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Countdown!

 

ONLY 52 DAYS LEFT! It is time to get ready for your unforgettable adventure! Please check the most recent news!

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Welcome to Petra

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The Treasury, Petra

Petra is a famous archaeological site in Jordan's southwestern desert. Dating to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Accessed via a narrow canyon called Al Siq, it contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, earning its nickname, the "Rose City." Perhaps its most famous structure is 45m-high, Al Khazneh, a temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade, and known as The Treasury. Although the Nabataean kingdom became a client state of the Roman Empire in the first century BC, it was only in 106 AD that it lost its independence. Petra fell to the Romans, who annexed Nabataea and renamed it as Arabia Petraea. Petra's importance declined as sea trade routes emerged, and after an earthquake in 363 destroyed many structures. In the Byzantine era, several Christian churches were built, but the city continued to decline, and by the early Islamic era it was abandoned except for a handful of nomads. It remained unknown to the world until it was rediscovered in 1812 by Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.

 

Registration and Clearance

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Thanks to all participants who already registered for the Study Tour class. Those who still need to register, please do so as soon as possible as follows:

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  • Doctoral participants: LEAD778 Higher Education Study Tour (6 credits)

  • Master participants: LEAD678 Higher Education Study Tour (6 credits)

 

Please access registration Central at: www.vault.andrews.edu/vault/goto/login 

After registration, you need financial clearance and full payment or financial aid arrangements prior to the trip. Please make arrangements with: Fares Magesa (magesaf@andrews.edu) at the Andrews Financial Services (269-471-6995).

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Tour T-Shirts

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We will have a special t-shirt with the Andrews logo and the tour logo on, so you can wear at your discretion. The tour will provide one T-shirt for each participant, but additional t-shirts are available to those who want at an extra cost (we will confirm later).

Please email me at marinho@andrews.edu with the following information:

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  1. Size: small, medium, large, X-large, etc.

  2. Number of extra t-shirts, if any (payment instructions will be given later).​

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Study Tour Checklist

 

This is a tentative checklist of the main items you should pay attention for the Study Tour. It doesn’t mean to be a complete list, but it is a reminder of the main issues. If you are missing any of those items, it is time to get it done:

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  • Registration for LEAD778 or LEAD678 ready

  • Financial clearance ready (Required by Andrews Financial services before the trip)

  • Textbooks purchased

  • Moodle course starting On June 1 with reading assignments

  • Travel arrangements to Chicago or Newark (for those who live far from Michigan)

  • Assumption of Risk Agreement form to be filled (My secretary will contact you)

  • Packing list planned

  • Bring your personal health insurance card

  • Bring your COVID Vaccination card

  • Tour T-shirt selected (the tour secretary will contact you)

  • DON’T FORGET TO BRING YOUR PASSPORT!

  • Other

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Dress Code

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We will wear casual most of the time, but make sure to have business casual for the days when we will visit the universities. Daily high temperatures are around 84°F, rarely falling below 77°F or exceeding 91°F. At night, low temperatures vary from 64°F to 66°F, rarely falling below 60°F or exceeding 71°F. Don’t forget comfortable shoes for long walks.

 

Packing List

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For those who need a reminder, we are suggesting a tentative Packing List to make your trip easier and safer. The list includes detailed items such as personal toiletries, relaxed summer pants, comfortable shoes, sunglasses, money cards, light sweater or fleece jacket, electronics, small first aid kit, passport and document holder, and many other items to make your trip comfortable and pleasant. Please click on the Packing List to see a planning guide for your trip.

 

Travel Expenses

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The Study Tour registration covers all the air and ground transportation from Andrews University, plus two meals per day during the tour, except the days when we fly, which will be on your own. Visa fee and personal documents are not included. You will need some cash for personal expenses and tips for the tour guides as explained below.

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Mandatory Travel Insurance

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Besides your personal insurance card, Andrews University requires an additional short term travel insurance provided by Andrews University. We will order this travel insurance for everybody at the cost of $50.0 per person, charged to your student account unless you advise otherwise.

 

Baggage Allowance

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It is time to plan your luggage. The domestic flights and ground transportation are planned for one bag per person plus one carry on. Each bag should weight no more than 50 pounds. Please try to plan your luggage accordingly to avoid extra airlines fee.

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Helpful Information

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  • Calling cards – It is much cheaper to make phone call with local calling cards.

  • Cell phone – In case you want to use your cell phone, make sure to set up an international plan and check the rates with your provider (usually expensive).

  • ATM available – Cash machines should be available at most cities and selected banks, and it is a safe way to cash money. Most banks charge a transaction fee of 1% to 3%, or more, so make sure to check with your bank.

  • International credit cards – Very practical and safe way of spending money. Also subject to transaction fees, so check with your bank. In addition, make sure to inform your bank that you will use your card internationally, otherwise they may block it for security reasons.

  • Frequent flyer number: Everybody is eligible to win around 10,000 reward miles in this trip, which counts towards free travel in the future. If you don’t have a frequent flyer plan, I recommend that you enroll at https://www.united.com/web/en-US/apps/account/account.aspx, and bring your account number to the check-in. Just follow the instructions on the website.

  • Tour guides tips: Attention Please – It is usual in the tour industry to give tips to the tour guides and drivers in every city. Usually the recommendation is around US$5.00 per person per day. Nobody is forced to do so, but it is expected that we give according to our satisfaction with the guide. We will collect the tips every day, so please bring some cash and use your judgment and generosity as you feel comfortable.

 

ATTENTION: Online Course Starts on June 1​​

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On June 1, LEAD778/678 will be available on the Learning Hub for personal introductions and book discussion once a week. The first posting is due on June 1, so make sure to keep up with the timeline for full grade in the course. To access the course, click on learning hub. See you online!

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Please see the  Course Syllabus on the menu with detailed information on required readings and course assignments. In short, these are the course assignments:

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  • Assignment #1 – Study Tour Field Experience

  • Assignment #2 – Book Review (Due Date: July 31)

  • Assignment #3 – Research paper (Due Date: July 31)

  • Assignment #4 – Forum Discussion on the Learning Hub

 

Forum Discussion: June 1 to July 31 – Beginning June first, participants will engage in pre-travel weekly discussion on Moodle addressing the readings, which will continue upon return until July 31. Participants are expected to engage in meaningful interaction with classmates addressing the topics posted on the Learning Hub. We will let you know when it is available.

 

Visa Requirements and Fees

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Jordan and Egypt visas are required of all participants to be issued upon arrival at the airport. COVID tests are also required prior to departure and at arrival at the airports. The tour company is offering to arrange the processing of visas and COVID tests if we pay the fees in advance, so we can avoid waiting in extra lines. Visa and test fees are personal documents not included, so here are the required visa fees:

Jordan Visa fee: $56.00

Egypt Visa fee: $25.00

COVID testing requirements are updated biweekly, so we will advise when we get closer to departure. we will also advise on payment methods later.

 

Volunteer Support Team

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In order to make this tour an unforgettable experience, we are planning to have a volunteer support team to perform specific tasks during the whole trip. If you are willing to volunteer for helping with special activities, please email us specifying your interest as follows:

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  • Tour Secretary:  Marlene Alvarez 

  • Spiritual Team:  Participants willing to share short devotionals

  • Photographer:  Someone with a camera willing to take pictures

  • Blogger:  A volunteer to share the highlights of the tour for our daily blog

  • Video Recorder:  Someone willing to video record and edit highlights of our tour.

  • Health Assistant:  A health professional or volunteer to provide assistance in case of emergency

  • Social Coordinator: Someone to lead occasional entertaining moments

  • Other roles:  Feel free to suggest other roles to enrich our experience!

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List of Participants

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Hello tour mates! We are happy to welcome our new participant Evelyn Savory! This is our current list of participants, so you can start knowing and interacting with your tour teammates. Please double check your name below to make sure it is according to your passport. 

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  1. Celeste Giles

  2. Chad Bernard

  3. Cynthia Poole

  4. Erin Doggette

  5. Evelyn Savory

  6. Jess Swackhamer

  7. John Alberty

  8. Kimberly Alberty

  9. Karen Phillips

  10. Madeline Brown

  11. Marlene Casseus-Alvarez

  12. Morris Beckford

  13. Naomi Carlyle

  14. Sean Williams

  15. Sharon Hamel

  16. Stephen Bralley

  17. Yoel Paredes 

  18. Ruth Nino

  19. Claudia Cruz

  20. Robson Marinho

  21. Janet Ledesma

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Pending Confirmation

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  1. Maureen Raj

  2. Adilson De Pina

  3. Solomon P. Johnson

  4. Herman Tom Kaunda

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Tour Itinerary

 

Explore ancient temples and monuments, gaze at the pyramids and mysterious Sphinx, relax in the Dead Sea, visit the ancient rock-cut city of Petra, explore the biblical towns of Nazareth and Bethlehem, wander through the streets of Old Jerusalem, and enjoy the tour of your dreams!

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July 3, Sunday, Departure

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GROUP A - Newark (EWR): 8:55 pm

GROUP B - Chicago O'Hare: 6:10 pm

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July 4, Monday - Tel Aviv arrival

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Upon your arrival at Tel Aviv International Airport, the tour guide will meet and assist you with your transfer to the hotel on the beach in Netanya. Enjoy a preliminary driving tour on the way to the hotel where you will see Mount Carmel, the Muchraka Monastery and the ancient Roman city of Caesarea Maritima.

Dinner & overnight at hotel.

 

July 5, Tuesday -  Netanya – Tabgha – Capernaum – Yardenit - The Sea of Galilee - Tiberias

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Check-out.

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8:00 am: Educational workshop at University of Tel Aviv

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10:30 am - The first day of the tour features a special visit to Tabgha, the traditional site of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes, followed by a tour of Capernaum, the reported headquarters of Jesus’ Galilean ministry. Afterwards, the tour continues to Yardenit, a special baptismal site on the Jordan River before returning to the hotel at the Sea of Galilee. Dinner & overnight.

 

July 6, Wednesday -  Tiberias – Cana – Nazareth – Qumran - The Dead Sea - Jerusalem

 

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Check-out.

The itinerary continues today with a tour of the ancient city of Tiberias, located on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee, followed by a stop at the village of Cana, before arriving in Nazareth, where Jesus Christ was raised. Proceeding is a visit to the archaeological site of Megiddo, before continuing to Qumran to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. The remainder of the day is free to spend swimming and floating in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, known for their high mineral content and healing powers. Continue to Jerusalem. Check-in at hotel, followed by dinner & overnight.

 

July 7, Thursday -  Jerusalem

 

Buffet breakfast at hotel.

Today’s journey is devoted to sites in and around Jerusalem, starting with the Mount of Olives, a site of many important biblical events. Continue to Pater Noster Church, the chapel of Domimus Flevit (latin for “the Lord Wept”) and Gethsemane, the place where Jesus Christ suffered the Agony and was taken prisoner. We see Mount Zion, the site of the Last Supper, King David’s Tomb, the Dormition Abbey, the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, the small Judean village of Ein Karem and the Holy Land Second Temple Model. Dinner & overnight at hotel in Jerusalem.  

 

July 8, Friday -  Jerusalem

Buffet breakfast at hotel.

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8:00 pm: Educational workshop at Hebrew University of Jerusalem

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10:30 - Our tour of Jerusalem continues today with an exploration of the Old City. First on the itinerary is a walk on the Via Dolorosa, the path of Jesus on the day of his crucifixion. It will start from the first station, where he was condemned by Pontius Pilate, proceeding to the final station, where he was laid in his tomb. Next is a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Western or “Wailing” Wall, a sacred place of prayer. Dinner & overnight at hotel

 

July 9, Saturday -  Jerusalem – border crossing – Mt. Nebo – Madaba - Petra

 

After a buffet breakfast, check-out.

Drive to Allenby Bridge to cross over to Jordan. Follow the Biblical tour with historical descriptions by the tour guide. Visit Mt. Nebo & Madaba with lunch.

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Worship on top of Mont Nebo

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Afternoon: Drive on Desert Highway (214 km in 3 hours) to Petra. Check-in at hotel. Dinner & overnight.

 

July 10, Sunday - Petra – Amman (227 km / 3 ½ hours)

 

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Check-out.

Spend a full day visiting Petra with lunch, then drive to Amman for check-in at hotel, followed by dinner & overnight.

 

July 11, Monday -  Amman – Cairo

 

Buffet breakfast at hotel. Check-out.

Transfer to Amman International Airport “Queen Alia” and fly to Cairo. After 1 hour 20 minutes’ flight, arrive at Cairo International Airport.

 

Welcome to Cairo! The largest African city with 4000 years of history! Upon arrival, meet with our guide and drive to have lunch in Al Azhar Park then visit the Alabaster Mosque, Khan El Khalili bazaar.

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Late afternoon: Educational workshop at Nile Union Academy

 

Transfer to the hotel for check-in. Dinner & overnight.

 

July 12, Tuesday - Cairo - Pyramids - Museum

This morning we visit the world-famous Pyramids and the Sphinx of Giza.  Next, we explore the magnificent Egyptian Museum, which holds one of the world’s most important collections of ancient artifacts. 

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Afternoon: Educational workshop at University of Cairo

 

Free evening to discover the hidden treasures of Cairo.

Dinner. Transfer to the hotel for overnight.

 

July 13, Wednesday -  Fly Cairo-Aswan – Philae – Embarkation on Nile Cruise

 

Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning transfer to Cairo Airport and fly from Cairo to Aswan, where we will see an Unfinished Obelisk. The obelisk would have been the largest in the ancient times, if it had been finished.  Continue with a visit to the Temple of Philae, enjoy a felucca ride to the Elephantine Island and walk through the Botanical Garden. Embarkation on the Nile cruise-boat. Check-in. Buffet lunch, buffet dinner and overnight on board.

 

July 14, Thursday - Kom Ombo – Esna - Edfu

 

Buffet breakfast on board.

After a relaxing morning sailing from Aswan, buffet lunch on board. We arrive at Kom Ombo in the afternoon. Visit the imposing Greco Roman Temple, featured with its marvelous setting directly overlooking the Nile. We go through the locks of Esna and continue on to Edfu. Buffet dinner & overnight on board.

 

July 15, Friday -  Edfu - Luxor

 

Buffet breakfast on board.

Enjoy a morning visit to the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Transportation by horse-drawn carriages. Later we sail on to Luxor. Buffet lunch on board. Upon arrival, we visit the Temples of Karnak and Luxor. Buffet dinner & overnight on board

 

July 16, Saturday -  Luxor Disembarkation - Fly Cairo

Buffet breakfast on board. 

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Worship on board of the Nile Cruise

 

After disembarking from our cruise-boat we visit the West Bank of the Nile including the Necropolis of Thebes, the Colossi of Memnon, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings and the mortuary temple of Ramses II. Transfer to Luxor Airport for our short flight back to Cairo. Arrive at Cairo Airport. Transfer to our hotel. Check-in and enjoy evening at leisure. Buffet dinner & overnight rest.

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July 17, Sunday - Departure back to USA

 

Check-out and transfer to Cairo International Airport for your departure flight back home. Arrive in Chicago Sunday evening.

 

Due to local events and holidays, the order of sightseeing may change. Details to be provided locally by Tour Manager.

 

Contact

 

If you have any questions about the tour, please feel free to email Robson Marinho at marinho@andrews.edu.

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