Danger!

Traveling to and living in the Middle East does pose some dangers for anybody who is not from this area.  There is one danger that is more dangerous than any of the other dangers.  This danger is not terrorist attack, gunfire, fights, or weapons.  It is also not the heat (it is actually quite nice right now weather wise), the cold (at least not yet), the rain (what is that?), smog, snow (will probably happen after I leave), or dust.  Also it is not camels, donkeys, horses, sharks, fish, birds, sheep, lamb, wild stampedes, snakes, or scorpions.  It is not the food, the locals, not knowing some of the language, disease, nor bargaining for cheaper prices.  It is not my fellow Jordanian students, my competition at soccer games, my fellow card players, nor my professors.  That is a vast list of dangerous items but there is one thing missing on that list.  The most dangerous thing I will encounter while in Jordan is the vehicle.

            This is because of multiple reasons.  First one is that vehicles here do not have seatbelts.  If there is a seatbelt it is usually half missing or does not click, and so now I don’t even look for a seatbelt.  On top of this are the crazy Jordanian drivers.  The roads here do not have any markings for lanes (except for a few roads).  So without these markings it is a free for all to get to the light and create your own lane, and when the light does turn green whoever is the fastest off the line gets to make a whole new lane if they wish.  Naturally drivers do fall into some sort of lanes.  That does not mean a vehicle will be on one side of the road and will stay over there, but on the contrary they will force their way over to the other side.  Plus a horn is a necessity in Amman.  Horns are used to let people know that taxis are vacant, to prevent from getting hit, part of a wedding procession, to celebrate Jordanian futbol victory and mainly just to be honked.  You will be going down the road and the driver will just start honking for no apparent reason.  It’s like an itch that every driver has to scratch.  So if you don’t have a horn than you attempt to do the same thing with your brights, but let’s be honest you are not that well equipped to be driving in Amman. 

            Plus another danger in regards to vehicles in Jordan is crossing the roads as a pedestrian.  There really is no right of way for pedestrians in Jordan.  Crossing roads does happen for me on a daily basis and more than once.  Since Amman does not have that many sidewalks crossing the road and playing froggerhappens daily for everybody.  In the morning to catch a taxi to head towards the university I need to cross two roads in order to be on the correct side to be picked up.  Crossing roads I have learned quickly or else I would not have made it in Amman or would always be late looking for the pedestrian bridges or tunnels.  The key to crossing the roads is to not hesitate and do not expect the cars to give you the right away.

            So vehicles are the main danger in Jordan.  Let me describe how I get back and forth from school.  Cross two roads in the morning to get on the correct side of the street.  Take a taxi to duwar medina (city circle).  From there I cross the street a few more times and take the bus the rest of the way to the university.  So taking a taxi in Amman, Jordan is not expensive at all, and one could get anywhere they want for around two and a half dinar or less.  My taxi to duwar medina is only one dinar.  Than the bus only costs maximum of fifty qirsh (cents).  My bus costs thirty qirsh.  The bus that I typically take is not like a big city bus most people are familiar with.  It basically is close to a big passenger van.  To get on the right bus you listen to the guy by the door yelling out the final destination and if not sure you could always ask in Arabic if it will get you to your destination.  That same guy yelling the destination is the guy you pay, but not when getting on the bus.  You sit down and when the bus starts moving he shuts the door and goes around collecting the money.  His title is known as the controller and on the way he calls out the name of the stops.  Besides collecting money and calling out stops this guy also directs people where to sit if the bus is full.  This mainly has to do with guys sit with guys and females sit next to females.  This comes from the society in general for everything not just sitting on the bus.  So when the bus is full it is typical for me to stand by the door because I get off at one of the first stops.  There are also big city buses which I have taken a couple of times, but it takes a lot longer to get places.  Plus in the morning these buses are pretty full and just keep driving right by.  Since there are multiple types of busses there are also multiple types of taxis.  The most common one that majority of people takes is the yellow taxi that everyone thinks of when they think of a taxi.  Then there are airport taxis which are the only taxis that can pick people up at the airport (any taxi can go to the airport, but these ones are the only ones that leave the airport with people).  Then the final type is a taxi known as a serviz.  This type of taxi is a white taxi that only travels on certain roads.  It basically is like a bus that stays on the same road and people (up to four) can get on and off any place on that road.  This taxi only costs thirty qirsh so it is cheaper but none of these do run by the university.  I can take these taxis by my house to get to downtown, or if I am downtown to get home.  This is because I happen to live off of a major road that stretches along ways.

            So, for forms of transportation and my daily commute it will be the most dangerous thing that I encounter while in Jordan.  I have my first paper due later this week so I have been busy working on that.  Besides that I have been attempting to make my plans during the break that occurs in November.  Plus I have learned a Jordanian card game which isn’t that hard to play.  The pictures posted were from the Southern Jordan trip that I want on two weekends ago.  Just a side note, the camera stopped working (lens wouldn't open; don't worry it is getting fixed now) so I personally did not get any pictures of Petra.  Luckily I know some people who did, but am still tracking down some photos.   Need to do a little bit of research for my paper and then am off to class.  Will write latter.   إن شاء الله