I am still recovering from my trip so this will be short and sweet. Upon my recent trip to the States, I realized that people know little to nothing about this little Kingdom. So here is a top 10 list (dedicated to DP, LB, and JH from HMH) that highlights some of the things I think you should know about Jordan.
10.) Going to and from Work is like Being in a Nintendo Mario Cart Game - That is, if Mario or Yoshi were honking the horn incessantly while smoking a cigarette, talking on the phone, and trying to cross three lanes in bumper to bumper traffic.
9.) Jordanians Can Party - More about this in my next blog. Needless to say, they know how to have a good time!
8.) Mafi Oil - So mafi means none, or out of. Unlike many of the neighboring countries, Jordan has no oil. They also have no water, and little to no natural resources.
7.) Islam is not Scary - With rampant Islamaphobia in the West, and a large focus on the Islamic fundamentalists, it seems there is little to no knowledge about the average Muslim (though I think Lifetime tried to shed some light with a reality tv show that ended up being cancelled). Islam is a very peaceful and beautiful religion and in no way scary. Fundamentalists, on the other hand, are very scary. But keep in mind, fundamentalists are present in every religion and are equally scary no matter which tradition they stem from :)
6.) It's All About the Family - Family is the nucleus of the society and great emphasis is put on caring for your family. Children often live with their parents until they are married and the elderly are taken care of by the younger generations. Don't even think about putting grandma in a home! Jordan is also very tribal. So it does matter who your daddy is, who your granddaddy is and where you come from. Who you know can make or break business deals, or help you expedite government processes :)
5.) Borders - Nestled in the fertile crescent, Jordan borders the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel to the West, Saudi Arabia to the South, Syria to the North, and Iraq to the East. In short, they are located in the midst of a shit-storm of conflict. That being said, Jordan hosts a good portion of the refugees from these conflict ridden nations. Half of the population (this is a controversial statistic) is of Palestinian origin. During the Iraq war, Jordan hosted 1 million Iraqi "guests" and now, over 100,000 Syrians because of the mess in that country. For a little country of 6.5 million, this puts tremendous strain on already scarce resources and further complicates the political environment of the region. But hey, someone has to take care of these people.
4.) Long Live the King - The official name of Jordan is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which means it is ruled by the King. More specifically, His Majesty King Abdullah II.
3.) Amman is Safer than Chicago - My first weekend in Chicago, 41 people were shot. Yes, in a weekend. That would be unheard of here! It is safe for Western women to walk around and go about daily business. Besides, they love Americans! Despite our shady foreign policies, Americans are respected and treated well here.
2.) Food is Delicious - And fresh! I love the food here. Some of the new fruits I have tried this spring include: green almonds, green cherries, and azkadenya. I feel I am becoming more Jordanian in my eating habits, having labneh and bread with fruit for breakfast, falafel or shawerma for lunch, and some delicious dish a couple times a week for dinner courtesy of Umm Hazem. Not to mention the olives, olive oil, and fresh citrus. Superb.
1.) It's Complicated - Jordan is a very unique little country and the political, geographical, and sociological environments are complicated at best. It is a country caught between tradition and modernity, not sure which direction to go next. It is also a staunch ally of the United States and serves a very vital role in the region, particularly after the Arab Spring. If you are interested, I can give you some resources to check out, or perhaps I can procure an expert on the region to explain things further, I know of at least one:)
So there you have it folks! 10 things you may or may not have known about Jordan.
Next blog -my latest wedding experience. Opa!
10.) Going to and from Work is like Being in a Nintendo Mario Cart Game - That is, if Mario or Yoshi were honking the horn incessantly while smoking a cigarette, talking on the phone, and trying to cross three lanes in bumper to bumper traffic.
9.) Jordanians Can Party - More about this in my next blog. Needless to say, they know how to have a good time!
8.) Mafi Oil - So mafi means none, or out of. Unlike many of the neighboring countries, Jordan has no oil. They also have no water, and little to no natural resources.
7.) Islam is not Scary - With rampant Islamaphobia in the West, and a large focus on the Islamic fundamentalists, it seems there is little to no knowledge about the average Muslim (though I think Lifetime tried to shed some light with a reality tv show that ended up being cancelled). Islam is a very peaceful and beautiful religion and in no way scary. Fundamentalists, on the other hand, are very scary. But keep in mind, fundamentalists are present in every religion and are equally scary no matter which tradition they stem from :)
6.) It's All About the Family - Family is the nucleus of the society and great emphasis is put on caring for your family. Children often live with their parents until they are married and the elderly are taken care of by the younger generations. Don't even think about putting grandma in a home! Jordan is also very tribal. So it does matter who your daddy is, who your granddaddy is and where you come from. Who you know can make or break business deals, or help you expedite government processes :)
5.) Borders - Nestled in the fertile crescent, Jordan borders the Occupied Palestinian Territories and Israel to the West, Saudi Arabia to the South, Syria to the North, and Iraq to the East. In short, they are located in the midst of a shit-storm of conflict. That being said, Jordan hosts a good portion of the refugees from these conflict ridden nations. Half of the population (this is a controversial statistic) is of Palestinian origin. During the Iraq war, Jordan hosted 1 million Iraqi "guests" and now, over 100,000 Syrians because of the mess in that country. For a little country of 6.5 million, this puts tremendous strain on already scarce resources and further complicates the political environment of the region. But hey, someone has to take care of these people.
4.) Long Live the King - The official name of Jordan is the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, which means it is ruled by the King. More specifically, His Majesty King Abdullah II.
3.) Amman is Safer than Chicago - My first weekend in Chicago, 41 people were shot. Yes, in a weekend. That would be unheard of here! It is safe for Western women to walk around and go about daily business. Besides, they love Americans! Despite our shady foreign policies, Americans are respected and treated well here.
2.) Food is Delicious - And fresh! I love the food here. Some of the new fruits I have tried this spring include: green almonds, green cherries, and azkadenya. I feel I am becoming more Jordanian in my eating habits, having labneh and bread with fruit for breakfast, falafel or shawerma for lunch, and some delicious dish a couple times a week for dinner courtesy of Umm Hazem. Not to mention the olives, olive oil, and fresh citrus. Superb.
1.) It's Complicated - Jordan is a very unique little country and the political, geographical, and sociological environments are complicated at best. It is a country caught between tradition and modernity, not sure which direction to go next. It is also a staunch ally of the United States and serves a very vital role in the region, particularly after the Arab Spring. If you are interested, I can give you some resources to check out, or perhaps I can procure an expert on the region to explain things further, I know of at least one:)
So there you have it folks! 10 things you may or may not have known about Jordan.
Next blog -my latest wedding experience. Opa!
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