Jordan : Ayah Amer (Final Reflections)
Final Reflections
The most memorable thing about my program was the people that I met and the conversations that we had with one another. Living in a country where my identity as a Palestinian was not only shared with a large number of people, but also welcomed with such a sincere warmth was unlike anything I had experienced before. I felt a deep sense of community, where my cultural background fit into a majority, rather than a small minority among other small minorities. Walking into restaurants or cafes and hearing the music I grew up listening to at home—classics like Fairuz or Abdel Halim Hafiz—and immersing myself in the language spoken by all past generations of my family provided me with a deeper connection to them and our history.
A driving factor for my selection of this program was my grandparents, who primarily speak Arabic. While I was abroad in Jordan, my grandparents spent some time in Amman before heading to their home in Palestine for the summer. I met up with them during their short stay and immediately recognized how far my fluency in Arabic had progressed since being in Jordan and spending everyday conversing with locals. I learned how invaluable learning to communicate beyond language barriers is and the value of getting to know strangers and peers beyond first impressions. I can confidently say that this educational experience has significantly enriched my personal and professional life.
Ayah Amer
Majors: Neurobiology and Psychology
Hometown: Greenfield, Wisconsin