You may see signs like this, but Jordan is much more than the stereotypical Middle East of camels and sand dunes.

The former first lady of Jordan, Queen Noor (an Arab American), published a book in 2003 titled Leap of Faith: Memoirs of an Unexpected Life. Writing about her first impressions of Jordan, she recalled looking through the window of her aircraft, “spellbound by the serene expanse of desert landscape washed golden by the retreating sun at dusk.  I was overwhelmed by an extraordinary sensation of belonging, an almost mystical sense of peace. Upon arriving, she enjoyed "warmth and joy in everyone and everything" and "was entranced by the delightful harmony of past and present."

Of Jordan's capital, the site of our Arabic Institute, Queen Noor said, “Amman looked classically Mediterranean with its white limestone buildings and villas ranging over and beyond the seven fabled hills that Roman general Ptolemy II Philadelphus had conquered in the third century B.C.”

Those participating in the Journey to Jordan program will enjoy similar wonders. Time spent in other countries and cultures usually results in life-changing experiences and rich memories, broadening horizons along the way.

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From the Jordan Times, September 27, 2007

Jordanians are not a bit surprised by the recent findings of the Pew Global Attitudes survey. Conducted in 47 countries, it only confirmed what is already known: that our citizens give very high marks to their leadership and the way their country is being governed. Incidentally, among the leaders of several Middle Eastern countries, His Majesty King Abdullah scored the highest in popularity.

The Washington-based Pew Research Centre, an independent opinion research group that examines and measures national trends and attitudes, found that 91 per cent of Jordanians hold their leadership in very high esteem, the highest rating among the Middle Eastern countries polled.

Equally pleasant is the fact that 89 per cent of Jordanians feel secure in their country, which makes the Kingdom the safest to live in the region, and the envy of many other countries.

The finding shows that safety in the country is highly reassuring at a time when this particular issue worries most peoples in the region.

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Who would have guessed that it snows in Jordan?  Believe it or not, winters there bring occasional storms with over a foot of snow.  The first photo below shows the main gate of the University of Jordan, our main program partner in Amman. Do not be fooled by the the last photo. It pictures Jordanian Mountaineer Mostafa Mahmoud Salameh, who reached the top of Mt. Everest on May 25, 2008, Jordan's Independence Day!

During the Journey to Jordan program, sun and heat (dry, not humid) are the mainstays, with wonderfully cool evenings.

 

 

For more about Jordan, visit the "Web Links" page.