On our second day in Jordan, we went to the University of Amman to take our placement exams. These exams determined whether we would be placed in the lower or higher level for the program. Afterwards, we visited City Mall, another big fancy mall similar to Mecca Mall. We still had a lot of fun. Coincidentally, this day turned out to be Dr. and Mrs. Shalabi’s 20^th anniversary. As a surprise, we bought a cake, some sweets, and we all signed a card.

Departure from the US
As we waited in line to board the plane at the airport terminal, a mix of emotions was coursing through our minds. Some of us were anxious over leaving our parents for the first time, especially to a destination so far away. However, we all felt excitement as we began to realize the amazing journey we were about to embark on. The prospect of going to Amman, Jordan to learn Standard Arabic, pick up on the colloquial Arabic spoken by native Jordanians, and experience the Middle Eastern culture to the fullest was almost too much to handle. Everyone felt safe with Dr. Shalabi as our chaperone, and he made us feel at ease before our 11 hour flight. The flight itself was a bit uncomfortable, being so long, but we got through it. Some of us got to know each other a lot better when we hadn’t known each other at all.

Arriving in Jordan
Once we arrived, it felt great to get out of the plane. It was difficult adjusting to the new environment, as well as the hotel. We were all tired, but we still found the energy to go out and take a tour of the University of Amman. Afterwards, we went to Mr. Issa’s house to eat mansaf, a traditional dish served in Jordan that some of us were trying for the first time. In the same day, we visited Mecca Mall. As we walked through and observed the behavior and culture of native Jordanians, many of us experienced culture shock, as it wasn’t what we were previously expecting. Some of us were also surprised to see many American franchises there, such as Starbucks Café, or McDonald’s. After what seemed to be the longest day of our lives, we finally headed back to our hotel to get some rest.