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| U.S. students and teacher standing with H.R.H. Prince Firas on the steps of the Royal Palace following a 45-minute meeting. | U.S. students on the front steps of the Baptist School in Amman, Jordan. |
The web site includes:
Welcome to the Paso-Amman Exchange Program Information Page. The 7 students from the Northern portion of San Luis Obispo County, California (Paso Robles, Templeton, Shandon, and Atascadero, California) have just returned from a one month exchange in Amman, Jordan. They attended classes and learned about a different culture. During the Summer of 1998 11 students from Amman traveled to Paso Robles, California. You can see some of their experiences using the links above.
If you would like more information, to make a donation, or to get an application, please go to the Jordan information page.
We've gotten two reports from our representatives in Jordan! Please read the information below. After the reports you'll find the schedule. If you would like copies of the emails, please email Gene Miller
Message #1:
Message #2:
Our schedule in Jordan looks like this:
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We are here at Tuleen's beautiful home overlooking some of the Jordan Valley toward Salt. Hot days and cool evenings. This is my first chance to e-mail since arrival! Each student is in a wonderful, loving family. We see each other every few days for classes, but mostly we are in a family. Many, many experiences to share. We have no digital camera, so we may develop a roll or two and scan some photos to you. Yesterday we drove below sea level to swim in the Dead Sea!! Lots of salt and heavy mineral water. We watched the sun set as we floated effortlessy atop the water! The host dad in my family (Faisal) and I went to the oldest market in the area yesterday morning. A loud cultural experience with vendors screaming their deals in Arabic while we all walk along in a crowded open market. Many in the center of the city are in old style of dress. The other afternoon we visited a museum atop a hill overlooking the Roman Amphitheater. We saw actual Dead Sea Scrolls as well as artifacts from thousands of years of human history. Incredible.
My photos are of everyday life in Amman as well as taking pictures of the students looking at all these things. Standing atop Mt. Nebo and overlooking the Jordan Valley and West Bank was amazing. We saw lots of ancient Roman mosaics as we strolled through Madaba. That day concluded with a feast at the farm of Reem's grandparents.
I've been to the embassy a couple of times to prepare for our tour on July 11. I've also visited the police station to take care of some business. My host family has some wonderful people. It's a pleasure to awaken each morning and realize I'm in Jordan. Breakfast foods are an education. Then, on the move a lot during the day. About 3PM is the big meal of the day, and then at about 10PM some melon or other thing with our tea. Doing lots of tea. I've treasured watching the sunsets as the orange dot sinks into the West Bank. It's 100% cultural education by full immersion. Just a while ago the call to prayer came from one of the many mosques we see. It's a sharp reminder that we are in a foreign culture.
Anyway, classes are great, the field trips are memorable, and all students have fully adjusted to the time change. Our host families are very kind, as are ALL the Jordanians I have spoken with. I'm plotting an effective slide and video presentation to the faculty about our powerful experiences. The students will all make presentations to classes in September to demystify this region of the world. Maybe a quick update on the website that we are here and include some of the items I've mentioned? There is so much more to share, but it's time to go. Happy 4th to our favorite right wingers. I can't wait to share the stories and photos with you....without putting you to sleep. If you see any teachers or staff who care, please tell them it is even more rewarding that we had expected. We are extremely safe and doing very well in our lives here in Amman!
Many thanks,
Abu Gregg
Amman is a city of about 2 million. The downtown area is quite busy with foot traffic and lots of cars weaving in and out of traffic. The 7 students and I are in host families in and around Amman. Stephanie Horn lives in a beautiful home in Fuhais while Brandon Kline's nice home is just south of the city, in Marj Al Hammam. Each student is now quite comfortable as a member of the family. Parents and siblings seem to enjoy our use of English and they enjoy the humor called teasing. It is quite a warm feeling. The parents take their responsibility for us quite seriously. This culture has the family as its central feature. One is motivated here not by individual gain but by the respect it may bring to fam,ilies. Evenb the well being of neighbors has a high priority.
We meet at the school most mornings for classroom instruction. Our host school has provided us morning classes on such topics as Islamic art, the Arab language, the origin and beliefs of Islam, and environmental issues in Jordan. We have taken several field trips to augment our studies, including a long drive in the desert to visit a wildlife preserve. Our hosts are eager to begin a dialogue with the Science Department and interested students at PRHS! I have a bundle of brochures and posters about their efforts that will somehow fit in my suitcase.
We had a very interesting tour of the American embassy on July 8. We survived the careful (but friendly) security procedures of this huge complex and then went through the grounds wioth Charlie Heffernan, head of the Consul. We were escorted to the ambassador's residence (a very impressive building) and poured ourselves some tea while awaiting the ambassador. The silverware and cups/saucers were all identified as representing the United States of America. Very official looking. While chatting on sofas in the library of his residence, Ambassador Robert Burns entered and greeted each of us personally, the Americans and the Jordanian guests. I later learned he was scheduled for about 5 minutes with us, but we ended up talking for 45 minutes! It was a rewarding conversation, and topics included King Hussein, King Abdullah, the people of Jordan, the daily duties of an ambassador, and other related topics. We felt quite fortunate. Many of us stuffed the "official" napkins into our pockets as souvenirs.
We have also been good tourists. Many of us felt the sting of salt water in our eyes as we floated on the Dead Sea. I was amazed to be effortlessly atop the water while gazing over into the land known as the West Bank. The temperature was hot, and the thick water was also quite warm. After a few hours, many of the students enjoyed a quick shower to qualify for the hotel's "non-salt" swimming pool.
We may have a surprise meeting in a few days. Last February, the
Tribune featured a front-page story about the death of King Hussein. Below it was a story about our trip to Jordan. Well, editions of that paper have been placed on the desk of King Abdullah as well as another member of the Royal Family!! Through contacts we made during our speech to the Rotary Club, a member of the audience who works closely with the Royal Family said he would let His Majesty know about our exchange program and he would try to arrange a meeting for us with the King. We don't know if this will happen, but it is certainly an exciting prospect for us! Tomorrow at 5 AM we begin our journey south to the famous city of Petra, with the city facade carved out of the Red stone by Nebateans. We will then continu south to visit the only port city in this country, a recreation area known as Aqaba. We'll return on July 12 and then, after a couple of days back in familiar Amman, we'll visit Jerusalem for 4 full days.
The students and I are frightened at the thought of the Farewell Dinner that will be held for us on July 21. We spoke briefly about this event and many of us had tears in our eyes at the thought of having to say goodbye to our families. We feel so connected to these wonderful people and do not want to leave this journey of a lifetime. Upon our return, it is our mission to make presentations to civic groups and classrooms so that others who have very little awareness of this region will know just how safe and friendly this part of the Middle East is for the native population and for those of us lucky enough to be visitors.
Last summer Husam Abd Dayem lived in my home for one month as part of this exchange program. It was a great experience to share our town and the Central Coast with him. Now, he is sitting next to me as I type these words on the family's computer. It's amazing to imagine that the 7 students and I are living for 4 weeks in this ancient culture. We are aware of this opportunity and will make the most of it.
Sincerely,
Gregg Williams
Loving the Adventure Each Day!!!
Saturday, June 26-arrival at 7PM
Sunday, June 27 (Orientation)
Monday,
June 28 (Orientation)
Tuesday, June 29 (Classroom instruction)
Wednesday, June 30 (Classroom instruction)
Thursday, July 1 (Tour of Madaba)
Friday, July 2 (Host-family time)
Saturday, July 3 (Dead Sea)
Sunday, July 4 (Classroom instruction)
Monday, July 5 (Classroom instruction and Rotary Club presentation)
Tuesday, July 6 (Shomari Tour)
Wednesday, July 7 (Classroom instruction)
Thursday, July 8 (tour of US Embassy)
Friday, July 9 (Host-family time)
Saturday, July 10 (Classroom instruction)
Sunday, July 11(Petra)
Monday, July 12 (Aqaba)
Tuesday, July 13 (City Hall Tour)
Wednesday, July 14 (Tour of Jerash)
Thursday, July 15 (Host-family Time)
Friday, July 16 to Tuesday, July 20 (Trip to Jerusalem)
Wednesday, July 21 (Farewell dinner)
Thursday, July 22 (Fly out of Amman.)
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If you find any problems with this page, please email Gene Miller
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