Having just completed a year-long study abroad program in Egypt, Ashton Gelat ’13 initially thought that spending summer 2012 living in Jordan wouldn’t be much different. She was awarded a U.S. Department of State Critical Language Scholarship for study of Arabic in Amman, Jordan. Read below Ashton’s own words about her experiences.
I was pleasantly surprised to discover Jordan, and more specifically the Levant, had a different feel and vibe completely unique unto itself. Whereas Cairo was bustling, loud, and fast, I found Amman to be a much more tranquil environment despite its 2.8 million inhabitants!
My program in Jordan was through the Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, which created an intensive eight-week program of language immersion for critical languages. At first, the 10-12 hours per day of Arabic study seemed as if it would overwhelm the entire summer, precluding any experiences outside of the library or the terrace I frequented to study. However, I quickly learned that flashcards can be used in the back of taxis; papers can be written on iPhones; and notes can be carried in a large purse.
On the way to local music concerts, archaeological sites, dinner, or while experiencing the traditional highly-sweetened mint tea with hookah, I would whip out my notes and furiously study during my down time. Jordan became a series of experiences interspersed with even more experiences.Through this bizarre time management, I was able to visit all the historical sites in Jordan that had drawn me to study in the antiquity-filled country: Petra, the ancient city carved out of stone; Wadi Rum, a deep and beautiful sandstone and granite valley in which I camped with local Bedouins and slept under the stars; Jerosh, an ancient Greco-Roman city filled with well-preserved ruins and columns reminiscent of the ancient empire in its zenith; Umm Qais, a town with a breathtaking view overlooking the Sea of Tiberias and Galilee of Biblical renown, the Golan Heights, and the Yarmouk river that feeds into the Dead Sea.
The language pledge of the program and studying Arabic allowed me to fully immerse in the local culture, experiencing life from a completely different perspective. Living abroad has solidified my interest in studying and working overseas in an attempt to gain fluency in Arabic and to bridge the gap between Western and Middle Eastern culture.
As a young woman of Palestinian heritage, my time in Jordan was particularly eye-opening to the various socio-political thoughts within the region. Regardless of my career objectives, cross-cultural understanding is applicable in any environment, whether in Sherman or in a foreign country. I hope to continue my involvement with the State Department and its various efforts to support language education.
Ashton, completing a major in international relations and minors in Spanish and philosophy, is Austin College’s Ruth Adair McNair Presidential Scholar, preparing for a future that might take her anywhere.