INFORMATION FOR PARTICIPANTS
Travel
and Arrival | Money | Health
and Immunization | Visas, Customs, Etc
What to Bring with You | CBRL
| Where to find Help | Application
As many of you know, the living conditions in the field are rarely the
same as what you have come to expect in Europe, Canada, Scotland or the
United States. While our circumstances on the Jordan Valley and Kerak
Plateau may well be quite comfortable relative to most field projects
in that part of the world, there are always potential challenges and hazards.
This section reviews basic information regarding travel, health insurance,
immunization, and the fundamental necessities of living and working on
a project in Jordan.
Travel and Your
arrival:
You should arrive around the 12th of May and will may be traveling with
other project members. We will be moving down to our house/apartment in
the Jordan Valley on the 14th of May if all goes well. If you are not
traveling with the rest of the team, you should get
your ticket squared away and let the directors know when you are coming
in so we can try to make arrangements to have you picked up at the airport.
If you are traveling in the area before the season, you'll need to figure
out how to get back to Amman where you can meet up with us at the CBRL.
Once you are in Amman, the project will cover one night's stay at the
CBRL for you before the season begins. In order to secure a place in the
CBRL, you can contact them via email through their web site at http://britac.ac.uk/institutes/cbrl/index.html.
You are responsible for making sure that your ticket does not get lost
or stolen, and for making required confirmations of your booking (If you
need a good travel agent with experience working with archaeologists in
the Middle East, you might want to call Glen Flowers (or Peter) at Worldwise
Travel (1-800-874-9473). We have worked with Glen and Peter for several
years, and they are very familiar with the in's and out's of getting into
and around the Middle East). You will arrive in Jordan at Queen Alia Airport,
some 25 km south of Amman. When you exit the plane you will go through
passport control and get a two-week visa (regardless of whatever "visa"
the embassy in Washington may have given you if you have organized a visa
in advance ) stamped in your passport, then will collect baggage and clear
customs.
Normally you will be met at the airport by a member of project staff if
you are not already traveling with one but, if for any reason this is
not possible (missed connections and late flights are typical causes)
you should change money (or visit the ATM machine in the airport), if
necessary, and take a taxi to the CBRL near Jordan University for 15 JD.
There is also a very inexpensive bus service from the airport to the main
bus station in downtown Amman (the bus station is called Abdali Bus) and
from there you can catch a cab for 1.5 JD to the CBRL in Jubaiha-see map
shown later in document). If you fly in during business hours, and need
more directions, call the CBRL at 5341317 if you need further directions.
— click here for a printable
map with directions to the CBRL.
Money:
There has been an increasing problem with forgery of traveler's checks
in Jordan, and most banks and money changers no longer accept them. You
can go to banks and receive cash advances on your credit cards, or you
can simply carry cash in secure places (on your body is best). Visa is
the best credit card to carry, as many places do not accept American Express,
Master Card, or any other credit card. There are ATMs at most banks now,
and we have used the ATM in the airport to get money from our United States,
Canadian and United Kingdom accounts. The exchange rate from US dollars
to Jordanian dinars is approximately US $1.41=JD 1.000 (you can easily
check exchange rates on the New York Times web page: http://www.nyt.com).
Health and Immunization:
All participants are required to arrange and carry health and accident
insurance for the duration of the project. Please contact a travel agent
(or your University health center) to arrange health insurance for the
period you will be outside of your home country. Participants in the project
are also responsible for arranging their own immunization. Please contact
your own doctor, University Health service, or another immunization clinic.
Tell the doctor where you will be going and she/he will recommend what
shots you will need. It may include a Hepatitis A vaccination (2 boosters
over a 6 month period), typhoid (I highly recommend the oral dosage if
you're due for the vaccination), polio (if you're due for a booster),
and some doctors will recommend precautions against Malaria, which is
listed as occurring in the Jordan Valley (we, however, have never heard
of any occurrences in Jordan and neither of the project directors have
taken malaria treatments while working in Jordan). Your tetanus shot must
be up to date within the last five years (we know that they say that tetanus
is good for ten, but from going on other archaeological projects, we feel
it is much safer to have your last booster within the previous five years).
Your doctor is the best person to advise you on what precautions you will
need, and the Center for Disease Control has an excellent web page (http://www.cdc.gov).
If you have any allergies, such as an allergy to bee venom, or other medical
problems, please notify the project directors and bring along whatever
medication you may need, such as a bee kit. Other potential health hazards
in Jordan include scorpions and pit vipers. In fact these do not tend
to pose a serious problem because if you are careful you may never encounter
them, but you should be aware that they exist. The project will have first-aid
kits on site and in camp, but participants with special medical needs
are expected to meet their own requirements and inform project staff about
them.
Other basic health precautions include not drinking any water or beverage
that has not been thoroughly boiled. The project will provide bottled
water for drinking and brushing your teeth, and the tea and coffee you
will be offered in most homes is safely boiled. The project will also
employ a cook, whose job will be to ensure the safe washing of vegetables,
and the preparation of all our meals. If you do contract a parasite, however,
the Palestine Hospital in Amman has an excellent laboratory facility for
immediate diagnosis and their pharmacy stocks the necessary treatments.
Download the Application PDF
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