Simple differences between life in the US and Jordan
Guest writer: Samar Sarhan
I have just recently moved back to Jordan after living in the US for about 8 years which is enough time to make you go crazy or become so engrossed in the culture that you find it hard to leave again. I would like to think I’m in the middle. I enjoyed my experiences in the US and felt like it was time for me to move on. I have been in Amman for about 2 months now (it seems like a long time!) and have noticed simple differences between life in the US and Jordan.
One of the first things that I have noticed is that people don’t use napkins here…they use fine. I’m not a fan of this practice because I think a napkin in more durable than fine and it honestly just grosses me out. Another thing I have noticed is that taxis honk if they want to get your attention. It makes me feel like I don’t have eyes and I might just need their services if they honk at me, because I can’t see or hear them coming up behind me. Or in-front of me and when they do come by and I look they tend to honk again. It seems like the first honk is “hey, trying to get your attention” second one is “Hey, you know I’m here but I just want to make sure you see me” third honk “hey, I really want to make sure that you did see me and that hand wasn’t paralyzed”. I really don’t understand it.
Women drivers are treated like the plague or if they can do it then they are considered to be courageous. I do realize driving in Jordan is a little different than what I am used to but I don’t understand how it takes someone with a lot of courage to drive period. I can’t tell you how many taxi drivers complain about women drivers! It’s like I’m not a woman. Or maybe they think I am better because I have chosen not to drive and take a taxi. I haven’t ever asked for fear of getting into an accident or something of that sort. I am a woman driver and don’t think I am a horrible driver. Men drive ten times worse than woman do and cause more accidents. I understand why Jordan has the rule about no –cell phones while driving, because your brain is going to focus on the thing that you have done longer and that would be talking and your attention won’t be on the road which is where it should be!
There is another thing that is interesting. When I am out with friends or family and we get the check, they don’t put down 10% of the total down, they put less than 5%. When I asked why, they said it’s the norm. I don’t always think that the wait-staff is very good but I usually give them a decent tip because I would want to get something decent as well. Maybe that is just me but it’s been an interesting point of discussion. They aren’t treated very nicely either. When I am done with a meal I usually try to clean up after myself and my father asked me if I wanted to work at the restaurant. I thought I was being courteous but I guess it’s not the norm.
People place a lot of emphasis on what you have and where you live. If you live in a place like abdoun, swefiah, and khaldi then you are a better person or if you have the latest clothes, car or cell phone. I don’t understand this attitude because I don’t think the person I am is dictated by where I live…but by the person I am.
I am not saying that Jordan is a bad place or that US is better…because I don’t think either. I just notice differences between but I think that is to be expected and you can’t change it sometimes, just learn to live with it.
astute observations, i am right there with you. I have noticed the four things you are judged by, as well: where you live, what you drive, what cell phone you carry, and where do your kids go to school. (i tend to ask the first and last myself after being here three years. But the where you live is in hopes that I know how to get there, and school because it’d be nice to make friends with people in my kids’ schools.)
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Samar Sarhan Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 14:38
Thanks for agreeing with me. I think we all have different reasons for asking where a person lives, what school they go or whatever else…but most people usually ask to judge. Or they give you this up – down look that makes you feel like you are an object.
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Absolutely true. Enjoyed your list of things. When I irst visited and then moved, the Fine thing really annoyed me. I finally have the whole Bean family stocking napkins ust for when I visit, teehee. Oh, I also got them onto liquid soap… not sure about that one either.
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Samar Sarhan Reply:
January 31st, 2010 at 23:09
Thanks MommaBean! the liquid soap thing is another difference! Its been interesting
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LOL…interesting observations
I once apparently humiliated the group of girls (my cousin’s friends) I was out at ice cream with in Jordan because I attempted to throw away my own icecream cup and napkin mess when I was done. One girl actually grabbed my wrist and give me a very stern look as she mouthed “bala fadayi7″.
“People place a lot of emphasis on what you have and where you live.” Well you can say that about many american communties as well (just watch Bravo’s Real Housewives series), but I guess it’s more pronounced in Jordan. One thing however I thought pretty different and strange as how much of a normal, acceptable question it is for someone to ask “shoo abooki byishtghil?” as if what your dad did for a living was more relevant than what you actually do for a living. Or my most akward thing to hear “inti kam waznik?”….
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Madas Reply:
February 1st, 2010 at 07:32
Wow, i never was asked about my weight, it would absolutelt upset me
but you are right people ask a lot of person nquestions here… a lot of people ask about age or sallary or even if we own our house!
I work in East Amman and i feel very embarassed when people ask me where i live, i sometimes say in Jabal webdeh, even though i live in Swefieh… (my grandmother lives in Webdeh) when I say Swefieh, it immidiately puts me in in a certain category that i am not comfortable with… I become the loose, immoral, liberal west Ammani gitl in a split of a second.
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