Typical Day
Two study abroad programs and three dialogues later, I can honestly say that the Jordan dialogue is one of the most class intensive programs I have been on. And I mean this in the best way possible. Maybe it’s because I fell in love with the Arabic language or maybe it’s because I am older and have a greater appreciation for all knowledge – I’m willing to bet it’s the first one – but I actively enjoyed going to class every day. The work itself is not very difficult, but it is a time commitment.
First, it is important to note that the work week in Jordan is from Sunday to Thursday and the weekend is Friday and Saturday. Our schedules are usually packed with classes, homework, group dinners, and excursions. The faculty do a wonderful job of making sure we get a complete experience, both inside and outside of the classroom.
A typical weekday for me starts around 8:00am when I get out of bed. I make myself a cup of instant Nescafe coffee and drink it as I get ready for school. I put on one of the three loose fitting long pants I own that are appropriate for class and throw on a shirt that’s still clean. I gather my books, my bag, and grab a piece of fruit or a cup of yogurt before running out the door. My roommates and I then make the 10-minute hike to Qasid to start class by 9:00am. Since my arrival in Jordan was my first introduction to the Arabic language, I am in the beginner level of Arabic with five other Northeastern Students. We have class from 9:00am – 1:00pm, with a 10-minute break every 50 minutes. When I first saw this schedule, I was worried that it was too much and would drag on. Fortunately, though, all of our professors are amazing and made the class fly by. We have two separate teachers; one for the first two hours and a different professor for the final two hours. We then have a break for lunch from 1:00pm – 2:00pm. A lot of students typically go across the street for 50 qirsh (70 cent) falafel wraps. I did this a few times, then started packing my own lunch for the sake of my wallet as well as my stomach.
After lunch, on Mondays and Wednesdays, we meet with our language partners from 2:00pm – 3:30pm. This is a lot less formal than normal class and we essentially learn “survival Arabic,” or whatever vocabulary we ask to learn that day. During the other weekdays, we have a guest lecturer from 2:00pm – 3:00pm. We have heard from various Jordanian individuals on topics such as the Arab Spring, Ramadan, and Women in Politics and Islam. After class, my roommates and I will typically go to Carrefour, the supermarket down the street from Qasid, to grab supplies for dinner. We make an effort to cook most nights and go out to recommended restaurants about once a week.
We get back home around 4:30pm and will typically do some homework at this time. Some of the students got gym memberships and often workout right after our final lecture of the day. I usually workout at the apartment or go on a run with one of the males on the dialogue later in the evening once the sun has started to go down (it is unsafe and is not recommended to run alone as a female). Finally, my roommates and I will sometimes cook a large family dinner. Some of us prepare the food, others, like myself, will cook and the rest will wash the dishes. It’s the easiest and most cost efficient option. When we do this, we often invite the group of guys that live below us to join. After dinner, we finish up our homework for the evening and most of my roommates will go to bed at this time. I typically go to bed pretty late, though, so I will go downstairs to hangout and play card games until it is time for bed.
