Sandstorms, Snow Days and bootleg DVDs

The white flakes that pounded down from above were hardly welcomed at 3:30 AM when I had to get my friend Susannah to the airport. Snow=apocalypse.

Snow in the Streets!

But luckily the taxi I ordered (in Arabengligh no less!) was only five minutes late. Il’Hamdu’Lilah because I expected a phone call saying the city was in a deadlock, the airport shutdown and everything was at a complete standstill.

Once inch of wet snow or not, we got Susannah out of Amman on time. This morning I was awoken to 8 texts telling me we had a snow day! Il’Hamdu’Lilah because I did NOT study enough for my finals. So now I am sitting, cup of microwaved chocolate milk in hand, wearing sweats and watching the snow slowly melt away. Kind of like I would be in Iowa—guess the state is trying to prepare me. Despite the temperatures dropping below freezing last night, it is already 40 degrees, and it’s expected to be back in the 60s by the middle of the week.

Yesterday was also a crazy trip in weather adventures. Susannah wanted to see the Dead Sea, so even though it was freezing, we headed out. We were welcomed by a sandstorm. I am not kidding. The forecast for Amman for the day was “45 degrees/Sandstorm.” Needless to say the beach was empty, I literally had to hold onto a pole to keep from blowing away. Susannah got in the water (stupid). Il’Hamdu’Lilah she survived. The Dead Sea is not supposed to be surfable. It looked like doom, like something Poseidon would conjure. On the way back to Amman, there was so much sand-- the road was completely covered! BROWN OUT.

It’s funny, how much at home I am beginning to feel here. And it’s really only been in the past week and a half or so these feelings have started. I can strike up a casual conversation in Arabic (and quickly transition back into English), find my way around this city, and know where the best places for food are.

One of the big things in Jordan is bootleg movies. There are no copy write laws in the country, so you can find DVD stands on every corner. There are only a few good ones, however, Gafra and Hamudeh, both located within a block of each other downtown. Walk in and you will find shelves, floor to ceiling, multiple stories of every movie, every video game, even Rosetta Stone.

 Two nights ago, Susannah, Sarah, Erin and I went down there so Susannah could pick up a few movies to bring back (and by a few, I mean 50). Each DVD is only 1 JD—and if you smile and giggle like a good American girl, they will knock several JDs off the price. I bought Seasons 1 and 2 of Skins because its costs $50 in the US, and that’s never gonna happen. It is my favorite show.

Well, Susannah forgot some movies so we had to go back last night, braving doomsday and all. I ended up talking to the worker for about 30 minutes. He was so bundled up, he was freezing, I was just a little chilly. It’s so incredible, I find, that if you start a conversation in Arabic, everyone will say ‘You speak Arabic better than I do.” Most of the conversation I had was in English, but just because I tried, Susannah got 10 DVDs free. It really makes a difference. Plus, if I had been there any longer I may have gotten an Arab boyfriend—mish mushkila, he was cute!

And now I leave in 9 days. As much as I am looking forward to being home and getting to see family and friends again, it’s going to be very strange leaving this place. I feel I have gained a huge insight into this region, and I am leaving just when I am achieving a cultural “breakthrough” so to speak.

I am probably going to think everything any girl wears to a bar in IC is slutty; I am going to hate all the “bros” (well, more that I did). I never though I could make the Middle East feel like home, but now, it proves that I can live anywhere. All you need is a grocery store and one ex-pat bar that serves Buffalo wings and mozzarella sticks.