Don't Let School Hinder Education Pt. 1: Amman
Trip Start
Jun 21, 2009
1
31
39
Trip End
Dec 22, 2009
Amman, Jordan
Monday, November 2, 2009
I got onto the Royal Jordanian Airlines plane at the Cairo Airport with mixed feelings of excitement and exhaustion. To prepare for the trip, I worked ahead on all school work to minimize the amount I'd have to do on the road. The plane, which left at 10:30 P.M. turned into nap time. I fell asleep within moments of taking off and woke up when our wheels touched the ground. I don't think I missed much, though. We arrived in rainy Amman around 11:30 and I set out to find a cab to take to the "hotel" I'd be staying at. In contrast with Egyptian cabs, the Jordanian ones were actually pretty nice. On the cab ride to the hotel, the driver offered to drive me around for 12 hours the next day (to Petra and the Dead Sea) for 100 Jordanian Dinars (about 140 bucks). As expensive as that was, I didn't know if I'd get a better deal. I waited anyways to ask the front desk at the hotel if I could find better. Of course, when I got to the hotel, the guy at the front desk said he could call his friend who would do it for 85. I took that deal as my itinerary did not lend itself to buses or sharing a cab with others. I hit the pillow for a short five hour sleep. the next morning, at 6:15, I went down for some breakfast at the hotel (included) and ended up eating with a car salesman from Baghdad. first Iraqi I'd met in the middle east who still lives there. We stayed away from politics.
I met the driver outside at the planned time of 6:30 A.M. and discovered his car to be much nicer than expected. It was the first automatic transmission I'd seen since arriving in the Middle East. The rain and the soothing voice reading the Quran on the radio put me to sleep pretty quickly after beginning what was to be a four hour ride. The driver awoke me at a rest stop for some tea which was actually kind of annoying. I didn't like the idea of spending any of my precious day in Jordan sitting at a bum tea stand in the middle of nowhere. As I chatted with the Egyptian guy who was working the road stop, he asked how much I pay for my education in Cairo. Money questions are always hard in the Middle East because the answer was a number that was more than he'd make in probably 2 or 3 years. I lied and told him I was on scholarship from the US Govt. Big mistake. He starting grilling me about why I would work for the devil Americans. I tried to explain the concept of no strings attached scholarships and he wasn't buying it. Maybe the reason is any money America gives to the Middle East has so many strings that the countries get tangled in them. Ahhh good old American Aid. As I went to pay for the tea, I realized I had three types of currency in my wallet, American, Egyptian, and Jordanian. Cool moment.
As we continued through the desert, the driver I had never really lightened up. He was quiet, stern, and just downright awkward. When we stopped at a gas station, though, he quickly lightened up as he asked me for money. It was the first time he called me 'sadiqi' or friend. I foolishly gave him all the money for the entire trip, not remembering that he'd be dropping me off places and coming back to meet me. I wanted to make sure that both parts of that sentence happened. When we got to Petra, I asked him for 50 of the 85 back, lying that I didn't have enough money for the park entry fee. He gave it to me with no hesitation, making me feel better about the likelihood of him coming back. We agreed on a meeting time, 2:00 P.M. and I set off to see one of the world's great treasures and wonders.
NEXT UP: PETRA ENTRY. THAT SHOULD BE UP TOMORROW.
Comments
I am now caught up and have read all your entries
WOW! Thanks for sending honey
xxoo
Good entry, but most of it is about you sleeping (not surprising). Where's the rest?