My life-changing trips to Jordan and the Dead Sea

Having vitiligo and being under the treatment of Professor Schallreuter brought about an option for treatment at the Dead Sea.  Jordan is where the current treatments are, smack dab in the Middle East.  While I marveled at the success of these treatments, I have to say that besides the obvious fear of Jordan’s neighbors (Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia), if I told you I was apprehensive, it would be the understatement of 2002 for me.  Not to mention I had friends and relatives telling me how they would never go there and I would have to go alone.  I understood their reluctance.  I too was chock-full of fear for the people there that I had all sorts of perceptions about.  Before going, all I knew about Jordan was the story of how King Abdullah II was put in his late fathers place as king.

Perception vs. Reality

Advice from all corners here in the US was things like, “cover up, dress ultra conservative and pretend you belong”.  I quickly found that I didn’t really need to go to extremes.  The people were traveler friendly and even many of them did thumbs up to my saying where I was from.  Jordan hosts things like Petra, Jerash and many biblical, recently discovered sites.  It has always welcomed visitors with a social and religious tolerance that sets it apart from much of the Middle East  possibly because the country’s leadership has always had strong ties with the West.   The king was the other stereotype I had all sorts of perceptions about.  I expected to read about a pompous, ruling king who doesn’t seem to care about his people because many are suffering.  Well, here’s a little about King Abdullah II. He was actually sent to the U.S. for his junior and high school years.  He is quoted as saying he is very familiar with American customs and the way we deal with things.  He enjoys riding motorcycles (Harley owner), pilots his own helicopter and is in great physical shape.  He is married to one woman, Rania (a Jordanian woman of Palestinian origin) and has a family that consists of a son and two daughters.  One day his ailing father insisted he meet with his son and now instead of having a family of three children, he has 4 million.  King Abdullah II is committed to the peace process as his father was (for obvious reasons) and feels that his generation has perhaps the best to achieve it.  Let’s hope so for everyone’s sake!  No wonder Jordan is one of the first stops Collin Powel and other world leaders make in that region.  He is a leading force for peace in the region.

Treatment

If I wrote that it was like lying on a beach for 21 days, I wouldn’t be painting an accurate picture for you.  While there, you are fortunate to work with truly some of the best in the vitiligo fight.  Having a team of Dr.’s/Researchers/ who truly care about your repigmentation along with finding the answers as to why we have the spots we do was exciting to see in action.  I continue to be amazed at how compassionate and committed Professor Schallreuter and her brilliant team are to helping us with our cause. 

Friendships

I couldn’t write about the Dead Sea without telling you how valuable it is as a vitiligo patient to be amongst others who have the same skin disease.  You are immediately surrounded by people who could care less about your spots, other than to be your cheerleader in getting rid of them.    The people who work at the resorts are nothing short of fantastic and you find yourself a bit sad leaving at the end.  The friendships to be had there are ones that endure any country or language barriers to last a lifetime.

Conclusion

I did walk away from that trip with certain sadness that because Jordan has such tough neighbors that many may not consider traveling there.  I believe opening your mind to understand and put yourself in other cultures shoes is a tremendous gift to yourself to broaden how you view your place in the world and how small the world can sometimes be.  I will always be grateful for my trips to the Middle East.  Not only did I gain pigment and get an opportunity to see such a beautiful place, but the food for my soul has been plentiful.  It has paid me back in open-mindedness, gratitude, and most importantly, my perception is far from reality sometimes which has translated and spilled over into many other areas in my life.