Author: Zachary Lewandowski               Author: International Business and Arabic Major

Taken in front of the treasury at Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

“Ahlan Wa Sahlan” directly translates to “Welcome” in the English language. It is by far the most common greeting you’ll hear in Jordan. However, despite its wide use, every utterance of it is full of earnest sincerity and genuine hospitality. It is a phrase that truly captures the kind-hearted nature of Jordanians and their willingness to give of themselves for the sake of others.

In addition to all of this, it is one of the Arabic phrases that I was most familiar with before beginning my nine-week stay in Amman, Jordan. Having studied Arabic at the University of Arkansas for three years, I was excited to finally experience the language in its native context. However, I encountered one small problem within my first few hours in Amman. For three years, I’ve studied fusha or formal Arabic; it’s the type of Arabic that is typically seen in religious texts and on the news. Jordanians, however, speak in what is called ammiya or local Arabic. I was aware that there were a few differences between the two dialects, but I never anticipated that there would be as many differences as there truly are. In my first few weeks in Amman, I struggled to recognize and remember the differences in the two dialects. However, thanks to the patience of my incredible professor and my gracious host family, I slowly began to grasp the local dialect. Although I felt exhausted from twenty-one hours of class each week, the end result certainly justified the means. Despite not knowing a single word in the local dialect upon my arrival, I was able to give a fifteen-minute presentation on the Syrian-refugee crisis in it by the end of the program. I’m thankful for the foundation that was built by my professors at the University of Arkansas prior to this experience, and I’m beyond excited to continue to develop my skills as I progress in my study of the Arabic language.

Jordan is a country ripe with historical sites, natural landmarks, and a plethora of other experiences—all of which, I made sure to capitalize on in my time there. One of my favorite experiences was hiking through Wadi Mujib, a river canyon located next to the Dead Sea. The dark red walls of the canyon provide plenty of shade as you make your way against the current toward the towering waterfall that awaits you. All the places I visited provided incredible amounts information about Jordan’s history and culture, but none were as helpful as living with my host family. My host family was instrumental in my understanding of Jordanian culture. They taught me the spectacular pace of life by which Jordanians live and the incredible values which they strive to establish in their homes.

For those of you with aspirations of studying abroad, or even those with just the slightest of interests, my first piece of advice to you is simple: do it. Studying abroad has been one of the most eye-opening and growth-filled experiences of my life, and I implore you do whatever it takes to study abroad at some point in your college career. I promise you that it will be a decision that you won’t regret. Being immersed in a new language, exploring new places, and engaging with another culture are powerful experiences that develop us as humans. So, take that first step and prepare yourself for an unforgettable journey.