Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
After a great breakfast at Hotel Bristol, we headed over to the SIT Office again for a morning lecture on Islam and Modernity. Dr. Mohammad Ryan, a professor at the University of Jordan, offered an informative talk on the latest philosophies and theories of how Islam and modern progression can co-exist. I learned a great deal, but I found myself wishing that I had a more in-depth knowledge of Islam. One key thought that he shared is that reasoning/thinking is important to Islam and this may offer new pathways to interpretations.
After the lecture, Bashir, a volunteer at SIT, accompanied us on an afternoon visit to the city of Jarash, about 45 minutes north of Amman. We stopped at a Jordanian "Wa-Wa" store to purchase an delicious assortment of pies (meat, cheese and spinach) which we ate on the van as we traveled along a beautiful mountainous drive to Jarash. The area is lush with greenery (at least for Jordan) and we noted many olive tree orchards and other vegetation. Jarash is famous for its exquisite Greco-Roman ruins and we were not disappointed. Conquered by the Romans in 63 B.C., they developed it into a bustling city with temples, public squares, theatres, etc. We learned about the details of the ruins and the current archaeological developments from a local guide and took many wonderful photos.
On our way back into Amman, we stopped for a short stroll through the Souk Jara Market, an upscale "flea market" with local food, crafts, etc. and then returned to the hotel for a short rest before dinner.
Our evening ended with a lovely outdoor meal at the SIT house. Laura Hadad (WC '02) , her husband Oliver and son Sharif joined us for dinner and conversation. She enjoyed hearing updates about the university and international education.
- comments