Program Photos

Dragons Jordan Summer Abroad Program: Traditions & Modernity

Location: Jordan: Amman, Aqaba and 2 other cities

Term: Summer

Program Duration: 5-8 weeks

Dates: June 27 - August 8

Where There Be Dragons

http://www.wheretherebedragons.com

3200 Carbon Place Unit 102 Boulder, Colorado 80301 United States

Call Us

Phone: 1800-982-9203

Fax: 303-413-0857

Description

A Bedouin in traditional red shamagh sends text messages from his iPhone. When traveling in the deserts, villages and cities of the Levant, students are struck by the contrast between profoundly ancient and progressively modern systems of thought, behavior and culture. The proverbial cradle of civilization, the lands incorporated within modern day Jordan are home to an ever-changing multitude of kingdoms, peoples, religions and cultures. Our adventure begins in the Jordanian port city of Aqaba, where we settle into local lodgings and begin our studies in language and culture. After acclimatizing to south Jordan, we head north to Wadi Rum, the heart of Bedouin territory, where we trek along Lawrence of Arabia’s famed path to the beginning of the Arab Revolt. From Wadi Rum, we travel to the ancient Nabatean city of Petra, where we explore the ancient city by day and spend our nights with families in a local Bedouin village. From Petra, we travel down into the Jordan Valley for an exploration of the ecological challenges facing this desert nation. Highlights include visits to the Dead Sea and a community-run nature reserve. Our visit to the Jordan Valley also takes us to Lot’s Cave and Jesus’ Baptism site, allowing us to consider the confluence of faiths found in the Levant. From the Jordan Valley, we travel north to Madaba where we are welcomed once again by local families. In Madaba we spend a week soaking up the rhythms of small town life while working with local NGOs. Our program concludes with a student-led expedition to further reaches of Jordan or, depending on the political climate, a week-long trip to neighboring Israel.

Highlights

Following is a sample itinerary for Dragons Jordan and the Levant: Crossroads of Tradition and Modernity Summer Abroad Program. Our sample itineraries are based on past courses; in order to meet instructor team goals, as well as the goals and interests of particular student groups, future itineraries are subject to change.

Week One:
Fly into Aqaba at the northern edge of the historic Hijaz and the southern tip of the historic Levant. Begin language study, introduction to Jordanian culture, and exploration of Islamic tradition in this small, laid-back port city. Begin the trek in Lawrence of Arabia’s footsteps to the wild deserts of Wadi Rum.

Week Two:
Enjoy a 3-day home-stay with Bedouins on the edge of the Wadi Rum Protected Nature Reserve. Experience traditional Bedouin (indigenous people of the Arabian desert) life, explore the essence of rural Jordanian life, observe the role of Islam in daily life. Address the issues of conservation and the role of tourism in the Wadi Rum area.

Week Three:
Travel northwest to Petra, ancient stone city of the Nabateans. 3-day homestay with local Bedouin families in a village setting. Explore the differences in lifestyle, society and religious practice between families in a mountainous, village setting and those of the families of the Wadi Rum area. Travel into the Jordan Valley for two days of trekking and an exploration of the water management issues facing farmers in the Valley as well the preservation of the Dead Sea.

Week Four:
Wind out of the Jordan Valley and head towards Jordan’s historically Christian city of Madaba. Experience an entirely different side of Jordan as you spend several days in a home-stay in Madaba with local Christian families. Combine this homestay with internships at local development and aid organizations in Madaba and nearby Amman.

Week Five:
Come out of Madaba and travel north through the rolling hills so characteristic of the Levant, visiting the Roman Decapolis city of Jerash and Ajloun castle before crossing the border north into Syria. A student directed itinerary for Syria may include time spent in Damascus, Crac du Chevaliers or Palmyra and will address comparisons between the historical and current forms of government in different sites visited.

Week Six:
Cross back into Jordan and bring all the themes of the Levantine adventure together. Students present independent study projects. Visits to religious sites and modern streets of Amman allow students to truly appreciate the clash of modernity and tradition currently being experienced in today’s Middle East. Fly back to New York.

Travel Types
  • 4th World Studies
  • Camping
  • Cooking
  • Environmental Studies
  • Hiking
  • Overland Tours
  • Native Culture Studies
  • Volunteering
  • Trekking
Type of Programs
  • High School Study Abroad
  • Adventure Travel
  • Community Service / Volunteerism
  • Language Immersion
  • Cultural Exploration

Languages
  • Arabic

Cost in US$:

6,900

Cost Includes:

Cost Include Description:

Tuition includes everything except international flight medical insurance and small personal expenses (personal calls home personal snacks aside from meals laundry services, email/internet cafes, etc.)

Credit Available

no

This Program is open to

American, European, Canadian, Australian, South African, Kiwi, Worldwide, Asian Participant.

Participants Travel to Jordan

in Groups

Application Process Involves
  • Written Application
  • Letters of Reference
  • Phone/Video Interview
  • Physical Exam/Health Records
Typically The Application Process Time is
1 week
Where There Be Dragons's Mission Statement

Dragons programs are authentic, rugged and profound learning adventures that expose the beautiful and complex realities of the countries in which we travel. Featuring extended itineraries, Dragons programs encourage deep immersion into strikingly different physical and cultural landscapes, combining the best in experiential education, travel, service learning, and physically and intellectually challenging experiences. While programs vary in their focus - with some trekking and wilderness intensive, others strong on service and development studies, and still others language-oriented - all Dragons journeys are designed above all else to be fun, safe and honest educational experiences.

Year Founded

1993

GoAbroad.com