Spring Break in Jordan | Liza Ryan | Student Testimonial

By Melissa Knowlton

Here at Horizons Learning Adventures, our students are our top priority. Traveling the world, experiencing new cultures, and stepping out of your comfort zone are just a few of the ways our students' lives change on these trips. Nothing quite compares to students telling you how much they loved the trip, whether it's the day we got home or years later.

In the spring of 2018, we ventured to Jordan with a group of students. On this trip was Liza Ryan, who was a sophomore in college at the time. Liza will be returning to Jordan for our fall 2019 trip. Here is Liza's Jordan experience:

Professor Scudder, Liza, and another student pose with their camels.

Probably one of the best decisions I have made in my time at school.

What was your favorite part of the trip?

Other than falling in love with our tour guide, Mahmoud, my favorite part of the trip was how much fun our class had while visiting some of the most beautiful places in the world/Jordan. I really can't think of another experience similar to this where I just had just pure and genuine fun for ten days.

Some students definitely got sick or got tired from long days, but I was just so hyped every day to see what is next and where we were going. It's hard to pick one experience as the best, but if I really had to, then it would be sitting out in the desert all night with Mahmoud and a few other classmates, waiting until the sun rose the next morning. That was pretty epic.

What did you learn from this trip?

We learned about Arabic culture and history as part of the course, but I think I learned the most about how to behave myself and be respectful in a different culture. I had traveled internationally before, but it had always been to visit family members, so there was always a level of comfort there. Going to a vastly different culture I had never been to before with people I barely knew was a huge growing experience for me and I think for a lot of my classmates as well.

What would you tell someone who is considering going on a trip with HLA?

Do it. Go on the trip.

Scudder has been to so many different places around the world and it really shows. When we got there, we were definitely tourists, but we also really got to know the people who lived there. We got to learn what their lives were like, try their amazing food (emphasis on the food), and more. Really, you get the opportunity to learn as much about the place you are visiting as you would like. If you go anywhere with Scudder, he is going to know what the plan is and what you all will be doing, and you will have the best memories from the trip.

​What made you pick this trip over others?

I had a lot of friends and upperclassmen talk about their experience on travel courses with Scudder. For me, I was not positive I was going to go abroad for a whole semester, so I thought I should at least take advantage of this experience to go abroad, even if it is for only ten days.

​I picked the Jordan trip because it fit into my schedule. I had known nothing about Jordan and the Middle East, and I was very intrigued once Scudder started to promote the course in other classes. I just become obsessed with going after I had made up my mind. Probably one of the best decisions I have made in my time at school.

Closing thoughts?

I had such an unbelievable time with Scudder and our class in Jordan that I re-organized my schedule so that during my senior year I can go back to Jordan for Thanksgiving break. I have such amazing memories from this trip that I know I will hold with me forever. If you ever have the opportunity to travel with Scudder, you should 110% do it. As savage as Scudder might be at times, he will ensure your safety on the trip and make sure you are loving life wherever you are visiting.

Thinking of ride camels in the desert like Liza?

Check out our upcoming trips