By: Dylan Liptack
Studying abroad in Jordan has provided me with an experience I will never forget, and I’m already having trouble remembering it! Jokes aside, my time in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan throughout this past fall semester has enabled me to grow not only on an academic level but on a personal and professional level as well.
My “study abroad experience” began long before I stepped foot outside the United States. In the early spring of 2023, I began the long and slightly frustrating process of filling out various forms and applications for various academic and governing institutions. I had to apply to both SNCs and SITs (School for International Training) study abroad programs. I gathered up various personal documents, including tracking down my birth certificate, to apply for a passport, which I almost had to expedite because I started the process so late. I bought plane tickets, booked hotel rooms, applied for a visa, called and informed my bank and credit card company about my travels, applied for an International Student Identity Card, and filled out more forms notifying the state department of my travels. Needless to say, I was up to my neck in paperwork for basically the entirety of the semester, in addition to parts of the summer.
Why did I choose to study abroad? The answer is simple: I had to! I’m a dual major, one of my majors being International Studies, and as a result, I am required to spend a semester abroad. Beyond that, studying abroad, and the courses therein, filled several other requirements for my other major, Political Science, and it also covered part of my honors coursework requirements. This made my study abroad an excellent tool for helping me min-max my time at SNC. As for the question of why I chose to study in Jordan specifically, the far more interesting question, there are two answers: 1) It was aligned with my academic interests. From the start of my time here at SNC, I have been taking as many classes as possible that focus on the Middle East and Islam. It was only natural that I’d choose the Middle East as my destination, of which Jordan stood out due to its dialect of Arabic being the most similar to Modern Standard Arabic in addition to its relative security and proximity to hotspots in the region. 2) The prospect of going to the Middle East was exciting and unique. I didn’t want to study abroad in a typical, boring, or local fashion as anywhere in Western Europe (sorry to anyone I dissed with that hot take). I wanted to go somewhere interesting and obscure, not only as a potential conversation starter but also to fulfill a sense of adventure, which is funny given how safe it is in Jordan.
Moving on (finally) to my time abroad. The experience, as previously mentioned, was as academically fulfilling as I had hoped it to be. During my time as a student in the SIT Jordan: Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East program, I greatly expanded my knowledge of both the Arabic language and regional affairs. While I was there, I was enrolled in four classes: Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic, Research Methods, The Psychology of Peace, and Ethics, Geopolitics, International Relations, and the Future of the Middle East.
Taking Intermediate Modern Standard Arabic greatly expanded my knowledge and confidence in the Arabic language. I had previously taken two semesters of Arabic through UW Whitewater before going abroad, so I was no stranger to the language. However, due to a lack of practice (sorry Dr. Ghoneim), I was quite rusty and unsure of my abilities by the time I first set foot in Jordan. However, by the end of the semester, what I had previously learned was reinforced, my vocabulary was greatly expanded, and speaking the language became far more natural, as it was a fundamental part of my daily life there.
The Geopolitics class was the bread and butter of the program, academically speaking, as it focused, as the name suggests, on the politics of the region, which was one of the main reasons why I went there. It also served as the reason for which the many academic excursions we went on could be justified, since each trip, although certainly fun, was inherently educational, as the places in question often had some tie-in to regional affairs. The class itself was very atypical of your traditional lecture-based college course. Each class period involved a different speaker who had expertise in the area we would be focusing on. After that, students would break into groups and answer questions based on both the lecture and the readings for the class period, before ultimately discussing the subject together as a group. I found this setup deeply engaging. Not only did I get to meet and hear from various important people, such as former diplomats and local academics, but I also was able to learn a great deal from the insights of my fellow classmates.
In addition to taking classes, another beneficial aspect of my time abroad was my internship at the Politics and Society Institute (PSI) in Amman, Jordan. Working for PSI, although busy, was the highlight of my trip. During my time at the institution, I gained valuable insight into what it was like to work in a professional environment. Going into it, I was unsure of my ability to handle the stress of an office environment, let alone my ability to do the work itself. Needless to say, swiftly into my internship these worries were cast aside, and I quickly adapted myself to the environment and tackled assignments. The aspect of the internship I enjoyed most was the sense of independence it brought me. However, one of the aspects of the program I found the most difficult to deal with was how short my leash was, for lack of better words, as my time at the school was rigid, and staying with my host family felt like being a high schooler again because I didn’t have the freedom to go when I please like I do at SNC. By contrast, interning provided me with the independence I had been longing for. I was able to manage coursework at my own pace, and I had time to myself as I walked home from work.
I’d like to extend my gratitude to all the SIT staff members in Jordan, who were always exceptionally kind and supportive. Further, I’d like to shout out Dr. Kramer, Dr. O’Connor, and Ms. Reed at the study abroad center for assisting me both in the build–up to and during my time abroad. Finally, I’d also like to thank my host mother, Salaam, and the rest of the family, who took care of me during my stay there, as I would be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to give them the appreciation they deserve.
P.S. I have to say, Middle Eastern cuisine is wildly delicious, but it is even better when homemade, so I’d recommend anyone to study abroad just for that reason.
