It has always amazed me how humans so easily adapt to their environment; how easily we take the unfamiliar, the uncomfortable and make it feel like home.
I arrived in Jordan just over three weeks ago. My worries and apprehensions heavier than the suitcase I carried behind me and the bitter taste of goodbyes still fresh on my lips. It was difficult to leave Oregon, the only home I’ve really known, and set sail for new terrain. I’ve been told that the first step is always the hardest. But as the saying goes, adventure was calling my name and I knew I must respond. In Jordan stood the Middle East Studies Program (“MESP”), a study abroad program sponsored by BestSemester and the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (“CCCU”). I had applied a year ago when the idea was merely a distant dream, a spark in the dark. But even as my application was accepted and my plans solidified, it never felt real. I stepped off the plane with a sense of disbelief. In the three weeks since I’ve arrived, time has flown by at an alarming rate. Between jet lag, homework, and new friends there hasn’t been much time to breathe. But then, I can’t recall having much time to stop and smell the roses when I was on the George Fox campus either, so I suppose life has a way of passing us by no matter where we are in the world. My classes have been equally amazing and challenging. Unlike the linear block schedule that I have back home, I don’t have defined courses here. Instead I attend lectures by local scholars and the program director every Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Topics range from Conflict & Change, Islamic Thought & Practice, and Peoples & Culture in the Middle East. On Sunday and Wednesday afternoons, I also tackle Arabic through the Consortium for Global Education (CGE). Both my lectures and Arabic class have left me feeling deeply reflective. As Americans, I think we are often situated so far away from the Middle East that it is easy to become emotionally distant. However, having an opportunity to learn about the history of the region and see first hand how people have been and continued to be affected is mind-blowing. My classmates and I are often left reeling from what we discover. Speaking of classmates, these three weeks have brought me in contact with arguably some of the coolest humans the United States and Canada has to offer. (Funny how afraid of them I first was, worried that they wouldn’t understand my humor or personality.) God has an odd way of working in our lives and, despite my fears, I have become really good friends with many – if not all – of the 16 classmates I have. I will undoubtedly talk more about each of them in corresponding posts, but considering how lengthy this one has gotten, I will leave it at that. I feel very blessed to be here and am excited for all the adventures that lay ahead. In Arabic culture, Friday is the first day of the weekend too, which means as I write this, I am preparing to take some time away from the books to go exploring. Thank you all for your continued prayers and words of encouragement! Until next time, Katherine
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