Artsbridge

The students have arrived, and are in the midst of orientation, so I thought I would briefly mention my wonderful introduction to Middle Eastern culture and youth this summer. I was lucky enough to be a part of a non-profit organization called Artsbridge that conducts a summer camp utilizing art to reach teenagers caught in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict. I worked as the photography instructor at Artsbridge, teaching about the collaborative possibilities the medium offers. We worked on portraiture, still life arrangements and interesting compositions. Artsbridge was a truly amazing experience- I found my work with the kids and the progress they made in my seminar to be incredibly rewarding. The camp provided a safe environment for youth affected by the Palestinian-Israeli conflict to come together and discuss and reflect on their thoughts and experiences. I was also able to help with the film class where I watched proudly as the students pulled together to create an impressive collection of short films. The whole program culminated in a grand exhibition of all of the students’ work and final projects. I think the smiles, positive energy and vibrancy of that evening was a testament to all that was achieved through both the art classes and the dialogue sessions. Being in Jordan, so close to the Israeli/Palestinian territories, I am so fortunate to have the ability to visit the kids I worked with!

for more info about this program visit: http://www.artsbridgecamp.org

Sightseeing

Last weekend, the Junior Fellows and an assortment of faculty members took a couple of day trips to experience Jordan's diverse history.

• The Citadel
The Citadel is a collection of ruins from ancient Rabbath-Amman. The site sits on top of a mountain with an amazing panoramic view of housing complexes covering entire hills, the Roman Theater, and the dessert landscape beyond. Even in the presence of such amazing history and architecture, it was difficult to keep my eyes off of the surrounding views. A few of us were lucky enough to get a short, private tour from a security guard. We learned what each building was used for and a bit about the time when the compound existed and flourished.

• The Roman Theater
Below the Citadel and built into a hillside is the restored Roman Theater. The theater dates back to the second century AD, and is still used as a performance venue today. We drank sweet mint tea and climbed the tiers of seats to sit and enjoy the view of the stage from the top.

• Ajlun Castle
This impressive castle sits on top of a hill with a gorgeous view of the Northern Jordan Valley’s farmlands. Saladin’s general built Ajlun in 1184 AD to guard and control the iron mines, and deter the crusaders. The location allowed Saladin’s men to dominate the three main routes into the Jordan Valley and protect the communication between Jordan and Syria. Entering the castle we passed the first lines of defense- we crossed the drawbridge over the dry moat and into the walls, which had small slits for shooting arrows, and walked below the openings in the ceilings where buckets of hot water would have rained down on intruders. We saw remains from the church’s mosaic floor, climbed along the towers of the roof and explored the castle’s many rooms and staircases.

• Jerash Ruins
Jerash is known as one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world, and I can see why. The site is expansive and filled with intricately carved structures and ornate colonnaded streets. Jerash is absolutely breathtaking. The limestone blocks that make up much of the buildings are enormous, the structures grand and the plazas and public squares wide open. Jerash was hidden for centuries in sand and has been continually excavated for the past 70 years, in fact, I saw some archeologists at work measuring and graphing parts of the city.

St. Georges Mosaic Church

Last week, Will, Nayab, Sam, Georgia and I went into Madaba to see the famous St. Georges church, which houses an impressive and beautiful mosaic map of the Middle East. In addition to the map that sprawls over the floor, the walls are covered with mosaic artworks inspired by Christian imagery. The church is quaint and very peaceful- a wonderful introduction to the town of Madaba. Afterwards, we went on a self-directed walking tour and experienced the streets of Madaba by day.

Just Arrived

I arrived at King’s Academy yesterday evening. The view from the taxi of sprawling dessert juxtaposed with forestation efforts and historic architecture mixed with more modern houses springing up from the sand was captivating. It was obvious I was in a part of the world unlike any other I have visited, and I wanted to drink it all in. Upon arriving at the grand gates of the campus, Nayab and I were warmly welcomed and showed to our rooms. We then proceeded to a lovely dinner under the deepening sky where we met the other fellows. In a whirlwind of new, strange scenery, an incredibly beautiful campus, the pick-up game on the soccer stadium under the lights- and stars- and jetlag, my first night was certainly overwhelming.

Today we began our tasks of readying the school for the arrival of the 260 students who will be joining us in a couple of weeks.

Nayab, Pamela and I ventured out of the heavily guarded, perfectly manicured campus today to see what everyday life on the streets of Madaba looked like. As wonderful as the sights were- the glowing stars overhead, the shops closing down and people rushing to meet each other after work- the taste of downtown Madaba was out of this world. We feasted on typical street fare- kabob, falafel, and chicken shawarma- and let me tell you, local style is definitely my style. Not only was the food incredible and the atmosphere that wonderful blend of comfortable and foreign, but also the prices were unbeatable! Each sandwich we shared was about 20 cents!

A Dream Come True

It has been a long time dream of mine to travel to the Middle East and explore the region’s historical, spiritual, vibrant and beautiful culture. The Islamic faith and tradition fascinate me, and I love the sounds of the Arabic language. I am so thrilled that my graduation from Phillips Andover and the evolution of King’s Academy coincided – it seems as though the stars have aligned perfectly to make this journey possible, for this opportunity truly feels too good to be true.

Specifically, the King’s Academy Gap Year Fellow program is a combination of internship, scholarship and cultural exchange. We will be completely engaged in campus life from, as the website reads, attending Arabic classes, the Gap Year seminar and [our] internship by day, to assisting with co-curricular activities in the afternoon, and then finally aiding the faculty in the dorms at night.

It seems that the travel bug has bitten me recently, and I am in the perfect position to indulge in the itch to move, see, hear and experience. I hope soon to visit the surrounding countries as well as jet off to new horizons from Eastern Europe, to the mythic greek isles, to bustling India.