With only a week left in my stay in Jordan, I found myself leaving for the last time the villa where my classes have taken place this fall. At this villa, there is a very cool view of the eastern part of Amman and its buildings.  Gazing at this view for the last time, I reflected on how differently I perceive this view as compared to the first I saw back in the last week of August.

Looking at it for the first time, the view just seemed so foreign.  All of the buildings were the same boxed shaped while minarets popped up hear and there throughout the skyline.  This was simply architecture I was not used [to].  Additionally, I had no idea what the streets and people below these buildings were like.  How did they interact with each other the streets?  Were the streets dirty or clean? How did Arab families interact with each other inside the apartment buildings that I could see?  Because I had arrived in Amman the night before, I simply did not know what the feel of an Arab street or neighborhood was.

Now having lived in an Arab city for three and a half months, I feel as though I am looking at a different picture when gazing from my school’s villa even though the view has not changed.  When I first looked at the view, all I saw were buildings, but now I see more than the buildings as I know what is going on below and in them.

For example, I know that I would likely see a minor fender bender if one of the streets were visible.  I would also know that even if the street were visible, I would still probably not be able to see people on the side walks as they would most likely be covered with the overgrown olive trees that dominate the side walks.  If I were to go into one of those apartments, I know I would be offered tea the second that I walk in.  These facts are what makes studying abroad so great as it allows you to look at a picture from a country you traveled in and be able to see more than is in it.