Discover Amman
Jordan is home to Petra, one of the new 7 Wonders of the World. Teeming with exciting history, the still standing, awe-inspiring Palace Tombs was the capital of the Nabataean empire over 2000 years ago.
The Ma’In Hot Springs are a series of hot mineral springs and waterfalls to which people have traveled for thermal treatments and leisurely baths for centuries. Notable historical figures have been said to bathed in and sought healing from the springs, one of the most famous being King Herod.
Don’t miss these Discovery Compass activities in Amman!
Intercultural
Intercultural experiences highlight exposure with the local culture, promoting a multilateral exchange of ideas, language and opinions.
Take an excursion to Wadi Rum. On the excursion to Wadi Rum students get to spend time with Bedouins who guide them through the desert and cook meals for them. They exchange stories and students always have fantastic time learning about authentic Bedouin life.
Reenact a traditional Arab wedding. Students will learn about what a traditional Jordanian wedding in the city of Salt looks like. Students wear traditional clothing and go through the ceremony while the rest of the students (also dressed in traditional clothes) watch.
Historical
ISA excursions and cultural activities highlight historical parts of the local culture to help students better understand their new environment.
Visit the famous city of Petra in the south of Jordan. Petra is the city of the Edomites dating back to nearly 2000 B.C. It’s now inhabited by Egyptian Bedouins and is Jordan’s most-visited tourist attractions.
Explore ancient ruins and architecture in Jerash and Ajloun in the north of Jordan. Jerash has well-preserved Roman architecture while Ajloun showcases Arab castles from the Crusades.
Sociopolitical
Sociopolitical discovery highlights social and political activities or experiences.
Attend local political events to stay up to date and in the know. Local ISA staff works to help students attend political events such as panels, forums and museum exhibits around the city so students can learn and engage in the historical and present political climates in the country and region.
Professional
Professional experiences provide exposure to professional development opportunities during an ISA program.
Participate in a Service Learning program. We have placements that enable students to try out different professional roles during their study abroad.
A great way to gain exposure to the local culture and build professional experience in Amman is to volunteer. Students are encouraged to work in conjunction with ISA on-site staff to identify local volunteer opportunities suited to their particular interests.
Environmental
Environmental experiences expose students to different environmental aspects of the host country.
Visit a family run farm to learn about the region’s specialized agriculture. In Ghor al Mazra’a students will visit a family run farm to learn about the environment and how farmers in the region go about cultivating their specialized crops.
Take a dip in the the Ma’In Hot Springs. The Ma’In Hot Springs are a series of hot mineral springs and waterfalls to which people have traveled for thermal treatments and leisurely baths. Notable historical figures have been said to bathed in and sought healing from the springs, one of the most famous being King Herod.
There’s so much more going on in Amman. To find out more, check out the Amman Culture Corner.
The 2015 City Discovery Series aims to showcase one of ISA’s program locations each week. Facts about each location and Discovery Compass activity examples are given, highlighting the areas of Intercultural, Historical, Sociopolitical, Professional and Environmental discovery. The Discovery Compass aims to help students have the best possible study abroad experience by helping them to gain a better understanding of the local environment, customs and people through a variety of experiences.
If you’d like to see more blog posts about Amman and Jordan, you might find these helpful:
3 Common Myths About Studying Abroad in Jordan
10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Jordan
