Most of the challenges are light and humorous once overcome. My first challenge is knowing when to shake a mans hand or not. Young men at AIESEC do, but it varies at the office, so even when I met some American business men I did not extend my hand. I can’t know who is traditional Muslim or not. Western men face the same question for Muslim women.
People are not in a rush here – people you know you should always say hello and ask how they are. I have to retrain my customs when it comes to men. Any friendliness will easily be considered as flirting. So I have to really watch my behavior. I will switch buddy’s
this week because as helpful as he was - he did not keep acceptable boundaries when consuming alcohol. For me I am thinking I am in an international community and I can behave naturally in AIESEC– but should be more keen to the way Jordanians think. I have heard that this culture is very gossipy and this can stay with you for a long time. God help me!
Sometimes I make new rules for myself in life. On my Mid East trip last year I decided I would not enter a man’s house alone for the entire trip. I had never traveled alone and would not take the energy to judge each person. For this trip – I have decided that I will not drink unless I have someone to bring me home or a place to stay. If you can imagine what it would have been like taking a taxi, being locked out of the apt 1:30am and intoxicated – honestly this is where woman expose themsevles to trouble around the world “alone and drunk”.
I am getting more savvy with the taxi drivers. If they know I am a foreigner they will take me around the block. SO I say hello and the neighborhood I am headed to “Marhaba – fi Abdali” then when he get closer I tell them exactly so they learn this at the end. Also I say “hada ktheer” or ”hada ggaly” when it cost more then usual and sometimes they will give it me a little less.
I decided to use the TV and found it went to BBC News – yeah! I tried to change the channel but have to find the correct remote. Monday I opened my bank account for my direct deposit. I signed many things in Arabic. Tuesday as I was leaving the apt, drinking my juice, I saw 50+ lambs next door (adults, baby lambs, donkey and two Bedouins) . I was in shock and wanted to look for my camera but needed to leave for work.
I had an issue with water Monday – it stopped. I emailed Samaan and he told me to have the guard switch it back on. The switch in Arabic was off. So then I could do my dishes and take a shower. BUT water is consumed very different here. It comes 2x a week and if you use it up then you have to wait (well off people have a back up generator). Some people time laundry and dishes around this schedule. I am told most do not shower every day if there is not enough water. You do not run the water while brushing your teeth, etc… for dishes now I will use a dish pan to soak instead of always running the water.
I one thing about moving around – I am always looking for something. My valuables I hide them and then sometimes I have to remember where I put it.
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What the heck! 50 lambs??? I cannot believe it. SO funny - we don't even really think about water in the U.S. - yet that kind of conservation actually makes sense/seems more normal. I hope you are well.
ReplyDeleteThat's very interesting about the water. We don't even think about how much water we waste here in the U.S. It's so different that they have to wait if they've used up their water supply and can't even call up the water company and ask them to deliver more water! Is that how it works - do they deliver water? How does the water supply get to them?
ReplyDeleteOne of the major issues in the Mid East conflict is water. I am happy to converse, and will have to adjust. The landlord told me to do my laundry as they are filling the tanks AND that there is not enough water to take full baths.
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