For two weeks this summer, my wife Ashley and I had the experience of a lifetime when we traveled to Jordan to stay with a family, teach English, assist at a Bedouin clinic, and immerse ourselves into the Middle Eastern way of life. Our time there altered our understanding of Arabian culture and reminded us of the unique opportunities that exist within our own Darlington Community.
Like many of the day students who walk through the hallways of Darlington every day, Ashley and I have lived our entire lives in the state of Georgia. Although one can see a variety of lifestyles within our fine state, Ashley and I have come to share a passion for submerging ourselves in different cultures. That is one of the main reasons why we were both so attracted to teaching at Darlington. There is an amazing opportunity for both students and faculty alike to learn from people from all over the world on this campus.
I think back to my wife getting a chance to visit one of her former cheerleaders, Sara Zhang ('13), in Beijing and Shanghai, China. Together, Ashley and I visited Clara ('10) and Marina Moncunil ('10), and Carlos Charques ('07) in Barcelona, Spain. I can't forget the experience of taking Armando Zapata ('11) from Venezuela to my favorite place on earth, Athens, Ga., for a UGA football game. Ashley and I enjoyed dinner at Blue Fin several times with 2013 graduates Maria Barragan (Ecuador) and Susan Yao (China), where we listened to Susan tell us stories about her trips to Haiti and Africa.
We treasure the times in the dorms, classrooms, athletic fields, and dining hall talking with Mitchell Thurston ('14), Alex Munn ('13), Lauri Hacklin ('14), Chris Martinez Diaz-Gonzalez ('13), Polly ('13) and Toni von Saldern, and so many more who made greater impacts on us than I believe we had on them. Our perspectives of the world are vastly different than they were six years ago when we first came to Darlington, and this summer challenged those perspectives more than ever.
In the cradle of civilization, where some of the oldest cities in the world sprouted up around bodies of water separated by harsh deserts and arid mountain ranges, cultural change moves at a snail's pace while political change seems to occur hourly. It now sounds crazy to think that my wife and I would voluntarily consider visiting the Middle East for two weeks of our summer. However, two months ago the region was relatively calm, especially in Jordan, one of the most westernized nations in the Middle East. It is hard to imagine feeling more out of place than we did when we arrived.
We did our homework, talked to people who had spent time in the Middle East and read books about the region. Still, like many Americans, preconceived notions from what we had seen on CNN of rampant radical Islam and burning American flags and presidential effigies were pervasive in our thoughts. Those stereotypes would soon be altered.
We began our trip with a 48-hour layover in Istanbul, Turkey, where our little hotel was a few hundred yards from the ancient Hagia Sofia and the beautiful Blue Mosque. Relaxing in our hotel after a long flight, it wasn't long before we heard the first call to prayer from the Blue Mosque, leaving us with the realization that we were indeed very far from Georgia. As tourists, we were amazed by the ancient sights, but we began to get a glimpse of the welcoming nature of the people there.
We were blown away with the hospitality when we connected with former student Servet Hasserbetci ('13). We met Servet and her parents for dinner at a Turkish seafood restaurant located on the body of water that separates Europe and Asia, the Bosphorus. We enjoyed a variety of Turkish cuisine while discussing Darlington, Turkish culture, education and government. Ashley and I finished the night so full that we had little room for dessert. That did not stop Servet's parents from ordering more for us. At the end of the night, they drove us back to our hotel, an hour out of their way, and handed us the leftover fresh cherries from dessert. They demonstrated humbling courtesy and showed us that we southerners do not have a monopoly in hospitality.
Our time in Turkey had come to an end but 12 days in Aqaba, Jordan was ahead. If Istanbul was a new experience for us, Aqaba would prove to be a cultural shock. Unlike Istanbul, where we felt relatively comfortable dressing as we typically would in the U.S., we were now urged to wear long pants and long sleeves even when temperatures soared to 113 degrees. Fewer people spoke English and more women wore their traditional burkas. Weekdays were now Sunday through Thursday with Friday being holy days. Pictures of King Abdullah and his family graced every classroom and business. Flat bread, falafel, hummus, kebab, and Jordanian tea replaced the hamburger and French fries of the U.S., and across the city minarets took the place of steeples. Rather than deer crossing signs on the highway, one might see a camel crossing sign instead.
The Israeli city of Eilat was located just across the northern tip of the Red Sea with a wall separating the two stretching northward. Few are allowed to cross the border and most choose not to utter the name Israel for the country that is only a stones throw away (and most refuse to even acknowledge the legitimacy of Israel as a nation). Just south of Eilat, and only a couple of miles down the coast, is Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula. It was in this area where Moses and the Israelites crossed the Red Sea and commenced their wandering through the desert. Follow the Jordanian coast on the Red Sea for a dozen or so miles south and you find yourself in Saudi Arabia.
Despite so many differences, we began to recognize that we had more in common than we could imagine. We taught English several nights a week to adults and enjoyed tea and conversation with them well after midnight. During these late night talks, we came to realize that they worried about who they would marry and how they would provide for their families. They enjoyed talking about what they do during holidays, what they did over the weekend, and what was coming on TV that night. They complained about politics and openly discussed religious matters. It seems we aren't so different after all.
After two weeks in Jordan, we are by no means experts on Arab culture, but the way we see that region has been changed forever. When we see news of civil war in Iraq or more rockets being traded between Israel and Palestine, it is difficult not to remember all the kind and hospitable people we encountered. We will never forget seeing the sun set in the desert, eating with Bedouins, and walking among the ruins of Petra. Most of all, we will remember the people, the friendships, the hospitality we received, and how our time with them brought a sense of humanity to our perception of the region.
Sometimes it can be hard to put ourselves in other people's shoes, especially when they are half way around the world. At Darlington, we have an amazing opportunity to get to know people from other parts of the globe and to put a human face on cultures different than our own. Invite a boarding student to dinner or ask them to stay with you over a break. Give them an opportunity for a true American experience, and we bet that you may find yourself receiving a greater blessing than you gave. We want to challenge all members of the Darlington Community to make better use of our finest resource, its people.
