Letter to Parents and Guardians
from Journey to Jordan
Program Director Jay Harris
It is only natural that you may feel some degree of doubt and apprehension at the prospect of your child spending so much time abroad in a foreign culture. You may have special concerns about the program location, a country in the Middle East. However, you are probably aware that there are numerous misunderstandings and stereotypes about that region. Our view is "all things in perspective." Click here for facts and thoughts about safety and security in perspective. We have approached every aspect of program planning with students’ security and well-being as our foremost concern. Below is more information about our staff and our friends in Jordan.
Background
The Journey to Jordan program is
funded by a grant from
the U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural
Affairs.
The State Department selected Jordan as a program
location for several reasons, including general safety and security
levels.
The program timing is good from the standpoint of Jordan's "Amman Declaration,"
which calls for "more dialogue, cooperation
and understanding between Western and Muslim civilizations" and emphasizes that
"ties between the two cultures should be built on integration and mutual
respect...." (Jordan Times, April 25, 2006). Some of the rationale and
need for such ties, and for learning Arabic and experiencing other
cultures, can be found here.
The students
participating in Journey to Jordan will not be the only American influence
in a country hosting a steady
stream of tourists, business professionals, and cultural ambassadors. The Wisconsin Alumni Association
took a
group to Jordan in November 2006, and many Jordanians are graduates of American universities. Jordan is a strong
ally of the United States. In fact, a Congressional delegation visited
Jordan in 2004 to discuss issues important to both countries. A
Congressional Friends of Jordan Caucus was created in March 2008. The
University of Jordan, our main program partner, has provided Arabic
language training for American students for nearly 30 years. Over 200
Americans and students from around the world study there during most
academic terms.
Staff
Ms.
Catherine "Cat" Botelho will be the In-Country
Director in Jordan. She will be on hand 24/7
for the duration of the program to ensure a safe, productive and
memorable experience for students.
As a Peace Corps
volunteer in Jordan, Cat completed intensive cross-cultural,
language, and technical pre-service training, taught English
classes,
worked co-operatively
with the Ministry of Education in curriculum assessment and
development, implemented enrichment programs for students, and
studied Arabic for nearly 800 hours with a private tutor.
She is now a
Ph.D.
Student in Second
Language Acquisition and Teaching at the University of
Arizona and a Graduate Associate
at the Center for Educational Resources in Culture, Language and
Literacy. The CERCLL is part of a network of National Language
Resource Centers, an association we are proud to feature through Journey
to Jordan. Cat is responsible for a "Mini Language School" in
Arabic and Arab culture for elementary school-aged children. She
assists colleagues and Project Managers with daily operations and
organizes training workshops for educators.
Also on hand
24/7 for the duration will be Mr. Faud Kahn,
serving as Program Assistant and mentor. Faud was a 2006 Journey to
Jordan participant and was selected by his peers as a group leader.
He is now a university student majoring in
Middle Eastern studies at
Before the summer program
begins, I will travel with Cat to visit many of the
people and places we work with in Jordan. I will accompany the
group during pre- and post-Jordan activities in Washington, D.C. and will
see them off in August as they return home. Also
in Washington will be Dr. Steve VandenAvond, an
independent evaluation specialist, and Amy Bartelme
(UWGB), who provides vital support for every aspect of the program.
Participants will hear from her with regard to things like flights,
for example.
In Jordan
The group
will
also have care and assistance offered by friends
awaiting them in Jordan. U.S. Embassy staff are among the first we meet
each summer for briefings on culture and safety. Dr. Ibtesam Al-Atiyat
visited
UW-Green Bay as a Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence and is now a professor in Amman. Also available to us throughout the program will
be Mr. Daoud Abboud, an alumnus of the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
and now a corporate CEO in Amman. Daoud is a loyal and resourceful
friend who provides valuable assistance each year, including a
delicious banquet of traditional Jordanian foods to welcome the
group.
Our friends also include high-level leaders like the CEO of the
American Chamber of Commerce in Amman and the CEO of the King
Abdullah II Fund for Development.
We have many other friends and contacts in Jordan due to previous programs, the leaders of NGO's, former host families, and so on. We also have the attention and support of many University of Jordan faculty and staff, including Dr. M. Eid Dirani, adviser to the president of the University of Jordan, who visited us in 2006 to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding with UW-Green Bay.
The program staff and students will stay in apartments (two students per room) in a busy area within a few minutes walk from the University of Jordan. The students will also enjoy three-week home stays with families who value the cross-cultural goals of the program. Families are screened and selected much like families who host exchange students in the U.S. We meet with hosts during our pre-program visit to Amman or in June before the host family period begins.
There is always the possibility of a health issue arising in Jordan, but the same can be said about a trip to other countries. Students will be covered by medical insurance required by the University of Wisconsin System, paid for by the program grant. The group will live and study near two modern hospitals with English-speaking doctors. We have physicians among our friends and host families. The University of Jordan has a health clinic that serves our purposes for minor needs. Our experience with clinic staff has been good.
Students will be briefed on the most effective ways to address needs, problems, and concerns. Each student will receive a cell phone with a contact list including program staff, Language Center staff, and the Embassy of the U.S. Wireless Internet and Internet cafes are readily accessible.
In Closing
Every care has been taken in the development of this exciting program. Previous participants have enjoyed a rich, memorable time in Jordan and returned home inspired to learn more about the Arabic language and the Middle East. They became more worldly young people who can succeed in and contribute to our complex, interconnected world.
This letter and the links above represent my best response to questions about health, safety and security, but do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Jay Harris
Jay Harris
Coordinator of International Projects
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay
Tel: (920) 465-5145