Letter to Parents and Guardians
We are honored that you and your child are interested in the Journey to Jordan program. It is only natural that you may feel some degree of doubt and apprehension at the prospect of so much time overseas. 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 an article along those lines, and click here for more on safety and security issues. Please know that 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.
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 more than 25 years. Over 200 Americans and students from around the world study there during most academic terms.
Mr. Ethan Morton-Jerome will serve as Program Assistant/Academic Adviser in Washington, D.C. and in Jordan. He will be on hand 24/7 for the duration of the program to ensure a safe, productive and memorable experience for students. Ethan has a Master's degree in Intercultural Studies and will complete a second M.A. degree in Arab Studies at Georgetown University in spring 2008. He completed a graduate course at the Institute of International Mediation and Conflict Resolution at The Hague, Netherlands. Ethan has studied Arabic for three years at Georgetown, the University of Michigan, and in Cairo at the International Language Institute. He led seven study tours to Egypt for university students, where he lived for a year and a half while working for a study abroad program and coordinating travel through several countries in the region, including Jordan. He was faculty advisor for a student delegation to the Model Arab League and taught courses in Sociology, History, and Political Science, including Arab-Israeli Conflict, Contemporary World Affairs, History of the Middle East, and Modern Social Problems. Ethan was the recipient of an Oman Research Grant in 2007.
Also on hand 24/7 for the duration of the program as chaperone, mentor, and general assistant will be Ms. Opal Carlson. Opal is a nontraditional (late twenties) Social Work major with an Associate of Arts and Sciences Degree, a degree in Arabic (high proficiency level), and ongoing studies of Arab culture, Islam, and the Middle East. She has worked as an Arabic tutor and a teacher assistant. Opal has extensive travel experience in the Middle East and other regions. Her professional background includes several years of supervisory and leadership experience. Her international experience has also involved Spanish and German through a five-week social work program in Guatemala involving service projects and a year in Austria on the American Field Service (AFS) Intercultural Exchange program.
Assisting Ethan and Opal will be four program alumni, previous participants selected in another competitive process. They will help new participants with the transition into a new country and culture and will coordinate interaction with Jordanian youth organizations.
Before the summer program begins, I will travel with Ethan and Opal to visit many of the people and places we work with in Jordan. I will accompany the group while in Washington, D.C. and traveling to/from Jordan, staying with them for a week each time. The three of us will greet students at the airport in Washington, D.C. and will see them off in August as they return home.
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, including the Cultural Affairs Attache, Mr. David Mees. Another good friend is Dr. Ibtesam Al-Atiyat, who visited UW-Green Bay a year ago as a Fulbright Scholar-In-Residence and is now at the United Nations University 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.
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, a University of Jordan Vice President who visited us in November, 2006 to sign an official Memorandum of Understanding with UW-Green Bay.
Ethan, Opal, and the students will stay at a hotel (two students per room) in a busy area near the University of Jordan. The hotel staff has proven to be caring and helpful. The students will also enjoy four-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.
Students will be briefed on the most effective ways to address needs, problems, and concerns. Each student will receive a cell phone with a pre-loaded contact list including all of those mentioned above. Wireless Internet will be available at the program hotel and the University of Jordan, and there are inexpensive Internet cafes in the area.
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