Dragons Middle East Semester Abroad: A Gap Year Program
Location
Jordan: Amman, Aqaba and 2 other cities
Description
The Fertile Crescent: A historically rich tapestry of vibrant cultures and dramatic landscapes situated within the modern context of profound political, cultural and spiritual change. Journeying through Jordan, Egypt and Israel, students live with rural and urban home-stay families, meet with spiritual leaders, NGOs and academics, and engage in intensive language study. Exploring the confluence between old and new, the hospitality and depth of a spiritual heritage, and the complexities of modernization, students will examine current political trends, social movements and environmental conservation efforts in the deserts, villages, rivers and seas of these countries.
Our journey together begins in the deserts of southern Jordan, as we spend our first week of orientation on the edge of the Wadi Rum Protected Nature Reserve, interacting with the local Bedouin population, many of whom still live nomadically, and whose traditions are considered by many to represent the roots of Arab culture. From Wadi Rum, we head to the nearby port city of Aqaba, where students begin their first set of home-stays and service placements at various local NGOs. Our time in southern Jordan allows us to explore issues of social and environmental development related to water management, the tourism industry and religious practice.
From Aqaba, we travel via northern Jordan to Jerusalem, where we trace the city's spiritual and religious heritage. We then cross into Egypt's Sinai Peninsula for a visit to St. Katherine's Monastery and an ascent to Mt. Sinai. Continuing across the northern Mediterranean coast toward the desert oasis of Siwa, we observe first hand how rapid modernization has impacted this isolated refuge. From Siwa, we travel through the Western desert to Luxor, in the heart of Saeed, and onto the High Dam at Aswan, where we spend time experiencing the Nubian flavor of the far south. As our time together comes to a close, we retrace our steps through the Sinai Peninsula and cross back into Jordan, where we return to our beginnings in the deserts of Wadi Rum. There we collect our experiences, reflecting upon issues of modernization and development in this critical and charged region of the contemporary world.
Highlights
Dragons Middle East: Fertile Crescent Semester Abroad explores the complex interplay of landscape & culture, ancient & contemporary, spirit & politics in Jordan and beyond.