I Spent 7 Days in Jordan. My Experience with Its People was Totally Unexpected.
Part 1 of 3.
I’ll be honest, I had no idea what to expect when I planned my trip to Jordan. It was to be my first visit to the Middle East. I remember asking myself if spending my Christmas holiday in the Middle East was a good idea. “What are the people like?” “Are they welcoming to foreigners?” “Is it safe there?” All I knew about this region was from tv, and Hollywood certainly didn’t help ease my mind.
What I experienced with the people was nothing like what I expected!
“Welcome to Jordan. Where are you from?”
I’ll be honest, my first 30mins in Jordan were less than pleasant. An extensive airport interrogation (thanks to the colour of my passport) is not the best way you start a vacation in a new country. But that quickly turned around from the moment I stepped out of the airport.
Everyone I met started a conversation with the exact same line. From the taxi drivers to hotel staff, store owners to the sweet old women selling trinkets deep inside the ancient city of Petra, everyone!
Many people I met couldn’t speak English fluently, but they all started a conversation with that line. It was interesting because it didn’t feel forced when they said it. Always accompanied by a warm smile and a genuine sound of interest, it was more than just a welcome line. It was their culture.
Jordanians were eager to meet and connect with foreigners at every opportunity they had. They’ll treat you more like a long-lost family member than an ordinary visitor.
Connecting through haggling.
I live in Central Europe where haggling over prices is considered disrespectful. Central Europeans set prices, and that’s that! In my home country, strangers turn friends after a tactical haggling battle.
On my first night in Amman, I wasted no time visiting the old downtown marketplace. I had been itching to buy a dishdashah. After wandering for a few minutes, I found the perfect colour hanging outside a corner shop.
It didn’t take long to find the perfect fit. The shop owner could tell I was in love with the attire from the look on my face and then hit me with the price. While he showered me with unwanted flattery, I slowly took it off. I folded and placed it in a bag and sat by the small stool in the corner. With a confused look on his face, he asked what was going on. “I’ve waited years to visit a market where I could negotiate. This is gonna take a while, we should get comfortable my friend”. He burst out in laughter!
After 30 minutes of back-and-forth jokes, flattery and fake declarations of bankruptcy, he gave in. I got my attire at my desired price and made a friend that night. This continued in every shop, restaurant and taxi I visited/used until I left the country. My wallet was filled with new business cards.
Connecting through pictures.
From the moment I arrive in a new country, my Fuji XT2 stays strapped over my neck and shoulder. I always stay ready to hit the shutter button at interesting people, moments and places.
Unlike most places I have visited, Jordanians were not camera-shy. For them, it was an opportunity to connect and interact with a foreigner. Everywhere I went, people enjoyed being photographed. They had their smiles and poses as ready as I had my camera.
The most memorable was the front desk manager of my hotel in Aqaba. He appreciated being photographed so much that he had his friend drive me to the airport at no cost. That was $10 saved!
Connecting through tales from the desert.
Different from other Jordanians, the Wadi Rum natives have a culture that’s older than the country itself. Proud of their heritage and ways, the natives shared a lot of stories with me during my short stay.
My favourite was how they always treated stranded travellers. Little tents, scattered around the desert, are usually equipped with a teakettle, bread, butter, water and locally made blankets. Travellers and locals alike are always free to stop by, help themselves to some food or just layer up against the freezing desert nights.
Listening to the story of Lawrence of Arabia, from a native in the place where most of that action took place, was a fulfilling experience. It felt real, much better than the version I saw on TV many years ago.
I saw ancient rocks that held inscriptions and drawings. These rocks have seen different millennia, and tell their own stories of how the native language and culture had evolved. My biggest regret was not being able to stay longer in the desert. My 2days there felt like 2 hours.
In conclusion, I rate my experience with the people of Jordan 9/10. My airport experience aside, the Jordanians were warm, welcoming and genuinely kind. Of all the beautiful places in the world I have visited, Jordan takes the prize for the most beautiful people.
Have you ever been to Jordan? How was your experience with the people there? Drop a follow so you don’t miss the next part of the Jordan experience.
