Airlines Ambassadors International Launches into Jordan

Airlines Ambassadors introduced to SOS Orphanages in Aqaba.                                                                                                By Sandy Dhuyvetter

Costume creator Sandy Dhuyvetter, Academy Award Winning Model Maker Lorne Peterson and
Photographer George Powell visit SOS Orphanage with US And Jordanian Team.

Taking Jordan by Storm was an amazing tour of Jordan lasting 8 days as myself and another Lucas/Star Wars designer Lorne Peterson spread the good word of film and travel. We did this with our US Team and friends and fans, Hector Cruz and Rich Appendzeller who brought their Storm Troopers 501^st costumes. We were also joined by our official photographer, George Powell. 

Our partnership with Jordanian company, Monaco Business Development undoubtedly gave us the support we needed in Jordan. Mona Naffa and our Jordanian Team were amazing. After we landed into Amman everything was handled, from our expediting process at the airport, to our guide and drivers and including touring, accommodations and the organizing of our autograph signing, presentations and meeting government officials like the US Ambassador, Alice Wells and Princess Dana Firas. We are very grateful to Mona, Eva and Sami for their kindness and diligence on his important project.

The sign outside the SOS Orphanage in Aqaba

We were able to hit the road running each day making new friends and honoring Jordan for the exquisite backdrops it has provided for world class films. In the end, we have a message. We want travelers to know that Jordan is safe, welcoming and vibrant with new and innovative companies emerging in every industry. Known as the Switzerland of the Middle East, it is unique and it continues to woe even the most timid of travelers.

Sandy being escorted into the Orphanage with 2 members the 501st 

Perhaps the most memorable stop on our voyage across Jordan was to the SOS Orphanage Village in Aqaba were we autographed photos of costumes and models that both Lorne and I had worked on for George Lucas.

I was particularly interested in the SOS model because as a board member of Airline Ambassadors International, I was curious to see if we could help with a visit to the orphanages in Jordan and in some small way make their tasks easier.

 

Storm Troopers along with Mona Naffa (second row on right) Sandy Dhuyvetter (bottom row middle) George Powell (bottom row 5th from right) and Lorne Peterson (bottom row right)

The SOS model is to create a family home for each child. Children who grow up at a SOS orphanage do so with an SOS mother or SOS parents, and sisters and brothers. The SOS aunts (directors), who are part of the village, support SOS mothers in caring for their children. In turn, SOS families are part of supportive communities. These communities are called SOS Children's Villages. The one in Aqaba had 9 houses in the village.

Storm Troopers saying hello to the Mom's.

We had fun playing and visiting with the children. Watching their excitement as they met the Storm Troopers was worth the trip to Jordan. I seriously wanted to take each one home.  However, seeing the SOS operation, we were certain the children's high success rate into the society was due to a real understanding and implementation of an effective and thriving social and business model. SOS is a worldwide organization and I hope that 2017 will bring much success and happiness to every house in all the SOS villages. 

Sandy and Lorne visiting one of the homes in the SOS Village! 

Airline Ambassadors International will be offering the Taking Jordan by Storm Tour this coming May to all of it's members. The May date is beloved by all Star Wars fans as May the 4th. You can be sure the tour will be doing something very special on that date. During the tour guests will be visiting film locations in Jordan and also the SOS orphanage.

If you are interested in this trip, please contact us regarding: AAI Jordan 2017 Taking Jordan by Storm Tour at Airline Ambassadors International at: nancy@airlineamb.org or Sandy@TravelTalkMEDIA.com. Monaco Business Development is our partner in Jordan. NaffaMona@yahoo.com

Special thanks to Ferial Nabas, Assistant Village Director - SOS Childrend's Village Aqaba.

Sadness in Jordan after attack at Karak

My name is Sandy Dhuyvetter, I am a Travel writer, Artist and Musician who lives in Northern Michigan in one of the more desirable places in the world, Leelanau County. Mona Naffa is the Director of Monaco Business Development in Aman, Jordan. Together we designed the Taking Jordan by Storm Tour.

Mona Naffa and Sandy Dhuyvetter, Designers
of the Taking Jordan by Storm Tour

The news came to us as we were departing Jordan after a perfect 8 day tour. Karak had been the site of a drive by shooting where cowardly killers decided to take the lives of innocent officers and a tourist from Canada. There is a deep sadness in us especially knowing that we came to Jordan to help promote tourism and shout the joys of knowing Jordan. 

George Powell, Sandy Dhuyvetter, Lorne Peterson, our guide
Mohammad Qamhiya, Rich Appenzeller and Hector Cruz

If there was ever an appropriate name for our tour, Taking Jordan by Storm was it. We arrived after hours of travel and accommodations with Royal Jordanian to be greeted at the airport by perhaps Jordan's best tour guide, Mohammad Qamhiya. We were then rushed to our first event, the tasting of the Jordan River wines which immediately brought the group together with lovely conversation and delicious sipping of the grape beverage. At that point, the journey began with 8 days of touring, signing autographs and meeting hundreds of Jordanians.

Me and Lorne Peterson

Our team consisted of five members from the US. We left Dec 9 with academy award winning master model maker, Lorne Peterson, my self, known as Momma Fett, our photographer George Powell and two storm troopers who are great fans of the star wars franchise, Hector Cruz and Rich Appenzeller. Four of the visitors were taking their maiden voyage to Jordan, I was the one who was blessed with 5 trips to Jordan in the past 10 years. I knew how exciting and life changing it would be for my companions, but stopped at vocalizing or pontificating about Jordan so that each could discover this land on their own. I wanted it to be a pure discovery without prompting from me in a way that might bias their experience. It didn't take long for their experiences to be shared. Each were over come with the hospitality, the warm welcoming and the richness of their experiences. Stories were emerging of experiences that would seem to leave one or more of the group in awe of their discovery. The wondering and anticipation of the group was quickly turning to pure awe. We were witnessing our companions, as we had ourselves transformed during our first visitgone through on our first visit a life changing experience redefining the stereotypical definition of what life is like in Jordan. 

From the first site of Jordan at the moment of our arrival until we said our emotional good byes, we were captivate and entranced with the welcoming and the abundant care shown by our host, Mona Naffa and her team Sami Kattan and Eva Al-Sunna.

This brings us back to facing daily facts that bad things can and do happen in good places. We must mourn our loss and bury our dead as heroes and then we must carry on and continue to discover this beautiful world in places like Jordan who are so deserving and offer the traveler riches only a visit can deliver.

Visit Jordan soon!

This is the start of my story of Taking Jordan by Storm....please join me on our journey with Academy Award winning Model Maker, Lorne Peterson, Sandy Dhuyvetter along with our US and Jordanian Team.

Sandy Dhuyvetter,
Artist, Musician and Travel Journalist.

Sandy Dhuyvetter AKA Momma Fett

Airline Ambassadors International Joins Growing Number of Supporters by Offering Resources for the Taking Jordan by Storm Tour

Airline Ambassadors International members at Sabre Holdings
Training on Human Trafficking Awareness

This week Sandy Dhuyvetter, co- organizer of the December 2016 campaign called Taking Jordan by Storm Tour announced that Airline Ambassadors International, a non-profit organization based in Washington DC, would be supporting the celebrity tour. The upcoming Tour will also be bringing signed autographs and art supplies to the orphanages.

President and founder of Airline Ambassadors, Nancy Rivard remarked, “We are delighted to support this positive message about Jordan. How very exciting to discover and visit film locations in this remarkable country. In addition, we are exceptionally pleased to see that the tour will end with a wonderful visit to local orphanages”. Sandy Dhuyvetter, co-organizer of the Tour said, “It is gratifying to have a partners like Airline Ambassadors International who are focused on making a difference in the lives of children. Airline Ambassadors International membership is primarily flight attendants and they thrive on lending a hand by giving resources and hope to the many regions in the world who have worked tirelessly for the good of children and world peace. Jordan is such a country”.

Following the Dec 10 – 16 Taking Jordan by Storm Tour, Monaco Business Development and Sandy Dhuyvetter Consulting will be moving forward with the 2^nd celebrity tour in May. Fans and travelers will be invited to re-trace the film locations visited by this first tour this upcoming December with master model maker Lorne Peterson and costume creator, Sandy Dhuyvetter. The dates planned in 2017 will be coinciding with events around the 4^thof May. May the 4^th has long been known as a festive day celebrated by Star War fans around the world.

Taking Jordan by Storm Dec 10 – 16, 2016:
The tour will coincide with the Premier of the new film, Rogue One opening in the US, this upcoming December 16th. Fans in Jordan will be celebrating the event by welcoming two US artists at the local premiere Dec 15. Lorne Peterson and Sandy Dhuyvetter will be presenting to the Star Wars Fans before the premiere and in the days following while on tour across Jordan.

For more information go to:
www.TravelTalkMeda.com/Jordan2016

For more information on Airline Ambassadors go to: www.Airlineamb.org

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