IU Southeast students broaden their horizons in Jordan
Biology students take an adventure across the world in the spring of 2019.
Al-Khazneh, a temple in the city of Petra. Photo courtesy of Loren Sieg.
Located in Western Asia, on the East Bank of the Jordan River and directly northeast of Saudi Arabia, you’ll find the small 35.5 thousand square mile country, Jordan. It isn’t the place that first comes to mind when a student thinks of studying abroad, like the crowded cobblestone streets of Western Europe. Jordan’s overlooked stature is precisely why the opportunity to visit this tiny, nearly landlocked country is so uniquely significant to our small Ohio Valley campus.
Approximately 6,305 miles lie between Indiana and Jordan, a distance near equivalent to the circumference of the moon. Half a world away, far from the humid temperamental southern Indiana climate, IU Southeast students, led by Associate Professor of Biology Omar Attum, trekked their way through desert mountains across the entire nation and explored an entirely new culture to broaden their horizons.
“The cultural experience in Jordan was quite different than that of the U.S.,” said IU Southeast student Madison Reff, a senior majoring in biology. “But the Jordanian people were very welcoming. Acknowledging and respecting their culture will earn you the same in return.”
Beginning their trip in the capital city Amman, students were first exposed to traditional Jordan cuisine through a culinary lesson at Beit Sitti, a small business that offers the unique learning opportunity to cook your own Arabic food in one of Amman’s oldest neighborhoods, making it a truly immersive experience.
“I have found good food and laughs can bring people together, despite a language barrier,” said Reff.
The group was then exposed to architectural beauty in the town of Umm Qais and the ancient ruins of Gadara before venturing to Wadi Rum, a protected area well known for its picturesque natural beauty.
Dr. Omar Attum, left, and students hiking in Jordan. Photo courtesy of Madison Reff.
In Wadi Rum, students rode camels through the desert and hiked the tallest mountain in Jordan, Jabal Umm ad Dami. For biology students, the geography of Jordan offered a promising experience to observe different landscapes and environments.
“Despite being in the middle of the desert, the countryside was flush with vibrant scenery, historic ruins, colorful coral reefs and interesting wildlife,” said Loren Sieg, a senior biology student.
The group spent several days in the desert before venturing off on a 12 to 14-mile hike, traveling through different archeological sites along the way to Petra, an ancient city that was lost to civilization for years until it was rediscovered in 1812, seemingly untouched. There, students were allowed the opportunity to explore historical sites dated back as early as the fourth century B.C.
After another night of hot desert air, the group then made its way to the coastal city of Aqaba and the breath of fresh air offered by the cool breezes of the Red Sea. While there, students snorkeled and reached new depths as they studied marine life and conducted surveys of coral reefs. For Sieg, the trip was the opportunity of a lifetime.
“I study Red Sea reef fish with Omar Attum. Being able to study my reefs from their location looks good on my curriculum vitae, and it should help me get into graduate school,” Sieg said.
Although the opportunity to research the biological elements of Jordan is an astounding learning experience, it is the friendships built and the memories made on the trip that will stick with the students for a lifetime.
“New friendships were made over many cups of Jordanian tea,” said Reff. “My favorite memory of the trip were the late night conversations and efforts to finish our field notebooks with the occasional breeze from the Red Sea.”
Students travel in trucks. Photo courtesy of Madison Reff.