Camels for Breakfast: Taking the Bus

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April 6, 2005

Taking the Bus

The excitment of this was was learning how to take the bus to school on Sunday. My host sister's friend, Manar, studies Chemical Engineering at the University so she taught me how to take the big green bus that goes right by my house. It saves me about .75JD (or two falafal sandwiches) every time I ride it so hopefully it will add up eventually.

The best part is that riding the bus is actually a culutral experience every time. Today I realized that I was the only woman that was uncovered and not from Southeast Asia. Women from Southeast Asia in Jordan are usually maids or housekeepers of some sorth so I am pretty sure that these women are on their way to work. There are always a few Jordanian women that are covered and either on their way to work or to the University. Other than that there are a lot of working class men going someplace or another. I definitely stick out when I board the bus (especially today with my calves peaking out from below my skirt and flip-flop sandles). It is fun to see how people interact with each other and to try and figure out where they are going and why. Of course, I have no idea what they are actually thinking but it is still fun to observe these people.

It is nice because I am beginning to feel a little more comfortable being the foreigner in Amman. I still don't like being stared at or having comments made about me but I also know that most of it is harmless. No matter what I wear or how I act I am going to attract attention so as long as I don't feel unsafe then I really have no problems. I would probably stare at (or at least notice) a foreigner in the States so I just have to trust that the Jordanian's intentions are just as good as mine would be. Anyways, I'm beginning to feel more at home.

Posted by rcollins at April 6, 2005 6:44 AM