At the Jordan airport, Dr. Lima Hassan picked up Jean and her colleague Dr. Catherine Thompson. Lima ran the Immunology Department at Jordan University. Lima prided herself in being a novice archeologist. On their way to University, Lima stopped at the archaeological site of the ancient city of Jerash. With a passion for history and a keen interest in uncovering the secrets of the past, Lima was excited to explain the rich cultural heritage of the region.

Jerash is an ancient Roman city. At one time Jerash was home to 20,000 people. What was so fascinating to Jean and Catherine was the Roman early warning earthquake system that Lima described. A 40-foot stone threshold in the center of the city included ringing rocks.  An earthquake would cause the rocks to knock against each other and send an alarm so the citizens of Jerash could protect themselves.

As they explored the magnificent ruins of Jerash, fate had a twist in store for Catherine. As she wandered through the ancient streets, marveling at the grandeur architecture, she suddenly found herself in a peculiar situation. Catherine was stunned because her feet were in tremendous pain and she was unable to comprehend how her shoes could cause such pain. Being the determined scientist she was, she refused to let this setback dampen her spirits and removed her shoes.

Resolute and with a hint of humor, Catherine embraced her shoeless predicament, even finding some amusement in the absurdity of the situation. She told Jean, “Well, it seems I’m now conducting a barefoot archaeological expedition!”

Jean laughed, thinking back to her first set of collaborations in Kenya and her high-heeled hike through the forest when she fell near close to a leopard.

Undeterred, Jean and Catherine, with Lima, continued their exploration of Jerash, with Catherine walking barefoot along the distressed cobblestone streets. The warm Jordanian sun caressed Catherine’s feet, and she couldn’t help but feel a unique connection to the ancient city beneath her toes.

As she ventured deeper into the historical site, Kate’s shoeless journey became a symbol of resilience and adaptability.

And so the tale of Catherine’s shoeless escapade in Jerash became a legend among the scientists, a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the ability to find joy even in unexpected situations. Her story served as a reminder to Jean to embrace the unexpected, adapt to challenges, and appreciate so many wonders that lie beneath our feet, but are so often overlooked