As I sit at home writing, I find it hard to believe that my freshman year has already come and gone.  My first two semesters at Rice University passed in the blink of an eye.

As quickly as the time may have passed, I’ve made many new friends, experienced many new adventures, and learned many new subjects that daunted me less than a year ago.  This year has been a thoroughly revolutionary experience for me.  However, the most exciting changes are yet to come, this time in a city not 650 miles away, but in a continent 6500 miles away.

Amman, the capital of the Kingdom of Jordan, lies across the Atlantic and the Mediterranean in Asia Minor.  Its citizens speak a foreign language, and its culture and customs are very different than America’s.  In this new environment, I eagerly await an incredible opportunity: The chance to soak in a new culture, a new city, a new people, and a new language.

After nearly three months abroad and nine weeks of intensive Arabic language immersion, I hope to return to the States with fresh and innovative viewpoints, perspectives, and wisdom.

For now, it’s time to make sure everything is in place to ensure a successful journey: passports, visas, international phones, airports, and packing.  With barely a month left until the expedition begins, we, myself and five others from Rice, have entered the final countdown.  With each passing day we get closer to embarking on the trip of a lifetime.

Goodbye St. Louis, Goodbye Rice, and Hello ‘Amman!