded grant program. The program provides scholarships to students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad. U.S. citizen undergraduate students who are receiving Federal Pell Grant funding at a two-year or four-year college or university are eligible to apply. Applicants

If you are participating in a study abroad program through a provider, always check if they offer scholarships to students. Some providers that have diversity and/or need based scholarships, for example, CIEE and IES, are among some of the providers that offer scholarships. Some providers also provide stipends to students who serve as bloggers or program ambassadors. Don’t miss out on any opportunities to alleviate the cost of your program! Do your research and also talk to your university's study abroad program staff to learn more about potential campus scholarship opportunities!

For more scholarships, visit http://www.diversityabroad.com/search/scholarships/jordan