Attractions in Jordan (Updated)

Raqwet al-Arab:

One of my favorite restaurants in Amman, was a lively little cafe located in Al-Weibdeh. If you want to visit it, just ask a taxi driver to take you to Al-Weibdeh, and it's a stone's throw from the traffic circle. The cafe is known as a place frequented by writers and poets as well as locals and a few tourists. It's a great place to experience authentic Jordanian food and culture. Inside the cafe you will find comfortable armchairs and sofas with low coffee tables and displays of old Arabic books and artifacts. For more information, click on the link below:

http://www.mealadvisors.com/jordan/amman/rakwet-arab-cafe/branch/1743/Al+Weibdeh+%26+Al+Abdali

Levantine Arabic: Jordanian Colloquialisms (Updated Again)

Everyday Sayings:

I though I would update this section again to talk about a few commonplace sayings in Jordan, the Levant, and other Arabic nations.

First, "يعطيك العافية" or "y'altik el'afiya" is a common phrase that can be used as a greeting or a farewell. It literally means "may you be given strength."

Second, "الله معك" or "Allah m'ak" is a common farewell, which literally means "God be with you."

Third, "يسلمو إيديك" or "yeselmu eedaik" is a common expression of gratitude usually said to some one who has given you food or refreshment. It literally means, "bless your hands."

Finally, "معلش" or "m'alesh" and "مافي شي" or "mafi shi" are ways to say "it's okay," "no problem," or "don't worry about it."

Knowing these common sayings and others like them will enable you to pick up the meaning of conversations much more quickly.

Levantine Arabic: Jordanian Colloquialisms (Updated)

Jordanian Colloquialisms Continued:

I mentioned a few aspects about Jordanian Arabic in a previous post. I'm going to build a little more that by pointing out a few more distinctions. First, Arabic-speakers in the Levant add a subtle "b" sound before all present tense verbs. So, the formal verb "to tell" which is "أحكي" or "eHki" becomes "بأحكي" or beHki."

Secondly, Jordanians add "raH" before verbs to indicate future tense istead of the formal "sa" or "souf." So, the future tense of the verb to study changes from "سأدرس" or "sa'adrus" to "raH'adrus." Notice that the subtle "b" sound from the present tense is dropped and replaced with "raH."

In Jordan, "raH" is the most common indicator of future tense. However, speakers in other Levantine countries, such as Lebanon and Syria, will simply use "Ha."

Pointers for Arabic Language Learners

Talk to the Locals:

My advice to students studying Arabic in Jordan is to interact with the people as much as possible. It is natural to tend to stay with your classmates and fellow English-speakers, but it's also limiting.

This is a picture of an adorable boy in Petra. Many of the children speak broken or not-so-broken English, but they will love to hear you speak Arabic. They will also probably laugh at you.

Always Speak Arabic First:

Many Jordanians speak English to one degree or another. This makes it tempting to start conversations off right away speaking English. In order to push yourself, I recommend always trying to communicate in Arabic first. If the person you are speaking with doesn't understand you, then switch to English. You might not feel confident, but you will learn a lot more this way.

In my experience, native Arabic-speakers always appreciated my efforts to communicate even if I wasn't successful. The worst thing that ever happened to me was that someone would laugh at me or maybe give me a strange look and answer in English. The risk is definitely worth the reward you receive in terms of language experience.

Attractions in Jordan

Sightseeing:

I mentioned before that this site is a good resource for information about places to see in Jordan: http://visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/tabid/54/Default.aspx

There are numerous attractions that are all worth traveling to see. I'm only going to list a few of the most notable here.

Petra:

If you see nothing else, see Petra. There is nothing quite like a city of palaces carved into canyons. It is very hot and involves a lot of walking, but it's worth it. Also, camels and donkeys are abundantly available if you get tired of walking.

Amman:
If you are traveling to Jordan, you are likely staying in its capital, Amman. There are many things within Amman alone that merit attention. You will find anything from places with high Western influence, like Rainbow Street, to the more exotic Wust al-Beled, or وسط البلد.

The Amphitheater:

Left over from the age of the Roman Empire, this amphitheater coexists in Amman next to modern buildings and busy streets not far from the citadel.

The Dead Sea:
Swimming in the Dead Sea is a unique experience. In the summer it will be very hot. Make sure you don't have any cuts. Definitely don't go hiking up a canyon beforehand.

I've only scratched the surface with this meager list of locations. There are many more places worth seeing including Wadi Rum, Wadi Mujib, the Gulf of Aqaba, Ajloun, and the list goes on.

Culture: Ramadan in Jordan

What is Ramadan?

Ramadan is a major holiday in the Arab and Muslim world. It is a period of time (around a month) set aside for fasting, philanthropy, and prayer. It takes place during the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is during the latter part of the summer this year. The exact dates are announced based off of sightings of the crescent moon. For this month, people fast collectively from sunrise to sunset. In my experience, Ramadan generates a spirit of solidarity among people who are fasting.

What to Expect:

During Ramadan, many shops and businesses will operate on truncated business hours. Restaurants and food stands will be closed after the morning call to prayer until the evening call signifies the end of the day's fasting.

Etiquette:

In Jordan, whether you are Muslim or non-Muslin, you are discouraged from eating or drinking in public during the day. Of course, you are free to cook, eat, and drink in your apartment or other non-public areas. However, it is important to be considerate of others who are fasting by avoiding eating or drinking around them. If you attend classes for example, most people who are fasting will be good-natured and not say anything to you about eating or drinking. However, eating food in front of a hungry person is generally bad manners in any country.

I actually recommend that you attempt fasting for a least one day if you are not Muslim, so you can experience the tradition firsthand. When I was in Jordan during Ramadan, I fasted with some of my colleagues (both Muslim and non-Muslim). It gave us an opportunity to connect with each other and locals, who we invited over for the evening meal, or الإفطار. It also places you in the situation of disadvantaged people who go hungry every day as a matter of course. Personally, I think it is a valuable experience that gives you insights into the surrounding culture. 

Levantine Arabic: Jordanian Colloquialisms

Formal Versus Dialect:

When you commit to learning Arabic, you are essentially signing up to learn at least two languages. Most Western students are taught Modern Standard Arabic, or لغة الفصحى. This is the formal Arabic spoken by government officials, news anchors, and the like in formal settings. However, this is not what you will find people speaking on the street in everyday conversations. The people of each region speak their own dialect, or العامية. In order to communicate more conveniently, it's a good idea to learn at least one regional dialect in addition to the formal Arabic.

Jordanian Colloquialisms:  
Since I am most familiar with the Jordanian dialect, I will list a few of the slang terms here. I'll start with the infamous Jordanian greeting "shoufi mafi?" or شو في مافي؟, which translates best to the English slang, "what's up?" The response to this greeting can vary as in English, but sometimes people will respond with "ma fi shee" or "safi wafi."

Some colloquialisms are fairly consistent between dialects. For example, the formal inquiry "kayf al-Haluka?" is shortened in slang to "kefak?" Many words in formal Arabic are simply modified in colloquial, while others are replaced altogether. For example, "katheer" is modified to "kter" and so on. However, the formal word for "good," which is "jayid" is not used at all, but instead replaced with the slang term "mneeh."

The list of similarities and differences between formal Arabic and the Jordanian dialect is considerable, and I will continue to post about helpful colloquial phrases as I learn them. 

General Information About Jordan

History of Jordan: 

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan traces its lineage back to the ancient tribe of the Islamic Prophet Mohammed. Historically, the Middle Eastern kingdom has been coveted and fought over by both ancient and modern imperial powers. It's location in the Levant makes the kingdom strategically valuable and grants it a special influence in the region. Jordan borders Israel, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia, and thus plays a key role in diplomatic relations between Arab and non-Arab nations. I recommend exploring the following link for more information about Jordan's history:

http://www.kinghussein.gov.jo/history.html

Is Jordan safe?

When people hear that you are traveling to the Middle East, many of them probably make comments about how dangerous it is. This is likely due to the Middle East's overall stereotype as a violent region, and a lack of information regarding Jordan's diplomatic history. Politically, Jordan has a history of fostering diplomacy between regional conflicts and is one of the most stable nations in the region. I traveled to Jordan during the summer of 2012. Despite neighboring conflicts, Jordan remained safe and stable. In fact, several students who were studying in Egypt at the beginning of summer later moved to Jordan for its safety.

Jordan Today:
Jordan is a fascinating mix of the ancient and the modern. For example, Amman, the country's capital, features ruins from the days of the Roman Empire nestled between modern shops and restaurants. You can walk from the ancient citadel to a traditional restaurant down the street, or hop in a taxi and find yourself at a Western-style mall within minutes.

One of my favorite aspects about Jordan is the mix of rich history and modern innovation in the same place. I recommend the following link for more information about areas in Jordan:

http://visitjordan.com/MajorAttractions/tabid/54/Default.aspx