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.