Estrella

Skin color has another meaning in Jordanian society.   Jordanians identify others by their ethnicity rather than the color of their skin.   When people look at me in Jordan, they think, “She’s American” because of my cultural mannerisms.   But when Jordanians see another dark-skinned person in a servant-like role like hospitality, they assume that the person could either be Sudanese or Ethiopian, whom are both known for their hospitality skills in the Hashemite kingdom.   Even though there are Arabs working in roles like construction, an Egyptian is not the same as a Jordanian.   Actually, Jordanians frown down upon Egyptians because of certain prejudices that Egyptians do not work as hard and are devious.   Yet, Egyptians and Jordanians are both Arabs.   The tension is between ethnicities, not so much skin color. If an American sees a person of color serving those with lighter skin, one may think in this age, “Oh, that’s so pr...

I am currently in the midst of midterms, and I am thankful that I only have two.   Half of my classes are Arabic, one in the formal Arabic and another in the colloquial Arabic, and the other half are two elective classes: one on Islam and the other that focuses on international relations and diplomacy in the Middle East.   Yet, even as I attempt to study, there are several adjustments that I have to make. First, because I am living with a host family, I must re-learn to study in the midst of small children and others’ living spaces.   I grew up in a large family with three siblings, and I had my own desk in the quiet basement where I could do most of my work.   When it came to college, I found that I best studied in the library, where silence was mandatory, or in my room, which was quiet even if I had roommates.   Now, I am in the midst of a one year-old and a four year old who do not quite understand the necessity of silence and non-int...

Honor: it is what holds together tribes in Jordan as well in other parts of the Middle East.   It is also the reason that some kill for.   According to Jordanian journalist Rana Husseini, honor crimes are reasons for male family members to persecute and kill their female relatives for dishonoring their family.   It is in a woman’s virginity and modesty that the family honor lies.   When that specific honor is violated, then the woman’s family believes that the honor is lost. Honor crimes are not particular to any culture or religion.   There are many cases of honor crimes that happen in Arab and Islamic society, which is largely a tribal society tracing back before the time of Islam.   In Jordan, however, approximately 20 honor killings happen annually.   That’s a small number compared to the hundreds of honor crimes that happen in Yemen or in Turkey.   Many of these crimes are not mentioned to the authorities actually bec...

People in the Middle East are concerned about the future of democracy and the economy in this region.   So are Americans, and Jordanians see this.   A main topic in today's news in Jordan is what is the U.S. going to do about the rising tension between Israel and Iran and the escalating conflict in Syria?   Both issues are actually interlinked. Many Jordanians look on as the U.N. does little to intervene in Syria because of Russia and China’s choice to veto certain provisions and actions.   Yet, every day more and more refugees from Syria pour into northern Jordan, and Jordanians become more concerned as the conflict heats up between Israel and Iran, making threats at each other of bombings. Jordan earned the nickname “a rock in a hard place” because of its politalic stability, even in the midst of the Arab Spring, and its regional location between other politically unstable and threatened places.   At this time Jordanians can only s...

Some say that it's okay to be who you are wherever you are.  You shouldn't have to change your identity for the sake of societal pressures.  This expression is a product of Western culture, but the world is changing, and there more circumstances of "tolerance" in places outside Western culture.  What I would like to discuss in this topic is the acceptance of and non-discrimination against people that identify with the term LGBT or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender in Jordan, particularly Amman.  While some believe that homosexuality does not exist in the Islamic world, it does, and many people are living their lives in an “in-between” life here in Jordan.  They are no instances of "gay bashings" or "violence against gays" because the subject is not talked about in Jordanian society.  Yet, many of those who are gay can continue to live and work without discrimination in Amman as long as they do not openly flaunt or speak on their ...

My CIEE college counterparts consist of students from many U.S. states and a few parts of the world.  Most of us have the same goal of learning Arabic and becoming versed in U.S diplomatic relations with the Middle East.  More than half of the students live in a home-stay residence like mine while the other half live in apartments.  This type of living is like the high school experience where one spends most of his time at school and then returns to his house after school and activities before curfew. Many of my college counterparts in my host country are students ranging from Jordanians to Asians to Europeans and other people from Islamic states.  Although I do not take classes with University of Jordan students, my observations have indicated that they are very academic-focused but also sociable and willing to make new friends. University of Jordan students who are Jordanian seem to be very focused on academics, but their religion and fam...

Welcome to Amman, Jordan.  It's your first day attending classes at the University of Jordan, and your first class begins at 8:30 a.m. sharp.  How do you get there?  By taxi or bus of course! Jordan boasts a handful of transportation methods, but many of them are just come as you please and sometimes uncertain regarding a final destination.  Most of the time one takes the yellow taxis or servis taxis (cheaper taxis) to get directly to one place.  In Amman, street names were recently added, so it's best to say one of the circles or a key monument or building nearby the location you want to go.  For example, when I want to go to the University of Jordan, I don't say "to University street"; I say, "I want to go the University of Jordan to the main gate", and the taxi driver will take you directly there. When it comes to buses, it's a bit trickier.  If you want to go to one of the major malls in Amman, you have to be sure to ride...