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Parentals, please look the other way.

Last night I partied at the US embassy. It was probably one of the best nights I’ve had out in Amman. Maybe it was because I felt like I was in America. I guess technically, I was.

Now, I have never been inside the embassy in Amman, but pulling up to it was very intimidating. The Israeli Embassy looks like a shack compared to the fortress like US Embassy.

After making it through security, having my person thoroughly checked and basically signing my life away, I made it inside the “frat house” where all the marines live. It was awesome. They have a ridiculously nice set up. Club music pumped through the stereo system, there was a table of chicken wings, hubbly bubbly was readily available, and obviously there was a bar.

Of course, this would be the only place in Amman where I can’t legally drink, since it’s US territory, the drinking age is 21. Like this was a problem.

One of the marines informed me there were several “upper level military” people there including a colonel. Cool. The crowed was a mix of youngins like myself, and middle aged folk who seemed to disappear as the night went on.

Basically I was just super excited to play beer pong ----in the US embassy. This is still something I can’t wrap my mind around. It just seems so counter intuitive. The night ended with an impromptu dance party in the living (like a king) room.

Continuing with the alcohol topic. Today I went to Madaba, the center of the Christian population in Jordan. Aside from really annoying tourists and ancient churches, liquor is available in restaurants, unlike in Amman.

Our tour guide for the day –Sufat (or something) the 35 year old director of the TAGKS program took us to a delicious Arabic restaurant and made us try Araq—the national Jordanian liquor—yes they have that. Now, I’m not keen on drinking during the middle of the day, but when I saw this stuff my inner child was super excited. First you pour a tiny amount of Araq in a glass about twice the size of a shot glass and then you pour water and add ice and something AMAZING happens. It goes from a clear to a milky liquid. The taste, however, I could have done without. Araq is made from Anise and tastes like black licorice, which I hate. But I drank it anyway, to be polite.

OK parents, you can look now.