So I’ve been in Jordan one and a half months now and I guess it’s only appropriate I start to blog during the holy month of Ramadan. So far I am still loving this country, although sometimes it drives me absolutely insane. I’m learning to be more patient with everyone and everything here, it’s hard but I think I’m doing pretty well. For example, I don’t throw my phone anymore when someone calls me 5 times because I haven’t called them back. When you finally answer the phone or call them back because you think there was an emergency they just say they wanted to check on you because they haven’t heard from you…..in 1 day. They are genuine, and sweet, but it’s really quite crazy! I’ve learned how to deal with the impatience of everyone here, no one waiting in line or their turn (although after spending time in Israel this is nothing!), people stealing taxis from you….I’ve learned how to manage that. I’ve learned how to manage the biggest one of all and that is the “Arab time”. Basically when an Arab tells you they will see you at, for example, 4pm, it could be anywhere from 4-8! Also, people always want to tell you they know someone who can get you a job, etc…..but that never happens either.
However there are so many wonderful things about this country which is what brought me to be here in the first place. First of all there is really not enough that can be said about the Arab hospitality! For the first two weeks I was here I was living with my friend Dalla and her family in As-Salt which is about 15 minutes north of Amman and is the oldest city in Jordan: over 2000 years old! The tales of living with her are for another day, but the way I was treated was beyond something I could have ever expected. I was given the youngest daughters (Sewar) bed and she slept on the floor even when I insisted that I would sleep on the floor. They would make me coffee every morning, tea in the evening, juice and water all day, they would bombard me with home-cooked meals every day I have never been so well fed in my life! Their oldest son bought me some presents (they were things to put in my hair, well my hair if I was 12 years old but the thought was very nice) because I was a guest in their home. THEY ALSO DID MY LAUNDRY! You wont find that anywhere in the western world! When you walk down the street everyone wants to talk to you and ask you where you are from and then give you a big “Welcome to Jordan!” Seriously I think everyone in this country is trained to say those words since birth. I know, that even if I live here for ten years and speak fluent Arabic, because I am white people will still tell me “Welcome to Jordan”. It’s cute, and it’s nice. People may stare a lot here, but always they want to help if you are in need. Plus…and here’s the shocker for all you media believers…..it’s SAFE. Like, REALLY safe. Like, safer than America safe. Ok, maybe people drive crazy here, maybe building and food codes aren’t 100% equal to the US….but they are close. The crime rate is almost non existant. If you lose your passport, your wallet, your purse, chances are someone will return it. If I am walking down the street late at night by myself and I pass a group of “shabaab” (young guys) hanging out on the street, nothing will happen to me. There is almost virually no rape or murder in this country and NO TERRORISM. There were a couple of bombings in western hotels in 2005. Tragic, but nothing compared to the terroristic acts that are commited in western countries regularly. Jordan is safe, BEAUTIFUL, and the people here respect other cultures. Yes they don’t want their women to act like me which I disagree with…however it’s their country not mine and they respect the way I act and think and what I do and I love that about this place.
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